IR1/CR1 - Change filed in US to DCF?

[ChangshaIR1 0]

To all of the experienced members out there -

I made what I think was a big mistake by filing my wife's IR1/CR1 application in the US when I could have done a Direct Consular Filing. I've been living continuously in China for several years, but I didn't find about the option for doing a DCF until I had already filed the application in the US (while on a trip back to the US).

My first question: Was this a big mistake? What I've read online is that filing in the US takes 7 months, while filing a DCF takes only 3 months - is a DCF really that much faster?

My second question: We've already received NOA2 (about a week ago). Do we have any options for changing the application to DCF in order to speed up the process?

Many thanks for any information other members can share!

[Ryan H 3,790]

I made what I think was a big mistake by filing my wife's IR1/CR1 application in the US

To get the semantics out of the way, you did not file your wife's visa application, you filed your petition. Your wife's visa application will be submitted to the NVC.

Secondly, it's too late to switch, but since you have your NOA2, you are in good shape. Here's why, you have the option of submitting the forms and documentation to the NVC electronically after they assing a case number to your file and the appropriate bills have been paid.

[ChangshaIR1 0]

Thanks a lot for your reply, Ryan!

Would you mind saying a bit more about the electronic processing? Is this something I have to apply for?

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moving from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to China regional forum as topic is now China specific.

Would you mind saying a bit more about the electronic processing? Is this something I have to apply for?

You can read my thread about my experience with EP here. I detailed everything I did (and it shows everything you will need to do also).

Here are some starters:

Start calling the NVC and see if a case number has been assigned to your file. The number will begin with GUZ. Once you have a case number, give the NVC your and your wife's email address so they are on record.

The Affidavit of Support (AOS) invoice should show up in your inbox a short time after your receive your case number. Once that invoice is in your inbox, you will need to sent the OPTIN email. Do not send the OPTIN email prior to receiving the AOS invoice in your inbox. If you do, your case could end up in a no-mans land that can take some doing to get out of.

When the OPTIN email is accepted, your case number will change from GUZ to GZO and have a new set of numbers.

When the payment portal for each bill shows PAID, you can email the appropriate forms and documents to the NVC as a PDF file.

Has your wife obtained the required civil documents yet from the notary office where he hukou is located. The documents the notary office will issue are referred to as "white books" here on VJ and CFL. You will need to scan the white books for submission to the NVC.

Original documentation will be required at document intake at the Consulate the day before the interview.

Hope this helps you get started, let me know if you have anymore questions.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Ryan H

[Darnell 8,478]

if'n you start EP at NVC soonish, expect an interview date within 8 to 11 weeks.

Is that soon enough for you ?

Is that enough reason to push forward at NVC today ??

[bigdog 376]

You reached out just in time and received awesome responses from the best on VJ. Congratulations on your new life and wife.

[ChangshaIR1 0]

Thanks a lot guys! I'm busy reading and re-reading all the linked material...

EDIT: BTW, seeing as there is lots of stuff about scanning and emailing documents, I want to mention the iPhone program 'TurboScan' - it does a great job of making 'scans' using the phone's camera and each page is only about 300kb. I use it all the time. (I'm not connected with the company in any way, and there are probably other apps that do the same thing...)

Edited April 21, 2012 by ChangshaIR1

[Groundhog 0]

Will NVC accept pictures of documents as long as it's legible and in PDF format? I ask because I am trying to avoid having to purchase a scanner if files don't have to be sent with pristine quality.

BTW, anyone know the proper way to shrink the size of a PDF file without compromising quality?

[Darnell 8,478]

yup and

reprint via cutepdf, reducing the dpi.

[Darnell 8,478]

hey ChangSha - did your casefile make it over to NVC yet? any movement?

[ChangshaIR1 0]

Hey there, I just received the 'Affidavit of Support (AOS) Processing Fee Bill Invoice', and immediately went to www.ImmigrantVisas.state.gov and paid it online. (note: Firefox on a Mac didn't work, but Safari did!?!)

It took about 15 days for the application to enter the NVC's computer system after they confirmed that it had been received.

Re: my original question about whether I should have changed to DCF so late in the game, I wanted to share these email replies from CIS Beijing:

CIS Beijing: Your I-130 was approved on 04/07/2012. It will be sent to the NVC for relocation to the Consulate you requested in your filing. It appears this is well on its way, so it does not seem necessary or prudent to file another I-130 in China.

Me: Is it possible to get an estimate on how long (barring any complications) it will take for the application to move from the NVC to the Consulate?

CIS Beijing: Unsure of exact times, hopefully within 30 days. If you started over you would be looking at 90 days or better.

It took me a little over 5 months to go from NOA1 to NOA2, then another month to get the NVC case number, and the guesstimate above adds another 30 days to get from NVC to the consulate. So for anybody who finds themselves in this situation, if you think you are more than a month away from NOA2, it might be worth changing to DCF.

[Darnell 8,478]

are you doing Electronic Processing at NVC, or no ?

[ChangshaIR1 0]

are you doing Electronic Processing at NVC, or no ?

Yes, I sent them the 'Opt In' email on Friday, and received a confirmation this morning (5 days later, including the weekend).

[Darnell 8,478]

excellent. some movement. you handling stuff at the online payment portal, currently? if so, that'll move the casefile timeticks along, as you can't send in EP packets without paying for 'a thing' (AOS and IV)

Call into NVC today, ask for an AOS fee bill to be sent to yer email inbox, if'n you not have that, already.

Reread Ryan's topic at http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/327561-my-ep-experience/ nowish, also.

Remember, since yer in China - if'n you not have a scanner for the white books and forms and other stuff -

copy shops abound. Copy shops are cheap, also. It'll take some training to remind them to make scan to multi-page pdf, IMO, but it's worth it.

Edited May 22, 2012 by Darnell

[ChangshaIR1 0]

I'm happy to say that my wife, daughter and I have been in the US for almost two months now.

Many thanks to the members above who suggested changing to electronic processing! It made a huge difference in speeding up our application.

And just a final reminder to anybody that reads this that one should ALWAYS get notarized versions of all Chinese documents. I learned the hard way that even if the USCIS accepts a non-notarized document (in this case my wife's birth certificate), the consulate WILL require a notarized version, and this will cause delays!