How long for an NVC case number / Welcome letter

[Schildkrote5 27]

Hello guys new to the forum,

 

Our I-129F petition was approved and supposedly sent to the NVC about 3 months ago. Sent an inquiry and they basically told me to piss off and they’ll send me a notification when they get to it. I realize things have slowed down for covid and I explained that in my request... I really just wanted to know if they had our file but I couldn’t get that information...Just wondering what other people’s processing times have been from time Petition was forwarded to the time you received a case number or welcome letter. It’s advertised as taking 2 weeks and it’s been about 12 for us now. A little worried that maybe the paperwork got lost at this point and frustrating because there’s no way to track anything without a case number being assigned. This has been the most nerve racking part of the process thus far. Thanks in advance.

 

[BC97 13]

11 minutes ago, Schildkrote5 said:

Hello guys new to the forum,

 

Our I-129F petition was approved and supposedly sent to the NVC about 3 months ago. Sent an inquiry and they basically told me to piss off and they’ll send me a notification when they get to it. I realize things have slowed down for covid and I explained that in my request... I really just wanted to know if they had our file but I couldn’t get that information...Just wondering what other people’s processing times have been from time Petition was forwarded to the time you received a case number or welcome letter. It’s advertised as taking 2 weeks and it’s been about 12 for us now. A little worried that maybe the paperwork got lost at this point and frustrating because there’s no way to track anything without a case number being assigned. This has been the most nerve racking part of the process thus far. Thanks in advance.

 

It isn’t lost. Everyone’s cases are being held at NVC until your respective embassy reopens.

 

My fiancée called them and asked, and it’s the same thing everyone on here is getting told.

 

You can get your case number by calling NVC. It was probably assigned about two months ago.

[Greenbaum 12,260]

4 hours ago, Schildkrote5 said:

Hello guys new to the forum,

 

Our I-129F petition was approved and supposedly sent to the NVC about 3 months ago. Sent an inquiry and they basically told me to piss off and they’ll send me a notification when they get to it. I realize things have slowed down for covid and I explained that in my request... I really just wanted to know if they had our file but I couldn’t get that information...Just wondering what other people’s processing times have been from time Petition was forwarded to the time you received a case number or welcome letter. It’s advertised as taking 2 weeks and it’s been about 12 for us now. A little worried that maybe the paperwork got lost at this point and frustrating because there’s no way to track anything without a case number being assigned. This has been the most nerve racking part of the process thus far. Thanks in advance.

 

This process from you submitting your application and it being processed in TX then sent to CSC for adjudication then upon approval it's sent to NVC for case number assignment thusly runs the way it was intended. Rarely do we see a record lost so you should be assured that yours is not either. Trust the process! 

 

Can I share somethings with you that I learned long ago about this process?

    • "the man with the gold makes the rules"
    • it will take as long as it will take 
    • no one with any certainty can tell you when some process will be completed
    • Your sense of urgency will never be equaled to what USCIS, NVC or your embassy demonstrates
    • Your journey is not going to mirror someone else's experience - yours and theirs are not the same
    • They only promised you a YES or NO answer. Never an exact time that their decision would be completed
    • Lowering your expectations will make you a much more relaxed individual

Good luck on your journey 
 

[Schildkrote5 27]

13 hours ago, BC97 said:

 It isn’t lost. Everyone’s cases are being held at NVC until your respective embassy reopens.

 

My fiancée called them and asked, and it’s the same thing everyone on here is getting told.

 

You can get your case number by calling NVC. It was probably assigned about two months ago.

 

Well that’s good to know other people got their case number and it’s probably not lost. That was my main concern, I would have thought they would at least send me an acknowledgement they received it like USCIS did with the original petition.

 

I also didn’t know you could call them, I could only find an email inquiry. Do you know the phone number?
 

 

 

9 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

This process from you submitting your application and it being processed in TX then sent to CSC for adjudication then upon approval it's sent to NVC for case number assignment thusly runs the way it was intended. Rarely do we see a record lost so you should be assured that yours is not either. Trust the process! 

 

Can I share somethings with you that I learned long ago about this process?

    • "the man with the gold makes the rules"
    • it will take as long as it will take 
    • no one with any certainty can tell you when some process will be completed
    • Your sense of urgency will never be equaled to what USCIS, NVC or your embassy demonstrates
    • Your journey is not going to mirror someone else's experience - yours and theirs are not the same
    • They only promised you a YES or NO answer. Never an exact time that their decision would be completed
    • Lowering your expectations will make you a much more relaxed individual

Good luck on your journey 
 

 

I have been living away from my fiancé for over 2 years now and I haven’t seen her in 6 months thanks to the border closings, so to say I’m tired of waiting is an understatement, but I get it, it’s part of the process. I agree with being more relaxed  and going with the flow, but that’s not really the type of people we are and I personally refuse to lower my expectations, we’ll eagerly await the letter and border openings everyday. One day we’ll look back on this process and be thankful that it made our relationship stronger.
 

That’s good that things don’t normally get lost, but I don’t want to leave our futures strictly up to a government bureaucracy so I’ll do whatever I can do to help the system move along instead of just blind trust.

 

Thank you for the good vibes Greenbaum

[EricLT 29]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html

 

They probably sent you the case number through email already. 

[payxibka 10,047]

4 minutes ago, EricLT said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html

 

They probably sent you the case number through email already. 

Maybe pre-covid.  Nobody gets the email until the case ships to the consulate.   NVC hasn't shipped for two months

[EricLT 29]

Really? Mine was received in March/April. I thought they were still processing with limited staff. I think it's better to call and check. 

[Schildkrote5 27]

17 minutes ago, EricLT said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html

 

They probably sent you the case number through email already. 

 

It appears there is no phone number for non immigrant VISA inquiries, which is what the K-1 VISA is. Are you guys just calling the immigrant VISA number?

[EricLT 29]

Yes call the other number. I think they assigned a case number but maybe haven't mailed out to the embassy yet. 

[payxibka 10,047]

34 minutes ago, EricLT said:

Really? Mine was received in March/April. I thought they were still processing with limited staff. I think it's better to call and check. 

Processing but not shipping 

33 minutes ago, Schildkrote5 said:

 

It appears there is no phone number for non immigrant VISA inquiries, which is what the K-1 VISA is. Are you guys just calling the immigrant VISA number?

Just one number 

[Hannah&Nick 5]

We are in the same boat. Also from Germany.

You can call 603-334-0700 and ask for your case number and invoice number. Once you have that you can track that in the CEAC Tracker. It will sit at the NVC until the embassy in Frankfurt opens again. It would be awesome if youd share your timeline on visa journey

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

5 hours ago, EricLT said:

Yes call the other number. I think they assigned a case number but maybe haven't mailed out to the embassy yet. 

I concur... I bet you already have a case number call them and get it

[Portuguese91 3]

On 6/23/2020 at 8:52 AM, Schildkrote5 said:

Hello guys new to the forum,

 

Our I-129F petition was approved and supposedly sent to the NVC about 3 months ago. Sent an inquiry and they basically told me to piss off and they’ll send me a notification when they get to it. I realize things have slowed down for covid and I explained that in my request... I really just wanted to know if they had our file but I couldn’t get that information...Just wondering what other people’s processing times have been from time Petition was forwarded to the time you received a case number or welcome letter. It’s advertised as taking 2 weeks and it’s been about 12 for us now. A little worried that maybe the paperwork got lost at this point and frustrating because there’s no way to track anything without a case number being assigned. This has been the most nerve racking part of the process thus far. Thanks in advance.

 

My fiancée and I are in the same exact situation. We received our NOA2 on March 31st and haven't been assigned a case number by NVC either.

 

I'm from Portugal and she lives in Virginia. Haven't seen her in about 6 months as well.

 

I absolutely share your frustration... It's very hard to just sit down and wait for NVC to take some action

 

I'll try to call them and try my luck. I mean, at this point what can I lose?

 

Good luck with your process!

 

Edit:

 

I forgot to mention that in my NOA2 they set an expiration date for July 30th 2020... Doesn't seem like I'm going to an interview anywhere before that, but I also understand they may extend that "expiration date". What is your expiration date?

Edited June 24, 2020 by Portuguese91

[Schildkrote5 27]

15 hours ago, EricLT said:

Yes call the other number. I think they assigned a case number but maybe haven't mailed out to the embassy yet. 

Just called the number, had to wait on hold for about 30 min, but I was able to get a case number. Thanks and at least I have something to track it from even if it doesn't move from the NVC. A bit of peace of mind knowing they have it.

 

11 hours ago, Hannah&Nick said:

We are in the same boat. Also from Germany.

You can call 603-334-0700 and ask for your case number and invoice number. Once you have that you can track that in the CEAC Tracker. It will sit at the NVC until the embassy in Frankfurt opens again. It would be awesome if youd share your timeline on visa journey

Thank you! We will share our journey, looks like we may be close to the same timeline.

 

1 hour ago, Portuguese91 said:

My fiancée and I are in the same exact situation. We received our NOA2 on March 31st and haven't been assigned a case number by NVC either.

 

I'm from Portugal and she lives in Virginia. Haven't seen her in about 6 months as well.

 

I absolutely share your frustration... It's very hard to just sit down and wait for NVC to take some action

 

I'll try to call them and try my luck. I mean, at this point what can I lose?

 

Good luck with your process!

 

Edit:

 

I forgot to mention that in my NOA2 they set an expiration date for July 30th 2020... Doesn't seem like I'm going to an interview anywhere before that, but I also understand they may extend that "expiration date". What is your expiration date?

Good luck to you too! On the expiration date.. I was worried about that too because our NOA2 expires in August. I asked an immigration lawyer on a live stream the other day and he explained that the consulate will just extend the date, so I'm not sure why there is even an expiration date on there honestly. I wouldn't worry about it since it's not your fault the embassies are closed.

 

 

 

I just received my case and invoice number by calling the NVC. Tried logging in, but there isn't anything to see. I'm guessing this means the NVC isn't ready for any documents or fee payments from me. It appears I will have to wait for my "welcome letter" after all before I can go any further. If anyone has any conflicting information please correct me.

[Portuguese91 3]

18 hours ago, Schildkrote5 said:

I just received my case and invoice number by calling the NVC. Tried logging in, but there isn't anything to see. I'm guessing this means the NVC isn't ready for any documents or fee payments from me. It appears I will have to wait for my "welcome letter" after all before I can go any further. If anyone has any conflicting information please correct me.

I just called NVC right at 7am (Eastern time) and got my case and invoice number! I think I had to hold for 5 minutes. The entire call, including listening and choosing the options plus hold time and talking to the representative was 11 minutes. The lady confirmed what we all know... that the cases are being held until further notice/embassies re-open.

 

I searched my case number on the CEAC search tool and it just says "At NVC" (as expected...).

 

Now we just have to keep waiting, but at least we now know that we have a case number! 😀

Edited June 25, 2020 by Portuguese91