NVC Filers - August 2013

[Saylin 1,605]

Welcome to another monthly thread for NVC! In this first post, you'll find useful links as well as phone numbers/email addresses. In the second post I've compiled a FAQ and at the end summarized the NVC process. Please read through everything before posting questions as it's very likely that your question can be answered by reading through the links and/or FAQ.

Some helpful information:

Here's some guides for those in NVC:

-How Do I Bring My Spouse to Live in the United States

-EZGuideSpouse

-LingChe NVC Shortcut

-NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms

-NVC Electronic Processing [note: if doing EP in China, only optin AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]

And some other useful links:

-DS-3032 Email Template

-Country-Specific Documents (choose beneficiary's country from drop-down)

-Eligibility for Electronic Processing and Online Forms (table at bottom)

-Payment Portal

-Online Forms Portal (site to fill out DS-261 and DS-260 for those eligible)

-NVC

-NVC processing times spreadsheet (created by me, Saylin)

-Flowchart for IR-1/CR-1 Visa Applicants (created by me, Saylin)

-Free Passport Photos

-Thread on Ryan H's EP experience through China (lots of information)

Phone numbers:

NVC - 603-334-0700 (press 1 then 5 to speak with an operator) [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]
DOS - 202-663-1225 (press 1 then 0 to speak with a visa specialist) [HOURS: 8:30am - 5pm EST, M-F. Closed 11am-12pm on Wednesdays]

Email addresses:

NVCInquiry@state.gov - to email DS-3032, expedite requests, and/or questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email optin for EP and for scanned packages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I'm also going to include a few non-NVC process links to help you out for once your case is completed and an interview date is assigned:

-How to Track Your Case Using DHL (use this to figure out what date you need)
-How to Track Your Case Using DHL (use this to figure out how to use the DHL site and input everything)

-General Medical Information
-Country-Specific Medical Information (choose three letter embassy/consulate code from drop-down list)
-Age-Specific Vaccination Requirements (choose age first at top of page)

-Country-Specific Interview Information (choose three letter embassy/consulate code from drop-down list)
-Sample List of Interview Questions
-Thread of Proof of Relationship Evidence Ideas
-Ideas on How to Organize Your Interview Documents

-September 2013 Interview Thread (please join after you get a case complete!)

-October 2013 Interview Thread

Edited September 2, 2013 by Saylin

[Saylin 1,605]

Upon suggestion of a VJ member (thanks foobaz123), I have created a FAQ of the most common questions I see here on VJ concerning the NVC process. If you know of a common question that isn't mentioned here, please inform me through a reply in this thread or PM me. I'd be more than happy to include it here.

FAQ

How long does it take to get a case number assigned after NOA2?

As of recently, it's been taking around 3-4 weeks, depending where you were approved. Check my spreadsheet (linked in post 1) to see where NVC is currently assigning case numbers. If you were approved at a local office, it's taking about one month just for the case to be sent and received by NVC. Then another few weeks for the case number to be assigned.

When (and how often) should I start calling NVC about the case number?

Wait at least a week from your NOA2 date, then start calling. Call about 1-3 times a week for now. Once a few weeks have passed, then start calling every single day afterwards until you get it.

What happens if my case doesn't arrive in a timely manner? (Timely manner being the current wait time)

VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who wold take the time to confirm this for you."

Will I receive XXXX (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, etc) by email or snail mail?

As long as you give over the email addresses of both the petitioner and beneficiary (once you have a case number), ALL correspondence from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages. Everyone though (whether EP or not) can email the DS-3032, Choice of Agent form.

What do I do after my case number is assigned?

Get the IIN from an operator (ask for the 'Invoice Identification Number', not IIN). If you are doing online forms (check eligibility in the first post), also ask for the Beneficiary Identification Number (BIN). Give over the email addresses of the beneficiary and petitioner. Email the DS-3032 (from the beneficiary's email address) following the template linked above. If you are doing EP, then send the optin email. If you are doing online forms, send the DS-261 online (may take a day or two before you can sign onto the online forms portal) instead of emailing the DS-3032.

When can I email the DS-3032?

Right after you get your case number. There's a chance it could get rejected (because they got to your email before they're ready to take documents), but if that's the case, just re-send it. On the flip side, there's also a chance it could get accepted and you wouldn't have wasted any time.

Note: if you have a lawyer, they're already designated as agent due to the G-28 included in the I-130 package, so no need to send the DS-3032, unless you fire your lawyer.

Note: if doing online forms (check link in first post for eligibility), then fill out the DS-261 found online at the above link. Do NOT send the DS-3032.

I got an email from NVC that contains a bar-coded DS-3032 (along with other information). Do I re-send the DS-3032?

NO. Do NOT email another DS-3032. NVC automatically generates these emails and do not care if you've already sent in a DS-3032 or not; they include a DS-3032 anyways. Only if NVC responds to your first DS-3032 email with a rejection do you send another one.

After the case number is assigned, how long does it take for the AOS bill to be invoiced?

Recently, it's been taking a week or less.

How much are the two bills? And how do I pay them?

The AOS costs $88 (per case) and the IV is $230 (per person). They have to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first post). See information here: http://travel.state..../info_3906.html If you can't or don't want to pay online, here's a link to how to pay through the mail: http://travel.state..../info_3905.html .

Help! I can't sign into the payment portal. Why?

If you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-3032 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.

What is needed in the AOS package?

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
- Cover letter (optional)
- Completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
- Tax information* of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
- Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
- Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:

- All of the above of the petitioner
- Completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
- Tax information* of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
- Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
- Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
- Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

If the joint sponsor is a household/family member, also include proof of that relationship (example: if a parent is a joint sponsor, include the petitioner's birth certificate with parents' name on it to show link).

*You have two choices here of what to send in:

- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040) and W2s and any other schedules (if applicable)

What if I (the petitioner) live with my spouse in their foreign country? Do I need to include anything in either package?

You'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
FORM I-1864
No. 15 Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principle residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.

I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.

Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
NAME

Thanks to VJ member lemayz for this suggestion!

I sent the AOS package but got a checklist for the IV package (which I either have sent or not sent yet) [or vice versa]. What's going on?

If you sent the packages separately, then get a checklist for the other one, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. The same applies if you sent just one of the packages and get a checklist for the other. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first. If you do get a checklist for one of the packages, you do NOT have to use that bar-coded cover sheet; you can still use the one from the payment portal.

The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm.

Thanks to VJ member sulhaq for this suggestion!

When does the IV bill get invoiced?

After you send the DS-3032, NVC will most likely respond in a week or two with an acceptance email (or rejection). A few days after acceptance, the IV bill will be invoiced. It's about the same time frames for the online DS-261, except you don't get an email of acceptance; you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.

It's been more than two weeks since I sent the DS-3032 and haven't heard back. What should I do?

It's been suggested (and has worked successfully with quite a few members) if you send a second DS-3032 email. It'll be exactly the same as the first email (for the body), except with a different subject line. Put this as your new subject line (changing the case number and name to reflect your case):

Supervisor Review - NVC Case # MTL2013XXXXXX - BENEFICIARY'S FULL NAME - Second Time Sending

Members have gotten responses (aka DS-3032 acceptance) within a few hours (depending when it was sent)!

Please keep in mind, don't use this trick on your first DS-3032 email or after just a few days. This should only be used if you've waited 2 weeks. This can also be used if you get a rejection for your DS-3032. Please don't abuse this trick and cut in line.

What is needed in the IV package?

Generally, the following is needed:

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
- Completed, signed, and dated DS-230 form by beneficiary (do NOT sign or date part 2; this is done at the interview) [note: if doing online forms (DS-260), the DS-230 is obviously not needed]
- Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
- Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
- Original or Certified Copy of beneficiary's birth certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY
- Original or Certified Copy of marriage certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY
- Original police certificate(s)

Please read: http://travel.state..../info_3195.html for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).

Also read the country-specific documents linked in the first post. There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

If my documents are not in English, do they need to be translated?

NVC's website states:

"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:

-Translation is accurate, and

-Translator is competent to translate."

Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.

Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are. [Thanks to Ryan H for his suggestion on this last statement!]

How long does it take for a bill to appear as PAID in the payment portal after paying it?

Usually just a day or two, but can take longer.

Do I have to wait for NVC to email me instructions before mailing packages?

NO. If you wait on NVC for this, it can take WEEKS to get anything from them. As long as the respective bill has been paid in the payment portal, you can send in your package.

Members have had luck sending the packages as soon as they pay the bills (since the bar-coded cover sheet becomes available after paying). If you're not going to wait for it to appear as PAID in the portal, at least wait until the money has cleared the bank account.

What address do I send the AOS and IV packages?

You will find their addresses on their respective bar-coded cover sheets, which are printed off the payment portal.

Can the packages be sent from abroad or does it have to be from within the US?

Doesn't matter where the package is sent from; NVC just needs to receive it.

Do the packages have to be sent separately or can they be sent together?

Either one or the other works. Again, as long as NVC receives both needed packages, they don't really care. Each way has their pros and cons.

Help! I called NVC and they said they haven't received my package(s) yet, but the tracking says it was delivered!

Don't worry. Unfortunately, the package won't show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

After sending in the packages, how long does it take for them to get reviewed?

Lately, it's been taking just 1-2 weeks after it's received, but as with everything, it can take longer.

Do I get an email if my packages have been accepted?

No, not that I have seen. You have to call NVC every day and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.

Note: If you're in the EP program, lately people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.

Do I get an email when my case is completed?

Generally, no. Only those doing EP (electronic processing) get the case complete emails. There are some non-EP folk that get case complete emails. It used to be rare, but it's becoming more common. Although, they're delayed by almost a week or more, so do not rely on them. Again, to find out if your case is complete (the fastest way), call an operator at NVC and ask.

After the case is completed, what happens?

In most cases: the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled. Once an interview date is scheduled, the case is shipped out to the consulate/embassy.

Who should I be calling to find out my interview date?

You could call NVC and/or DOS. Both have access to your case information. Their numbers are linked above.

How long does it take to get an interview date after a case complete?

This varies by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months (ex: Ghana). To get the best estimate for YOUR country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled.

When do interview dates get scheduled?

If you talk to operators at NVC, they'll always tell you they ONLY schedule during the second week of each month. This is a LIE. They schedule interviews ALL month long. Many people (like myself) have gotten scheduled during the last week of the month. I repeat, they schedule ALL month long.

How long does it take for NVC to mail my case out after getting an interview date scheduled?

Usually it's the next day, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases.

Is it possible to get a tracking number for my green card after POE?

Yes it is! Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:

"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card.
Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked.

Then call USPS and inquire for status.
In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."

-------------------------------------------------------

Please note: the above time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.

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Summary of NVC process:

- get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
- email the DS-3032
- pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
- once the bill appears as PAID, mail the AOS package
- pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
- once the bill appears as PAID, mail the IV package
- respond to any checklists, if applicable
- get case complete
- get interview date scheduled
- case is sent to embassy/consulate

Edited July 31, 2013 by Saylin

[Saylin 1,605]

Dwheels, once you've created the September interview thread, let me know and I'll post a link to it in the first post

[Happytobe 164]

I'm here with you again, Saylin! You make it so much less painful! Thanks again!

[Saylin 1,605]

I'm here with you again, Saylin! You make it so much less painful! Thanks again!

Haha, no problem! And this will be your last month at NVC

[Happytobe 164]

Haha, no problem! And this will be your last month at NVC

LOL you didn't say "promise", I see! but I do hope you are correct!

[Saylin 1,605]

LOL you didn't say "promise", I see! but I do hope you are correct!

I can't promise anything

[Happytobe 164]

I can't promise anything

Neither can the government At least I can still make jokes!!! My birthday is in August, so I'm hoping for an early b-day gift from NVC...

[immihelp99 21]

Checking in but hope ill be checking out in a week or two!

[Nicole & Sean 0]

I'm also hoping this is my last month in this thread. I'm "patiently" waiting for the agent to tell me my case is complete each time I call the NVC.....still waiting.

[keyonlukie 0]

Also checking in

[Memphis 26]

Good luck to all who are still waiting for their cases to be completed! May the month of August bring in more good news and blessings to everyone..

[Jeisson&Ellie 2]

CASE COMPLETE AS OF TODAY!!!!!!

[NewKlear 0]

I just called NVC, asked about IV checklist for PCC which they recieved 25th of july

they said its under review. When can I expected a case complete ?

[Happytobe 164]

I just called NVC, asked about IV checklist for PCC which they recieved 25th of july

they said its under review. When can I expected a case complete ?

anytime between now and when they complete it.... Today is business day 20 of one of my checklist items and they are telling me to give them more time.... Hopefully, you will not experience the same delay, but you have to give them the time. They have only had yours for 5 business days. Most others checklist items have been approved in 12-15 business days, however. I have averaged that by studying people's timelines and signatures in the July and June threads for NVC. Good luck! (and sorry if I sound like a bitter jerk)