What do I pay first?

[MRJ9987 31]

I was able to log into NVC today and I got following page: 

 

 

 

The National Visa Center (NVC) has received your approved immigrant visa petition from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Before NVC can schedule your visa interview, you need to complete the following steps:

Step 1:

Pay fees.

Step 2:

Complete an Immigrant Visa (IV) Application (form DS-260).

Step 3:

Submit required financial and civil documents.

After all required documents are submitted, if something is missing or incorrect, NVC will send you an email to check your CEAC Messages. You can access your CEAC Messages by clicking "View Messages". To verify the email addresses on your case and provide updates as required, click ‘Edit’ in the Contact Information section.

After your documentation has been accepted by NVC, your interview will be scheduled at the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Refer to http://nvc.state.gov/ceac and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), for additional instructions and helpful hints. If you have further questions, contact NVC online via Ask NVC or call 1-603-334-0700.

 

The instructions tell me to pay for DS-260 first, but then when I scroll below, I first see option to pay for Affadivit of Support and BELOW that option to for DS-260 application. 

 

My question, which one should I be paying for first?  Should I pay for DS-260 and only tackle AoS AFTER the DS-260 has been completed and accepted?  Or can I pay for one and then pay for the other?  Website won't let me pay both fees at the same time. 

 

Thank so you much in advance.  This process is so confusing.  

[JeanneAdil 6,492]

pay either but they are separate payments

then gather the supporting documents to scan to CEAC site 

i paid AOS fee first but we use to get an invoice to pay them (back before is was online CEAC)

 

BTW no one will answer the NVC phone #

[Timona 4,207]

DS 260

[MRJ9987 31]

6 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

pay either but they are separate payments

then gather the supporting documents to scan to CEAC site 

i paid AOS fee first but we use to get an invoice to pay them (back before is was online CEAC)

 

BTW no one will answer the NVC phone #

Thanks for your answer.  Just to clarify, I pay for AOS first, but then can I go back right away and pay for IV or do I need to wait for everything in AOS to be completed before I can start on IV?  Can I work on the two concurrently?  

[Lil bear 4,189]

1 minute ago, MRJ9987 said:

Thanks for your answer.  Just to clarify, I pay for AOS first, but then can I go back right away and pay for IV or do I need to wait for everything in AOS to be completed before I can start on IV?  Can I work on the two concurrently?  

Pay the first fee.. pay the second fee as soon as they open it up .. start filing all documents and completing  DS and I864. No order required for the documents .. 

[Redro 4,611]

You pay both fees at the same day/ time but separately. Doesn’t matter which one you pay first… pay ds260 first if it makes you feel comfortable 

Edited July 24, 2023 by Redro

[Lil bear 4,189]

12 minutes ago, Redro said:

You pay both fees at the same day/ time but separately. Doesn’t matter which one you pay first… pay ds260 first if it makes you feel comfortable 

At least when we went through NVC CEAC they opened the IV fee for payment.. once that was completed they opened the AOS fee for payment  

[Anthony2872 6]

I paid both fees at the same time/day but separate payment 2 days ago. The status still “In Process “ now. Do you guys know when it changes to PAID for the next step?

[Redro 4,611]

43 minutes ago, Anthony2872 said:

I paid both fees at the same time/day but separate payment 2 days ago. The status still “In Process “ now. Do you guys know when it changes to PAID for the next step?

About 3 business days. 

[Anthony2872 6]

3 hours ago, Redro said:

About 3 business days. 

Do we have e-mail notification from NVC or keep checking on CEAC ? Thanks 

[Redro 4,611]

9 minutes ago, Anthony2872 said:

Do we have e-mail notification from NVC or keep checking on CEAC ? Thanks 

I think I just kept checking CEAC… 

[Lil bear 4,189]

On 7/25/2023 at 12:50 PM, Anthony2872 said:

Do we have e-mail notification from NVC or keep checking on CEAC ? Thanks 

[Jason and May 79]

For us, it didn't matter which we paid first. Since AoS was first on the screen and IV was beneath, I just paid the AoS bill, then when the screen refreshed, I paid the IV bill. Receipts were emailed to my wife and I. 

 

The payments showed as pending in my bank account, and in process on CEAC. I think it was about 3 business days later or so the payments showed "paid" in CEAC. Basically, they cleared from my pending payments in my bank account, and then next day, they showed "paid" in CEAC. We didn't get any emails or notifications from CEAC about the payments posting. But when I checked CEAC, they showed paid, and the links for AoS and the DS-261 were live, so we could start working on them and submitting documents. 

 

I already had the I-864 completed and all my documents saved in the cloud so I could just upload everything. 

 

Then, when we had time, my wife and I video chatted and screen shared, and we completed her 261 and uploaded all her documentation. 

 

Just be aware, at least for us, CEAC crashed repeatedly. (I believe the servers overloaded and we got booted, actually.) There's a thread or probably two in here somewhere of me ranting about CEAC.... 😬🤦🏽‍♂️

 

I hope it all goes smoothly for you both. 🤙🏾