MAY 2020 K-1 NOA2 to NVC to EMBASSY

[Greenbaum 12,259]

This thread was created for those who are waiting for their NOA2 K-1 case assignment from NVC and then tracking your case onwards to your Embassy. Contained in the PDF below are many tips, tricks, and hacks to help you along the way. Plese download a copy as it will answer most questions that most at this point in their journey are asking. The PDF does update from time to time with new findings, so be sure you have the latest information. Check the dates in the lower left-hand corner if you are using the latest copy.

 

Again, these are items that everyone asks questions, so I thought I'd post a PDF of them here for you to refer to when it's necessary. If you are new to this thread, please read as these are the most asked questions multiple times. Good luck.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nfin98c33IEpB0T0FlURERriblYmlm5O/view?usp=sharing

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Bump

[Entheos 95]

Approved today!!  Time to do more reading while we wait!!

[Greenbaum 12,259]

1 hour ago, Entheos said:

Approved today!!  Time to do more reading while we wait!!

Congratulations and welcome to the thread. If you have questions after reading the PDF, this is the place to ask. Good luck and stay engaged.

[Entheos 95]

Interestingly when we received the NOA2 it was dated the day before (April 30th).  The NOA2 was received physically in the mail 1 business day after the approval notification happened.  Which I thought was very interesting.

 

Also noteworthy is that the A number for myself which was supplied on the original Petition has been superseded it seems on the NOA2.  My fiancee also has an A number as she was naturalised 16 years ago...and I had an A number from my previous Visas (E3D) from my time there too.  Have got my old EAD cards and the A number shows on them as well as others... but this number seems to have increased for me on the NOA2.  I assume they had to 're-register' me?  I don't know.  I suppose I use the new one from now on...  it was previously A-137 *** *** (issued in 2013) it's now A-216 *** ***.  I have been wondering if it's going to be worth me holding onto my old EAD and Driver's Licenses for any kind of identification purposes... but I guess as they are expired they are no longer able to be used in any official capacity... I know they 'accepted' my expired DL while I was visiting to buy alcohol and those sorts of things, however I need my Australian Passport for any travel of course.

 

I wonder, also, with the Australian Consulate in Sydney being still somewhat operational (emergency interviews only), if the 'normal' timeframe for the paperwork to arrive to the NVC and the onto the Consulate is... I'm resigning myself to the fact that it's not going to be and anything else is a bonus... but with the speed that the original application was approved I am quietly hopeful.  I do firmly believe that the application was approved so 'quickly' for a 'normal' petition due to how well presented (humble brag) that I made the packet and that it was all uniform and clean and easy to find items and all the pages were the same size, etc.  Also that I have 4.5 years of history in the country as a Temporary resident alien...so have SSN, A Number, previous tax history, land ownership, DL, etc... I suspect it was easier for them to background check me with all that - all previous visas had been approved without any issue, and have 'cancelled without prejudice' stamped on them which is why we supplied my entire passport photocopied along with my fiancee's compete passport copy too.  The only drawback of the speedy 'approval' is that if the travel ban is not lifted by the Australian Government the likelihood of my family being able to travel for the wedding that must happen fairly quickly after my arrival is very very low.

 

Anyway... enough random thoughts for today!!

[Greenbaum 12,259]

@Entheos welcome to the thread. You have quite a story there. I think your thought process about each entity is closer to the truth then you realize. The relationship to Australia is strong and only getting stronger between the US and Aus. That has a lot to do with your speedy transition. If information can be shared between each country on their citizens, then the smoother things progress on a visa issuance level. I'm sure the person in Texas that inputs your documents through the scanner appreciates your neatness and organization but once it's in the computer no one knows how hard you worked to make it more palatable and it's the users who are none the wiser for it. Good luck and stay engaged. 

[Entheos 95]

2 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

@Entheos welcome to the thread. You have quite a story there. I think your thought process about each entity is closer to the truth then you realize. The relationship to Australia is strong and only getting stronger between the US and Aus. That has a lot to do with your speedy transition. If information can be shared between each country on their citizens, then the smoother things progress on a visa issuance level. I'm sure the person in Texas that inputs your documents through the scanner appreciates your neatness and organization but once it's in the computer no one knows how hard you worked to make it more palatable and it's the users who are none the wiser for it. Good luck and stay engaged. 

Oooooo....lucky me... 2 welcomes to the thread!!

 

Yes I'm sure that the neatness didn't make a lick of difference to the folks in Cali... but if it made one persons' job easier, I'm happy!!  I guess that's the many years of 'customer service in me'.

 

I found the new A number to be interesting...but then did some googling...and it seems to be somewhat normal.  I just need to remember to keep all my numbers in a safe place.  It seems that I will need to reference the 'new' one from now on with this application though... Although I'll confirm that with the NVC.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

3 hours ago, Entheos said:

Oooooo....lucky me... 2 welcomes to the thread!!

 

Yes I'm sure that the neatness didn't make a lick of difference to the folks in Cali... but if it made one persons' job easier, I'm happy!!  I guess that's the many years of 'customer service in me'.

 

I found the new A number to be interesting...but then did some googling...and it seems to be somewhat normal.  I just need to remember to keep all my numbers in a safe place.  It seems that I will need to reference the 'new' one from now on with this application though... Although I'll confirm that with the NVC.

Always use the A# associated to the process so you have a connection. If no connection, then use the last A# that was issued. I agree, it would be an asset to create a tickler file on which A# belongs to what process for easy referencing if needed in the future.

[jawbone8547 10]

@Greenbaum     Thank you for directing me here.  I believe I updated my profile but if is not right please let me know.     I see a lot of people request a P3 for the foreign consulate.     Do you have one for the Czech Republic?

[Greenbaum 12,259]

7 minutes ago, jawbone8547 said:

@Greenbaum     Thank you for directing me here.  I believe I updated my profile but if is not right please let me know.     I see a lot of people request a P3 for the foreign consulate.     Do you have one for the Czech Republic?

Thanks for updating your profile. Now here is what you need for the next steps.

 

Search and study this page.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/cz/cz-niv-paymentinfo.asp

 

Here is information on your Embassy found here on VJ

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Czech

 

Check your sub-forum for additional help

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/95-europe-amp-eurasia-except-the-uk-and-russia/

 

If you find anything not up to date or the information is wrong, please share your findings. Please compare the date of the P3 of mine with the date from your copy, once you receive yours from your embassy. Keep in mind that I try and be factual with my information, but I can't do it on my own and that's where you come in and can give back to the community those who come behind you. Without others ahead of you I would not be able to provide this to you.  I can only share factual information if folks like you continue to be my eyes and ears for your embassy. I wish you much success in your visa journey. 
 

[Entheos 95]

6 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

If you find anything not up to date or the information is wrong, please share your findings. Please compare the date of the P3 of mine with the date from your copy, once you receive yours from your embassy. Keep in mind that I try and be factual with my information, but I can't do it on my own and that's where you come in and can give back to the community those who come behind you. Without others ahead of you I would not be able to provide this to you.  I can only share factual information if folks like you continue to be my eyes and ears for your embassy. I wish you much success in your visa journey. 
 

So I was looking at the Sydney Consulate page and the P3 and P4 are dated in 2016...I assume that nothing really has changed since then.  I will compare mine to yours when I get it.... which I suspect is still about 2-3 months away as it's JUST been approved by USCIS....  Thank you for all the work you do put into this site... it's been easily the most organic and clearest source of information for people on this journey... I've even found myself quoting you... ha ha.

 

From what I can see it seems that the Sydney Consulate is still on very limited operations... but some people have had success in getting emergency interviews.  I called one of the 2 medical options yesterday and was given a basic rundown and cost (quoted $385 + any immunizations I wish to get done at Oconnell Street Medical Centre) , but they will not book me until I have my P4 I think... they need my interview date... So I'll cross that bridge when we get to it.  It also seems that the NVC is in fact still shipping out the packets to at least Sydney...another user reported that they confirmed in the last 24 hours that their packet left 'today'.

 

Also I did the 'Ask NVC' thing from the PDF on the first page to update our email addresses...and I got the following response:

 

"Dear Sir/Madam:

 

Thank you for your inquiry. We do not have a record of receiving your petition.

 

It can take at least six weeks for the National Visa Center (NVC) to receive an approved petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and enter it in the U.S. Department of State's database system. If it has been less than six weeks since USCIS approved your petition, you don't need to take any action at this point.

 

If USCIS approved your petition more than six weeks ago, please send us a scanned copy of your I-797 or I-171 Notice of Action - Approval Notice. You can attach the scanned copy to an email, and send it to nvcresearch@state.gov.

 

In the subject line of your email, please type the original receipt number from your I-130 Approval Notice. If you have more than one petition, send a separate email for each petition. Once we receive the copy of your approval notice, we will contact USCIS to find your petition.

 

Before you send us an email, please check your Notice of Action and make sure it says your petition was approved. If it says that USCIS kept your petition, or if it is a notice other than an approval, you should contact USCIS for more information. You can contact them on their website at uscis.gov, or by telephone at 1-800-375-5283."

 

I guess the email update thing isn't something they do anymore?

 

Anyway.. just trying to find things to do to pass the time... other than producing online services, studying and submitting assignments for my course, working out... you know... nice and quiet here.... 🤪🤪

[Greenbaum 12,259]

@Entheos Thank you for your kind appreciation. You were tad early with your update to your email addresses. Hit can be hit or miss as the window at NVC is so short. 

 

I believe that the person who stated their case was sent to their embassy may have been said in error. I have experience with those who "dish" out information only to find out the "assumed" that this happened or that happened. Not having a complete understanding or using all the tools that I outline in my PDF it becomes a "cra__p" shoot. So, I wouldn't put too much weight on what they had said.

 

Stay engaged,.

[renkri2020 14]

Hello everyone, just received NOA2 approval today 🙂

Edited May 6, 2020 by renkri2020

[ChrissyR91 9]

@renkri2020 CONGRATS!!!!!

[Britney868 184]

Hello everyone!!! I received my approval today! Excited for the next step!!