Tracking after NOA2

[Killowatts 28]

I do not see how/where I can track the progress of the case once NOA2 is received for an I-129F case.  Is there a link within the NVC site where you can enter your Receipt number?  I read where we should not wait for the embassy to contact the fiance etc, but I don't see where to actually track the case after USCIS NOA2 is received.  Apologies if my search skills stink and I missed it.

[wildbug100420 222]

12 minutes ago, Killowatts said:

I do not see how/where I can track the progress of the case once NOA2 is received for an I-129F case.  Is there a link within the NVC site where you can enter your Receipt number?  I read where we should not wait for the embassy to contact the fiance etc, but I don't see where to actually track the case after USCIS NOA2 is received.  Apologies if my search skills stink and I missed it.

I would wait a few weeks then use the public inquiry form from nvc. It will tell you whether they have the petition and when it shows ready pay fees and schedule at embassy 

[Killowatts 28]

9 minutes ago, wildbug100420 said:

I would wait a few weeks then use the public inquiry form from nvc. It will tell you whether they have the petition and when it shows ready pay fees and schedule at embassy 

That's not the same, so it sounds like the answer, restated to the query, is that there is not a tracking page in NVC like there was in USCIS.  Thanks for the confirmation.

Edited February 28 by Killowatts

[wildbug100420 222]

Just now, Killowatts said:

That's not the same, so it sounds like the answer, restated to the query, is that there is not a tracking page in NBC like there was in USCIS.  Thanks for the confirmation.

The NVC would be able to give you the embassy case number which is different from the USCIS receipt number. You probably have to wait a few weeks to get the NVC case number. Ours took a month to be ready as our timelines indicate.

[MalloryCat 454]

Once you have the NVC case number, which is the number you will use from now on, it can be tracked here https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=NIV

This will tell you when the NVC sends your case to the embassy, it will show as "in transit". And when it arrives at the embassy it will eventually update to "ready"

For k-1 visas you change the drop down to immigrant visa.

 

You can typically contact the NVC through the public inquiry form between 30-60 days after USCIS has said that they have sent your case to the Department of State. You can see that status through your USCIS account if you set one up, or using their case status tracker.

 

 

[thonati 57]

Here is my timeline:

NOA2=07JAN25

Case sent to NVC=30JAN25

Case number assigned=26FEB25

 

I had to submit the public inquiry to received the case number.  The problem is that I cannot create a profile without the case ID number that is sent with the email from NVC.

 

Someone else on this forum said the NVC will provide an attachment letter with the email notifying you of the case number and ID number.

[Killowatts 28]

Thank you for a wide variety of tangential tidbits in the replies.  The focused question, how do I track after noa2, seems to be answered with "you can't until either they mail you the NVC case# or you inquire and they email it to you.". That's the part I care about.  I will do the inquiry since noa2 was more than 2 weeks ago.  Thanks.  This thread can be closed.

Edited February 28 by Killowatts

[Killowatts 28]

Per today's email from NVC, the packet has still not arrived from USCIS.  Visa Journey might consider revising their flowchart for this transfer from "2 weeks" to the new NVC email guidance of "6 weeks"

 

Copy of NVC reply:

To Whom it Concerns:

Thank you for your inquiry. Our records do not show that we received your petition. 

It can take up to six weeks for an approved petition from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to arrive at the National Visa Center (NVC). Once we receive it, we will enter your petition into the U.S. Department of State's database systems.

For current processing times, please visit our website at https://nvc.state.gov/timeframes for English and https://nvc.state.gov/plazos for Spanish. If your approved petition was sent to NVC later than the listed processing times, you do not need to take any action.

If your petition was approved before the dates NVC is working on, please send us a scanned copy of your I-797 or I-171 Notice of Action - Approval Notice.  You can attach it to an email and send it to nvcresearch@state.gov.

·    In the subject line of your email, please type only the receipt number from your I-797 Approval Notice.
·    If you have more than one petition, send a separate email for each petition
·    Once we receive the copy of your approval notice, we will contact USCIS to find your petition. 

Before you send us an email, please check your Notice of Action and make sure it says your petition was approved and sent to NVC.  If it says that USCIS kept your petition, or if it is not an approval, contact USCIS for more information. You can contact them on their website at https://uscis.gov, or by telephone at 1-800-375-5283.

[Yareth 132]

On 3/4/2025 at 2:15 PM, Killowatts said:

Per today's email from NVC, the packet has still not arrived from USCIS.  Visa Journey might consider revising their flowchart for this transfer from "2 weeks" to the new NVC email guidance of "6 weeks"

 

Copy of NVC reply:

To Whom it Concerns:

Thank you for your inquiry. Our records do not show that we received your petition. 

It can take up to six weeks for an approved petition from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to arrive at the National Visa Center (NVC). Once we receive it, we will enter your petition into the U.S. Department of State's database systems.

For current processing times, please visit our website at https://nvc.state.gov/timeframes for English and https://nvc.state.gov/plazos for Spanish. If your approved petition was sent to NVC later than the listed processing times, you do not need to take any action.

If your petition was approved before the dates NVC is working on, please send us a scanned copy of your I-797 or I-171 Notice of Action - Approval Notice.  You can attach it to an email and send it to nvcresearch@state.gov.

·    In the subject line of your email, please type only the receipt number from your I-797 Approval Notice.
·    If you have more than one petition, send a separate email for each petition
·    Once we receive the copy of your approval notice, we will contact USCIS to find your petition. 

Before you send us an email, please check your Notice of Action and make sure it says your petition was approved and sent to NVC.  If it says that USCIS kept your petition, or if it is not an approval, contact USCIS for more information. You can contact them on their website at https://uscis.gov, or by telephone at 1-800-375-5283.

Editing that flowchart is useless as every embassy/country has different timelines when it comes to the transfer from NVC to the embassy/consulate that takes care of the cases for the nationalities involved. My case transfer took only one week from NVC to Frankfurt. Applicants at other embassies take years to see their transfer from NVC to the embassy. The Philippines is known for being a high-volume embassy. 

Edited March 6 by Yareth

[maryaaaa 74]

29 minutes ago, Yareth said:

Editing that flowchart is useless as every embassy/country has different timelines when it comes to the transfer from NVC to the embassy/consulate that takes care of the cases for the nationalities involved. My case transfer took only one week from NVC to Frankfurt. Applicants at other embassies take years to see their transfer from NVC to the embassy. The Philippines is known for being a high-volume embassy. 

 

Truth.

 

There is no definite timeline. I met applicants who waited 90 days to be In Transit then few weeks more to be Case Ready whilst the other waited only 2-3 weeks from NVC for Case Ready.

 

The wait time is brutal.

[hplusj 260]

On 3/4/2025 at 1:15 PM, Killowatts said:

Per today's email from NVC, the packet has still not arrived from USCIS. 

Please read MalloryCat's response again.  The inquiry is most effective around 30-60 days after your case was sent to the Department of State, but based on workloads at the NVC can vary.  Tracking is available through the link she provided as well, once you have a case number in the NVC reply.

 

Persistence AND patience are key with the NVC.  This stage is nebulous and extremely varied in terms of length, as other have mentioned.  For the Philippines specifically, it may be useful to consult your country's thread in the regional discussions section.

 

@maryaaaa is also correct, as we waited almost five months at NVC and even received a second, updated NOA2.  You never know.

Edited March 6 by hplusj

[Killowatts 28]

Current NVC guidance in email replies to inquiries is now 60 days.  The delay is from USCIS to NVC, it has nothing to do with any embassy.  The current VJ timeline guidance of 2 weeks is obsolete and inaccurate.

[Yareth 132]

You are correct. A question mark would be more appropriate. My NOA2 to NVC took 4 days. 

 

I do realize that this website is a community effort and therefore not infallible. Obsolete and/or inaccurate information happens and I have learned that sticking very close to uscis instructions help me keep a clear head. 

Edited Friday at 02:06 AM by Yareth