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carlamariec

How to call USCIS and NVC for free

By carlamariec in General Immigration-Related Discussion

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carlamariec Explorer

carlamariec   8

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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Hello. Just wondering if you guys have any idea how to call USCIS and NVC for free?

I'm from the Philippines and I would want to be the one to call them since my US Citizen husband is working office hours (and doesn't have time to call them).

Any advice? :)

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Gregory&Dyn Enthusiast

Gregory&Dyn   113

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Just my opinion, but something so important should be prioritized by your US citizen husband. He takes lunch breaks at work, right? No reason he can't step outside with a mobile phone and make the call. I'm willing to bet that his day presents numerous opportunities to call (the drive home from work, dinner hour, turning off the TV).

Incidentally, and to his advantage, NVC is staffed until midnight (M-F) EST.

As far as free calls, nothing comes to mind. He could add credit to a Skype account (or other VoIP based service) or purchase an international phone card for you. Often, calls made via these services are just a few cents per minute.

Also, and it will take some research on your part, but I vaguely remember reading somewhere that one or both agencies accept collect calls. Please don't hold me to that, but it is worth investigating.

Good luck. By the way, where in the Philippines are you located?

Edited by Gregory&Dyn

MEETING

12 March 2012: Met Dyn at a coffee shop in Kuwait

Summer 2012: I returned home to the U.S. to prepare a way for Dyn

Fall 2014: Dyn returns home to Philippines after seven years in Kuwait

ANNULMENT

February 2014: Engaged while I visited Philippines

March 2014: Officially hired attorney and filed for Dyn's annulment in Bohol, Philippines

December 2015: Bohol District Court issues decision in our favor

December 2015: Judge sends transcript of his decision to OSG for processing

February 05 2016: OSG returned receipt and approval to district court in Bohol. CoF to be issued end of second week in February

February 09 2016: Dyn is presented with the Entry of Judgment and her Certificate of Finality via the local court.

February 15 2016: LCR issues annotated marriage certificate, and necessary documents are forwarded to the NSO / PSA visa LBC

April 19 2016: Received CENOMAR and Annotated MC from PSA via private courier. DONE! COMPLETE! FINISHED! OFFICIAL!

I-129F / K1 VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

April 04 2016: I-129F sent to Texas Lockbox via USPS Priority Mail

April 12 2016: Email from USCIS acceptance confirmation

April 17 2016: Official NOA1 hard copy received

July 12 2016: NOA2 Approval hard copy received

July 14 2016: Post Decision Activity email from USCIS

THE LONG WAIT (USCIS misplaced approved petition)

September 16 2016: NVC received approved I-129F petition and assigns case number

INTERVIEW / MEDICAL PROCESS

October 04 2016: Day 1 of medical at SLEC in Manila

October 05 2016: Psychiatric evaluation off-site due to psychological incapacity annulment (10 hour eval with 800 question profile test)

October 13 2016: CFO Seminar completed successfully and certificate awarded (CFO stamp not issued until visa is presented).

October 20 2016: Return to SLEC complete psychological evaluation with resident psychologist (less than ten minutes)

October 21 2016: Vaccination day at SLEC (medical finally complete)

October 25 2016: Visa interview at USEM in Manila (APPROVED)

HOMECOMING

November 19 2016: Dyn's arrival at POE Dulles IAD in Washington DC

December 01 2016: Married

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carlamariec Explorer

carlamariec   8

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Just my opinion, but something so important should be prioritized by your US citizen husband. He takes lunch breaks at work, right? No reason he can't step outside with a mobile phone and make the call. I'm willing to bet that his day presents numerous opportunities to call (the drive home from work, dinner hour, turning off the TV).

Incidentally, and to his advantage, NVC is staffed until midnight (M-F) EST.

As far as free calls, nothing comes to mind. He could add credit to a Skype account (or other VoIP based service) or purchase an international phone card for you. Often, calls made via these services are just a few cents per minute.

Also, and it will take some research on your part, but I vaguely remember reading somewhere that one or both agencies accept collect calls. Please don't hold me to that, but it is worth investigating.

Good luck. By the way, where in the Philippines are you located?

They're staffed till midnight? I didn't know that.

But yea, thank you for your reply. I appreciate it.

And I'm from Cebu, Philippines. :)

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,790

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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KissesVE Apprentice

KissesVE   3

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Brazil
 Timeline
Posted

I use an app called WePhone its pretty Good!

I-130 Petition Filed From Abroad

August 12-2016 Sent I-130 Petition to Chicago.

August 16-2016 USCIS received I-130, Acceptance notification received by email. Case sent to Nebraska.

February 21-2017 Approved I-130 sent to NVC.

 

NVC

March 26-2017 Submitted I-864 AOS Email Processing

April 03-2017 Case Complete NVC in 1 week

May 23-2017  Interview Date

May 23-2017 Approved!. Thank GOD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mr & Mrs Umer Contributor

Mr & Mrs Umer   12

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Pakistan
 Timeline
Posted

You can use some free apps like GV Phone, UppTalk and WePhone to call. You need credit to make calls, there are two ways to get credit 1. Buy credit (of course you dont want it) 2. Earn credit free of cost by installing their recommended apps, completing tasks or watching advertisement videos (20 to 30 sec Ad) there are tiny rewards for registering your account details like name, email or phone no etc

I am not covincing anyone to use these apps but sharing some useful information to address your query. ??

Removal of Conditions

03/08/19  Sent ROC package to Arizona from California

03/11/19  Received by USCIS with Signature

03/15/19  Moneyorders were cashed out

No text or mail from USCIS received yet, Fingers Crossed!

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trudi Proficient

trudi   1,317

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
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We used whatsapp and google hangouts, free calls via wifi for both :)

Everything crossed for a smooth and stress free journey

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