Scheduling K1 Interview in Kyiv

[AM&AK 3]

I'm so sorry if this has already been answered or if this is posted in the wrong area (new-ish user, sorry).  But I want to be sure I understand the process for my fiancé as he goes to the embassy for his interview.  We received our NOA-2 on July 20, 2017.  From my understanding, we have to wait for the information to be sent to the embassy, but we can start the process--setting up medical exams, paying fees, setting an interview, etc.--once we know the embassy has it, and we don't have to wait until we get the notice in the Ukrainian mail.  Is this correct?

My understanding of the order of things is:
- NVS sends application off to embassy

- We can call the embassy and ask after several weeks if they have received it
- We submit DS-160 through the embassy's website

- We schedule a medical interview; he attends

- We pay the $265 visa application fee through Bank Aval, & apply for passport delivery (not exactly sure what that is)

- We call and make an appointment for the official interview
- We bring all necessary documents and, hopefully, get the K1 stamp within a week
- He flies here, we marry, and start all the other paperwork while living happily ever after  

Is my understanding correct?  I know questions of this nature have been posted before, but most I found were pretty old or unclear.  Thanks for your help, understanding, patience, and community! -AM&AK

[Eric&Olya 881]

Congrats on your NOA2!

 

This is what we did:

- 2 weeks after the approval date my fiance called NVC and he was lucky enough to get the case number immediately, most people have to wait longer and/or call several times. Here's the instruction that I found here on VJ:

 

• Phone number: 603-334-0700.

• If it goes straight to voice recording, it means that the lines are busy.  Hang up right away.

• If it rings once and then goes to a voice recording, it means they will take your call.  You will hear a voice recording with a woman.  As soon as she starts talking, press 1.

• You will be directed to a voice recording with a man.  As soon as he starts talking, press 7.

• You will be put on hold.  

• When an employee answers, they will ask you for your case number.  Tell them that you don't have a case number yet, but you have your USCIS receipt number.  This was my standard line: "My fiancé and I applied for a k-1 visa.  We received our I-797 (Notice of Action 2) from the California Service Center on June 28, 2017.  W are calling to see if the California Service Center has forwarded our case."

• The employee will enter your case number into their system.  If the case has not been forwarded, they will tell you to call back again in a few days.

• If the case has been forwarded, they will ask you for your full name and date of birth and your fiancé's full name and date of birth.  Then they will give you your case number (important) and your invoice number (which they said was important but we never used).

2) After you have your case number, you can check your case status here:

https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

 

- when you track the number, it will be "At NVC", then "In Transit", then "Ready". Ukrainian cases are processed electronically, so it won't take long for the case to reach the embassy - several days, not weeks

- once you have the number, you can scedule the medical - in fact, they didn't even ask me for the number when I did it! So, you can try now if you want to speed things up

- there's no need to call the embassy, they will call your beneficiary to ask for his email address once they get the case, and send all the info electronically

- you fill in and submit DS-160 through traveldocs website http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ua/ and register for the passport delivery when you create an account there. I think it must be signed electronically by the beneficiary, so if you do it instead of him, you should save it, and then he can access it from his computer and sign - but I'm not 100% sure how strict this requirement is (I filled it in myself)

- the beneficiary pays through bank Aval and waits for about 5 hours for the payment to be processed (I had to wait longer)

- you schedule the interview online (or you can call them)

(well, I haven't completed the next steps yet but as far as I know...)

- the beneficiary attends the medical

- he attends the interview (or both of you do)

- a happy dance after being approved

- get the passport delivered either to the delivery service office or to his place, you choose it when registering

 

Good luck!

 

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*country-specific question moved from "K-1 fiancé visa processes and procedures" to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus sub-forum. Question about procedures at the Kyiv embassy*~*~*

[AM&AK 3]

9 hours ago, Eric&Olya said:

Congrats on your NOA2!

 

This is what we did:

- 2 weeks after the approval date my fiance called NVC and he was lucky enough to get the case number immediately, most people have to wait longer and/or call several times. Here's the instruction that I found here on VJ:

 

 

• Phone number: 603-334-0700.

• If it goes straight to voice recording, it means that the lines are busy.  Hang up right away.

• If it rings once and then goes to a voice recording, it means they will take your call.  You will hear a voice recording with a woman.  As soon as she starts talking, press 1.

• You will be directed to a voice recording with a man.  As soon as he starts talking, press 7.

• You will be put on hold.  

• When an employee answers, they will ask you for your case number.  Tell them that you don't have a case number yet, but you have your USCIS receipt number.  This was my standard line: "My fiancé and I applied for a k-1 visa.  We received our I-797 (Notice of Action 2) from the California Service Center on June 28, 2017.  W are calling to see if the California Service Center has forwarded our case."

• The employee will enter your case number into their system.  If the case has not been forwarded, they will tell you to call back again in a few days.

• If the case has been forwarded, they will ask you for your full name and date of birth and your fiancé's full name and date of birth.  Then they will give you your case number (important) and your invoice number (which they said was important but we never used).

2) After you have your case number, you can check your case status here:

https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

 

- when you track the number, it will be "At NVC", then "In Transit", then "Ready". Ukrainian cases are processed electronically, so it won't take long for the case to reach the embassy - several days, not weeks

- once you have the number, you can scedule the medical - in fact, they didn't even ask me for the number when I did it! So, you can try now if you want to speed things up

- there's no need to call the embassy, they will call your beneficiary to ask for his email address once they get the case, and send all the info electronically

- you fill in and submit DS-160 through traveldocs website http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ua/ and register for the passport delivery when you create an account there. I think it must be signed electronically by the beneficiary, so if you do it instead of him, you should save it, and then he can access it from his computer and sign - but I'm not 100% sure how strict this requirement is (I filled it in myself)

- the beneficiary pays through bank Aval and waits for about 5 hours for the payment to be processed (I had to wait longer)

- you schedule the interview online (or you can call them)

(well, I haven't completed the next steps yet but as far as I know...)

- the beneficiary attends the medical

- he attends the interview (or both of you do)

- a happy dance after being approved

- get the passport delivered either to the delivery service office or to his place, you choose it when registering

 

Good luck!

 

Thank you!  This made it much clearer.  Good luck with the rest of your journey!

[TeamPT 45]

Anyone know if you can also schedule the passport delivery by phone, or only the interview itself?

[Alabamak1 688]

On 5/7/2018 at 10:44 AM, TeamPT said:

Anyone know if you can also schedule the passport delivery by phone, or only the interview itself?

when you do your DS-160 is when you give your delivery address and  TMM express sends it to their office near your location