IR1 Frankfurt – Consulate told us to schedule via usvisascheduling.com, but site not working. What now?

[RABBITDANCE 2]

I'm wondering what the time frame is to complete and ubmit the green card application.  I've started working on it and have already paid the fees and had the casae transferred to the embassy in Frankfurt, Germany, but the application forms are very difficult to undersatnd how to fill out even after reading all the instrutions and asking for help in this forum, I'm just not making very fast progress.  As long as I log in once a month can I take  few years to complete this, or is there some kind of deadline I need to be aware of?  

[Crazy Cat 46,648]

Once you have complete everything to NVC's satisfaction, NVC will schedule your interview.......Then, the case will be transferred to the appropriate consult.  Your case can remain at NVC indefinitely as long as you are contacting them. 

[RABBITDANCE 2]

2 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Once you have complete everything to NVC's satisfaction, NVC will schedule your interview.......Then, the case will be transferred to the appropriate consult.  Your case can remain at NVC indefinitely as long as you are contacting them. 

I'm not seeing the relationship of your answer to my question?

[RABBITDANCE 2]

1 minute ago, RABBITDANCE said:

I'm not seeing the relationship of your answer to my question?

I can't seem to edit my post so I'll just restate my question.

I already have been transferred to an embassy and paid the fees.

 

Now I'm just working on the applicaiton.  I want to know how long I have to complete my application if there is any deadline at all.

[Crazy Cat 46,648]

As long as you are

34 minutes ago, RABBITDANCE said:

I can't seem to edit my post so I'll just restate my question.

I already have been transferred to an embassy and paid the fees.

 

Now I'm just working on the applicaiton.  I want to know how long I have to complete my application if there is any deadline at all.

I said that there is no timeline as the case can remain at NVC indefinitely as long as you are working on the case.  You might consider seeking professional help from someone familiar with the forms.  It should not normally take years.  Good luck on the rest of the journey.

Edited June 22, 2025 by Crazy Cat

[Boiler 49,009]

Something is wrong, takes maybe a few hours to fill the forms in.

[appleblossom 6,056]

You haven’t been transferred to an embassy, as @Crazy Cat said that won’t happen until you’ve been DQ’ed at NVC and an interview has been scheduled for you. You can check your case status on CEAC to see where it is. 

 

I agree with the above, maybe professional help is the way to go? I did 4 DS-260’s for myself and my family and it took me an afternoon, if you’re struggling then maybe paying somebody to help would be well worth the investment. 
 

Good luck. 

[RABBITDANCE 2]

 

Hi everyone,
 

We are dealing with an IR1 immigrant visa case at the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt and would appreciate advice from anyone who has gone through this recently.

The consulate emailed us and instructed us to go to usvisascheduling.com to schedule the visa interview.

 

The problem is that the usvisascheduling.com site is either down, says its out of order when it does load, or blocks us, not letting us complete the scheduling process.

 

We are concerned because our police certificates/background checks may need to be renewed if we cannot get the interview scheduled soon.

 

Has anyone with an IR1/CR1 case in Frankfurt recently been told by the consulate to self-schedule through usvisascheduling.com and encounter these issues? How did you resolve the problem?

 

[appleblossom 6,056]

13 minutes ago, RABBITDANCE said:

 

Hi everyone,
 

We are dealing with an IR1 immigrant visa case at the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt and would appreciate advice from anyone who has gone through this recently.

The consulate emailed us and instructed us to go to usvisascheduling.com to schedule the visa interview.

 

The problem is that the usvisascheduling.com site is either down, says its out of order when it does load, or blocks us, not letting us complete the scheduling process.

 

We are concerned because our police certificates/background checks may need to be renewed if we cannot get the interview scheduled soon.

 

Has anyone with an IR1/CR1 case in Frankfurt recently been told by the consulate to self-schedule through usvisascheduling.com and encounter these issues? How did you resolve the problem?

 

 

New background checks will be done anyway, the police certs are valid for quite a long time, if you've only just submitted them to NVC then they should be good for quite some time (possibly indefinitely depending on the circumstances). 

 

Why are you self scheduling? Or is this just for the document check appointment? 

[Crazy Cat 46,648]

36 minutes ago, RABBITDANCE said:

The consulate emailed us and instructed us to go to usvisascheduling.com to schedule the visa interview.

I, also, as @appleblossom,  don't understand why you are self-scheduling.  Is this a DCF case, or did you previously cancel an interview?

Edited 20 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 46,648]

***Topic Threads merged.  Please keep this discussion inside this thread****

[pushbrk 14,569]

8 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

New background checks will be done anyway, the police certs are valid for quite a long time, if you've only just submitted them to NVC then they should be good for quite some time (possibly indefinitely depending on the circumstances). 

 

Why are you self scheduling? Or is this just for the document check appointment? 

Yes, please clarify.  Police certificates are valid for two years regardless of any expiration date on their face.

[RABBITDANCE 2]

14 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

New background checks will be done anyway, the police certs are valid for quite a long time, if you've only just submitted them to NVC then they should be good for quite some time (possibly indefinitely depending on the circumstances). 

 

Why are you self scheduling? Or is this just for the document check appointment? 

That's good to know it's 2 years.  We were under the impression it was 6 months. I don't recall where I got 6 months from, perhaps the background check documents themselves have limits on their validity.
We are documentally qualified but self-scheduing at the direction of the US Consulate in Frankfurt. They referred us to the usvisascheduling.com website for scheduling. However, I found that website is not found, so I think they mean www.usvisascheduling.com, which is available but has a notice saying it's not working.
They also asked to schedule a medica examination before your visa interview appointment.  They ask the petitioner to do this, but I assume they really mean the applicant.
They also said "Visit our ustraveldocs.com website for more information about your immigrant visa appointment at the U.S. Consulate Frankfurt."

 

[RABBITDANCE 2]

We received a case note in the CEAC system that stated, "The income reported as stated on form I-864, I-864A is insufficient to overcome the public charge grounds of inadmissibility for visa issuance," and recommending that a joint sponsor's I-864 be submitted to avoid delays."   Then after that case note was made, the case was forwarded from NVC to the Frankfurt Consulate and we are authorized to schedule an interview.  

As my income exceeds the requirements considerably, we are confused by this note.  I emailed the US Consulate for clarification and was told they cannot clarify this. They simply refered us to the general werbsite on CEAC about income requirements and did not provide an explanation for why I was not qualified, and said the reason they could not is they are not allowed to pre-adjudicate.

I suspect the reason for the note may be that I claim FEIE (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion).  This lowers the AGI (Adjusted Grose Income) figure below the number they are likely requiring.  But the instructions for the affidavit of support say to use AGI and i went with that because I did not want a conflict with the IRS records showing my lowered AGI and wanted to follow the instructions accurately.  There was another place on the form where it asks my annual income so I put that figure there, which would far exceed the financial requirements.  I also provided detailed notes in the supplemental pages explaining how FEIE lowers AGI.  I further provided a year of paystubs showing I make enough, an income verification letter from my employer showing I make enough, and for good measure added a year of brokerage statements showing by assets in one account I would meet the asset test.

Since were are now told to schedule the appointment, I'm seeking guidance on what to do.  Has anyone using FEIE faced this problem and how did you solve it?

I don't want to fail the interview and would like to come prepared but don't know what more they want from me as they won't answer the question of what the issue is. The stated guidance to get a cosponsor that NVC provided prior DQ's the case and forwarding the case to the consulate is absurd as I make many times the required amount of money.

Edited 5 hours ago by RABBITDANCE
clarifying

[appleblossom 6,056]

1 hour ago, RABBITDANCE said:

That's good to know it's 2 years.  We were under the impression it was 6 months. I don't recall where I got 6 months from, perhaps the background check documents themselves have limits on their validity.
We are documentally qualified but self-scheduing at the direction of the US Consulate in Frankfurt. They referred us to the usvisascheduling.com website for scheduling. However, I found that website is not found, so I think they mean www.usvisascheduling.com, which is available but has a notice saying it's not working.
They also asked to schedule a medica examination before your visa interview appointment.  They ask the petitioner to do this, but I assume they really mean the applicant.
They also said "Visit our ustraveldocs.com website for more information about your immigrant visa appointment at the U.S. Consulate Frankfurt."

 

 

I suspect you're looking at outdated information - it did used to be 6 months. Follow the link I gave you previously, which says the following - "Police certificates expire after two years, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued." https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-5-collect-financial-evidence-and-other-supporting-documents/step-7-collect-civil-documents.html

 

It's very odd that they're asking you to schedule the interview, and that they're asking the petitioner to do the medical. Can you give us the exact wording (maybe upload a copy of the email - redacting any identifying info)? These are the steps for an interview at Frankfurt usually (but only done after you receive the interview letter from NVC who schedule it for you) - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/FRN-Frankfurt.html 

 

When were you DQ'ed? I'm wondering if perhaps you missed the interview letter and original appointment and that's why you're having to schedule it now. If you could fill your timeline in (on your profile) it would be super helpful. 

 

And what does your CEAC status say?

Edited 4 hours ago by appleblossom