DCF London

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Apologies for my ignorance, but does the Immigrant Visa Unit assign the case number? Or do they send the I-130 approval to the NVC and they are the ones to issue the case number? My I-130 petition was approved in 29 days, but I've been waiting 9 weeks to get the case number.

The USCIS Field Office in London was really quick. DoS not so much.

A DCF case never goes to the NVC. If a case number has been assigned, the Dept of State in the US will tell it to you over the phone.

DOS 202-663-1225 press 1, then 0. Either spouse can call. Not sure if they can reference your case by name. Regular petitioners have a USCIS case number from their NOA1 (EACXXXXXX or WACXXXXXX) that DOS can cross reference to find your new DOS file number. You might want to try and see what happens. Still open a couple of more hours.....

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

I emailed them today to ask precisely that. (And received the standard autoresponse saying they will respond in either 3-4 days or 7-10 days. Gotta love it!)

It just kills me that such an important letter could get lost. But I guess it happens...

Yea, I'm sure it does happen from time to time! Try to keep your head up & continue to be patient. Much easier said than done, I know! :-)

[Zeffe 2]

A DCF case never goes to the NVC. If a case number has been assigned, the Dept of State in the US will tell it to you over the phone.

DOS 202-663-1225 press 1, then 0. Either spouse can call. Not sure if they can reference your case by name. Regular petitioners have a USCIS case number from their NOA1 (EACXXXXXX or WACXXXXXX) that DOS can cross reference to find your new DOS file number. You might want to try and see what happens. Still open a couple of more hours.....

Excellent advice. Just called DOS and they don't have my SSN (as the petitioner) on file! The woman at DOS said that the NVC would process the case number so she gave me their number to call (603-334-0700). So I am on hold with them now. Will update once I speak with someone!

[Zeffe 2]

Excellent advice. Just called DOS and they don't have my SSN (as the petitioner) on file! The woman at DOS said that the NVC would process the case number so she gave me their number to call (603-334-0700). So I am on hold with them now. Will update once I speak with someone!

Update: I spoke with NVC and they informed me that they don't have the information since the I-130 was filed directly with the Consulate. So it's back to the waiting game. I emailed the Consulate today so perhaps I'll hear back in the next week or two. If not, I'll try calling the Consulate's £1.23/min visa advice line.

Thanks for your help

[mindthegap 2,521]

Another update:

13:35 today I called DOS and was told DS-2001/230 hadn't been logged, nothing to do but wait.

14:00 today I sent an email to IV querying this - standard auto response email.

21:30 today I called DOS again, and the forms have now been logged, so I guess someone in London looked behind the filing cabinet this afternoon

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Another update:

13:35 today I called DOS and was told DS-2001/230 hadn't been logged, nothing to do but wait.

14:00 today I sent an email to IV querying this - standard auto response email.

21:30 today I called DOS again, and the forms have now been logged, so I guess someone in London looked behind the filing cabinet this afternoon

Woohoooo!!!! Keep us updated, please!

[JamesnSarah 0]

Hiya! I waited 8weeks for case number called this past monday, got told number and booked medical for my wife which she went and did yesterday, sorted!, just awaiting interview date now, luckily had a wonderful person answer the phone at the embassy, i would call again

[rockwood23 2]

We sent in our I-130 & docs to London Oct 26, 2012 and were approved Dec 10,2012 - this includes getting an RFE for affidavits and a copy of our marriage license, which I suspect slowed us down about 1.5 weeks. This upcoming Monday completes our 5th week of waiting for our case number. I expect, from the holidays & reading others' posts, that we may not get our case number this week. I'm hopeful!

Did you guys get married in the US? I was kind of panicking about the copy of marriage license when I sent off the form because all I've ever had were certified copies of the marriage certificate... with the license number on them. Do you have any idea how to get a copy of the license? We were married in NYC and I've searched all over trying to get an answer. I'm sure I'll get an RFE since I only included a copy of the certificate.

[Zeffe 2]

Hiya! I waited 8weeks for case number called this past monday, got told number and booked medical for my wife which she went and did yesterday, sorted!, just awaiting interview date now, luckily had a wonderful person answer the phone at the embassy, i would call again

That is so encouraging. Thank you and congratulations!! Did you call the 09042-450-100 number?

[mindthegap 2,521]

Did you guys get married in the US? I was kind of panicking about the copy of marriage license when I sent off the form because all I've ever had were certified copies of the marriage certificate... with the license number on them. Do you have any idea how to get a copy of the license? We were married in NYC and I've searched all over trying to get an answer. I'm sure I'll get an RFE since I only included a copy of the certificate.

I can only speak for us, but we got married in Los Angeles County, with a confidential license. Google it- but basically the record is not obtainable, viewable or more importantly verifiable by anyone except us in person or by a court order- its primarily designed for celebrities and you do not need a witness or waiting period, and dont have to stand in line before or after, the official just turns up with the paperwork and you sign it...hey its LA!.

We submitted a photocopy of the original signed paperwork we have from the day, and also a photocopy of the certified/filed copy that our officiant ordered for us when the paperwork was actually filed with the LA clerk. No RFE- we were kinda worried that being a confidential license would cause an issue, but thankfully not. I am sure they will inspect the original at the interview at some point!

For NYC records, go here: http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/marriage/records although I am pretty sure your copy of the certifed version will be all they need.

Edited January 9, 2013 by mindthegap

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Did you guys get married in the US? I was kind of panicking about the copy of marriage license when I sent off the form because all I've ever had were certified copies of the marriage certificate... with the license number on them. Do you have any idea how to get a copy of the license? We were married in NYC and I've searched all over trying to get an answer. I'm sure I'll get an RFE since I only included a copy of the certificate.

We were married in Georgia. It was suggested to me by another couple that they tend to ask for these additional docs if you're a couple that's been married less than 2 years (we're only at 1.5 yrs). I was really surprised & upset to get an RFE for 3 friends/family affidavits, an affidavit from myself, as well as a copy of the marriage license & the original marriage cert. I had no idea how to go about getting a copy of the license and didn't even know if they kept record of this. Fortunate for me, my mother had copied it when she sent it off along with the request & payment for the marriage certificate (we were on our honeymoon), so she saved me a lot of headache and time! However, before she located the copy she had made, I had searched how to get the record. My situation is different from mindthegap in that you could obtain a copy. In my case, I had to contact the vital records office in the county in which we were married. I believe the copy was to cost $10, but obviously it was the time it would take them to process the request (several weeks). Additionally, I'm not sure that they'd send it overseas, so that would take additional time to have it delivered in the US then sent abroad to me.

[JamesnSarah 0]

That is so encouraging. Thank you and congratulations!! Did you call the 09042-450-100 number?

yep that's the one

[Zeffe 2]

yep that's the one

Fab! Incidentally, I spoke to an operator at the embassy today (0207 499 9000) who told me it was useless to call that number. Ha!!!

[mindthegap 2,521]

Fab! Incidentally, I spoke to an operator at the embassy today (0207 499 9000) who told me it was useless to call that number. Ha!!!

They are all useless.

[Zeffe 2]

They are all useless.

I feel a bit like this guy