Should they really "just wait?"

[HazelEyedHippie 0]

Hello!

My cousin married a US citizen (she's still overseas), and just had her i-130 approved. That was on 4/17, as stated on the check-your-status webpage. On 4/23, her approved case was sent to the Dept. of State for visa processing. Her husband states in the letter that he received (NOA?), it says to wait 30 days for the papers (packet?) to be sent to him, and if he has not heard anything by 30 days, to contact them.

My confusion/question is this: I've been reading for weeks on this site and others how people eagerly wait to be able to call the NVC and get their new case number so they can pay the fees online/fill out the required forms to quicken the process. Is this something that the government itself doesn't tell people to do, but people basically do anyway? I mean.. I told him about it, and he just brushed it off.. said his lawyer told him to just wait the 30 days as well (although he didn't use a lawyer for this case, he's using him for something else now). I haven't actually seen the letter, just curious if this sounds like what everyone else gets.


Thanks a bunch!!

Edited May 12, 2014 by HazelEyedHippie

[NikLR 13,220]

Rare these days does the NVC get the package and assign a case number within 30 days. If they choose they can wait the 30 days then contact the NVC. But that is the standard USCIS NOA2.

[HazelEyedHippie 0]

Oh, okay.. but many people are choosing to contact the NVC before the 30 days by telephone, yes? To speed things up?

Thanks

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

I would call end of this week and ask for a NVC case number. If not available yet, call again mid-late next week. And if not yet, call the following week.

They can wait as instructed per the letters but it will take longer. They can cut down the wait time a little by being proactive. Proactive does not mean calling daily (or twice dail) like an OCD patient.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Eric-Pris

[HazelEyedHippie 0]

Thanks!

[NikLR 13,220]

I would wait at least two weeks from approval date to call to see if they have recieved the case then call every other or every 3 days. After they recieve it call every other day until case number. But from the NVC filers thread it takes from 2-8 weeks for them to get the case and another 1-4 to get the number. Calling more often doesn't speed them up, you just may find out a day or two sooner, or you may just get angry.

[gwenstar 66]

I would wait at least two weeks from approval date to call to see if they have recieved the case then call every other or every 3 days. After they recieve it call every other day until case number. But from the NVC filers thread it takes from 2-8 weeks for them to get the case and another 1-4 to get the number. Calling more often doesn't speed them up, you just may find out a day or two sooner, or you may just get angry.

Exaclty

[pushbrk 12,252]

Oh, okay.. but many people are choosing to contact the NVC before the 30 days by telephone, yes? To speed things up?

Thanks

Calling early will not speed things up. You'll just make more calls. You can't actually pay any fee or send any documents until NVC get around to assigning a case number and invoicing the first fee. Use this time to get ready. Call as soon as you like, but don't expect your early call to speed anything up.

[bdrew612 1,071]

If you completed the G-1145 when you filed the I-130, then NVC will send you an e-mail when the AOS AOS has been invoiced (which is about a week after the case number is generated). So really, don't need to call. If you didn't complete that and NVC does not have your e-mail, then you should probably call.

I completed the G-1145 and I got an e-mail as soon as the AOS was ready (I already had my case # because I called, but the AOS wasn't ready until I got that e-mail, so there's no delay, really).

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

I've got to admit I love the idea that calling them works like some kind of prod to speed the staff up if only it was like that for real

[Ivy. 113]

We called NVC once a week a week after the documents were shipped. We got information the case was received on April 7th, but it took until May 6th to get the case number assigned and we found that our when we called again on May 7th.

So, yeah, with the way NVC is going now, I'd say they should wait. They can call every now and then, but no point in calling every day until 30 days expire I think.

Good luck to them!

[nightingalejules 678]

If you completed the G-1145 when you filed the I-130, then NVC will send you an e-mail when the AOS AOS has been invoiced (which is about a week after the case number is generated). So really, don't need to call. If you didn't complete that and NVC does not have your e-mail, then you should probably call.

I completed the G-1145 and I got an e-mail as soon as the AOS was ready (I already had my case # because I called, but the AOS wasn't ready until I got that e-mail, so there's no delay, really).

Not necessarily true!

We completed the G1145, AND signed up for email case updates, but when our file got to NVC and I called to get the Case # and IIN, they said they had no email on file for either of us.

I was able to give the NVC agent our emails and now it seems we're getting emails.

But don't assume that your email is on file just because it ought to be.

I think OP should advise his/her cousin to call and find out when the case was received, then about a month after that to get Case# and IIN, and to check and make sure that the email address(es) are on file.

Edited May 13, 2014 by nightingalejules

[bdrew612 1,071]

Not necessarily true!

We completed the G1145, AND signed up for email case updates, but when our file got to NVC and I called to get the Case # and IIN, they said they had no email on file for either of us.

I was able to give the NVC agent our emails and now it seems we're getting emails.

But don't assume that your email is on file just because it ought to be.

I think OP should advise his/her cousin to call and find out when the case was received, then about a month after that to get Case# and IIN, and to check and make sure that the email address(es) are on file.

Are you serious?! Unreal, but good to know!!!

[Jenny_USCIS 27]

I was wondering if anyone had same problem as mine, I received my case and invoice numbers today and it says it is now eligible for further processing; but when I log in online on NVC website, it says this case is not eligible for further processing.

Please help! Thanks!

[pushbrk 12,252]

Ignore the website and respond to the email by paying the first fee. You've been studying the NVC Wiki and are ready for all the next steps, right?