k1 - DS-160 before or after packet

[panda-and-penguin 2]

Hello,

I am the petioner and I received a letter from State Department on May 24th that "The NVC received your fiance's approved I-129F from USCIS and will forward the petition to the US Embassy in GUANGZHOU. The US Embassy will contact your fiance when they are ready to process her pettion".

Now it's July and she still hasn't gotten any packet or any contact from them. She has already completed the DS-160 online but has not sent it.

Should we submit the DS-160 before we receive the packet? Should we call the embassy in Guangzhou to find out what is going on?

We emailed them last week and got some canned responses that were not helpful at all.

Thank for the help,

Kevin

Edited July 9, 2016 by panda-and-penguin

[nycgtr 1]

It took over 30 days for us to get the P3 after the case was received by GUZ on 5/16. I never even got the letter you received. If you were to email guz they will pretty much give you the standard you will be notified in the next several weeks. You can feel free to send in the ds-160 now as long as you have your GUZ number. We did that before the p3 came and it made no difference in making it come faster. It be safe to say that your p3 would come just about any day now. I had an nvc case number on 5/11 and the p3 came on the 3rd week of june.

[panda-and-penguin 2]

Thanks for the reply nycgtr (guitar player?).

We do have the a number that starts with GUZ, I think that's what you mean by GUZ number?

[nycgtr 1]

Thanks for the reply nycgtr (guitar player?).

We do have the a number that starts with GUZ, I think that's what you mean by GUZ number?

Yea as long as you have a case number they can attach it too. Your priority date is your noa 2 date. Something I wasn't aware of when filing it in. Seeing that we are about 2 weekish apart I would defiantly have her keep an eye out soon. My fiancee has the ems phone number notification so she gets notified anytime an EMS is sent with her phone number. I had put her mobile number on the i129f application and sure enough she got an notification. Right now the p4 seems to be coming really quick and interview scheduling is quite quick. My fiancee's interview is in less than 24hrs from now and we got the p3 in mid june so it's moving quite fast and her case is constantly updated on CEAC tracking. So I wish you a quick process as well. The waiting sucks for sure.

GTR for the car lol.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Hello,

I am the petioner and I received a letter from State Department on May 24th that "The NVC received your fiance's approved I-129F from USCIS and will forward the petition to the US Embassy in GUANGZHOU. The US Embassy will contact your fiance when they are ready to process her pettion".

Now it's July and she still hasn't gotten any packet or any contact from them. She has already completed the DS-160 online but has not sent it.

Should we submit the DS-160 before we receive the packet? Should we call the embassy in Guangzhou to find out what is going on?

We emailed them last week and got some canned responses that were not helpful at all.

Thank for the help,

Kevin

You can submit the DS-160, but do not schedule your interview. the DS-160 has no expiry on it, and remains valid as long as none of the information submitted on it changes. If there is a change in information, you are required to fill out another DS-160.

It is worth noting that the average time of Delivery on Packet 3 is 30 business days, but has been known to take as long as 45 business days. From 05-24 until now, you are only on 31 Business days (3 days subtracted due to Memorial Day, The 4th of July, and Dragon Boat Festival). The embassy observes all US and Chinese holidays.

Keep checking the status of your Application over here https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

[panda-and-penguin 2]

@Chris thanks for your response! I have never seen that link for state department application status. I went over and looked at it and it says:

Case Creation Date: 18-May-2016 Status Updated Date: 08-Jul-2016

Your case is ready for your interview when scheduled at the U.S. Consular section. If you have already scheduled an appointment for an interview, please prepare your documents as directed in your appointment letter and appear at the consulate on the appointed date and time. Otherwise, please wait until you have been notified of your interview appointment. Additional information about how Immigrant Visa interview appointments are scheduled can be found at:

Does it mean they sent the packet last week but we haven't received it? Does anybody know if it get sent by EMS, normal China Post or a courier?

Don't think anything will change in the DS-160. Man, that thing is a pain. There's like 100 questions about "Are you coming to US to commit terrorists acts?"...

Kevin

[panda-and-penguin 2]

Ok, she got a response from an email sent to some, does anybody know if they are only calling and emailing now?

Thank you for writing to the U.S. Visa Service Desk.

All immigrant and K visa categories require an interview appointment. When an immigrant visa petition is approved and the applicant’s case is ready to be scheduled for an interview, beneficiaries will be contacted by the U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou by email Notice or Telephone with further instructions on how to schedule an appointment. If the Consulate has not notified you that your case is ready to be scheduled, you will not be able to access this function through CGI Stanley.

Please take note: The Principal Applicant must interview at the same time as or before dependent family members. Dependent family members should not schedule their interviews before the Principal Applicant. If a dependent family member schedules their interview before the Principal Applicant, they will be turned away the day of their interview and told to wait until the Principal Applicant interviews first.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Ok, she got a response from an email sent to some, does anybody know if they are only calling and emailing now?

Thank you for writing to the U.S. Visa Service Desk.

All immigrant and K visa categories require an interview appointment. When an immigrant visa petition is approved and the applicant’s case is ready to be scheduled for an interview, beneficiaries will be contacted by the U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou by email Notice or Telephone with further instructions on how to schedule an appointment. If the Consulate has not notified you that your case is ready to be scheduled, you will not be able to access this function through CGI Stanley.

Please take note: The Principal Applicant must interview at the same time as or before dependent family members. Dependent family members should not schedule their interviews before the Principal Applicant. If a dependent family member schedules their interview before the Principal Applicant, they will be turned away the day of their interview and told to wait until the Principal Applicant interviews first.

You need to wait for Packet 3 from the Embassy, it takes around a month to arrive, and is sent via EMS to the Beneficiary. Packet 4 is sent via Email once Packet 3 is completed and returned. Packet 4 will only be sent via EMS if no email address is provided.

[chancy426 0]

Hi, I just found this thread and I feel at home! =)

I recently gotten my NVC Case # on 7/9. The person on the phone told me that it was going to be electronically transferred to the Guangzhou Embassy. Does this mean that when it is electronically transferred the status will also update to Delivered or Sent or does it need to wait to be paper delivered still in order to update? I know I am very early in the wait since it takes 30 days >_<, but just want to be proactive to save as much time as I can.

Also, when it tells me to follow the instructions before NVC can schedule the visa interview, and I can use the instructions online to gather and fill out some forms and pay fee, should I do that now or for China I should wait to receive the notice from China side first? What parts can I do first while waiting on the Embassy to receive our case from the NVC? I guess one thing from my reading above is that I can start filling out the DS-160. I'm just worried that I should be sending stuff, but I'm just waiting and not doing what I should.

Please follow the instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment. This includes submitting to NVC various fees, forms and documents. Once NVC has received all the required items, they will let you know if anything is missing or incomplete. You can also find these instructions online at http://nvc.state.gov (English) and http://nvc.state.gov/espanol (Spanish). You will find contact information for NVC at http://nvc.state.gov/ask.

instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment.

At NVC and than:

Please follow the instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment. This includes submitting to NVC various fees, forms and documents. Once NVC has received all the required items, they will let you know if anything is missing or incomplete. You can also find these instructions online at http://nvc.state.gov (English) and http://nvc.state.gov/espanol (Spanish). You will find contact information for NVC at http://nvc.state.gov/ask.

instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment.

I asked the person on the phone and they told me to wait for the package that will be sent to my fiance. >_<, but on the site it says that I can find the instructions online https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/approved/step_2_pay_fees.html andit has forms we should fill out and things we should do (pay fees).

Has anyone who has gotten their NVC case # started on these before receiving the NVC letter? I'm just worried if I'm not proactive than I'd be waiting my time away.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Hi, I just found this thread and I feel at home! =)

I recently gotten my NVC Case # on 7/9. The person on the phone told me that it was going to be electronically transferred to the Guangzhou Embassy. Does this mean that when it is electronically transferred the status will also update to Delivered or Sent or does it need to wait to be paper delivered still in order to update? I know I am very early in the wait since it takes 30 days >_<, but just want to be proactive to save as much time as I can.

Also, when it tells me to follow the instructions before NVC can schedule the visa interview, and I can use the instructions online to gather and fill out some forms and pay fee, should I do that now or for China I should wait to receive the notice from China side first? What parts can I do first while waiting on the Embassy to receive our case from the NVC? I guess one thing from my reading above is that I can start filling out the DS-160. I'm just worried that I should be sending stuff, but I'm just waiting and not doing what I should.

Please follow the instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment. This includes submitting to NVC various fees, forms and documents. Once NVC has received all the required items, they will let you know if anything is missing or incomplete. You can also find these instructions online at http://nvc.state.gov (English) and http://nvc.state.gov/espanol (Spanish). You will find contact information for NVC at http://nvc.state.gov/ask.

instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment.

At NVC and than:

Please follow the instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment. This includes submitting to NVC various fees, forms and documents. Once NVC has received all the required items, they will let you know if anything is missing or incomplete. You can also find these instructions online at http://nvc.state.gov (English) and http://nvc.state.gov/espanol (Spanish). You will find contact information for NVC at http://nvc.state.gov/ask.

instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment.

I asked the person on the phone and they told me to wait for the package that will be sent to my fiance. >_<, but on the site it says that I can find the instructions online https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/approved/step_2_pay_fees.html andit has forms we should fill out and things we should do (pay fees).

Has anyone who has gotten their NVC case # started on these before receiving the NVC letter? I'm just worried if I'm not proactive than I'd be waiting my time away.

There are 2 Packages for China. Package 3 is sent via EMS to the Beneficiary, you need to wait for this before you even consider scheduling your interview, otherwise you will be forced to reschedule by the time it arrives, and you have a limited number of reschedules before you are stuck with your date. Package 4 Instructions are sent via Email once Package 3 is completed and returned.

For the K-1 Visa the NVC does not schedule your interview, that appears to be a generic response issued to K-1 and IR1/CR1 applicants.

In regards to filling out the DS-160, and paying the Visa fee, you can do that at any time, the DS-160 never expires, but will need to be filled out again if any of the information changes between the time you fill it out, and the time you receive Packet 3.

You can start Package 3 right now, even without receiving the documents in the mail. Have your Fiancee prepare the following.

1. 2 full color passport style photos (2x2, or approximately 50mmx50mm)

2. Photocopy of the personal page of her passport (the page that has her picture, name, ect...)

3. Complete the DS-160 form on this website https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/default.aspx (Print the Confirmation Page to be sent with the items in 1 and 2)

When Packet 3 arrives you will send items 1, 2, and 3 as well as the instruction sheet that was delivered via EMS back to the Embassy. Once they receive this, they will email you Packet 4.

Here is a photo Album I prepared that shows our Packet 3, and the email we received as Packet 4.

http://imgur.com/a/oFc1x

When you print your DS-160 Confirmation Page, you want to print 2 copies in English, and 1 copy in Chinese.

1 English Copy is sent with Packet 3

1 English Copy is brought with you on the Interview Date

1 Chinese Copy is required to have the medical performed.

Using the instructions in the Image Album I provided, you can start working on Packet 4 as well, you can gather all required documents except for the Medical Exam right now. It is HIGHLY recommended to not have the medical until the week before the Interview, because the validity of your K-1 visa is based on the date of the Medical Exam.

I recommended starting on the Police Certificates, Birth Certificates, Certificates of Marriageability, and what not in Packet 4 now because depending on the Province your Fiance is from you could receive a lot of push back from the local governments. My fiancee had no issues in Shanxi province, but there are others here who were given the run around obtaining these documents.

Edited July 13, 2016 by Chris and ZhiJia

[chancy426 0]

Thanks Chris!

Your input is very helpful! Today the NVC updated our case status to READY. I just got off the phone with them and they told me that our case had been electronically transferred to Guangzhou today. I also received our INV# and the Beneficiary ID # to fill out the DS160.

For the birth certificate, did your fiancee bring the original one issued by hospital from birth or is it a new document need to request from the government?

I will have my fiance go get his police certificate and certificate of marriageability to get that out of the way first.

[panda-and-penguin 2]

yeah, we are getting the birth and police certificate this week.... Hopefully we will get the packet in a few days. Every time her phone wrings, I'm like "It's the packet!"

We are printing out my tax returns from the last 2 years. Since I'm self employed, I don't have pay stubs.

I have another question about Affidavit of Support letter from my bank, does it need to be original? I received a copy of the letter from my parents but it is a scanned copy. Should I ask them send the letter via DHL?

Kevin

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

yeah, we are getting the birth and police certificate this week.... Hopefully we will get the packet in a few days. Every time her phone wrings, I'm like "It's the packet!"

We are printing out my tax returns from the last 2 years. Since I'm self employed, I don't have pay stubs.

I have another question about Affidavit of Support letter from my bank, does it need to be original? I received a copy of the letter from my parents but it is a scanned copy. Should I ask them send the letter via DHL?

Kevin

You will want to go to the IRS website and print the transcripts not the returns.

[RandyW 149]

You will want to go to the IRS website and print the transcripts not the returns.

Tax RETURNS or TRANSCRIPTS are called for for the Affidavit of Support. Tax TRANSCRIPTS may requested from the IRS as a convenience.

The Tax Transcripts simply reflect what was on the tax return- there is no advantage to submitting one or the other, except as convenient.

They are both official documents which are being submitted under oath.

Edited July 15, 2016 by RandyW

[nycgtr 1]

Only 1 year of my tax transcript was required by the VO. I had give her 3 years and 3 years of w2s. He just wanted last years transcript. Didn't ask for a bank letter even though she had one.