Requesting case to be held at NVC (after DQ but before IL)

[rad1182 1]

Hi all,

 

I'm petitioning my wife who is a resident of the UAE. We're deep in the process (DQ in Nov 2023). Based on current timelines at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, she'll be getting her IL in about a month or two.

 

However, we've recently decided to put her visa case on hold. She's just recently gotten a promotion at her job and I work remote so we decided it would be best for us right now to continue living in the UAE, at least for the next few years. After much research and a lot of great input from the visajourney community in this thread, we determined it's possible to hold the case at NVC.

 

A couple of weeks ago I sent the following message via AskNVC:

I am writing to request that my wife's immigration visa case be held at NVC for 1 year. Based on current timelines at the Abu Dhabi consulate, we should be receiving an Interview Letter (IL) very soon. However, due to personal and work-related reasons, my wife will not be able complete the process and move to the US within the next year. We respectfully request a one year hold at NVC and we'll be touch within the next year when we are ready to resume the process. Please let us know if additional information is required. 

 

Immediately after submitting, I received the auto-generated receipt confirmation email. A few days ago, I received the email response below. 

 

MY QUESTION: The email is rather vague and doesn't really confirm that the case is on hold. Has anyone successfully requested a hold/delay at NVC and can share your experience? Is there anywhere online I could check and confirm that it's on hold? I'm worried that she'll still get her IL in the next month or two and from what I've read, once the case goes to the consulate, it's very difficult to put on hold.

 

Appreciate you all.

 

[Dashinka 25,635]

If the case has already been transferred to the consulate, you may need to contact them and request it be sent back to NVC giving them your reason.  Beyond that, if it is still at NVC, you can keep it there indefinitely by accessing it at least once every 12 months.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 43,980]

4 hours ago, rad1182 said:

The email is rather vague and doesn't really confirm that the case is on hold.

The email, to me, implies the case was placed on hold.  The fact that it came days after the initial receipt also implies that.  There is not much you can do at this point other than monitoring.  As long as the CEAC status remains "at NVC", you are fine.  Just contact them within 12 months to maintain hold status.  Good Luck.

[pushbrk 13,515]

The email is clear.  Your case is on hold, and you should login to CEAC, at least once a year to keep it open.  When you are ready proceed, notify them using the same method you used to ask them to hold it.