December 2014 filers (TSC) - post NOA2 approval thread

[strifescenario 6]

Thank you TabeaK!! I really appreciate it!!

But if nothing is trackable via DHL, why do people keep talking about it?

I appreciate your frustration, but the reason you can't find a completely clear guide is because after NOA-2 the process is variable and country specific. You may have more luck on the Canada board, but I'll give it a shot.

1) Yes, at TSC you get an email confirmation and status update, that the case was forwared to NVC. CSC does not update the case status nor sends an email. The time from NOA-2 to case sent is highly variable - like 2 days to three weeks or something. For me it was 11 days.

2) Only way to track is calling NVC.

3) NVC assigns the case number on their own time. Either you are lucky they have already done so by the time you call or you have to call back. NVC receive took 9 days for me after the email that USCIS had it shipped. First time I called there was no case number, that took another 5 days. Again, timelines are extremely variable - no prediction possible. NVC ships cases to the embassy on their own time- no prediction and no personalized tracking possible. You can call and asked whether it has been sent and when it has been sent through.

4) No, the case is considered ready (trackable on ceac.state.gov with the NVC number) once the file has reached the embassy and the embassy has acknowledged receipt. This is often the electronic case file the embassy receives first, with the physical case file showing up later. In my experiences the status can be off by a week or more, i.e. saying ready before it actually is, or not saying anything despite the case being ready. Timelines very variable... It usually takes several days for the case to show up on CEAC as well.

5) ceac.state.gov, use your NVC case number to track under 'immigrant visa'

6) You can't really do personalized tracking through DHL, all you can do is track all shipments from NVC to ypur embassy as NVC uses a standardized shipper reference. But you will never know a particular package did actually contain your case.

7) See 6).

8) No. Your case number has no relation to DHL. You can track it on ceac, but it is not necessarily accurate - tends to be off by a few days.

9) No answer possible, each country has their own process. Some mail the applicant a letter, some don't. Some email the applicant, some don't. Some wait for the applicant to get in touch, some don't etc.

10) See 9). Country specific process. Some ask for pack 3 documents to be mailed, some have to take it to the interview.... What you definitely need is: a) DS-160, filled in, printed confirmation containing DS-160 barcode & confirmation number and b) paid visa fee - via ustraveldocs.com website (you need to create an account there) and c) the various documents for the embassy stage (birth cert, police cert, affidavit of support etc.

11) See 9) Country specific process. In Germany, for example, you schedule your own interview. In other countries the embassy does that...

[strifescenario 6]

I can hopefully help you out since I'm also applying from Canada and the process does get blurry past the NVC stage.

My NOA2 got approved on June 16th, and we didn't call NVC to get the new case number until July 10th. When we called we were given the new MTL number that was assigned (because they get shipped to Montreal) and were told that it was already sent off to Montreal.

I kept putting "non - immigrant" in the CEAC search when I was looking it up to see if it reached Montreal yet so that wasn't helpful. Finally I realized that you have to use "immigrant", and then my case came up. I honestly wouldn't try any other tricks to see where the case is, because if you keep checking CEAC then you'll for sure know that the consulate received your stuff.

The status on my CEAC was "Ready" and it said that they were ready to schedule the interview appt as of July 23rd. Then I checked again and the date on CEAC changed to July 27th. If you are planning on emailing your packet 3 before you get an actual physical copy in the mail then from what I've seen you should wait until the date changes on CEAC (from July 23rd to July 27th in my case) before you send your packet 3. I didn't wait to receive the physical copy of packet 3, because you can get it online http://photos.state.gov/libraries/canada/303578/montreal/Packet3-K1-MTL.pdf

I emailed packet 3 on July 29th along with the DS -160 barcode confirmation page and scanned passport page, I also added in the email that I would like all future correspondence done by email. The very next day they emailed me packet 4 and from there I was able to schedule the medical and the interview.

Since you asked, the embassy mails you packet 3. I received my packet 3 in the mail on July 31st I believe and it was dated as sent on July 23rd. So I assume they send you your packet 3 as soon as they receive your case in Montreal.

No payment for packet 3, you don't need to pay anything when you fill out DS - 160. You DO need to pay when you have your packet 4, and you do it right before you can schedule an interview.

When they email you packet 4 they give you the link to schedule the interview http://canada.usvisa-info.com and to schedule medical http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3739.html and also give you a list of what to bring for the interview. So basically you do all the work lol.

Make sure to schedule interview first, as the medical people will want to know that. If you're curious, mid September is what was available for Montreal interviews.

I hope that clears it up for you a bit!

Thank you Kasiz!!!! I really appreciate it! Even though Im on the west coast and my embassy is Vancouver, your post is extremely helpful. We'll try to call the NVC for the first time on monday but I'm going to start the DS160 form tonight and try to be as ready as possible for when the embassy receives my case. =)

THANK YOU and best of luck on your interview! Amazing that you have it all scheduled already! =)

[roralau 8]

Because it's still a way of trying to figure out where your case is when you see READY on the page but still nothing from the embassy..

in my case on DHL web.site they said that there was a package that had been sent to Italy in the late afternoon of the Thursday of the day before the status update (Friday early morning) and it arrived to my country on the following Monday afternoon: Tuesday they received it at the embassy. so I assume that it really was ours.

But it's just a guess...

the only sure way is to email the embassy with your case and ask if they have it or not.

Thank you TabeaK!! I really appreciate it!!

But if nothing is trackable via DHL, why do people keep talking about it?

[TabeaK 516]

Well maybe if you are at a small embassy in a tiny country that processes just the odd K1, you can guestimate using DHL.

In my case, there are literally shipments of multiple files to Frankfurt every day - the information content via DHL tracking is thus negligible.

Just watch CEAC, and when it says "Ready" give it another week or so and the case should physically be at the embassy.

[Onago 2]

Not yet, I sent the packet 3 back on 30/7 and I'm waiting for the packet 4. The consulate in Madrid send them by mail. I hope to receive it soon!!. I live in Valencia

Hello Edame,

How did you know that your case was already in the embassy? Did you call them or email them? How did they send your packet 3? By post or electronically?

Thanks

[kasiz 9]

So I checked and noticed that my case number is showing up as Ready as well. Before I checked, I emailed the embassy for more information. I just got back an email today stating that it's a glitch in the system that everyone who has a case # shows up as ready. So I'm pretty annoyed not really knowing what is right and if I go ahead and send my packet 3 whether or not it will get "lost."

If you have all of the required packet 3 stuff ready you could try emailing it to them, it wouldn't hurt to try. Worst case scenario they'll just ignore your email. Otherwise you should be getting packet 3 in the mail pretty soon if the embassy did receive your case.

[muhkoo 12]

Yeah I really don't know what to do. Case status ready since July 16. Dhl says arrived July 20. Embassy says they send out packet 3 email the week the case arrives at the embassy. Not a word yet after several emails and a phone call.

[edame 0]

Hello Edame,

How did you know that your case was already in the embassy? Did you call them or email them? How did they send your packet 3? By post or electronically?

Thanks

Hello Onago, we called NVC to know our case number, you can check in ceac.state.gov where is your file with the case number, first it shows in transit, that means NVC sends the file to the consulate and later it changes to Ready, then you know it is at the consulate.

Madrid's consulate will send you a letter by post, mine arrived 14 days later I saw the file was Ready in ceac.state.gov

You're welcome

[Ellie and Fron 10]

Hey Everyone,

Anyone know how to get copies or download Facebook and Whatsapp messages? I can't seem to figure out a way to do it.

[roralau 8]

I was thinking about doing some screenshots with different dates of the Facebook chat and print out the page that comes out on "View Relationship".

I know that for the IPhone you can use this website and it downloads all the msgs on the PC in PDF http://www.iphone-sms.com/

Plus Ima bring postcards and letters with me .....

Hey Everyone,

Anyone know how to get copies or download Facebook and Whatsapp messages? I can't seem to figure out a way to do it.

[TabeaK 516]

Roalau, did the embassy request you bring further information? If not, I wouldn't bother...no one will look at the stuff.

[LEL 20]

Hey Everyone,

Anyone know how to get copies or download Facebook and Whatsapp messages? I can't seem to figure out a way to do it.

For whatsapp, go to the conversation click on the name at the top which takes you to contact info and at the bottom it has the option to email chat, email that to yourself.

[roralau 8]

No they didn't but Ima bring everything just in case since we cannot bring the phone inside.

It's not problem to print out some chatlogs and some pictures.

Roalau, did the embassy request you bring further information? If not, I wouldn't bother...no one will look at the stuff.

[strifescenario 6]

Guys,

I called the NVC friday night and got our case number (16 days in all after NOA2). Really nice guy, told me the case was sent out to the embassy friday. On CEAC, it says the case is in transit. But you know, I'm restless so I decided to try the DHL trick. So I followed all the instructions but the EXP date for the date before didn't show any packages to Canada, and nothing was found for friday (or any day since friday). Just wondering if this i normal, and if DHL is delayed in posting which packages were picked up on which day?

[muhkoo 12]

We got our packet 3 and interview date today. I'm really disappointed. It's for October 20th. By the time he gets here it will be nearly a year since we filed and since we saw each other. I called and they said I could write an email to ask for an earlier date but there's no guarantee we'll get one.