DCF approved through Montreal, but can't fill out the DS-260 due to rejected credentials?

[beeelythe 0]

My husband (US citizen) and I started our DCF journey via Montreal in late January.  We've been approved to file and have received the Packet 3 and I'm just waiting on my criminal record check to arrive so I can send the checklist back, but I've hit a problem.

 

I know I have to fill out the DS-260 and have attempted to login to CEAC with the application number and my birthdate, but I receive the following error message every time:

 

The selected Case Number and Date of Birth combination you entered does not match our records. Please try again or contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your case is being processed.

 

I've emailed Montreal about it since I've tried 25+ times and I copy and past the application number from the email they sent me (so no chance of mistyping) and my birthdate is correct.  But until I can log in, I can't fill out the DS-260 or send back the checklist to get the appointment scheduled.  I've googled this and it seems like it was happening quite a lot with NVC filings a few years ago, but nothing quite like mine (the last line of the error, in their case, says to reach out the to NVC and not the US Embassy or Consulate, but otherwise the wording is the same.

 

Basically, has anyone else experienced this?  I'm completely lost.  Montreal has been quite slow to respond (I know they're quite busy) and it seems that there's nowhere to call to speak with someone about it, but I'm just so down about this.  I'm so scared of them not responding at all since their auto-response mentions not responding to info available in the FAQ, which doesn't really qualify here but certainly reinforces the idea that they are dealing with a lot of emails.

 

I'd appreciate any insight!  Thank you.
 

[mam521 3,022]

When did you get notification?  My e-mail said specifically it can take up to 72 hours from receipt notice before the case is ready in CEAC.  This might sound dumb, but sometimes mistakes are made - make sure you're using the correct case number and not like an invoice number or something.  

[beeelythe 0]

I got the email just under two weeks prior to when I attempted to login and complete my DS-260.  I wanted that to be the last step after compiling all the required documents requested in Packet 3.  Once my criminal record check arrived, I went to fill out the DS-260 and that's when I realized the login wouldn't work.

 

Montreal did get back to me 2 days later and gave me a canned response about needing to use my Invoice ID, but with DCF there is NO invoice ID, much less a field to enter one.  They tried to bump me to the NVC, but obviously I'm not dealing with NVC due to DCF.

 

I fired off a reply as soon as I received that email, but haven't heard anything back (though this could be due to the holiday weekend).

 

It's so frustrating because this seems to be a clear case of a clerical error on their part, but there's no quick way to reach out to resolve anything since emails take multi-day responses if they even receive one at all.

[TBoneTX 49,555]

Frustrating indeed.  If no response or resolution soon, contact your U.S. Congressman's office (the immigration liaison, typically in the D.C. office).  There will be a form to complete, giving that office permission to intercede on your behalf.

 

Keep the faith, because you WILL overcome this.