Case Forwarded from NVC to Paris Embassy

[alliwax 0]

Hi All!

Our case was successfully forwarded by the NVC on July 13 to the US Embassy in Paris.

Since then, we have had NO NEWS and I am so nervous about it because in the letter from the NVC, they state that it may take "several weeks", but nothing about months...

I filled out the "Contact Us" form on the Paris embassy website, giving them our case number, in order to try and receive a status update (I read we should call to make sure they receive our case, but I couldnt find a number...) and they responded with an automatically generated email, which i mistakenly took to be them saying "oops we forgot to send you the steps, here they are" (because i know France, even if it is the US embassy...). Step one was to fill out the DS 160, so we did that, and then we tried to move forward to the next steps, and much to our dismay, we cant schedule the dr's appointment without the interview date, and we have to wait for the interview date to be sent to us..so it feels like there is nothing we can DO to speed up the process.

AND, of course, now I am stressed out that we have filled out the DS-160 without any other information...we havent paid for it yet, but yeah, I am nervous that they will be like "Why did you fill this out without us telling you to?" ... even though they sent me those damn step-by-step instructions!

I guess my questions are -

How long have others waited for this step? (The confirmation that the case has been received by the Embassy in the fiancé's country, especially France)

Does anyone know how to GET a status update on whether it has been received?

And, should I worry about having filled out the DS-160 prematurely? And will this affect our interview date or our ability to pay for filing the DS-160?

THANK YOU SERIOUSLY SO SO MUCH to anyone who can help!

[TBoneTX 45,324]

*** Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the K-1 Case Progress subforum. ***

[Dhluong12 1]

Hey Alliwax,

What does your CEAC status say? Is it still in transit? Is it marked as "ready?"

It took the Paris embassy about 3 weeks to send me (the petitioner) the packet 3 email with the instructions after my CEAC status moved from "In transit" to "ready." It seems, however, they send out the email in batches. There were a few of us in the French forum that all received it on the same day, after waiting various amounts of time.

They have 2 phone numbers listed (one for calling from France, one for calling from the US) but neither were helpful. It was just a switchboard with a bunch of automated messages, and even when I was able to get ahold of someone, they transferred me right away to the switchboard once I explained that I was calling about k1 visa status.

I don't think it's a big issue if you already filled out your DS-160. Did you guys submit it, or just fill it out and save it?

Hope this helps, and good luck!

[alliwax 0]

Hi Dhluong12!

Thanks so much for your answer!

I don't even know what the CEAC Status is!!! This could be the piece of the puzzle I am missing, but I haven't even seen that in any of the literature i have found online!

Re: DS-160, we DID submit it because we thought the "Automatically Generated Email" was actually the Packet 3. Did you get your interview date in your Packet 3?? And from the time your case was forwarded from the NVC until the time you received the packet 3 - about how long was it? (Since I dont have the CEAC status yet as a reference point hah)

This is the beginning of the email:

email2.tiff

Was this what you received?

Thanks again!!!

[Dhluong12 1]

Do you have your case number from the NVC? It should start with PRS and then 10 numbers, I believe. If so, check it here:

https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx (use "immigrant visa" option, even though k1 is technically "non-immigrant.")

Our application left the NVC on 7/05 and I received packet 3 email on 7/21, so roughly 3 weeks. Packet 3 is exactly the email you included, by the way. It didn't include an interview date. Under "Step 3" of the email, it has this link: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ You fill it out and pay the fee, and once your money is received, they'll email you a link where you can pick your interview date. Once you do that, you can schedule your medical.

Personally, I think you received packet 3, and it was just a coincidence that it arrived right after you sent the embassy an email Was the subject line "

from the U.S. Embassy Paris -- K visa processing " ?

If they've sent you the instructions, I would think you and your fiance can go through and fill everything out, pay the fee, and try to book your appointments. To double check, though, I'd go make sure your status is "Ready" via the CEAC status update.

Congrats!

Edited August 18, 2016 by Dhluong12

[alliwax 0]

Hi Dhluong12!

Yes!! That was totally the subject of the E-mail!

I reached out to the Paris Embassy on August 9th in the morning, and I received that email literally later that day! However, now, when I look on the CEAC Status (THANK YOU!) it says "Ready", but that it was updated on August 16...so, after I received packet 3? Does that seem right? But maybe it's like you said, it's sent out in batches and it was a coincidence?

Also, I'm wondering why yours went SO much quicker?

Nevertheless, seriously, thank you so much! We were stressing, but now we're going to go pay and schedule!!!

Xo