CEAC is confusing us

[nekotakacho 60]

 

2018-11-13 - NVC received our case and are processing it
2018-11-26 - NVC assigned case number and invoice number

 

I try to check our visa status with CEAC by going here: https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx 

 

I put in our case number and it immediately popups and prompts me that there are steps outlined on how to proceed forward. I click on that link and it takes me to another login page, where it prompts me for my invoice number.

 

When I login with my case number and invoice number, it immediately sends me this message about DS-160.

 

My fiancee and I have already submitted our DS-160 (a few days ago) and were hoping to pay our fees (step 2 of this confusing process).

 

CEAC keeps insisting that we need to fill out a DS-160, even though we submitted it. Do we need to wait a while for our DS-160 to process into the system? Why can't I pay our fees?

 

We have had a case number since 11/26. I have not received any correspondence (the mail packet, or emails) from NVC. I received our case and invoice number by calling them. A nice lady on the phone said I can start DS-160 and pay the fees, but I am  confused on how to proceed beyond submitting our DS-160 form? Why are we stuck on this website like this? I thought things were supposed "move quickly now" with state department but this is ridiculously slow? help?

 

[nekotakacho 60]

I can retrieve and view our DS-160 just fine. But for some reason, it's not associated with our case or invoice number yet. Why is that? Is our submitted DS-160 waiting to be entered into the system? Should I be able to pay the fees now, or does it require waiting for Step 1 to complete? It does not specify anywhere.

 

Do I need to wait for their letter to arrive in the mail first? Did I miss a step or instruction?

 

I see many couples move through the NVC process quickly. It seems ours is moving very slow when compared to others? Why?

Edited December 6, 2018 by nekotakacho

[Unshakable Faith 493]

K1's don't pay any fees besides the visa fee.  

When you search your case number, are you searching immigrant or non-immigrant?

[JonSho 1]

5 hours ago, Unshakable Faith said:

K1's don't pay any fees besides the visa fee.  

When you search your case number, are you searching immigrant or non-immigrant?

I paid the fee after I filled out the Ds 160

[JonSho 1]

2 minutes ago, JonSho said:

I paid the fee after I filled out the Ds 160

 

5 hours ago, Unshakable Faith said:

K1's don't pay any fees besides the visa fee.  

When you search your case number, are you searching immigrant or non-immigrant?

As of early 2018, the total filing fees for the K-1 process were $535 for Form I-129F (filed with USCIS), 

 

$265 to apply for the K visa (paid to the consulate),

^^^^^^^^^^^(ds-160 step) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

and $1,225 for Form I-485 and the adjustment of status packet (filed with USCIS), including the biometrics fee.

[Unshakable Faith 493]

11 hours ago, JonSho said:

 

As of early 2018, the total filing fees for the K-1 process were $535 for Form I-129F (filed with USCIS), 

 

$265 to apply for the K visa (paid to the consulate),

^^^^^^^^^^^(ds-160 step) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

and $1,225 for Form I-485 and the adjustment of status packet (filed with USCIS), including the biometrics fee.

I'm saying that in the process they're in, they don't pay any fees except the visa fee. 

 

The petition fee was paid 7-10 months ago (approximately) and the AOS won't be for another 5-6 months depending on other factors. 

 

Right now OP should not be paying any fees for the K1 besides the visa fee that you must pay to schedule your interview.   This is paid via different means to the embassy/consulate.

[JonSho 1]

36 minutes ago, Unshakable Faith said:

I'm saying that in the process they're in, they don't pay any fees except the visa fee. 

 

The petition fee was paid 7-10 months ago (approximately) and the AOS won't be for another 5-6 months depending on other factors. 

 

Right now OP should not be paying any fees for the K1 besides the visa fee that you must pay to schedule your interview.   This is paid via different means to the embassy/consulate.

It must depend on which country you’re in then, because mine had to be paid prior to the interview for the k1 or else we weren’t able to schedule the interview. Perhaps it’s different in other countries, and/or different for other visas as well. But that was my personal experience. 

[Lebanese23 303]

20 hours ago, nekotakacho said:

I can retrieve and view our DS-160 just fine. But for some reason, it's not associated with our case or invoice number yet. Why is that? Is our submitted DS-160 waiting to be entered into the system? Should I be able to pay the fees now, or does it require waiting for Step 1 to complete? It does not specify anywhere.

 

Do I need to wait for their letter to arrive in the mail first? Did I miss a step or instruction?

 

I see many couples move through the NVC process quickly. It seems ours is moving very slow when compared to others? Why?

As far the as DS160, if you completed it, you should've gotten to the confirmation page where you can print it, if you didn't that means you didn't complete it. 

 

The website you are on is different then the one i use. https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx i use this to check status. If I remeber right, If you are choosing  on immigrant Visa, you should enter your NVC# and the nonimmigrant is the WAC#

 

the website above indicates you are on the DS-160 page. you cant check status there. if you got the comformation page for DS160, you can go ahead and register on https://cgifederal.secure.force.com to follow through before you pay the bank fee. let me know if you are having any issues

Edited December 7, 2018 by Lebanese23

[Unshakable Faith 493]

32 minutes ago, JonSho said:

It must depend on which country you’re in then, because mine had to be paid prior to the interview for the k1 or else we weren’t able to schedule the interview. Perhaps it’s different in other countries, and/or different for other visas as well. But that was my personal experience. 

What had to be paid prior to the interview?  The only thing you should have had to pay for was the visa fee and that has to be paid before you can schedule your interview. 

[nekotakacho 60]

I login to the CEAC visa status tracker and I get this popup message (and I click the link in the message):

 

 

 

It takes me to the "Immigrant Visa Process" page. It shows me six steps, the first being that I need to choose an Agent (DS-160), and then pay fees.

 

 

I have already submitted a DS-160 form last week. 

 

I click on step 2 and end up here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/after-petition-approved/step-2-pay-fees.html 

Step two clearly states:

 

 

Quote

 

After you choose your agent (in step 1 DS-160), you need to pay your processing fees. There are two processing fees:

• Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee
• Affidavit of Support Fee

 

 

From my understanding (and maybe I am wrong here), I have two fees to pay: Processing Fee: $265 + Affidavit of Support fee: $120 (w/ Check info and routing number, 2 payments)

 

I still have received nothing in the mail or email from NVC. I can see the case before us in Moscow, has already been granted an interview and moved the case to Moscow. I am curious what the next steps I need to take are, and if my DS-160 form is okay or if we need to re-submit one?

 

I think this will be confusing for me until I receive correspondence from  NVC, I just don't understand why ours takes longer than other's when looking at timelines on here.

3 minutes ago, Lebanese23 said:

As far the as DS160, if you completed it, you should've gotten to the confirmation page where you can print it, if you didn't that means you didn't complete it. 

 

The website you are on is different then the one i use. https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx i use this to check status. If I remeber right, If you are choosing  on immigrant Visa, you should enter your NVC# and the nonimmigrant is the WAC#

 

the website above indicates you are on the DS-160 page. you cant check status there. if you got the comformation page for DS160, you can go ahead and register on https://cgifederal.secure.force.com to follow through before you pay the bank fee. let me know if you are having any issues

 

Thank you. I am not sure what you mean "confirmation page". I can retrieve our DS-160 and print it. That's about it.

[nekotakacho 60]

Also, when I do the Visa Status check, it does not work until I put in "Immigrant Visa" and my case number.

 

Our case is for K1 visa, which is NON-IMMIGRANT visa. What the hell? I am so confused. Why does my case come up as Immigrant visa only in status check?

 

When I do the visa status check with our "application ID" for the DS-160, I get this:

 

Edited December 7, 2018 by nekotakacho
added screenshot

[Unshakable Faith 493]

1 minute ago, nekotakacho said:

I login to the CEAC visa status tracker and I get this popup message (and I click the link in the message):

 

 

 

It takes me to the "Immigrant Visa Process" page. It shows me six steps, the first being that I need to choose an Agent (DS-160), and then pay fees.

 

 

I have already submitted a DS-160 form last week. 

 

I click on step 2 and end up here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/after-petition-approved/step-2-pay-fees.html 

Step two clearly states:

 

 

 

From my understanding (and maybe I am wrong here), I have two fees to pay: Processing Fee: $265 + Affidavit of Support fee: $120 (w/ Check info and routing number, 2 payments)

 

I still have received nothing in the mail or email from NVC. I can see the case before us in Moscow, has already been granted an interview and moved the case to Moscow. I am curious what the next steps I need to take are, and if my DS-160 form is okay or if we need to re-submit one?

 

I think this will be confusing for me until I receive correspondence from  NVC, I just don't understand why ours takes longer than other's when looking at timelines on here.

Don't click there because those instructions are for immigrant visas.   A K1 is a non-immigrant visa.   

 

Now you just wait until your CEAC status says something about being sent to Department of State (DOS)/embassy- I can't remember the exact wording.   After that, you can email the embassy for instructions regarding your medical and police report.  

 

Then you pay your visa fee and schedule your interview and gather your documents for that. 

[Unshakable Faith 493]

There is no fee for the affidavit of support.   You turn that in at your interview. 

 

A K1 visa is processed as an immigrant visa at the embassy, that's why it shows up as immigrant in some spots. 

 

You will not receive instructions from NVC, as there is nothing you do at this step. 

Edited December 7, 2018 by Unshakable Faith

[Lebanese23 303]

9 minutes ago, nekotakacho said:

From my understanding (and maybe I am wrong here), I have two fees to pay: Processing Fee: $265 + Affidavit of Support fee: $120 (w/ Check info and routing number, 2 payments)

 

I still have received nothing in the mail or email from NVC. I can see the case before us in Moscow, has already been granted an interview and moved the case to Moscow. I am curious what the next steps I need to take are, and if my DS-160 form is okay or if we need to re-submit one?

the only fee you pay now is the embassy/interview fee, i dunno if your embassy is different then mine, but we only paid $265. affidavit of support is for spouse visa i think, which you are not. your on K1 visa, dont confuse the 2, these website really confuse us all. stop clicking on those website lol. 

 

11 minutes ago, nekotakacho said:

Thank you. I am not sure what you mean "confirmation page". I can retrieve our DS-160 and print it. That's about it.

Confirmation page you need to take with you to interview and maybe even medical appt. you need to print it out, you will get it AFTER submitting DS-160 online. did you sign it? it should take you to this page, here is an example. you NEED this page.  

 

we paid our fee after registering on this website https://cgifederal.secure.force.com  and we printed out a Deposit slip that we had to take to the bank, some embassy lets you pay it online maybe and that's somethign i cant help you with, we had to take the deposit slip to the bank in our instructions and pay it, then the next day, we were able to go back on that website to enter the bank receipt # to schedule an interview.  some embassy lets you schedule before paying, you have to figure yours out, probably best to ask someone in the Russia Portal.

13 minutes ago, nekotakacho said:

Also, when I do the Visa Status check, it does not work until I put in "Immigrant Visa" and my case number.

 

Our case is for K1 visa, which is NON-IMMIGRANT visa. What the hell? I am so confused. Why does my case come up as Immigrant visa only in status check?

dont worry about that i was able to see status on both, so it doesnt mean anything

[JonSho 1]

14 hours ago, Unshakable Faith said:

What had to be paid prior to the interview?  The only thing you should have had to pay for was the visa fee and that has to be paid before you can schedule your interview. 

The fee you are supposed to pay after filling out the DS160. Which is the visa fee. This is what the poster is asking about. So in MY case, this fee had to be paid before scheduling the interview.