How do you know when the Visa is approved at USCIS Service Center

[KeithandAlina 0]

How do you recieve your first notification that your case has been moved to the NVC? Will I see an update on the USCIS status page (from Intial Processing to Testing/Interview)? I see that others can post dates but I do not know where they are found.

After that, how do you track the progress through the rest of the system (like when it arrives at the consulate)

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Keith

[payxibka 10,048]

How do you recieve your first notification that your case has been moved to the NVC? Will I see an update on the USCIS status page (from Intial Processing to Testing/Interview)? I see that others can post dates but I do not know where they are found.

After that, how do you track the progress through the rest of the system (like when it arrives at the consulate)

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Keith

No online tracking mechanism for the process after the USCIS

[Bernie C 24]

How do you recieve your first notification that your case has been moved to the NVC? Will I see an update on the USCIS status page (from Intial Processing to Testing/Interview)? I see that others can post dates but I do not know where they are found.

After that, how do you track the progress through the rest of the system (like when it arrives at the consulate)

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Keith

We received our NOA2 in the mail on 9/21 (the hard copy was dated 9/16).

I called the NVC on 9/23 and was told it was sent to the Consulate on 9/22.

So in our case it was forwarded from USCIS and passed through NVC in just one week after being dated.

My fiancee received Packet 3 from the (HCMC Vietnam) consulate in just under a month from the date the NVC said it was sent.

Timing can vary so this is just an example.

[Celine and Ludo 0]

How do you recieve your first notification that your case has been moved to the NVC? Will I see an update on the USCIS status page (from Intial Processing to Testing/Interview)? I see that others can post dates but I do not know where they are found.

After that, how do you track the progress through the rest of the system (like when it arrives at the consulate)

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Keith

Once the case is moved to the NVC you can no longer track it on the USCIS website. I called the NVC to ask when they received it and when I called they told me they had received it 2 days before and had sent it out to the foreign spouse's country's embassy that morning. It goes really fast once it's at the NVC. That is how people get their dates, by calling.

[KeithandAlina 0]

Thanks for the information. Once I get the update on the USCIS web page that the status has been changed to Interview/Testing, I will call the NVC. I assume I can find the phone number on VJ and that they use the same case number.

Thanks again for your help.

[hgdfjdfghgfr 0]

My lawyer sent me an email when it was approved. They sent her the approval package then she sent it to me. If you did everything yourself then they should mail the approval notice.

[Jenn and Fuat 2]

Thanks for the information. Once I get the update on the USCIS web page that the status has been changed to Interview/Testing, I will call the NVC. I assume I can find the phone number on VJ and that they use the same case number.

Thanks again for your help.

The K1 does not usually go to Interview/Testing.. that is for other visa types. It will skip that step all together. When you get your NOA2, you can start calling NVC. You will need to give them the case number, and both of your birth dates. K1 visas are not entered into the automatic system at NVC, so you have to speak to a real person.. if you use the automated system is it always going to tell you that your case is not there yet.

We were at NVC within a few days of getting NOA2 and then mailed to the consulate a few days later. The number is on here somewhere, along with the instructions on what buttons to push to get through the automated system and get to a real person.. but I can't remember what thread it is in.

[Darnell 8,479]

How do you recieve your first notification that your case has been moved to the NVC? Will I see an update on the USCIS status page (from Intial Processing to Testing/Interview)? I see that others can post dates but I do not know where they are found.

After that, how do you track the progress through the rest of the system (like when it arrives at the consulate)

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Keith

IF you have received the NOA-2 (797-C approval notice) then contact NVC about 2 weeks from the date on the approval notice, get the NVC case number. Ask them if it was sent on to the embassy/consulate and/or scheduled for an interview.

Once it's left NVC, you can call DOS Hotline, get a Human and inquire case status from the time it's left NVC all the way through 'interview status' .

[sachinky 465]

Just to nitpick but your visa is not approved at the USCIS service center. Your petition is.

[KeithandAlina 0]

So for the K-1 Visa, I will recieve the NOA2 in the mail before the update is made on the USCIS website (where I enter the case number from the NOA1)?

Does this mean for the K-1 that website is only useful for determining that your check was cashed?

[TracyTN 237]

Just to nitpick but your visa is not approved at the USCIS service center. Your petition is.

So for the K-1 Visa, I will recieve the NOA2 in the mail before the update is made on the USCIS website (where I enter the case number from the NOA1)?

Does this mean for the K-1 that website is only useful for determining that your check was cashed?

For the K1 (I 129f) petition, you may well receive the NOA2 in the mail before seeing it on the website. Its not a perfect system unfortunately, and each case is different - your mileage may vary.

The only real thing the website is useful for is to show you it's pending, and often people first learn of an RFE by an update on this site - but even at that, you have to get the RFE in the mail before you know what exactly they're looking for. I've always found out we were approved via that site (or email notifications) instead of snail mail - but that isn't fail safe.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

It would be helpful when you talk about calling NVC or DOS that if you know the phone numbers and how to get through to a real person that you post them in your answer so others

can write them down and have them available.

[TracyTN 237]

NVC (aka DOS) phone number:

(202) 663-1225

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Thanks Tracy!!!

[PanamaJack 1]

NVC (aka DOS) phone number:

(202) 663-1225

This is not the correct Number for NVC..You posted the State Dept. Number.. not the number for NVC....

The number for NVC is 603-334-1225

Edited February 15, 2010 by PanamaJack