Case stuck between NVC and local Consulate

[Roycc 1]

Hi all, my I-129F petition was approved and transferred to NVC back in beginning of March. Several weeks later, I received both physical mail and email from NVC that my case was transferred to local Consulate in Hong Kong on 31-MAR-2020. As of today (06/18), I have yet to receive any letter or e-notification which tells me to get prepared for upcoming interviews.

I tried to reach out to HK Consulate multiple times via the visa inquiry form or phone number. After a few attempts, they might have escalated my case to higher authorities. Nevertheless, all they told me was "We cannot locate any record of receiving your case thus there's nothing we can do from our end. We communicated officially with NVC and confirmed your case is still maintained by them. Please contact NVC for further inquiry." At the same time, I tried to leave multiple entries at the AskNVC online form to check my case status, but basically they are giving me the same generic response over and over again - "We officially transferred your case to local embassy as of 31-MAR-2020. Please direct your questions to local Embassy or Consulate".  I tried the DHL tracking hack but it couldn't retrieve any record either. And what's even more ridiculous is - several weeks ago, ceac.state.gov used to showed my case status as "In Transit" but it's now showing "Your search did not return any data."!

Is anyone experiencing the same issue? Since Mar 19 HK Consulate is suspending all visa appointments, so all I wanted to confirm is the whereabouts of my case and why HK Consulate still hasn't received it after 2.5 months. Is there anything I could do to escalate this?

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

To be honest I thought cases were not being sent to embassies since they have been closed so I wouldn’t be surprised if your case is still with NVC “waiting” for consulate reopening.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 hours ago, Roycc said:

Hi all, my I-129F petition was approved and transferred to NVC back in beginning of March. Several weeks later, I received both physical mail and email from NVC that my case was transferred to local Consulate in Hong Kong on 31-MAR-2020. As of today (06/18), I have yet to receive any letter or e-notification which tells me to get prepared for upcoming interviews.

I tried to reach out to HK Consulate multiple times via the visa inquiry form or phone number. After a few attempts, they might have escalated my case to higher authorities. Nevertheless, all they told me was "We cannot locate any record of receiving your case thus there's nothing we can do from our end. We communicated officially with NVC and confirmed your case is still maintained by them. Please contact NVC for further inquiry." At the same time, I tried to leave multiple entries at the AskNVC online form to check my case status, but basically they are giving me the same generic response over and over again - "We officially transferred your case to local embassy as of 31-MAR-2020. Please direct your questions to local Embassy or Consulate".  I tried the DHL tracking hack but it couldn't retrieve any record either. And what's even more ridiculous is - several weeks ago, ceac.state.gov used to showed my case status as "In Transit" but it's now showing "Your search did not return any data."!

Is anyone experiencing the same issue? Since Mar 19 HK Consulate is suspending all visa appointments, so all I wanted to confirm is the whereabouts of my case and why HK Consulate still hasn't received it after 2.5 months. Is there anything I could do to escalate this?

Your case has gone to the embassy, but we are in a worldwide pandemic and the embassies are running on a short staff. Non-immigrant and Immigrant visas are not being process currently. You and millions of others are experiencing the same thing. The embassy cannot tell you where your record is because it is in a limbo stage where it is sitting in the embassy waiting for the staff to return and complete the processing and setting your CEAC status to ready. They are not ready to process your visa, so it sits with "in transit" on CEAC.STATE.GOV. Nothing to worry about and there isn't a need to be on the phone so save your energy. "your mileage may vary" Good luck and stay engaged. 

[Roycc 1]

13 hours ago, Luckycuds said:

To be honest I thought cases were not being sent to embassies since they have been closed so I wouldn’t be surprised if your case is still with NVC “waiting” for consulate reopening.

I guess I might have to call the NVC to find out on exactly on which day did they sent my file out. Thanks.

[Roycc 1]

13 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Your case has gone to the embassy, but we are in a worldwide pandemic and the embassies are running on a short staff. Non-immigrant and Immigrant visas are not being process currently. You and millions of others are experiencing the same thing. The embassy cannot tell you where your record is because it is in a limbo stage where it is sitting in the embassy waiting for the staff to return and complete the processing and setting your CEAC status to ready. They are not ready to process your visa, so it sits with "in transit" on CEAC.STATE.GOV. Nothing to worry about and there isn't a need to be on the phone so save your energy. "your mileage may vary" Good luck and stay engaged. 

I am sorry for overreacting but the fact that my status on ceac website turned from In Transit to "Your Search Did Not Return Any Data" is what concerns me the most. Through the visa inquiry number, some representatives told us Consulate is only suspending visa appointments, meaning they are still processing case files (though at a much slower rate as expected). 

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, Roycc said:

I am sorry for overreacting but the fact that my status on ceac website turned from In Transit to "Your Search Did Not Return Any Data" is what concerns me the most. Through the visa inquiry number, some representatives told us Consulate is only suspending visa appointments, meaning they are still processing case files (though at a much slower rate as expected). 

Ceac has been doing this sporadically for a few weeks.   You are not the only one 

[Roycc 1]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Ceac has been doing this sporadically for a few weeks.   You are not the only one 

Glad to know I am not the only one who's in the same dilemma. Thanks.

[payxibka 10,045]

No files have moved in the past two months or so.  Your file is in the same place today as last month and the month before that

[cbro 59]

The HK Consulate just started reopening earlier this month for limited US citizen services - https://hk.usconsulate.gov/sm-2020061501/ 

 

Just have to wait a bit for them to open up for visa processing again.  I assume it should be happening soon, hang in there.

 

IN the next couple weeks sometime, I plan to submit all our documents to NVC for an IR1 visa interview at the HK consulate.  Let's see how it goes.

Edited June 22, 2020 by cbro

[Beenwaitingforeva 9]

I'm in the same boat. Waiting for Montreal embassy to receive our packet. 

I had an idea that I wanted to propose... 

Since I can travel to Canada legally, (where my fiance is from) what is stopping us from getting married in a Canadian court and living up there? 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,093]

45 minutes ago, Beenwaitingforeva said:

Since I can travel to Canada legally, (where my fiance is from) what is stopping us from getting married in a Canadian court and living up there? 

It would invalidate your I-129F, and make getting a K-1 impossible for your fiance. But it wouldn't be an obstacle to petitioning for a CR-1/IR-1 later, if that's what you're asking.

 

Other than that, presuming you can actually get to your fiance in Canada, that's a question about Canadian immigration law, not American.

 

Edited June 22, 2020 by DaveAndAnastasia