Bh_sarah

Don't worry, don't need to apoligize. Your anger and frustration is 100% justified. This process is overall unfair and it should be way more efficient than it is. Also more transparent – we are left in the dark for months without a chance to contact them and ask anything. They make it harder for you to inquiry since the 16.5 official processing times do not match the inquiry date (if you look at the explanation, they consider the time it took 93% of the petitions to be processed over the past 6 months, not 80% as the official processing does). I also had my ups and downs that I didn't want people being positive, especially ones that didn't have to wait as long as me. Now I feel embarrassed for my anger and frustration knowing February cases that are still waiting untouched, 17 to 18 months months in. I just felt your answer was misplaced in reply to a member that is also waiting and always tried to lift people up. We all should focus on USCIS and its lack of accountability. One thing that proved to be efficient for some filers was to contact their local representatives, they overlook federal agencies and they can get answers quicker and faster. Also it brings the problem to another sphere of power in the country. Though not many representatives are willing to help. I know it's still far from perfect, but the backlog has decreased significantly and keeps getting small. Unfortunately it also means they are moving through months faster and the ones not inside the first wave of activity will face longer waiting times. This obviously isn't fair. But it means most filers are experiencing way faster processing times than before. "Most" being the keyword and the unfair/unlucky part. I hope you get good news soon!

You already have a case number, you're safe. The "Department of State sent case to USCIS for review" status has been popping up in February these past weeks. I never counted them exactly, but it's like 1-2 per range, which would be around 20-30 cases in 2000+ approved. So the probability is low. It's still not a significant number if you look at the total approved number, but it still worries me.

Congratulations! I guess there are some outliers like you, but the bulk of shipping is on those calendar days. At least it was last week. Glad your petition is on its way to your embassy!

Rooting for you as well (especially considering how much I rooted for your NOA2!). I'm also just waiting for it to be shipped so I can have a good estimate and tell work I am leaving at around this date or that date. Hard to do it without even a case number. I unfortunately just got a reply to my inquiry on Monday... Case was received, waiting for data entry... This is my 3rd inquiry since the first received and I just sent another one right now. I am getting a bit more anxious now, but still hoping we get a surprise next week with a K1-FTP email. I think I just want a case number too so my fear of having the dreadful update of "case sent back to USCIS" disappears from the back of my mind. saw many like that when I scanned February this week.

Hi, Sam. I know it’s not easy to see July filers getting approved first. When I was approved, they were already approving cases from April, I am a February filer. @Ok-Mix has been a great motivator here and it’s important we try to be positive or else we can dwell into some huge frustration. There will be more waiting to do, unfortunately. I guess what she meant was that cases do get touched, they aren’t exactly forgotten, just get touched after the first wave of activity has past. It is not easy, I’ve been there. It also may frustrate you when people try to cheer you up when you are hopeless or maybe when they aren’t experiencing the same thing as you. I’ve been there too. On another note, if USCIS had not sped up this year, you’d be looking at a 18 month wait or even more. The fact some June cases were approved just a bit over 12 months is a good thing and a good perspective to have. I know none of this may matter when all you want is a NOA2, but stay strong and stay positive and know you are doing this for a reason: to be together with your fiancé. It is an unfair and frustrating process and there should be more transparency and information and agility from USCIS, unfortunately we are at their mercy. And it’s all a gamble indeed. Stay strong, I hope you have good news soon.

Fingers crossed! Rooting for you! I am anxious but also cases will only get shipped next week so I am hoping we do get shipped anyway.

Not yet. I keep checking my email but nothing. The last inquiry was Monday night saying received, but no case number. I sent another right away. Still waiting for a reply. Maybe tomorrow. Or maybe next week I'll get a welcome letter(K1-FTP) surprise when it's shipped. Thank you for rooting for me!!

Yup! What @Shane-Debby said, gotta bring the NOA2 to the interview. In this case, seems like it's for the biometrics appointment but I don't trust my Spanish too much. I think a scanned copy/printed should suffice, unless you're already sending her other docs by mail.

Congratulations! This is your case number (first one). IDs are useless to K1, I don't know why NVC sends them out to be fair. Definitely a mistake, we don't submit any documents to NVC, including an affidavit of support. They make mistakes all the time, I already got a reply talking about adoption documents, nothing to do with my case. Just ignore it and send another inquiry. No need to worry. Sorry this inquiry reply was wasted though. Knowing the specifics of your embassy. This can be done by looking at your embassy's website for info/researching past filers here/getting in touch with people that are far ahead of you right now. Send another inquiry until they say it was received. Then inquire until they give you a case number. Your NOA2 is in June, only 30 days now, this is normal, nothing to worry about. Some other June NOA2s are already got theirs, but there's no order. We here in May took about 50 days, previous NOA2s had to wait 70 or more.

People say either WAC or NVC, but if you look at it, it says USCIS so WAC is the "correct" one. But they take the NVC one too. And the photo upload depends on your embassy. Mine doesn't ask for it, we have a biometrics appointment before the interview where they also take a picture of us.

This depends on the embassy. Some will let you go ahead, others don't. You can though fill DS-160 (can be now, it doesn't even need to be "ready" for this)

NVC only takes inquiries now: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html Things are getting faster but March and April NOA2s experienced a 90-day NVC stage. I see you were approved in July and @xxxxx77 in June. Follow the respective threads:

No worries at all!! I appreciate your kind words! And wish you the same. I think we will all have good news next week and have your cases ready sooner than later!

Your case may update to "in transit" starting next Tuesday or Wednesday (shipping week, see calendar on the first post of this thread). The "in transit" to "ready" should be just a few days, but depends on the embassy.

YESSSSSS!!!!!!! I’m so happy for you!!!! You waited so long! Congratulations 🥳🤍✨ Happy you can celebrate together too!!!!!

Oh my. So you're telling me NVC is the one that thinks the embassy is closed and then won't send cases there and the embassy can't really do anything about it? There's a NVC DHL "hack" and there are packages leaving for Bogotá frequently (check here, DHL tab). This is madness! I am so sorry about all of this. Forgive me if you're already doing this since I am thinking of obvious solutions – I'm sure you're doing all you can. I know you have lawyers and probably is already sending NVC public inquiries about it, but I'd question them in every inquiry about the Bogotá embassy being open. Attach proof from the embassy in the requirements as well. Another would maybe try to get your congress representative involved so they could advocate for you. A lot of them can get better answers from the DOS/NVC. And another option as a last resort would be maybe sending snail mail to NVC instead of online inquires? See if it they respond to it better? However, I think this one might not result in anything, but it's something to try since they turned their phone line off. I wish you the best of luck and that maybe your case does get shipped next week. It's just infuriating they are holding your petition hostage.

NVC received? Me! May 12 NOA2. Just waiting for case number this week. Congratulations!!!! Finally 🎉🥳

Hey, all! Not from Colombia but I've seen this NVC email a few times already. Same thing happened to some filers in Baghdad and Johannesburg. For Baghdad, the embassy was contacted and they are open and processing cases, but in a limited way. I would say that the best bet is to contact the embassy in Bogotá and check with them directly. NVC emails seem to not be up to date ever since the pandemic. If you look at VJ K1 timelines, there are people who are being able to schedule interviews there as well. You may need to check their NOA2s/etc. https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Colombia&op1=3&op2=&op3=1&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl= (If this link doesn't work, go to Immigration Timelines > K1 Visa Timelines > Select Colombia > Select by Visa Interview > Set filter)

It's Jaime. Ignore him, he replies to everyone *exactly* the same way. He just doesn't want to work.

Oh I see. I didn't consider it was because of the Argentinian exchange rate, I was only thinking about dollars. That is good then! I have no choice to pay in cash here. And glad you enjoyed! I am not thrilled about going to Rio for the medical and interview, but I think Brazilians are more scared of Rio than foreigners hahaha Pão de Açúcar during sunset does seem amazing!

Wow, I can’t pay in cash in Brazil and it’s certainly not cheaper (I thought it was $265 for all K1 cases all over). Is this really possible for Argentina? EDIT: I see it’s actually possible for Argentina, wow! But even if it was possible, no way I’d carry $265 (around R$1,200) in cash with me around Rio haha

Congratulations!!! ✨🥳 Day 72 today so I hope I get it this week too! And hope our cases all get shipped next week!

No need to create a CEAC account to fill the DS-160. So you do not need an invoice number to do so. The form will also ask your receipt number (WAC) but you can also add your NVC number if you wish. Try seeing with your bank like @Shane-Debby said, but another option would be maybe transferring money to your fiancé so she pays with an Argentinian card if possible. Usually international cards are accepted on AIS though.

If I may add to it all, I think us, newer but not so recent members, definitely are feeling that the attitude in most threads is becoming super negative and a bit condescending. I understand using the right immigration terms will result in better replies, and that people should do their research before getting into immigration processes, but well, as we all know, many do not. Many also don't speak English fluently. And when they come here asking for help, it seems they are turned down for not using the right word or sometimes being lost in translation, or for thinking something was right when it's actually wrong. Many jump to conclusions when there's not enough details to warrant that. Isn't the whole point of the forum to help those that are in the middle of their immigration journey? Some cases are more complex than others, but I would think most here deserve a honest, but polite and complete answer, no matter how silly the question may seem to those more experienced. Replying only "no" to a question (seem this a couple times) will only create more questions to those wanting to understand "why not". I understand replying the same thing over and over is annoying, but while moderators already replied one question thousands of times, the poster probably never asked that question before and never had any answers before. It's also not really a solution to report some answers because it's not like they broke any rules/it would seem the reporter is just picky about how things are worded. I guess sometimes we all need to step back and see that one day we also found this forum without knowing anything at all about what we were entering in and I am glad most of us did find people that explained things well to us/helped us get through. And I do think this feeling only grew after the aforementioned website was banned. It is the main source for K1/I-129f filers to be informed about accurate processing times and many members here could benefit from it without leaving VJ (hence why the thread that used to get daily posts every day is now dead). The donation links don't even exist there anymore, but if no outside links can be shared, then this rule should be consistently applied. Recent K1 filers overall are a group that has been overlooked by this forum recently, like we all chose an inferior visa when most of us had our reasons to do it, but that is a subject for another time. As always, I over-write and repeat myself. But I hope this thread leads to a bit of reflection at how negative some replies can be and how it can turn people down from a once thriving community. I'm out.

If it's like Brazil, you create an account, link your DS-160 and schedule the interview/pay the fees there.