NVC Filers - March 2017

[R and KJ 180]

I was so happy when i read a lot are having their CC's and it gave me very HIGH HOPES! 

So was so excited i keep on checking CEAC and hoping and praying each time to get 3 NA's

 

then waited for the time i could call NVC, didnt wait much long for a representative 

and was heartbroken, when they both said (called twice to confirm) that waiting time is now 11 weeks

scan date of january 13, (sent documents nov 11, 2016)

and my request for SR that was granted last march 13 is now voided .. that i have to request again on apr 4 just in case. 

And NO! It's not being currently reviewed, its still sitting at their desk 

 

congrats to those you have their CC's, good luck in upcoming interview, 

congrats to those who got their interviews approved

and for us waiting for CC's may we have them the soonest

[Phoebe&Seva 3]

37 minutes ago, AwaisZ said:

They said the same to me yesterday morning when I called and asked for a supervisor. And I had my CC this morning (scan date was Jan 9th). I would recommend to stay patient until the end of this week. I am quite sure you will hear from them.

I really hope you're right! Congratulations on your CC and good luck with your interview!!

[R and KJ 180]

2 minutes ago, Phoebe&Seva said:

I heard that too, but if you already were put in supervisor review, they wouldn't take your case out...anyway, a lot of people with scan dates just before ours and even some after ours have gotten CC's, so I'm hoping ours are just around the corner! Someone with a scan date on Jan 17th just got their CC, so maybe you'll get yours soon. This process is just awful but I keep reminding myself how amazing it will be when it's over!! Keep me posted on what happens with your case and good luck! 

I noticed that too, those with CC's that made me so excited.. thank you and good luck too. 

Hoping you'd get yours soonest

[chamma 382]

1 hour ago, Tanish said:

From what I gather, ITIN alone will take 6-7 weeks. I suggest you complete 1040 without it as "Married filing separately".

See here, page no. 14. For publication 519, click here.

"Nonresident aliens and dual­-status aliens.

Generally,  a  married  couple  can't file  a  joint  return  if  either  spouse  is  a nonresident alien at any time during the year.  However,  if  you  were  a  nonresident alien or a dual-status alien and were married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien at the end of 2016, you can elect to be treated as a resident alien and file a joint return. See Pub. 519 for details"

 

Only thing to show in 2016 return is that you have filed as "Married" and not "Single". This can be accomplished by either of the statuses ["Married Filing Separately" or "Married Filing Jointly"]. Once you receive SSN, your ITIN is irrelevant. Wasting money and time on that was deemed unfruitful from our perspective, so we chose to go "Married Filing Separately".

 

Don't take CPAs' and Lawyers' word for everything. Don't take my word as well for that matter. Take as many inputs as you like. Do your research thoroughly and arrive at your own conclusion. We spent 2-3 days studying "1040 instructions" to decide which way would be the best for us.

 

Good luck.

 

Thanks much for this. I shall ponder over it

[chamma 382]

2 hours ago, Tanish said:

From what I gather, ITIN alone will take 6-7 weeks. I suggest you complete 1040 without it as "Married filing separately".

See here, page no. 14. For publication 519, click here.

"Nonresident aliens and dual­-status aliens.

Generally,  a  married  couple  can't file  a  joint  return  if  either  spouse  is  a nonresident alien at any time during the year.  However,  if  you  were  a  nonresident alien or a dual-status alien and were married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien at the end of 2016, you can elect to be treated as a resident alien and file a joint return. See Pub. 519 for details"

 

Only thing to show in 2016 return is that you have filed as "Married" and not "Single". This can be accomplished by either of the statuses ["Married Filing Separately" or "Married Filing Jointly"]. Once you receive SSN, your ITIN is irrelevant. Wasting money and time on that was deemed unfruitful from our perspective, so we chose to go "Married Filing Separately".

 

Don't take CPAs' and Lawyers' word for everything. Don't take my word as well for that matter. Take as many inputs as you like. Do your research thoroughly and arrive at your own conclusion. We spent 2-3 days studying "1040 instructions" to decide which way would be the best for us.

 

Good luck.

 

Thank You @Tanish!!

 

Well what I understand is - You can still file as "Married filing jointly"; if a spouse is a Non Resident Alien.

Page 14 says

 

Married Filing Jointly

You can check the box on line 2 if any of the following apply.

You were married at the end of 2016, even if you didn't live with your spouse at the end of 2016. 

 

We are STAY married to each other at the end of 2016

 

However since the ITIN process takes time, you opted to choose for "Married filing Separately".

 

Was your spouse working when she filed "Married filing Separately"? What I understand is that I still can't file under "Married filing Separately" as the Tax Year in India i not complete. 

 

I am curious to know how your spouse filed, if she was working?

Nonresident Spouse Treated as a Resident.pdf

Edited March 21, 2017 by chamma

[Zebracakex 79]

1 hour ago, R and KJ said:

I was so happy when i read a lot are having their CC's and it gave me very HIGH HOPES! 

So was so excited i keep on checking CEAC and hoping and praying each time to get 3 NA's

 

then waited for the time i could call NVC, didnt wait much long for a representative 

and was heartbroken, when they both said (called twice to confirm) that waiting time is now 11 weeks

scan date of january 13, (sent documents nov 11, 2016)

and my request for SR that was granted last march 13 is now voided .. that i have to request again on apr 4 just in case. 

And NO! It's not being currently reviewed, its still sitting at their desk 

 

congrats to those you have their CC's, good luck in upcoming interview, 

congrats to those who got their interviews approved

and for us waiting for CC's may we have them the soonest

Hey...

 

I am not really tripping off of 11 weeks ** . Honestly speaking I am glad they are giving us a realistic time frame, 6-8 weeks was a complete JOKE !!

Its usually10-12 weeks for most of the cases I see around here. Looking at the last few CC's which are very random (January 5th , 9th , 13th and 17th) If I were to take a guess, they are working on second week of January so yours should be any day now. Don't stress. I just have this good feeling about CC by the end of this month for most of us January filers. Hopefully May interview for everybody

 

Stay Strong

Edited March 21, 2017 by Zebracakex

[Zebracakex 79]

Congratulations to all the CC's

 

Scan Date January 18

[Phoebe&Seva 3]

2 minutes ago, Zebracakex said:

Hey...

 

I am not really tripping off of 11 weeks #######. Honestly speaking I am glad they are giving us a realistic time frame, 6-8 weeks was a complete JOKE !!

Its usually10-12 weeks for most of the cases I see around here. Looking at the last few CC's which are very random (January 5th , 9th , 13th and 17th) If I were to take a guess, they are working on second week of January so yours should be any day now. Don't stress. I just have this good feeling about CC by the end of this month for most of us January filers. Hopefully May interview for everybody

 

Stay Strong

I sort of agree with you...my scan date is Jan 13th and Friday was 9 weeks of waiting for me, so I'm hoping to get a CC this week or next week. I have been stressing out but your post makes me feel more optimistic, so thank you for that. Good luck and I hope you get your CC soon!! 

[rac717 7]

Fingers crossed - we're now at the NVC stage!  Our file was sent to NVC March 6th.  I called today and they gave me invoice and case number.  I selected the agent (me, the USC) and now just waiting for the system to allow me to pay the fees.  Hopefully a day or two.

 

And it looks like I can do electronic filing for everything - oh how I hope this goes quickly!

[Wizzle 41]

10 hours ago, Gabby09 said:

F$***inh awesome feeling. Just saw the third N/A . Need to confirm in the morning before i celebrate .Scan date Jan 5th. Hoping for an interview in april

 

good luck

Congratulations!!!

[TeeA10 73]

With a heart filled with joy i announce,that i now have a CC, after 13 weeks at NVC and 3 weeks shy of 2 years since the beginning of this process.

 

Long post alert!!!

 

I got a checklist about 3 weeks back for our birth certificate, based on the US dept of state, we shouldn't have got the checklist as the submitted docs were acceptable as alternate docs.

When i got the checklist, i came on here, to lament and seek advise and encouragement. This had somehow become a home of sorts to cope with the stress of this whole process. Unfortunately, i didn't get the advise or input i needed, as only one person commented on my situation. I was somewhat discouraged, but i do understand that everyone is dealing with their individual situation and may not have had the time to comment. Ya''ll, a checklist is a very lonely and depressing place. Let's encourage anyone with a checklist.

I'm sharing this, because it may help someone, i don't wish a checklist on any one, but things do happen, as some NVC staff are sometime not knowledgeable, as was with my case.

 

Basically, i've spent the past 3 weeks disputing and fighting the checklist as i was not going to send in a new doc and get a new scan date putting me back at the tail end of the queue. Even my attorney advised i do that, but i refused and instructed him not to send in any docs (What do they know), lol?

Anyways, i called NVC na d quoted the US Dept of state website, which got their attention and they agreed to do another review of my file. I didn't stop there i also, emailed NVC and explained why my birth certificate is acceptable, i also included a screenshot of the website with the list of acceptable docs, and re-attached the said birth certificate. I did all of this PRAYERFULLY.

Guess what, when i called back a few days later, i was told i had a new scan date because they received new docs for me. What??? I called in and requested for a supervisor, who said the same thing. I calmly explained it was not possible as neither my lawyer or myself sent in new docs. I kept calling on a daily basis and requested that they pull my file and tell me what new docs was received. Finally, after speaking with a supervisor again, i was told that a supervisor had requested my file for another review on Friday, as at yesterday morning they were waiting to receive the file from "the other department" and this morning when i called  to find out i have a CC and my file was in queue for an interview date at my embassy. Hopefully April dates will still be available. The rep told me she hasn't been informed that they were done with April scheduling. 

 

I am soo overjoyed and just relieved to be done with NVC. I will now patiently wait for my interview date.

Speaking with supervisors do help, speak calmly and respectfully but firmly ask for what you want and oh the best time to get a supervisor easily is at 7am or from 9pm in the evening, (the later the better). I'm glad that my case ended with good news. Sorry for the long post, hopefully, it helps someone.

 

I-95 filing at USCIS: April 2015

NOA 1: September 2016

NVC Received Case: Dec 2016 (Took 105 days for our case to get to NVC from USCIS)

NVC Scan Date: December 22nd 2016

Sup Review: Feb 3rd 2017

Checklist received: March 6 2017

CC: March 20th 2017

 

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by TeeA10

[Phoebe&Seva 3]

Just logged in and saw 3 N/As!! Called the NVC and got a CC...so happy!  Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!! 

Scan date: January 13

[chamma 382]

10 minutes ago, Phoebe&Seva said:

Just logged in and saw 3 N/As!! Called the NVC and got a CC...so happy!  Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!! 

Scan date: January 13

Congratulations!!

[AwaisZ 7]

32 minutes ago, Phoebe&Seva said:

Just logged in and saw 3 N/As!! Called the NVC and got a CC...so happy!  Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!! 

Scan date: January 13

There you go :D. Congratulations !

[Phoebe&Seva 3]

2 minutes ago, AwaisZ said:

There you go :D. Congratulations !

I can't believe it. Thanks so much