Affidavit of Support Fee for Multiple F2A Petitions (same LPR sponsor)

[ultrasoul 57]

Does anyone know if it is possible to pay 1 affidavit of support fee for 2 different NVC cases? My LPR mother in law has 2 separate NVC cases (2 separate I-130 petitions) for both of her minor children (F2A).

 

Reason I ask is because as USC, we filed 2 separate IR-5 petitions (2 different NVC case numbers) for my parents we only needed to pay 1 affidavit of support fee.

 

I'm wondering if the 1 AOS fee linkage is only for USC petitioners only. Thanks in advance!

[ultrasoul 57]

 

To clarify, the reason I'm asking is that the current version NVC FAQ has different language form in the past, leading me to believe that coming 2 separate NVC cases to pay 1 AOS fee is limited to USC petitioners?

 

Then again, both the historical and current versions categorically state that combining AOS fees for multiple NVC cases is limited to spouse/ children petitions which is contradictory to our successful combining of AOS fees for two separate IR-5 parent petitions.

 

Called twice to NVC call center and even the reps thought the fee should be combinable for F2A cases, submitting a backoffice case/ work order to combine the fees. I will post back if I attain success or not. 

 

In the meantime, I appreciate an LPR sharing their AOS fee combination across multiple NVC cases experience.

Current Version

Quote

I paid the AOS fee for one case; do I have to pay the same fee for my other cases?

You must pay the Affidavit of Support fee for each case unless you are petitioning for your spouse and/or child(ren) and submit your Affidavit of Support for each case to the NVC at the same time.

Historical Version

Quote

Q. I paid the AOS fee for one case; do I have to pay the same fee for my other cases?
A. If you are a U.S. citizen with petitions for your spouse and/or child(ren) processing at the National Visa Center concurrently, you only need to submit one Affidavit of Support fee payment. (Note: if you are paying by cashier's check or money order, please mail all fee bills in one return envelope with one check on top.)

 

Edited October 7, 2020 by ultrasoul

[ultrasoul 57]

@SusieQQQ Thoughts? I know you are very knowledge about such matters. Thanks in advance for chiming in.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

1 hour ago, ultrasoul said:

@SusieQQQ Thoughts? I know you are very knowledge about such matters. Thanks in advance for chiming in.

Not on this subject - sorry 

[ultrasoul 57]

@SusieQQQ I want to share the good news with both you and the community.

 

The NVC approved the affidavit of support (AOS) fee for both my LPR mother in law's 2 separate F2A separate NVC cases (coming from 2 separate I-130 petitions) for her 2 minor children! It took a grand total of 26 calendar days since we asked the NVC call center to open a ticket for the AOS fee combination request, saving us $120.

 

This is great news considering that NVC used to only combine AOS fees for multiple/ different NVC cases with same USC petitioner (not LPR) but seems to have amended policy to allow AOS fee combination for multiple NVC cases with same petitioner for spouse/ minor children regardless of LPR/ USC status (this is also reflected in the current version of the NVC FAQ)

 

Quote

I paid the AOS fee for one case; do I have to pay the same fee for my other cases?

You must pay the Affidavit of Support fee for each case unless you are petitioning for your spouse and/or child(ren) and submit your Affidavit of Support for each case to the NVC at the same time.

 

What is interesting is that NVC used to automatically combine AOS fees for multiple/ different NVC cases for IR5 (Parents of USC) petitions but IR5 is no longer covered in the revised AOS combine fee standards. This is also confirmed by several NVC agents I spoke to as well (though it seems on other parts of VJ, there is still recent evidence that CEAC billing system still combines AOS fees for separate IR5 petitions).

 

BOTTOMLINE: For LPR/ USC petitioners who have separate minor children/ spousal NVC cases who did not get automatic AOS fee waivers after paying for the first AOS case fee, you will want to call NVC call center and ask the agent to submit a ticket/ case to have their backoffice team link both cases from a fee combination perspective!

Edited October 29, 2020 by ultrasoul