How long for “data entry” at NVC?

[Snaaacks 5]

I received my “approval notice” that has a “notice date” of 06/15/2023… it’s now well over 30 days (today is Aug 8, 2023).. so I emailed for an update and reviewed this response:

 

 

”The National Visa Center (NVC) recently received your immigrant visa petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Your petition is now waiting for data entry into our systems.

 

Since your case is not in our systems yet, we cannot make updates.

 

As soon as your case is in our systems, we will send a Welcome Letter and instructions.”

 

 

 

So how much longer should I expect to wait until I get my welcome letter with the case number?…

 

(also, am I correct in understanding that I have to wait for this welcome letter/case number before I can pay the fees and submit the affidavit of support?)

 

thanks in advance for all the help here

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,829]

It appears, to me, that the bottle neck is shifting from USCIS to NVC.  It's still a sad state of affairs.  

Edited August 8, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,829]

27 minutes ago, Snaaacks said:

also, am I correct in understanding that I have to wait for this welcome letter/case number before I can pay the fees and submit the affidavit of support?)

Wait a minute...  Is this a K-1 case?  If so, you have no actions required at NVC.  NVC will assign a DOS case number, then forward the K-1 case to the consulate.  Once the consulate has the case (or you have the DOS case number), you can proceed. 

NVC fees and AOS are submitted to NVC for immigrant visas only, not K-1 visas.  K-1 fees and the I-134 are handled at the consulate stage of the process. 

Edited August 8, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Snaaacks 5]

Yes I’m a K1 fiancé visa case. .. Oh wow! So are you saying I don’t have to fill out that I-184 AOS?… I’ll only have to fill out the I-134 and send it to my fiancé after I receive my welcome letter w the case number?

 

I followed all the links on the USCIS website and it really doesn’t tell you that the K1 process is different

 

thanks again for this great help 

[Crazy Cat 41,829]

6 minutes ago, Snaaacks said:

Yes I’m a K1 fiancé visa case. .. Oh wow! So are you saying I don’t have to fill out that I-184 AOS?… I’ll only have to fill out the I-134 and send it to my fiancé after I receive my welcome letter w the case number?

 

I followed all the links on the USCIS website and it really doesn’t tell you that the K1 process is different

 

thanks again for this great help 

For a K-1 entrant, the I-864 will be done for Adjustment of Status after marriage inside the US.  However, yes, you should complete an I-134 and send it to your fiance for the interview. 

Edited August 8, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[SalishSea 17,818]

18 minutes ago, Snaaacks said:

Yes I’m a K1 fiancé visa case. .. Oh wow! So are you saying I don’t have to fill out that I-184 AOS?… I’ll only have to fill out the I-134 and send it to my fiancé after I receive my welcome letter w the case number?

 

I followed all the links on the USCIS website and it really doesn’t tell you that the K1 process is different

 

thanks again for this great help 

Are you the petitioner or beneficiary?  If you're doing a K-1, there is no welcome letter or submitting documents to NVC.  Once the consulate receives the approved petition, the petitioner should get "packet 3" via email, which contains instructions on booking the medical and interview.  The I-134 will be taken by hand by the beneficiary to the interview.  The I-864 comes much later in the process when adjusting status.

[Snaaacks 5]

Oh great! … yes I’m the petitioner (my fiancé is in Thailand waiting for notice of when to begin the process before the interview)

 

but as I posted above it’s been over a month and they still haven’t even “entered the data” to create our case number… does anyone know how long that takes?

 

thanks so much for all this help - it’s way more clear than the USCIS website 

[powerpuff 6,697]

7 minutes ago, Snaaacks said:

but as I posted above it’s been over a month and they still haven’t even “entered the data” to create our case number… does anyone know how long that takes?

60-90 days, sometimes over 90 days: I should clarify - this is for total time between NOA2 and NVC entry.

Some approved in May are still waiting 

Also 

 

 

Edited August 8, 2023 by powerpuff

[Snaaacks 5]

Wow so that means if we get a case number on Sep 15, we only have 30 days before the whole thing expires - ugh. Which also means if there isn’t a interview date available at the Bangkok embassy within those 30 days, we will need an extension.  Are people routinely asking for extensions these days, and is it a fairly easy process?

[powerpuff 6,697]

Since the delay is not your fault, i would expect them to extend it automatically.

[usmsbow 801]

2 hours ago, Snaaacks said:

Wow so that means if we get a case number on Sep 15, we only have 30 days before the whole thing expires - ugh. Which also means if there isn’t a interview date available at the Bangkok embassy within those 30 days, we will need an extension.  Are people routinely asking for extensions these days, and is it a fairly easy process?

 

Yeah, don't worry about that. USCIS approved our petition and then lost it for a few months before finally finding it again (and then finally sending it to NVC). An extension was automatically given to us.

[Me and her 279]

7 hours ago, Snaaacks said:

I received my “approval notice” that has a “notice date” of 06/15/2023… it’s now well over 30 days (today is Aug 8, 2023).. so I emailed for an update and reviewed this response:

 

 

”The National Visa Center (NVC) recently received your immigrant visa petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Your petition is now waiting for data entry into our systems.

 

Since your case is not in our systems yet, we cannot make updates.

 

As soon as your case is in our systems, we will send a Welcome Letter and instructions.”

 

 

 

So how much longer should I expect to wait until I get my welcome letter with the case number?…

 

(also, am I correct in understanding that I have to wait for this welcome letter/case number before I can pay the fees and submit the affidavit of support?)

 

thanks in advance for all the help here

 

 

Good luck to your fiancé and you.  This website has helped many, including myself....  Also, many "expert" regulars here have become more knowledgeable than most "immigration attorneys" @Boiler, @Crazy Cat, @Mike E, @powerpuff.  If they do not know, they can direct you to find the answers...  again, Good Luck!  Let us know!

Edited August 9, 2023 by Me and her

[Loren Y 2,755]

Once you get the case number from the NVC( call on Friday nights is the best, around 10pm eastern time, they are open to midnight, and you can get thru within 30 min. at that time of night. Have your name, fiancees name, and birthdate, and they are pretty helpful and can give you a estimate when the case number will be ready after your first call. But, call once a week until you can find out when it will be ready, you want the case number, and invoice number if they have it, you can track the status, and once it says ready, you can pay the fees, and schedule the medical and interview. Medical is an easy schedule by phone, and the interview isn't too bad if you check a few times a day, you should be able to snag one quickly. You can go to the US embassy Bangkok webpage and download packet 3 and 4 from the website, I have never seen them send them to anyone. Download them now, so you are ready with what you need. They are available in Thai and English. Go to Bumbgad Hospital as it is the cheapest out of your 2 options, and easy to schedule there. I butchered the hospital name, but you will know what one it is. If your fiancee hasn't gotten any of the required vaccines, hit the Snake Farm in Bangkok ( Red Cross). they are cheaper than the hospital.

[powerpuff 6,697]

4 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Once you get the case number from the NVC( call on Friday nights is the best, around 10pm eastern time, they are open to midnight, and you can get thru within 30 min. at that time of night

They have suspended the phone line months ago.

[Snaaacks 5]

Do you mean call the Bangkok embassy?… and thanks for all this info!