Interview in 2 weeks - Do I need to upload updated documents on CEAC?

[6999miles 13]

Hello everyone.
 

My parents are going to have their visa interview in 2 weeks. We did their DS-260 application on January of 2021 and didn’t have my 2021 tax return yet during that time. Because of that, I’ve only uploaded 2018, 2019, and 2020 copies. 

 

My question is, now that I have 2021 tax return do I need to upload it to CEAC? Or bringing it in the interview would suffice? We also ordered new NBI and police clearance from other countries for farther expiration dates. 
 

Please advise. Thank you! 

[top_secret 2,062]

I figured better safe than sorry.  Recently there have been a few people who arrived for their interview at USEM with updated documents and they were asked to go back outside the Embassy, scan and upload them to CEAC and return to complete the interview.  The same entrepreneural ladies out in front of the Embassy who will hold someone's phone for P800 or something, have introduced sidewalk scanning and uploading to CEAC for similarly exploitative prices.  There really is no down side to uploading to much to CEAC so if there is any doubt, go ahead and upload anything you feel is helpful to bring to the interview.

[Chancy 6,233]

17 hours ago, 6999miles said:

My question is, now that I have 2021 tax return do I need to upload it to CEAC? Or bringing it in the interview would suffice? We also ordered new NBI and police clearance from other countries for farther expiration dates. 

 

Upload scans of all the updated documents prior to the interview.  If the document screener at the US embassy in Manila sees that the files in CEAC are outdated or do not match the originals presented, they will not allow the visa applicant to proceed to the interview with the consul officer until the updated documents have been scanned and uploaded.  It seems USEM offers a scanning service within the consulate premises, but I'm not sure if that's available to all or if it was just a special service to elderly applicants at the time of my interview in Nov 2021.  Best not to rely on that and just come prepared with all the documents already uploaded before the day of the interview.

 

[6999miles 13]

18 hours ago, top_secret said:

I figured better safe than sorry.  Recently there have been a few people who arrived for their interview at USEM with updated documents and they were asked to go back outside the Embassy, scan and upload them to CEAC and return to complete the interview.  The same entrepreneural ladies out in front of the Embassy who will hold someone's phone for P800 or something, have introduced sidewalk scanning and uploading to CEAC for similarly exploitative prices.  There really is no down side to uploading to much to CEAC so if there is any doubt, go ahead and upload anything you feel is helpful to bring to the interview.

 

2 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

Upload scans of all the updated documents prior to the interview.  If the document screener at the US embassy in Manila sees that the files in CEAC are outdated or do not match the originals presented, they will not allow the visa applicant to proceed to the interview with the consul officer until the updated documents have been scanned and uploaded.  It seems USEM offers a scanning service within the consulate premises, but I'm not sure if that's available to all or if it was just a special service to elderly applicants at the time of my interview in Nov 2021.  Best not to rely on that and just come prepared with all the documents already uploaded before the day of the interview.

 

Thank you so much guys! So I just log in and upload documents? No need to contact the NVC or the Embassy? 
 

Also, I totally forgot to mention that my parents interview are going to be in Abu Dhabi. Would it be the same thing? 
 

Thank you! 

[Chancy 6,233]

52 minutes ago, 6999miles said:

Also, I totally forgot to mention that my parents interview are going to be in Abu Dhabi. Would it be the same thing? 

 

Not necessarily.  Each consulate could have their own procedures and preferences.  My comment above is specific to the interview procedure in Manila.  I'm not familiar with procedures specific to Abu Dhabi.

 

[top_secret 2,062]

1 hour ago, 6999miles said:

Thank you so much guys! So I just log in and upload documents? No need to contact the NVC or the Embassy? 
 

Also, I totally forgot to mention that my parents interview are going to be in Abu Dhabi. Would it be the same thing? 

 

I also could not speculate about Abu Dhabi.  I assumed it was Manila too.  But even so, there is no downside to going ahead and uploading them.  If US Embassy Abu Dhabi wants them uploaded then they are there ready to go, and if they don't care just want to see the originals at the interview there is no harm that they were uploaded too.  We just uploaded them in CEAC before the interview and hit submit.  They remain there to this day.

[6999miles 13]

On 9/28/2022 at 4:17 PM, top_secret said:

 

I also could not speculate about Abu Dhabi.  I assumed it was Manila too.  But even so, there is no downside to going ahead and uploading them.  If US Embassy Abu Dhabi wants them uploaded then they are there ready to go, and if they don't care just want to see the originals at the interview there is no harm that they were uploaded too.  We just uploaded them in CEAC before the interview and hit submit.  They remain there to this day.

 

On 9/28/2022 at 3:55 PM, Chancy said:

 

Not necessarily.  Each consulate could have their own procedures and preferences.  My comment above is specific to the interview procedure in Manila.  I'm not familiar with procedures specific to Abu Dhabi.

 

Hello, thank you so much for your input! I ended up uploading the files and submitting them before the interview. No additional documents were asked during the interview and it seemed like my parents had everything. They still got 221g but for some other reason. Appreciate you guys!