What to submit at VAC before interview? (split topic)

[mdzcpa 58]

I think the fees will be paid to the NVC because that process of sending the originals documents an affidavit of support is completed here before it's send to the embassy, and they also let you know when you can pay it by either sending you an email or over the phone when you contact them. as far as the VAC appointment goes i guess you schedule an appointment with them after you already have an interview schedule (the appointment is only to drop off documents and get your fingerprints taken) at the US embassy in the DR which is set up by the NVC ( I don't think that process has changed, interviews are still schedule by the NVC and then send to the DR). That is my understanding according to what I have read in the Embassy website.

Today is holiday and VAC and Embassy are closed. So no answers today.

I agree with what is stated above...except what "documents" would be dropped of at the VAC for an IR-1/CR-1?? Everything is sent from the NVC to the Embassy. Possibly the updated Police Report? Do we submit our relationship evidence to the VAC as well (Photos, bank stuff, text history)? Do they want another set of original civil documents at the VAC?? (we sent our previous original documents to the NVC).

It's frustrating as there is no details as to the list of documents needed specifically for the VAC for CR-1. On the Embassy website it lists all the documents needed for the immigrant visa process, but this is pretty much the same list of everything already sent to the NVC. We were planning on having a total set of documents in hand for the interview anyway, so I suppose my wife can bring what she has to the VAC appointment. The only problem is that I am bringing a lot of the relationship evidence, and the original copies of my birth certificate and divorce papers when I flew down a few days before the interview. So what she has will be incomplete until I arrive a day before the interview.

What a mess

[mari09 0]

Today is holiday and VAC and Embassy are closed. So no answers today.

I agree with what is stated above...except what "documents" would be dropped of at the VAC for an IR-1/CR-1?? Everything is sent from the NVC to the Embassy. Possibly the updated Police Report? Do we submit our relationship evidence to the VAC as well (Photos, bank stuff, text history)? Do they want another set of original civil documents at the VAC?? (we sent our previous original documents to the NVC).

It's frustrating as there is no details as to the list of documents needed specifically for the VAC for CR-1. On the Embassy website it lists all the documents needed for the immigrant visa process, but this is pretty much the same list of everything already sent to the NVC. We were planning on having a total set of documents in hand for the interview anyway, so I suppose my wife can bring what she has to the VAC appointment. The only problem is that I am bringing a lot of the relationship evidence, and the original copies of my birth certificate and divorce papers when I flew down a few days before the interview. So what she has will be incomplete until I arrive a day before the interview.

What a mess

You need another police certificate as you mentioned. I think you also need another inextensa birth certificate and you married certificate when you go to the interview in addition to the once you already sent to the NVC. Your interview letter should mentione the documents you need to bring with you to the interview or with this new process the ones you have to submit to the VAC. I know it's a mess, it's very confusing, when I get my interview I'll call the VAC # so they could clarify some things I'm still confused on. Edited January 5, 2015 by mari09

[mdzcpa 58]

Well, I tried calling the Immigration Unit of the Santo Domingo Embassy. However, those calls are now all routed to the support department of the new VAC, I was able to speak to a "support" person who was very nice but totally clueless as to what to tell me. He put me on hold for a while then came back and said "we believe" you need to set up an appointment at the VAC. There they will take fingerprints, set up passport delivery option, and collect any other documents the embassy requires. When I told him that we needed to have a set of original civil documents in hand for the interview itself (per the embassy interview instructions), he said it was best to have another set of documents in case the VAC wanted to collect those as well. Seriously. That's 3 sets of originals (NVC submitted, VAC submitted, and available for the Embassy).

When I told him I could not schedule a VAC appointment on their website without filing the DS-260 on their system, he said to input the confirmation number of the DS-260 we received when we filed on the CEAC site in July and that the VAC appointment system "might" accept that number. How nice. He then said if we cannot get the automated system to set up the appointment correctly we had to call back for a manually scheduled appointment.

What a complete mess! Nobody thought through the transition process at all. They may have thought it through up in the ivory tower but the instructions never made it to the field. So now my wife has to spend more hours waiting in long lines for more certified copies of the marriage certificate and birth certificate because the VAC "might" want to collect more copies.

Edited January 6, 2015 by mdzcpa

[Ilovemyman 147]

Well, I tried calling the Immigration Unit of the Santo Domingo Embassy. However, those calls are now all routed to the support department of the new VAC, I was able to speak to a "support" person who was very nice but totally clueless as to what to tell me. He put me on hold for a while then came back and said "we believe" you need to set up an appointment at the VAC. There they will take fingerprints, set up passport delivery option, and collect any other documents the embassy requires. When I told him that we needed to have a set of original civil documents in hand for the interview itself (per the embassy interview instructions), he said it was best to have another set of documents in case the VAC wanted to collect those as well. Seriously. That's 3 sets of originals (NVC submitted, VAC submitted, and available for the Embassy).

When I told him I could not schedule a VAC appointment on their website without filing the DS-260 on their system, he said to input the confirmation number of the DS-260 we received when we filed on the CEAC site in July and that the VAC appointment system "might" accept that number. How nice. He then said if we cannot get the automated system to set up the appointment correctly we had to call back for a manually scheduled appointment.

What a complete mess! Nobody thought through the transition process at all. They may have thought it through up in the ivory tower but the instructions never made it to the field. So now my wife has to spend more hours waiting in long lines for more certified copies of the marriage certificate and birth certificate because the VAC "might" want to collect more copies.

As you explain, people at the vca call center look like they are good trained, they dont know the answer to the questions.

When you ask something they give wrongs answer because they dont know about you are asking for.

I learned that when i called the first time, so i follow the instructions at the embassy page.

The call center is useless

[mdzcpa 58]

UPDATE:

We were able to schedule an appointment at the VAC using our original DS-260 confirmation number, SDO immigration case number, and my wife's passport number. I called the VAC after the appointment was scheduled and we were told that they will only be taking fingerprints and having us select the return location of the passport (which Mail Boxes Etc location we would like). They said with CR-1 case they would not be collecting any other documents, but recommended that we have a original copies of my wife's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and updated police certificate in addition to her passport, DS-260 confirmation page, and cedula that the VAC requires.

I will update again next week after her visit to the VAC.

Also, I heard a rumor from our crappy attorney that the Embassy is still taking finger prints and collecting any missing documents if you attend the Interview without visiting the VAC first. They seem to be aware that the transition to the new system is confusing. It is said, however, the process at the Embassy will take longer and there is a chance of falling into longer AP if you do not attend the VAC first.

Edited January 9, 2015 by mdzcpa

[Ryan H 3,812]

Posts split into separate thread as posters are replying to each other and not the other thread's OP.

[mari09 0]

UPDATE:

We were able to schedule an appointment at the VAC using our original DS-260 confirmation number, SDO immigration case number, and my wife's passport number. I called the VAC after the appointment was scheduled and we were told that they will only be taking fingerprints and having us select the return location of the passport (which Mail Boxes Etc location we would like). They said with CR-1 case they would not be collecting any other documents, but recommended that we have a original copies of my wife's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and updated police certificate in addition to her passport, DS-260 confirmation page, and cedula that the VAC requires.

I will update again next week after her visit to the VAC.

Also, I heard a rumor from our crappy attorney that the Embassy is still taking finger prints and collecting any missing documents if you attend the Interview without visiting the VAC first. They seem to be aware that the transition to the new system is confusing. It is said, however, the process at the Embassy will take longer and there is a chance of falling into longer AP if you do not attend the VAC first.

https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Dominican%20Republic

Is that the link to create the account and schedule the VAC appointment?

Edited January 17, 2015 by mari09

[mdzcpa 58]

https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Dominican%20Republic

Is that the link to create the account and schedule the VAC appointment?

Yes it is.

My wife had her VAC appointments week Thursday. For CR-1 all they did was take her finger prints and photo. We selected the mailbox etcetera location when we signed up for the appointment. No fees were paid. No documents taken. She needed her 260 confirmation, cedula, passport, and VAC appointment confirmation printed out. There was no line. She was in and out in 5 minutes!

This coming Friday is our interview at the embassy.