NVC Expedite Request - It Really Works

[rich&debz 15]

I felt compelled to start this topic after I received an email reply from the NVC in response to a "Request to Expedite" that I had filed for my wife's CR1 Spousal Visa. I am the petitioner and the Agent of Choice and we began our journey on 01/25/2016.

I called the NVC on 08/16/2016 to get a status update after 8 weeks (56 days) had passed since they received it from USCIS and I had not heard anything from them. I was informed that our petition had been sent that very day to a Supervisor for review. The person I spoke with was cordial and patient with me but could not tell me why it was there nor who the supervisor was. She did tell me that I should call back in another 6 weeks to check the status. In the next 24 hours I called the NVC 4 times and spoke with 4 separate agents, each one giving me the same, or similar explanation. In a nutshell i was told that since 6 weeks had passed without getting reviewed it was mandatory that it be sent to a "Supervisor" simply because it had not been reviewed in a timely manner and if I didn't hear from the NVC sooner that I should call back in 6 weeks.

Luckily one of the agents suggested that I send a "Request to Expedite" in the form of an email to nvcexpedite@state.gov. I sent the email on September 1st and received a reply on the September 6th stating that my request had been approved. In the hopes that it will help others who may be suffering from "un-timely manners" at the NVC, I have copied the email with my expedite request that states the reasons I felt the request was justified:

From: Rich
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2016 4:18 PM
To: nvcexpedite@state.gov
Cc: Debbie
Subject: NVC Case Number SYDXXXXXX

Petitioner Name: Rich

Date of Birth: xx/xx/xxxx

Beneficiary Name: Debbie

Date of Birth: xx/xx/xxxx

Dear Sir / Madam,

My name is Rich & I am the Petitioner and the Agent of Choice for Debbie ( #SYDXXXXX).

The following is a timeline of events regarding the CR1 visa application for Debbie :

01/18/2016 - Visa petition mailed to United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

01/27/2016 - USCIS acknowledges receipt of visa petition (NOA1)

05/20/2016 - USCIS approves the visa petition and forwards it to National Visa Center (NVC)

06/29/2016 - NVC acknowledges receipt of visa petition from USCIS (NOA2)

06/30/2016 - Created online account for Debbie n at http://redirect.state.sbu/?url=https://ceac.state.gov/IV

06/30/2016 - Completed Agent of Choice - Rich

06/30/2016 - Affidavit of Support (AOS) Fees Paid - 120.00

07/05/2016 - Affidavit of Support Fees Processed - Transaction ID: 25SXXXX

07/09/2016 - IV Processing Fee Paid - 365.00

07/12/2016 - IV Processing Fee Processed - Transaction ID: 25SXXXXX

07/15/2016 - Completed DS260 and submitted online

07/15/2016 - Mailed AOS with supporting documents to NVC via USPS Certified Mail

07/15/2016 - Mailed civil documents required for IV application via USPS Certified Mail (mailed with AOS).

07/19/2016 - All documents received by NVC

08/16/2016 - I called the NVC to check the status of the application. I was instructed by the NVC to call back on 8/31/2016 because on that date the NVC would have had the documents for a total of 6 weeks.

08/31/2016 I called the NVC and was informed that the documents had not been reviewed and were now being sent to a Supervisor Review and the process could take an additional 6 weeks starting on 8/31/2016.

The agent I spoke with, Carly, submitted a request for a Supervisor call me. I have not received a call as of this date.

I was instructed to call back on 09/01/2016 to confirm the application was under Supervisor Review.

09/01/2016:

I called the NVC to confirm a Supervisor was reviewing the application and was told that the application had not yet been assigned to a Supervisor.

The agent informed of the following:

1. I could not have the name of the Supervisor.

2. I could not request to speak to any Supervisor.

3. I could not have a date that the application would actually be assigned to a Supervisor for review.

4. There is no evident reason the application was not reviewed in the first 6 weeks.

I hereby respectfully ask that NVC Case #SYDXXXXX be expedited for the following reasons:

1. Emotional Hardship:

Debbie , is the beneficiary and is suffering from and being treated for severe depression, stress and anxiety because we still have not been given an interview date with the Consulate in Sydney.

The NVC had the application for over 6 weeks with potentially 6 additional weeks added with no explanation for the delay. There is no evident reason for the delay, the civil documents and the AOS were submitted exactly as instructed.

2. Financial Hardship:

A wedding reception to mark and celebrate our marriage is to be held on 10/21/2016. The reception location, permits, food and entertainment have been paid for, invitations have been sent out and attendees, including those from Australia, have now purchased airline tickets to attend the reception.

The reception date was established with consideration for the normal, established amount of time it would take to complete the visa process, which is on average 8 months. It would create financial hardship for myself, Debbie and family members who have paid for airline tickets, ground transportation and lodging if Debbie is unable to arrive in the US prior to 10/21/2016.

Thank you for considering this request and have a peaceful day.

Sincerely,

Rich

09/01/2016

Here is the reply from NVC accepting my request:

Case Number: SYDXXXXX

Petitioner's Name: RICH

Principal Applicant's Name: ,DEBBIE

Preference Category: CR1

Your Priority Date: 25 Jan 2016

Foreign State Charge-ability: AUSTRALIA

U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL

MLC CENTRE, LEVEL 59

19-29 MARTIN PLACE

SYDNEY, NSW 2000, AUSTRALIA

Dear Sir/Madam:

The National Visa Center (NVC) received your inquiry regarding the immigrant visa petition: SYDXXXXX filed by RICH on behalf of DEBBIE

The U.S. Embassy Consulate General has accepted this case for expedited processing. This file will be immediately forwarded to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General.

Any further questions concerning processing or the interview appointment date should be directed to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General.

The U.S. Embassy or Consulate General may still request additional forms or fees at the time of your interview. Please be prepared to bring any missing forms and pay any required fees at the time of your interview.

Please note that it could take up to two weeks for the consular section to receive the case file once it has shipped from NVC.

Thank you.

National Visa Center

Written Inquiry Unit

FCi Federal, Support Contractor

asknvc@state.gov

Good luck!!

Edited September 7, 2016 by Penguin_ie

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from "CR-1 spouse visa process and procedures" to "NVC discussion" as post relates to escalation procedures within the NVC*~*~*

I have asked a mod to remove your personal details and case number from your post. This is a public forum and although the members are nice and friendly, the lurkers may not be so.

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

***** Op edited to remove case numbers and full names. For your privacy and safety, please never post full names, email or postal addresses, phone or case numbers online *****

[rich&debz 15]

Thank you JFH and Penguin for your help with this. I really appreciate it!

[rich&debz 15]

Update:

The petition was sent to the Consulate in Sydney on 9/7/2016. I contacted the Consulate and they confirmed that they were waiting on the paperwork to arrive, that it has already been flagged for fast track and they would inform us immediately when they receive it. I have not heard from them as of this writing.

[JFH 12,190]

Whilst I am pleased to hear that you have been successful with your expedite request, I think it is prudent to advise others that the reasons you have supplied in your request for an expedite are not usually successful. The financial hardship amounts to a party that has been planned for less than a year after you submitted the I-130. I don't know where you got the information that this process takes 8 months. The USCIS stage alone (according to USCIS themselves) can take up to 6 months. I have not seen any official source stating that the whole process from filing I-130 to POE taking 8 months. Sure, there are people who get through this quicker than that but they are the exception, not the norm. The department of state website and the embassy websites strongly encourage applicants not to make any financial commitments, buy tickets, sell homes, quit jobs, etc until the visa has been received.

I won't comment on your wife's emotional hardship because we all deal with this in different ways. Some people cope better than others. I know you had a rough ride at NVC with waiting over 6 weeks for your package to even be looked at but on the other hand you had a much quicker journey though the USCIS than many people had (myself included). We are all upset that we are apart from our spouses, not one of us is enjoying this process. For every case that is pulled to the front of the line, the rest of us wait that little bit longer.

Maybe there was something else that granted your expedite that you don't wish to share - that's your prerogative. But I wouldn't want people to think NVC will look favourably upon every request to expedite where someone's relatives have purchased plane tickets that cannot be refunded.

Edited September 11, 2016 by JFH

[rich&debz 15]

Whilst I am pleased to hear that you have been successful with your expedite request, I think it is prudent to advise others that the reasons you have supplied in your request for an expedite are not usually successful. The financial hardship amounts to a party that has been planned for less than a year after you submitted the I-130. I don't know where you got the information that this process takes 8 months. The USCIS stage alone (according to USCIS themselves) can take up to 6 months. I have not seen any official source stating that the whole process from filing I-130 to POE taking 8 months. Sure, there are people who get through this quicker than that but they are the exception, not the norm. The department of state website and the embassy websites strongly encourage applicants not to make any financial commitments, buy tickets, sell homes, quit jobs, etc until the visa has been received.

I won't comment on your wife's emotional hardship because we all deal with this in different ways. Some people cope better than others. I know you had a rough ride at NVC with waiting over 6 weeks for your package to even be looked at but on the other hand you had a much quicker journey though the USCIS than many people had (myself included). We are all upset that we are apart from our spouses, not one of us is enjoying this process. For every case that is pulled to the front of the line, the rest of us wait that little bit longer.

Maybe there was something else that granted your expedite that you don't wish to share - that's your prerogative. But I wouldn't want people to think NVC will look favourably upon every request to expedite where someone's relatives have purchased plane tickets that cannot be refunded.

[entertained777 2]

Whilst I am pleased to hear that you have been successful with your expedite request, I think it is prudent to advise others that the reasons you have supplied in your request for an expedite are not usually successful. The financial hardship amounts to a party that has been planned for less than a year after you submitted the I-130. I don't know where you got the information that this process takes 8 months. The USCIS stage alone (according to USCIS themselves) can take up to 6 months. I have not seen any official source stating that the whole process from filing I-130 to POE taking 8 months. Sure, there are people who get through this quicker than that but they are the exception, not the norm. The department of state website and the embassy websites strongly encourage applicants not to make any financial commitments, buy tickets, sell homes, quit jobs, etc until the visa has been received.

I won't comment on your wife's emotional hardship because we all deal with this in different ways. Some people cope better than others. I know you had a rough ride at NVC with waiting over 6 weeks for your package to even be looked at but on the other hand you had a much quicker journey though the USCIS than many people had (myself included). We are all upset that we are apart from our spouses, not one of us is enjoying this process. For every case that is pulled to the front of the line, the rest of us wait that little bit longer.

Maybe there was something else that granted your expedite that you don't wish to share - that's your prerogative. But I wouldn't want people to think NVC will look favourably upon every request to expedite where someone's relatives have purchased plane tickets that cannot be refunded.

Well said!

To put it bluntly, we are all depressed and away from our spouses. And it is common knowledge not to make or pay for any arrangements until you have your visa in hand.

Congratulations on your expedite and I wish you all the best, but your reasoning is no different from anyone else that applies and goes through the process.

Edited September 12, 2016 by entertained777

[rich&debz 15]

Well said!

To put it bluntly, we are all depressed and away from our spouses. And it is common knowledge not to make or pay for any arrangements until you have your visa in hand.

Congratulations on your expedite and I wish you all the best, but your reasoning is no different from anyone else that applies and goes through the process.

[Gretch 11]

But really, isn't this what SHOULD happen when there is a delay through the fault of NVC? This poster isn't having his case pushed ahead of other people, the case is being caught up to where it should have been in the first place. It isn't slowing other people down.

I read this wondering if I should also ask for expedite, since I also had a possible 4 weeks added to my waiting time through no fault of my own; but even though I think my reasons are at least as valid, I'm afraid the request would be denied and possibly add even more time on. It's rough watching pretty much everyone else with scan dates later than mine forge ahead.

I wonder if the expedite was granted because of NVC's initial error, rather than because of the reasons outlined.

[Mandb 2]

But really, isn't this what SHOULD happen when there is a delay through the fault of NVC? This poster isn't having his case pushed ahead of other people, the case is being caught up to where it should have been in the first place. It isn't slowing other people down.

I read this wondering if I should also ask for expedite, since I also had a possible 4 weeks added to my waiting time through no fault of my own; but even though I think my reasons are at least as valid, I'm afraid the request would be denied and possibly add even more time on. It's rough watching pretty much everyone else with scan dates later than mine forge ahead.

I wonder if the expedite was granted because of NVC's initial error, rather than because of the reasons outlined.

I agree with you, I think the expedite was granted because it really should have passed through nvc by the timeframe - regardless of how long USCIS took. I'm hoping they are completely through by now!

I myself have requested expedite not to jump the queue but our documents were misplaced for 9 weeks after USCIS approval so had our documents arrived within the 2-4 weeks we would be at interview stage now ?

[Mercedes428 1]

After the approval did they respond with and interview date or did it come afterwards?

[ArianneChris 6]

Thank you for sharing!

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

****** this thread is over a year old and OP has not been back sie th day thy posted.  PLease ask questions about your own case in your own thread. *****