February 2018 I-129F Filers, Part II

[BJ & Christine 1,392]

5 minutes ago, americaninlove said:

Quick question—how do you know when your status turns “ready”?

U can check nvc website for updates 

 

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

 

u should of received ur noa2 in the mail 3 to 5 days from date approved. 

Its on average taking nvc 16 to 21 days ish to get ur nvc number.

figure another 2 weeks minimal for it to be ship to embassy. 

Will have in transit msg for about 2 or so then case will state ready. 

Edited October 13, 2018 by BJ & Christine

[americaninlove 381]

2 minutes ago, BJ & Christine said:

U can check nvc website for updates 

 

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

 

u should of received ur noa2 in the mail 3 to 5 days from date approved. 

Its on average taking nvc 16 to 21 days ish to get ur nvc number.

figure another 2 weeks minimal for it to be ship to embassy. 

Will have in transit msg for about 2 or so then case will state ready. 

Thanks. Still no NOA2 8 days later but maybe it will magically be in my mailbox when I’m back next week. Although based on my luck I’m guessing there’s some problem and it won’t arrive for weeks lol. So it sounds like about two months until the case will be “ready”? And then at that point you can submit DS-160 and how much longer after that can you schedule interview? Just trying to get a sense of overall timeline.  

[BJ & Christine 1,392]

3 minutes ago, americaninlove said:

Thanks. Still no NOA2 8 days later but maybe it will magically be in my mailbox when I’m back next week. Although based on my luck I’m guessing there’s some problem and it won’t arrive for weeks lol. So it sounds like about two months until the case will be “ready”? And then at that point you can submit DS-160 and how much longer after that can you schedule interview? Just trying to get a sense of overall timeline.  

@ST_RO I believe she was able to do things a lot differently then most embassies. Be best to get her input on it. 

[americaninlove 381]

21 minutes ago, BJ & Christine said:

@ST_RO I believe she was able to do things a lot differently then most embassies. Be best to get her input on it. 

I Just looked at her timeline, but lol there is no way mine will go that fast. I can guarantee that! She is best case scenario every step of the way and I seem to be far on the other side. So I’ll double her dates for each step from here on and assume that timeline 😂😂😂

 

But when I look at the steps on the VJ timeline, at what step does the case status become “ready”?

Edited October 13, 2018 by americaninlove

[BJ & Christine 1,392]

4 minutes ago, americaninlove said:

But when I look at the steps on the VJ timeline, at what step does the case status become “ready”?

Case status changes to ready once it is received at ur embassy. 

 

St_ro had the best case scenario for sure. But, if I recall she said that medical and interview dates were plentiful. Had no issues or long wait getting to either of them.

[americaninlove 381]

29 minutes ago, BJ & Christine said:

Case status changes to ready once it is received at ur embassy. 

 

St_ro had the best case scenario for sure. But, if I recall she said that medical and interview dates were plentiful. Had no issues or long wait getting to either of them.

Thanks. That’s good to know. No appointment needed for medical in Germany. You just walk in and wait. So that’s super lucky! Hoping appointments are still available as we get to Christmas but she said Frankfurt is moving fast. Hope it stays that way!

[Lucrezia_ITALY 45]

Just to let you guys know, we received our NOA2 hard copy in the mail today.

Case approved on Oct. 10th.

[Bure 161]

1 hour ago, Lucrezia_ITALY said:

Just to let you guys know, we received our NOA2 hard copy in the mail today.

Case approved on Oct. 10th.

congratulations.

[americaninlove 381]

4 hours ago, BJ & Christine said:

Case status changes to ready once it is received at ur embassy. 

Okay one more question. Is the benefit of calling for the case number just so you can get your medical done earlier because you need the case number for that? Is there some other reason to call? Because it seems like calling after 10 days when it’s going to be potentially another 3-4 weeks even after that until your case gets to the embassy seems pointless. I’m sure I’m missing some reason why it’s useful though. Thanks!

[Helike 93]

4 hours ago, americaninlove said:

Thanks. That’s good to know. No appointment needed for medical in Germany. You just walk in and wait. So that’s super lucky! Hoping appointments are still available as we get to Christmas but she said Frankfurt is moving fast. Hope it stays that way!

Depends on the City you are doing your medical, the doctors in Frankfurt do it walk-in, in other areas you need to make an appointment. I know she got her interview in the embassy very fast, right in the following week after packet 4. The next appointment was available 2 weeks later, so yep, Frankfurt moves faster than others. Good for us hehe...

Edited October 13, 2018 by Helike

[ST_RO 309]

1 hour ago, americaninlove said:

Okay one more question. Is the benefit of calling for the case number just so you can get your medical done earlier because you need the case number for that? Is there some other reason to call? Because it seems like calling after 10 days when it’s going to be potentially another 3-4 weeks even after that until your case gets to the embassy seems pointless. I’m sure I’m missing some reason why it’s useful though. Thanks!

Sorry, I was busy all day after my last message earlier today, but @BJ & Christine and @Helike answered your questions correctly, thank you!

 

The benefit of calling is so that you stay on top of the process and know exactly at which stage your visa is. Also, if your case gets to NVC and assigned a case number right before the next batch of mail going to the embassy, your case could be in Frankfurt even faster than mine. 

The other benefit is that you can create your profile on USTraveldocs (if I remember correctly) with the NVC case number. So basically you can prepare everything, the DS-160 and the USTraveldocs Profile AND P3. My case didn't move that fast after leaving NVC by accident. I was tracking closely where my case is, scheduled my medical immediately after I hung up the phone with NCVC,  I had all applications and documents ready and in an envelope with the address and stamp on it. All I had to do is push "send". 

So those are the benefits. That said, I'm not asking you to turn into a maniac NVC phone stalker. I called them once, sometimes twice a day right when they open up (no wait time) and then one day they started asking for personal information and then you know they have it. After waiting and not being able to do anything, it made me feel better that this one isn't going to be a long wait and that I can do my share to speed the process up.

[americaninlove 381]

1 hour ago, ST_RO said:

Sorry, I was busy all day after my last message earlier today, but @BJ & Christine and @Helike answered your questions correctly, thank you!

 

The benefit of calling is so that you stay on top of the process and know exactly at which stage your visa is. Also, if your case gets to NVC and assigned a case number right before the next batch of mail going to the embassy, your case could be in Frankfurt even faster than mine. 

The other benefit is that you can create your profile on USTraveldocs (if I remember correctly) with the NVC case number. So basically you can prepare everything, the DS-160 and the USTraveldocs Profile AND P3. My case didn't move that fast after leaving NVC by accident. I was tracking closely where my case is, scheduled my medical immediately after I hung up the phone with NCVC,  I had all applications and documents ready and in an envelope with the address and stamp on it. All I had to do is push "send". 

So those are the benefits. That said, I'm not asking you to turn into a maniac NVC phone stalker. I called them once, sometimes twice a day right when they open up (no wait time) and then one day they started asking for personal information and then you know they have it. After waiting and not being able to do anything, it made me feel better that this one isn't going to be a long wait and that I can do my share to speed the process up.

That all makes sense. I think that after waiting and being tortured for almost 8 months to get an NOA2 (and still haven't even gotten it!) I need to approach this part a bit less stalkery to keep my sanity lol. I'll call the week after next (hopefully will have gotten my NOA2 in the mail by then!) and see what happens. Your posts and timeline are super helpful for me so I can keep track of all there is to do. So many steps from this point on and my fiance is not exactly the most organized!!

[ST_RO 309]

4 minutes ago, americaninlove said:

That all makes sense. I think that after waiting and being tortured for almost 8 months to get an NOA2 (and still haven't even gotten it!) I need to approach this part a bit less stalkery to keep my sanity lol. I'll call the week after next (hopefully will have gotten my NOA2 in the mail by then!) and see what happens. Your posts and timeline are super helpful for me so I can keep track of all there is to do. So many steps from this point on and my fiance is not exactly the most organized!!

LOL, it seems to me that every female I talk to on VJ has the same problem. The only guy that knows his stuff is BJ&Christine (and the wise Greenbaum of course). 

The good thing about this next phase is that you are not in the waiting seat anymore - at least for the most part. Actually, I found myself going crazy because all of the sudden I had to do a million things at once. But then again, I'm the beneficiary and you're not, so you don't have to sell your whole life in three months, haha.

Anyway, I am confident that you will be MUCH saner from now on. We were joking here in the forum how many hundred times a day we were refreshing the USCIS website. After about a week of calling NVC I told myself that it doesn't matter anymore. It's approved and it will get there when it gets there. The only reason I tried to be fast was because I really wanted to spend Christmas with my fiancé - not because of Christmas (he's Jewish, not afraid to marry a German, LOL), but because that's the only time he will be on leave so we actually get to spend some time together. 

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that you have a smooth ride now. Don't hesitate to message me if you need any further info!!

[americaninlove 381]

37 minutes ago, ST_RO said:

LOL, it seems to me that every female I talk to on VJ has the same problem. The only guy that knows his stuff is BJ&Christine (and the wise Greenbaum of course). 

The good thing about this next phase is that you are not in the waiting seat anymore - at least for the most part. Actually, I found myself going crazy because all of the sudden I had to do a million things at once. But then again, I'm the beneficiary and you're not, so you don't have to sell your whole life in three months, haha.

Anyway, I am confident that you will be MUCH saner from now on. We were joking here in the forum how many hundred times a day we were refreshing the USCIS website. After about a week of calling NVC I told myself that it doesn't matter anymore. It's approved and it will get there when it gets there. The only reason I tried to be fast was because I really wanted to spend Christmas with my fiancé - not because of Christmas (he's Jewish, not afraid to marry a German, LOL), but because that's the only time he will be on leave so we actually get to spend some time together. 

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that you have a smooth ride now. Don't hesitate to message me if you need any further info!!

Yeah honestly I have no stress about it anymore. That process so was horrible, especially the last two months of thinking it was just never going to happen. At this point it feels like it will happen when it happens. Plus because it's all in his hands, who the heck knows when it will happen lol!! But at least it's work to be done and not sitting around with NO info (although I will feel better once the NOA2 arrives in the mail). Because I'm still traveling and alone in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere tonight I put together a list for him of everything to do from now until the end (and, you're right...the amount he has to do including packing up and selling and shipping his ENTIRE LIFE is just massive...). Hopefully I got everything! I read through all of your posts and Greenbaum's post of the info from Germany. This helped my brain get it all organized!

 

TO DO:

1. Complete DS-160 online. Cannot submit until case is in “ready” status. Save along the way each time you work on it.
2. Get 6 passport photos (need 4 for medical exam)
3. Need to scan one of the passport photos to upload to DS-160.
4. Get blood work (titer) to determine what vaccines you have
5. Get vaccines you don’t have. Need: Td/Tdap, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), Varicella
6. Get Police record in Germany
7. Get Police record in Ireland
8. Find original birth certificate and divorce certificate
9. Make copies of birth certificate and divorce certificate and passport (biographic page ONLY) and both police certificates
10. Once you have case number and vaccine record, go to Frankfurt for medical: You do not need an appointment with the physicians in Frankfurt; they accept walk-ins Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 07.30 am – 11.00 am.
11. Make a list of all addresses since age 16
12. Once DS-160 is completed and submitted, you must print the barcode confirmation page, then hit the "Back" button on your web browser and then email yourself a backup copy of the DS-160. Bring the printed page to the interview.
13. Go to www.ustraveldocs.com/de and create a profile after you have the case number. This must be done before the interview. Instructions here: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/de/de-iv-documentdelivery.asp

PROCESS:

1. Once case number is assigned, case is sent to NVC. This can take two weeks.
2. Case will then be sent to Frankfurt. This can take another two weeks.
3. Once they receive the case, the status of the case will be “ready”. Once we have the case number, we can go here and check the status as much as we want: https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx
4. Once Frankfurt receives the case, they will mail you out Packet 3. This can take 1-2 weeks for you to get after they receive the case.
5. If you’ve done all of the above (submitted DS-160 once case status is “ready” and gotten all the documentation together that is needed for packet 3), you can mail the packet 3 back on the same day you receive it.
6. They will then send you Packet 4 which is your interview appointment.
7. You must have the medical done and the profile for delivery address completed online before the interview.
8. Then you go to the interview and get approved!

[Greenbaum 12,259]

19 hours ago, americaninlove said:

Okay one more question. Is the benefit of calling for the case number just so you can get your medical done earlier because you need the case number for that? Is there some other reason to call? Because it seems like calling after 10 days when it’s going to be potentially another 3-4 weeks even after that until your case gets to the embassy seems pointless. I’m sure I’m missing some reason why it’s useful though. Thanks!

There are two schools of thought for calling to get your case number. One is that people seem to need to be "hands on" and so they make the calls. The other camp will "trust the process" and wait till it gets adjudicated. Some Embassies require the case number to move ahead with the process in the beneficiaries' country so case needs to be set to "ready" status and the beneficiary is contact with further instructions (P3). My experience is that if you need the case number to begin the process in your home country then call. If you can't move till the Embassy tells you that you can then there is nothing you can do. Besides the biggest hurdle to the application approval and case assignment is the availability of a visa slot as they work with a monthly quota for case number assignment. If there are 1,000 applicants and only 800 visas quota's available for that month then only 800 approvals. If you have a higher number you'll have to wait for the next month and herein lies the challenge. I found this article that explains it in more detail from a lawyer's stand point.

 

http://johnhykel.com/immigration_attorney/department-of-state-fact-sheet-on-how-the-immigrant-quota-system-works/

 

Here are the instructions for Germany. Maybe this will help answer any future questions.

 

https://de.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/Instructions-for-IV-and-K-Visa-Applicants-1.pdf

 

Visa Payment System information:

 

There is indeed a cash pay option but i wanted to do it online so i clicked on the "provide feedback" option and explained my situation and they said to wait 24 hours as well! Here is what they said about the cards: "In addition, please note that our payment gateway is set-up to process the following branded cards: 

 

1. VISA Debit 

2. VISA Electron 

3. MasterCard Debit 

4. Maestro 

 

Just because a card is branded with VISA/MasterCard does not automatically mean it is a debit card. Many of the refusals we have seen are V/MC branded Credit Cards which we never accept. 

 

In addition, there are a number of domestic debit card schemes that are available in the region. Each of these card schemes must have the following features to be accepted online: 

1. Co-branded with VISA/MasterCard(Maestro) – i.e. they must have one of these logos on the card. 

2. Contain a CVV number (this is the three digit number on the back of the card). 

 

If they do not have both these features, they will not be accepted. "

 

Edited October 14, 2018 by Greenbaum