Confusion with NVC and DS160

[Delphie 0]

Hi all, hope this is in the right place. I filed an I-129F back in April and I received NOA2 August 7. On September 3 USCIS said they transferred the petition to NVC, and since then I've been anxiously checking the mail every day hoping for something. The process is so confusing, that it feels like I missed something and that's why I haven't received an NVC case number yet. I was thinking that my fiancé could submit the DS160 now, and maybe that would speed things up, but she said the consulate (Vietnam) said to wait until Packet 3. We created an account at US Travel Docs, and it said to put in the mailing address for her so she can receive Packet 3, but they want the barcode for DS160. Seems very circular. So I'm really confused on what the proper order should be. 

[hplusj 135]

Hi there, congratulations on reaching the NVC stage!  I found this part of the process super nebulous and opaque, but you're in the right place.

 

You can use the NVC public inquiry form to request your case number.  If it's been a month now, you should get a reply in due time, and be able to track your CEAC status.  

 

As far as the timing for packet 3/DS-160, you can always check in regional forums (a little further down the discussion list on the main forum page) to look into the order of things for Vietnam.  Again, best to you two!

Edited October 4 by hplusj
added Vietnam specific stuff --regional forums

[MalloryCat 189]

any communication now goes to the beneficiary (foreign fiance)

the US citizen doesn't receive any mail from the NVC, only the foreign fiance will. But in my fiances case, he didn't get a letter from the NVC until well after we already knew it had been at the embassy.

As the person above said, it would be better to just submit an inquiry to the NVC to get your case number, that is what we did.

 

The DS-160 is valid for 1 year after submitting it. so it technically can be submitted at any point, but I also agree reading through the regional forms to get more clear answers on the process for your country's embassy

[Gary Rich 261]

 please submit an inquiry to the NVC and email them at   NVCResearch <nvcresearch@state.gov>   TSGSystem@tsg.state.gov

[Delphie 0]

Thanks all, I emailed and sent an inquiry to NVC for the case number, guess I'll hear back in two weeks. Since it's been a month already since notification that the case was transferred, I don't see the harm in submitting the DS160 so we can submit her mailing address for the PKT3.