Finally got through NVC

[d0n_the_dragon 0]

Wow, after countless redials I was finally able to talk to a "human" as they coin the term here. I got my noa2 on 11/4 and they told me that just got my papers today (just to give you guys an idea of how long it takes after approval). The person that I talked to was very friendly compared to the jack*** reps over at the national customer service line. LOL. Anyways, I was able to get my case #. After that I was told to try and call back in about a week to find out whether they have shipped my papers over to the Manila Embassy. Let me tell you guys, I was so excited of the fact that I now have the case # that I totally blanked out for a second and forgot to ask some questions that weren't clear to me, like am I going to get a letter/e-mail from them or is it going to be my beneficiary, with the information like my case # and what's going to happen next (BTW,is this standard protocol for them to send out a letter or e-mail after receiving your approved petition/papers from USCIS? I've been reading a lot of reference regarding a "letter from NVC"). I guess you can say that it's a normal reaction, right guys? Anyways, I can live with that. I guess the important thing now is that I have my case # and we can go ahead and schedule an interview at the consulate and do the medical at St. Lukes thereafter.

Now I wasn't able to ask this but I guess folks here can perhaps answer this for me. Is it safe to assume that since they assigned me a case # that I'm out of the woods in terms of being on AP? I sure hope so, I've read a lot of horror stories here of people getting stuck in NVC for AP.

Appreciate the replies guys!

Cheers!

[Sufrank 4]

Wow, after countless redials I was finally able to talk to a "human" as they coin the term here. I got my noa2 on 11/4 and they told me that just got my papers today (just to give you guys an idea of how long it takes after approval). The person that I talked to was very friendly compared to the jack*** reps over at the national customer service line. LOL. Anyways, I was able to get my case #. After that I was told to try and call back in about a week to find out whether they have shipped my papers over to the Manila Embassy. Let me tell you guys, I was so excited of the fact that I now have the case # that I totally blanked out for a second and forgot to ask some questions that weren't clear to me, like am I going to get a letter/e-mail from them or is it going to be my beneficiary, with the information like my case # and what's going to happen next (BTW,is this standard protocol for them to send out a letter or e-mail after receiving your approved petition/papers from USCIS? I've been reading a lot of reference regarding a "letter from NVC"). I guess you can say that it's a normal reaction, right guys? Anyways, I can live with that. I guess the important thing now is that I have my case # and we can go ahead and schedule an interview at the consulate and do the medical at St. Lukes thereafter.

Now I wasn't able to ask this but I guess folks here can perhaps answer this for me. Is it safe to assume that since they assigned me a case # that I'm out of the woods in terms of being on AP? I sure hope so, I've read a lot of horror stories here of people getting stuck in NVC for AP.

Appreciate the replies guys!

Cheers!

My docs are stuck in the NVC for two months already! Hope you will be more luck than us!

Good luck!

[Inky 1,111]

AP can happen even after the visa interview.

[d0n_the_dragon 0]

AP can happen even after the visa interview.

Thanks for the info Inky. But I'm kinda dealing with things every step of the way. Right now I'm worried about the NVC step. My question is, can one say that the general rule of thumb is that if you get assigned your case # that you're clear from AP (at NVC so that it's clear) and that you just have to wait for NVC to ship your papers or is it not?

[AnnieMugaya 3]

For us, NVC assigned my case number and then forwarded my petition on the next day. I bet if you call back within the next two days it will already have been sent! Good luck!

[JimVaPhuong 4,865]

NVC generally assigns the consulate case number as soon as they have determined which consulate will eventually be receiving the petition package. I've heard of a number of people who have gotten their consulate case numbers relatively soon after NVC received the petition, and still ended up stuck in AP for a while at NVC. Presumably, this means that assigning a Department of State case number, with a consulate specific prefix, is one of the first things they do.

In other words, having the case number doesn't necessarily mean you won't be stuck at NVC for a while.

NVC usually sends a letter to the petitioner when they receive the petition from USCIS. The letter will include the case number. You won't automatically get an email, even if you signed up for email updates on the USCIS website. USCIS and NVC are agencies in completely different departments of the US government.

[d0n_the_dragon 0]

NVC generally assigns the consulate case number as soon as they have determined which consulate will eventually be receiving the petition package. I've heard of a number of people who have gotten their consulate case numbers relatively soon after NVC received the petition, and still ended up stuck in AP for a while at NVC. Presumably, this means that assigning a Department of State case number, with a consulate specific prefix, is one of the first things they do.

In other words, having the case number doesn't necessarily mean you won't be stuck at NVC for a while.

NVC usually sends a letter to the petitioner when they receive the petition from USCIS. The letter will include the case number. You won't automatically get an email, even if you signed up for email updates on the USCIS website. USCIS and NVC are agencies in completely different departments of the US government.

Thanks for the clear answer Jim. I guess the only way to find out is to keep calling NVC to find out whether they have shipped my papers to my embassy. I do hope it doesn't stay there for very long. I'll keep you guys updated of the progress.

Cheers!

[Robert de Bonda 3]

Thanks for the clear answer Jim. I guess the only way to find out is to keep calling NVC to find out whether they have shipped my papers to my embassy. I do hope it doesn't stay there for very long. I'll keep you guys updated of the progress.

Cheers!

My petition was approved on Oct 18. It arrived at NVC a few days later. I called and they gave me the case number and told me that it was being held for additional processing. I too had read the horror stories and knew that there wasn't anything that I could do. I kept calling everyday in the morning to DOS and in the evening to NVC until on 11/4 I was told that it was sent to the embassy on 11/2. I keep calling now to find out when it gets to the embassy but they tell me not yet. I don't belive them. I think that the embassy just hasn't processed the paperwork and made an entry into the DOS system. I'm ready for them. Packet 3 is completed and ready to send. I hope to get the word tomorrow Wednesday.

So keep bugging them until you get your good news.

[missicy 87]

When is is a good time to call NVC? My fiance keeps trying but just can't get through, the line is always busy.

[Robert de Bonda 3]

When is is a good time to call NVC? My fiance keeps trying but just can't get through, the line is always busy.

You literally have to keep hanging up and pressing redial. The good thing is that they are open until 11:00pm Eastern time. Another option is to call the Department of State in Washington, D.C. and they will be able to give you the information that is in the system. Sometimes they will ask if you want to be transferred to NVC; when they do this the phone automatically rings without a busy signal.

[Tahoma 2,298]

You literally have to keep hanging up and pressing redial. The good thing is that they are open until 11:00pm Eastern time. Another option is to call the Department of State in Washington, D.C. and they will be able to give you the information that is in the system. Sometimes they will ask if you want to be transferred to NVC; when they do this the phone automatically rings without a busy signal.

^^^Hey...that's a good tip on getting through to the NVC! What's the DOS phone number that you called?

@ Don the Dragon...now you know why the NVC's phone line is so busy...everybody is calling them!

@ JVP...Chinook and I never received any notification from the NVC.

[missicy 87]

You literally have to keep hanging up and pressing redial. The good thing is that they are open until 11:00pm Eastern time. Another option is to call the Department of State in Washington, D.C. and they will be able to give you the information that is in the system. Sometimes they will ask if you want to be transferred to NVC; when they do this the phone automatically rings without a busy signal.

Thank you! I will tell my fiance that. Is DOS easier to get through to?

[Robert de Bonda 3]

^^^Hey...that's a good tip on getting through to the NVC! What's the DOS phone number that you called?

@ Don the Dragon...now you know why the NVC's phone line is so busy...everybody is calling them!

@ JVP...Chinook and I never received any notification from the NVC.

DOS phone number is (202) 663-1225. You cannot access any K-1 information from either the automated phone system or the web-site. When the message starts immediately press "1" and then "0" and you will get connected to a Visa Specialist. It might take some waiting; but hold on.

[Tahoma 2,298]

DOS phone number is (202) 663-1225. You cannot access any K-1 information from either the automated phone system or the web-site. When the message starts immediately press "1" and then "0" and you will get connected to a Visa Specialist. It might take some waiting; but hold on.

RdB...Thanks for the info!

[mish 0]

Wow, after countless redials I was finally able to talk to a "human" as they coin the term here. I got my noa2 on 11/4 and they told me that just got my papers today (just to give you guys an idea of how long it takes after approval). The person that I talked to was very friendly compared to the jack*** reps over at the national customer service line. LOL. Anyways, I was able to get my case #. After that I was told to try and call back in about a week to find out whether they have shipped my papers over to the Manila Embassy. Let me tell you guys, I was so excited of the fact that I now have the case # that I totally blanked out for a second and forgot to ask some questions that weren't clear to me, like am I going to get a letter/e-mail from them or is it going to be my beneficiary, with the information like my case # and what's going to happen next (BTW,is this standard protocol for them to send out a letter or e-mail after receiving your approved petition/papers from USCIS? I've been reading a lot of reference regarding a "letter from NVC"). I guess you can say that it's a normal reaction, right guys? Anyways, I can live with that. I guess the important thing now is that I have my case # and we can go ahead and schedule an interview at the consulate and do the medical at St. Lukes thereafter.

Now I wasn't able to ask this but I guess folks here can perhaps answer this for me. Is it safe to assume that since they assigned me a case # that I'm out of the woods in terms of being on AP? I sure hope so, I've read a lot of horror stories here of people getting stuck in NVC for AP.

Appreciate the replies guys!

Cheers!

Base on my experience, when my fiance (now my hubby) got the NVC letter, he called right away to schedule the interview but the customer service can not locate our files/documents on the system so we can not schedule the interview yet. After 5 days he called again and that's when he was able to schedule the interview. He scanned copy the NVC letter and NOA2 and that's what i presented at SLMC with my email verification of my interview date. When your case reached US embassy manila, that means they can locate your MNL case number in their system. I suggest you not to wait for the letter from US embassy manila because you might wait forever. I got mine the day before i left for US (which was a month after my interview) and i know a few who didn't even get there's. They usually send both the petitioner and beneficiary the letters. My husband didn't get his until now. Postal Services in the philippines really sucks. Goodluck on your journey...just sharing you my experience so you might get some ideas.

oppss! one more thing, it was 2 days later after my fiance got the NOA2 that he got the NVC letter too =)

Edited November 10, 2010 by mish