Question for those with expedite requests granted

[Thesmiths2016 117]

I'm requesting an expedite (personal situation and hardship which has come up which I don't wish to elaborate on here.... but I figure the worst that can happen is they say no).  The thing is, I'm sending off all AOS and IV paperwork to NVC tomorrow.  IF they grant an expedite, will they tell me to take the whole lot to the consulate?  Or will they forward it all on and I just take the usia "birth certificate, marriage certificate, updated AOS etc? 

I'm still sending everything just in case they say no, to make sure it still gets there to be processed. But from what I've read, when an expedite is granted they just stop their side of things and leave it to the consulate?

[phillamb168 19]

On 1/23/2017 at 10:47 PM, Thesmiths2016 said:

I'm requesting an expedite (personal situation and hardship which has come up which I don't wish to elaborate on here.... but I figure the worst that can happen is they say no).  The thing is, I'm sending off all AOS and IV paperwork to NVC tomorrow.  IF they grant an expedite, will they tell me to take the whole lot to the consulate?  Or will they forward it all on and I just take the usia "birth certificate, marriage certificate, updated AOS etc? 

I'm still sending everything just in case they say no, to make sure it still gets there to be processed. But from what I've read, when an expedite is granted they just stop their side of things and leave it to the consulate?

This seems to have changed. We had our expedite request "approved" this morning, but the boilerplate email stated:

The U.S. Embassy or Consulate is willing to expedite this case when we have all the fees, forms, and documents. If you have not already done so, you can pay your fees and submit Form DS-260 at ceac.state.gov.

I contacted them to find out more information, and they told me, basically, that my expedite request being approved just means that the embassy will put me in front of the line whenever it comes time to schedule appointments, but that it DOES NOT expedite the processing of my files at NVC. Which makes me want to ask, "ok, well, then why call it an expedite?"

 

 

[Thesmiths2016 117]

1 minute ago, phillamb168 said:

This seems to have changed. We had our expedite request "approved" this morning, but the boilerplate email stated:

The U.S. Embassy or Consulate is willing to expedite this case when we have all the fees, forms, and documents. If you have not already done so, you can pay your fees and submit Form DS-260 at ceac.state.gov.

I contacted them to find out more information, and they told me, basically, that my expedite request being approved just means that the embassy will put me in front of the line whenever it comes time to schedule appointments, but that it DOES NOT expedite the processing of my files at NVC. Which makes me want to ask, "ok, well, then why call it an expedite?"

 

 

Firstly, congrats on your expedite approval!  May I ask how long it took between requesting and getting an answer?  
From what they've said in your quote there, I would expect they would expedite the NVC part too ... or did they flat out tell you they don't?  Past expedites I've seen have required forms to be submitted before they take action, but then the petitioner hasn't had to wait the full 6 weeks processing time ... they basically received and quickly checked all paperwork then forwarded it to the embassy.  If they've changed that, then it makes me very sad :-(  but I guess an expedite at interview stage is still progress!  

[Thesmiths2016 117]

PS: I posted everything today. I figured that way if they say no to the expedite, at least I've started the waiting game. And if they say yes and make me reprint everything, then well it's a cost and effort that's worth it.  I wrote a complete list of what I sent so that I don't miss anything if I have to re-compile it :-) 

[phillamb168 19]

Just now, Thesmiths2016 said:

Firstly, congrats on your expedite approval!  May I ask how long it took between requesting and getting an answer?  
From what they've said in your quote there, I would expect they would expedite the NVC part too ... or did they flat out tell you they don't?  Past expedites I've seen have required forms to be submitted before they take action, but then the petitioner hasn't had to wait the full 6 weeks processing time ... they basically received and quickly checked all paperwork then forwarded it to the embassy.  If they've changed that, then it makes me very sad :-(  but I guess an expedite at interview stage is still progress!  

I can only tell you what I've heard from the NVC rep, who, of course, being human, might not have all the info. But I was told via email and by calling someone at NVC that an expedite does not do anything to increase the processing time at NVC. I, too, had heard about paperwork being forwarded directly to the embassy, but it doesn't seem to be the case here.

[phillamb168 19]

My expedite request was sent last Thursday, I got an email yesterday saying it was under review, and got the "approval" today.

[Thesmiths2016 117]

On 25 January 2017 at 5:48 PM, phillamb168 said:

My expedite request was sent last Thursday, I got an email yesterday saying it was under review, and got the "approval" today.

I sent my expedite request last week on tuesday evening, got an email the following day saying under review (but it was 2 business days in USA time... just happened to be late the next day here), and this morning awoke to an email saying they will expedite our case!! WOOGOO!! One week turnaround time ... 7 days and a few hours.  
Same wording as yours that you posted above.  We had already sent our IV and AOS packages which are due to arrive there anyway now, and have paid all fees and submitted the DS-260 .... so now we wait!
Any progress on yours?  Did the NVC advise you to organise your medical now, or do you still wait til the consulate contacts you for your interview date before doing so?

Edited February 1, 2017 by Thesmiths2016

[phillamb168 19]

1 minute ago, Thesmiths2016 said:

I sent my expedite request last week on tuesday evening, got an email the following day saying under review (but it was 2 business days in USA time... just happened to be late the next day here), and this morning awoke to an email saying they will expedite our case!! WOOGOO!! One week turnaround time ... 7 days and a few hours.  
Same wording as yours that you posted above.  We had already sent our IV and AOS packages which are due to arrive there anyway now, and have paid all fees and submitted the DS-260 .... so now we wait!
Any progress on yours?  Did the NVC advise you to organise your medical now, or do you still wait til the consulate contacts you for your interview date before doing so?

Unfortunately my understanding is that the "once all your paperwork is done" expedite doesn't really mean anything, other than perhaps a week or so of waiting less once it gets to the consulate. The NVC paperwork review process is apparently taking anywhere from 1 to 8, or even 10 weeks. My congressional liaison is calling once a week to try to pressure them, but nothing so far.

[Thesmiths2016 117]

Hmm thats not good news.  But hey I'm grateful for any speeding up at all!  I look forward to hearing your progress (feel free to PM me if you don't want to broadcast it all on here)