Can I avoid to call NVC & still get the case #? or is it a needed step?

[dilip 187]

Hearing how difficult it is to get through their phone system, I am just wondering why it is important to know the case number at the early stage?

[OLee 64]

Hearing how difficult it is to get through their phone system, I am just wondering why it is important to know the case number at the early stage?

I don't know how important it is. I guess it is good if you are inpatient. We got our case number by e-mail, I didn't know then I could call them We had called to the NVC 4 times during all process which took us about 4 months (we had one checklist). They were always quite prompt with e-mailing. This is my experience.

[ArroTG 22]

Getting your case number and IIN (invoice identification number) will help to speed along your case. Using this information you can sign into the online portal and fill out your DS-261, choice of agent, and pay your AOS fee. Your IV/DS-260 won't be unlocked until after you've filled out these forms and an appropriate amount of time has elapsed -- two weeks if you call and ask them to review your DS-261, or 30 days or longer if you let it sit and wait for a review.

The email or letter mail containing this information can be delayed a week or two, so if you call to find out your case number you can shave off time spent waiting at the NVC.

It's not necessary, but it can be helpful if you're impatient.

Edited July 19, 2015 by ArroTG

[kates43 13]

I rang a few times until they had my number ready. Try and call first thing when they open and there may only be a 20min wait which is good haha.

Otherwise, we got our letter from NVC more than a month after it was received and given a case number. The day after I even had my interview.

I would try to keep calling - that way it speeds it up cos you can do your medical and your DS160 and once it has a number they quickly ship it to your embassy anyway.

[charlieprince 24]

Hearing how difficult it is to get through their phone system, I am just wondering why it is important to know the case number at the early stage?

you can totally avoid it

look at my own case Hell, I just received an email from the Riyadh Embassy one day telling me they received my case... and they even referenced the case # which i didn't have!

haha

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

Getting your case number and IIN (invoice identification number) will help to speed along your case. Using this information you can sign into the online portal and fill out your DS-261, choice of agent, and pay your AOS fee. Your IV/DS-260 won't be unlocked until after you've filled out these forms and an appropriate amount of time has elapsed -- two weeks if you call and ask them to review your DS-261, or 30 days or longer if you let it sit and wait for a review.

The email or letter mail containing this information can be delayed a week or two, so if you call to find out your case number you can shave off time spent waiting at the NVC.

It's not necessary, but it can be helpful if you're impatient.

K-1 applicants do not do all of that. No need for the invoice ID#, no DS-260/261, and no paying AOS/IV fees.

OP> It can take some time for the NVC to send you the hard copy letter stating your case was sent to the consulate and giving you your case#. If you wish to start on the K-1 application process, then go ahead and call to get your case# from them.

[Shadowess 13]

I'm curious about this as well, as I really really dislike talking on the phone.

What do you need the NVC case number for? How does this speed up the K1 process?

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

I'm curious about this as well, as I really really dislike talking on the phone.

What do you need the NVC case number for? How does this speed up the K1 process?

You need your case# to apply for the K-1 visa > http://photos.state.gov/libraries/canada/303578/montreal/Packet3-K1-MTL.pdf

[ArroTG 22]

K-1 applicants do not do all of that. No need for the invoice ID#, no DS-260/261, and no paying AOS/IV fees.

OP> It can take some time for the NVC to send you the hard copy letter stating your case was sent to the consulate and giving you your case#. If you wish to start on the K-1 application process, then go ahead and call to get your case# from them.

Today I learned!

Thanks for the information. OP, please disregard my previous post.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

not always prompt with answering emails

I sent inquiry April 20,2015

they answered it July 19,2015

good luck

I was only able to get thru by phone 1 time in the whole year our case was at NVC

and then no one could answer a simple question

and the case status site is way behind now.

I know what is going on long before the status shows an update

this is the worst part of the process is NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON

/

BUT YOUR CASE NUMBER SHOULD COME BY EMAIL IF NVC HAS RECEIVED IT/THAT I GOT FAST

[Ash.1101 1,755]

I recieved the paper notification via snail mail from the NVC saying they recieved our case from California two days after I confirmed that Montreal had our case LOL. Basically the letter was dated the day before they mailed our case from the NVC to montreal, but thanks to snail mail it took longer for me to receieve the paper notification than it took Montreal to recieve the case.

So you can wait, but chances are if you wait for the snail mail your consulate will already have the paperwork.



With that said, I also tried to avoid calling because of hearing how difficult it is. I really never had too much of an issue. I always called around 11am-Noon CST. Yeah I had to call them back 25 times in a row for it to answer, but using my cell that wasn't very hard, simply hand up click the number again, repeat. There was even one time the system hung up on me by accident after I was being routed to a case worker and I got back only after five call attempts.

Either way I've only called on two days, the first took me maybe 30 redials to get someone. The second was when I got my casenumber, it was 25 redials and then the call hung up during phone transfer and then 5 more redials. Redials took maybe five minutes lol.

Edited July 20, 2015 by Ash.1101

[Mourad's girl 8]

OP> It can take some time for the NVC to send you the hard copy letter stating your case was sent to the consulate and giving you your case#. If you wish to start on the K-1 application process, then go ahead and call to get your case# from them.

I still have not got a hard copy from NVC. And our case is at the embassy already. So in my opinion, it does speed things up to call and get your case#.

[K&_A 0]

Don't worry!. you don't need it right now. you need it when you are communicated with your embassy by phone or e-mail. i don't know how it is in India but her in sweden we need to have our case number to do our medical and to make our interview appointment.

peace

[Amhara 460]

I got my hard copy from the NVC about three weeks after my case was received by the NVC. By then, my case was already at the USEM. It's not too necessary and you don't need the NVC number to fill out the DS-160, but you will need it for your medical exam and probably for scheduling your interview. I used it each time I emailed the USEM.

If the wait time is an issue for you, try calling either at 7 AM PST (Pacific Standard Time) or after 5:30 PM PST. Sometimes you can get through quickly then. Otherwise, try waiting for the hard copy, then you are good to go. The case stays in NVC for less than a week for K-1 filers. You can estimate how long your case may take and maybe when you should be looking for your hard copy in my signature below.

[dilip 187]

Thanks for all the inputs. I have decided to call one day.