Captain Ewok

FYI: COVID-19 has affected the timing of this process.
 
Note: The NOA1 (Notice of Action) Letter serves as a receipt that your 129f file is on record and in the system. The NOA2 letter is the approval of your petition to bring your fiancé to the USA. Not to be confused, the NOA2 does not mean that they will necessarily obtain a visa.
 
Note: Both petitioner and beneficiary need to help each other through the process. The Petitioner usually is the better English speaker and can help by filling out the forms and reading important information. The Beneficiary is native to the Dominican Republic and should be familiar with things on their end like (where to obtain birth certificate, passport, etc.).
GUIDE:
CONGRATS ON YOUR PETITION APPROVAL!!! Below are the steps you need to take next in order to complete the K1 Visa process. Remember the K1 Visa (non-immigrant visa, with Immigrant Intent) is meant for people wishing to marry their fiancée/e inside the USA within 90 days of their arrival.
 
#1 RULE: Be ProActive! Don’t wait for anything! Please read the steps below. And don’t forget to BREATHE before reading this, it’s a lot.
*K1 Flowchart: (Timeline of the K1 Process)
http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow
NVC Flowchart (Marriage Visa only)
http://www.visajourney.com/examples/NVC_Process_Flowchart_v1-2.pdf
 
https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/739045-dominican-republic-filers/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-10204806 
Thanks to sbarbie1914 for the updated info
*Dominican Republic Embassy Information
Location: Av. República de Colombia #68, (Arroyo Hondo) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Telephone: (809) 567-7775 | Fax: (809) 685-6959
For Case update/info: (877) 804-5402
Website: https://do.usembassy.gov/embassy/
Dominican Visa Info: http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/do/
*NOA2 Received (K1 Fiance(e) Visa)
After your case is approved it’s sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) where it’s re-checked and packaged. It’s then forwarded to the Consulate in Santo Domingo. You can now begin gathering evidence for your case and the "required documents" needed for the Interview. The wait time for your Interview is “usually” 2-4 months. The Embassy will then send the beneficiary (Dominican born) a list of K1 Visa INSTRUCTIONS for your upcoming Interview (Cita). Follow them exactly. The instructions on the Embassy’s website are nearly identical to the instructions the beneficiary will receive by mail (inside Packet 4).
 
*NOA2 Received (Ir1/Cr1 Marriage Visa)
For those of you who are filing for a Marriage Visa, use the links below.
https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/739045-dominican-republic-filers/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-10204806 
Thanks to sbarbie1914 for the updated info
 
 
http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process
http://www.visajourney.com/content/nvc-case-status
*National Visa Center (NVC) Contact Info:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html
**K1 Instructions
(MOST IMPORTANT!!!!)
https://do.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/fiancee/ 
 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html#1
 
Additionally, follow the steps here. Again, it's a lot but, it’s worth it! After your case is forwarded to the Consulate in Santo Domingo most people just wait “unsure” of what’s going on. For you to get valid information just wait 1-2 weeks after receiving your NVC notice and call (toll-free) to the Visa Specialist (Department of State) in Washington D.C. (202-485-7600). Press Option 1 then Option 0 to speak to a visa specialist. The Visa Specialist will tell you when your case was mailed to the beneficiary and when your interview (Cita) date is scheduled. As of late, it seems that NVC and/or Visa Specialist have been backed up and not giving much info to those who call. Another option would be to contact the Consulate/Embassy by phone or email. Note: There is an $8.00 charge from the U.S. and $5.25-$16 charge from the Dominican Rep.
 
CR1/Ir1 Visa Instructions
http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process
 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition.html
 
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/do/do-iv-visaapplyinfo.asp
 
*Marriage in the Dominican Republic
https://do.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/child-family-matters/special-family-issues/marriage-dominican-republic/
 
*Contacting the Santo Domingo Visa Unit/Consulate
http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/iv-contact-e.html (Webpage including Phone Number)

santodomingovisas@state.gov (Current Email) support-dominicanrepublic@ustraveldocs.com (Future Email-Jan 1, 2015)
http://asktheconsul@usemb.gov.do (Specific Visa questions to the Consul)

1-800-200-3232 from Dominican Rep to purchase Pin. (5min- 15mins)
1-877-804-5402 from U.S. (unlimited call time)
*Check your Case Status
https://do.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/ (Scheduled Appointments tab on Right side of page)

Keep checking the Interview List (above) to see when your interview is scheduled. Make sure you have Adobe Reader so you can view them. Once you open the file just type in the Case # that was printed on your NVC notice. Ex: NVC Notice (SDO2014...) to find your Interview date. If your date is not listed keep checking to see when it updates with the following month’s appointments.
Your packet (Packet 4) will be mailed by the mail service in Dominican Republic (Inposdom). It may take forever (or it may never arrive at all). The mailing system in the Dominican Republic is “very bad” and many people never receive their packets. The website below may be of some help. Remember there is no Packet 3, only Packet 4!

Packet 4 Contents:
- Visa Instructions (Green paper)
- Medical Exam Letter (Yellow paper)
- What Items You Cannot Bring to Interview Letter (White Paper)
- DS-156k (White Paper)
 
Check Case Status
https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==
*Dominican Republic mailing system (Inposdom):
http://inposdom.gob.do/
*FYI: For those that do not receive your packet 4 in the mail. Before you make the trip to the Embassy to get your packet 4 that they say was mailed but you never received (if you are not in a rush). Check with the local post office for your area. My fiancé went to the post office today and picked up his packet 4 that had been sitting there since Monday (was mailed from Embassy on 11/16). They said the city listed was not correct, even though our electricity bill gets delivered no problem with the same city listed as I did on the application. But it saved us a trip to the Embassy and having to wait until two weeks before our interview date. Just thought I would pass this information along and hope it helps someone else (From Reese1...THX)
*Waiting Period/Tracking you Case:
In the meantime (DURING the WAITING PERIOD), just keep calling the Visa Specialist, checking the Interview List, and CEAC. Since some people never receive their packets, you need to be proactive! This is huge problem for many Dominican residents who are in the visa process. You wait and wait and wait for something “so important” to arrive and it may never come. Follow these steps and take care of your business.
 
#1. Follow the Visa Instructions posted on the Embassy’s website https://do.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/fiancee/ (K1 Visa) http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/iv-visa_appointment.html (Marriage Visa)
#2. Keep calling the Visa Specialist (National Visa Center and/or Department of State) and/or Embassy.
#3. Keep checking the Interview List
#4. Check/Track your Visa Case Status (CEAC), use the link below: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==
 
Estimated Visa Wait Times
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html
**Preparing for Interview (K1):
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/do/do-iv-visaapplyinfo.asp#
Follow the K-1 Visa INSTRUCTIONS. Your Dominican born fiancé/fiancée (beneficiary) needs to begin completing the required forms (for specifics, check the Interview Checklist further down).
Since you have at least a couple of months (varies from 1-4 months) before your interview, you can practice filling out the required forms and finalize them later; they are available on VJ and USCIS).
 
**Preparing for Interview (Ir1/Cr1):
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/do/do-iv-visaapplyinfo.asp
Follow the Immigrant Visa link above.
*Obtaining Documents for Interview (K1 & Ir1/Cr1):
Forms: http://www.uscis.gov/forms
Note: All documents can be in either English or Spanish. Any other language must be translated into English.
-Cedula: http://photos.state.gov/galleries/dominicanrepublic/5/imagenes_iv/3.html
-How to obtain a Cedula:https://consultdom.com/legal/como-obtener-cedula-dominicana/
-Birth Certificate: (legalized long/inextensa version): http://photos.state.gov/galleries/dominicanrepublic/5/imagenes_iv/4.html
-Tell your Dominican fiancée/fiancé to go to the nearest Junta Central Electoral to get the Birth Certificate. They will have to take their Cedula and $20US or pay in RD pesos. (Prices may change over time)
-How to obtain a Birth Certificate: http://consuladord.com/contenidos.aspx?cid=104&lang=ES      or   https://consultdom.com/legal/como-sacar-acta-de-nacimiento/
-Dominican Passport: http://photos.state.gov/galleries/dominicanrepublic/5/imagenes_iv/1.html
The Beneficiary will need a Dominican Passport for this process. Once their visa is approved, it will be attached to the inside of the passport. Read the information in the link below:http://www.dominicanaonline.org/portal/espanol/cpo_tramites.asp
-Passport Photos Requirement: http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/photo_requirements.html
You will need a total of 5 passport pictures for the Visa Process. You will need 3 for the Medical Appointment and 2 for the Visa Interview. Always get a few extra just in case. Photos must be 2x2 in size.
-DS-160: (online) https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/Default.aspx
This form is required in order to obtain your K1/K2 Visa. It replaces the DS-230, DS-156, and DS-157 forms. Make sure you print a copy (with barcode) for your records. More information is available below.http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas.html
How to complete the DS-160 form (links are below:)
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/jamaica/231771/PDFs/DS-160%20Instructions.pdf
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/do/do-niv-ds160info.asp

-DS-230:  Marriage Visa ONLY (Ir1/Cr1)  https://www.visajourney.com/examples/Form-DS-230.pdf
-DS-156k https://photos.state.gov/libraries/laos/19452/pdfs/DS-156K_Non_Immigrant_Fiance_e__Visa_Application-Eng.pdf
-Police Certification/Acta de Buena Conducta: (330 pesos RD) Get within 30 days of your interview. http://photos.state.gov/galleries/dominicanrepublic/5/imagenes_iv/2.html
-How to Obtain:  https://pgr.gob.do/servicios/certificacion-de-buena-conducta/
Note: My fiancée and I did all of these things while waiting. Try not to drive yourself crazy. Just use this time to prepare and maintain an ongoing relationship. In addition, gather all the evidence you will need for your interview (phone records, emails, pics, travel documents, receipts, etc.). The last thing my fiancée and I did was update/finalize our forms. She got her police report (30 days before her interview date), reprinted visa forms, and I updated my income/employment documents. NOTE: We decided to type (PDF file) all of our information instead of handwriting, it makes things a lot easier to read. My fiancée went to a local notary and had them type in her information and print.
I had everything done 1 month before the interview but had to get new letters (dates closer to the interview). Remember, some interviews are scheduled much faster than others so you may have less time. U.S. citizens need to bring all documents for the interview with them. If possible, you may need to meet your Dominican-born fiancé/fiancée 1-2 days before the interview to double-check everything before traveling to the Consulate. Hotel accommodations and links are posted below if you plan on staying in a hotel close (and reasonably priced) to the Consulate.
http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Dominican%20Republic&cty=Santo%20Domingo (bottom of the page)
Finally, during the waiting period, you should also be “practice-interviewing” each other. Sample interview questions are posted further down. Make sure you know enough about each other. Names of close family members, first date details, how you first met, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It’s really important both of you have at least one common/fluent language that you communicate in. At the interview, they ask you which language you prefer to speak in (English or Spanish). Interview Experiences are also posted further down.
Note: If you receive your Interview Date before you receive your Packet 4 and your Interview Date is approaching (2 weeks before interview), you need to email (support-dominicanrepublic@ustraveldocs.com) the Embassy so they can send you a duplicate Packet 4 via Email. When you receive the duplicate Packet 4 you need to go to the Medical Office with your Medical Appointment Letter that comes inside of Packet 4.
**The Medical Exam (Consultorios De Visa or Servicios Médicos Consulares)
Visa applicants can now have a choice of 2 different Medical facilities for their exam. Consultorios De Visa or Servicios Médicos Consulares.
 
http://www.consultoriosdevisa.com
http://serviciosmedicosconsulares.com/
 
The beneficiary’s medical exam will be completed by either exam facility in Santo Domingo. The Medical exam must be done at least 5 business days before your scheduled interview. A good time to go is between 21-14 days before your interview. Do not go before 30 days since they have turned people away in the past. You will need to take with you the following: Dominican passport, your Cedula (national ID), 5 passport pictures(adults) 4 passport pics (children), and your Medical Appointment letter. Make sure you bring the exact amount in US dollars (prices vary by age/gender) so you avoid any problems. Although vaccinations are optional for K1 visa holders; it’s strongly recommended that you get your vaccinations too. For more information, check the links below. Your medical results will be given to the applicant when ready; if they are not, they will be delivered to the Consulate in time for the interview.
FYI: Only the beneficiary is allowed to go inside the Medical facility. The wait could be several hours, so plan accordingly if you are bringing someone along with you. Also You can pay RD pesos or US dollars. However, they will give you the "current rate" of exchange for pesos. In my opinion, U.S. cash is the better option. Wait times vary, however many members have said Thursday & Friday are the best days to go. Also, regarding cell phones, there is a locker you can place your cell phone as you enter the building.
Medical Exam info: https://do.usembassy.gov/medical-examination-fee-immigrant-visa-applicants/ Prices of Exam & Vaccinations (Consultorios De Visa official site) https://www.consultoriosdevisa.com/noticias/noticia.php?id=327 Servicios Médicos Consulares precios http://serviciosmedicosconsulares.com/ How the Exam is done Video http://www.youtube.com/user/ConsultoriosDeVisa NOTE: If the beneficiary has any negative X-ray results, they may have TB. Read the link below. THX to Enigma23 for this information. Tuberculosis Testing http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/489654-tuberculosis-screening-and-applying-for-a-visa-sdo/?p=6927888 *Financial Docs: (Affidavits)
Agreement to be financially responsible for beneficiary. FYI: Even if your relationship doesn’t work out after marriage, you are still financially responsible for the beneficiary if they continue to live legally in the US. The I-864 is a legal-binding document.
Once your NOA2 arrives, you need to complete the affidavit and get a letter from your current employer (stating you have a job with them and you make $$$ a year), also you need a letter from your bank (stating how much money you deposited in the past year), and also 3 months of your most recent pay stubs and last 3 years of tax returns. There are 2 affidavits (I-134 and I-864). The I-134 is very easy to complete and is usually needed for the K1 interview. The I-864 takes longer to complete and more evidence and its usually only needed for AOS but sometimes asked for during the K1 interview. For more information on the Affidavit of Support, https://www.visajourney.com/guides/uscis-affidavit-of-support-tips/
To be safe just do them both and prepare. When your fiancé(e) gets his/her Interview Packet, it will tell you what forms you need to bring to the interview. In my case the I-184 was not asked for; the good thing is it was already completed for the AOS process that comes along next. For now I would just complete them both and wait until 2 weeks before the interview date to get a letters from your employer and bank.
Note: If you need to obtain IRS Tax Transcripts from previous years use this link. http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
*K-2/K-4 Visas (Bringing children along)
In order to bring the children of the beneficiary (Dominican citizen) to the U.S., you should have listed the children’s names (under 18yrs old) on the original I-129f form. You will need to pay additional passport, visa, medical, and travel fees for each child. You will need to indicate on the DS-160 form (online) which child/children will be coming to the U.S. with you. The medical exam, visa fees, and supporting documents must also be done before the interview. You will also need to obtain “written permission” from the other legal parent/guardian of the children to bring them legally to the US. It is called “Permiso de salida para menores" and it will cost $2000 pesos RD. More information is located under DNA section below.
Note: Don't forget to have the Birth Certificates (inextensa) for the interview.
*Follow-to-Join (Children come along at a later date)
Is when the child/children of the Dominican beneficiary do not leave together to enter the US. Henceforth, the name “follow to join”. The child will have to fly with another adult or sometimes solo (depending on age) after the K1 Visa holder has arrived. This happens often, when the child may have to finish school or spend extra time with their other parent/family before leaving their native country. They will need to arrive in the US no more than 1 year after the arrival of the K1 visa holder. Make sure that are legal forms are unexpired. Read the link below for more information. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration.html
Note: Don't forget to have the Birth Certificates (inextensa) when you go for your interview, no matter if they are leaving with you or at a later date.
 
Adoption Requirements (if necessary)
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption.html
*DNA Testing
As a request from the Consulate, sometimes a DNA Test is required to prove the father listed on the child’s birth certificate is “really the real father”. This is will definitely lengthen your Visa processing time. The wait time can be several extra months. The links are below.
https://do.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/dna-testing-information/
FYI: If you are bringing a child that is not yours (biologically); make sure to have written/notarized permission from the biological parent. It is called "Permiso de salida para menores" and it will cost $2000 pesos RD. Read the links below for more details.
http://www.servicios.dominicana.gob.do/servicio.php?id=518
**The Interview
Most interviews are not longer than 5-10 minutes. If the CO suspects their are inconsistencies with your answers, they may separate you and interview you one-on-one.
Interview Experiences: (PLEASE READ!!!) http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Dominican+Rep&cty=&dfilter=5 Interview Questions: (Not Dom Rep. specific) https://www.visajourney.com/guides/us-visa-example-interview-questions/ Note: If you are suspected of Visa Fraud, the questioning with be very, very personal and INTENSE! Dominican Republic is a High-Visa Fraud country, so be truthful! This is will lead to you Visa being DENIED!!! **Things to Know on Interview Day:
-The interview line gets crowded pretty fast. People arrive in line as early as 5am. Just be careful and make sure there are policia in sight.
-Both beneficiary and petitioner must be there! (Automatic denial if both are not there or OPEN Cita if you are lucky!) Open Cita means you are given a random date/time to appear. Since you were not “originally” scheduled for this day; expect to wait. FYI: The Embassy strongly recommends both parties be there. Very few people have been approved alone; if there is a medical emergency then you need to provide proper documentation.
-NO Electronics or Liquids are allowed! https://do.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/entry-regulation-forbidden-items/
- Interview Documents & Evidence can be carried in many different ways (I used plastic seal-able organized folder with labels for each section). Bottom line is BE ORGANIZED. Know where your documents are and have them ready.
-It's best to be prepared because they look for organization and how well you interact with your partner (who must be there).
-Things more much faster at the New Embassy, so watch the TV Screens to see when you number is listed for fingerprints, processing documents, interview, etc.
-There are 50 total interview windows. (The last 5 being for Investigations)
-Beware of the buscones! They are not Embassy employees and they will rip you off. Ignore them!
-Beware of taxis near the Embassy, they will over-charge you, try to have a number of a private city taxi driver.
-Ask the guard outside what line you need to be in. There are separate lines for each visa-type (IV and NIV). Men & women are separated when they enter the Embassy. You will go through metal detectors. IV= Immigrant Visa; NIV=Non-Immigrant Visa.
-You will receive a ticket but they are called in “random order.” So your interview time is not really important. Just don’t arrive too late because your number could be called at anytime.
-Know how to “sign your partner’s full name correctly”. Couples have been denied for this.
-Dress appropriately...Suits for a K1 Visa is probably not necessary and you may be too hot. I’ve seen people who were very formal and some who look like they were going to a Club. Business-casual or Job-Interview-style is fine.
-The new Embassy is Air-Conditioned!!!
-Lastly, RELAX! If you’re a “real” couple and you have your things in order you should be fine. Interviews usually last no more than 5 minutes. Unless you’re at WINDOWS 46-50 (Investigations for Fraud). If your case is sent to Administrative Processing, it may take from 6 months-2 years for approval.
-After you’re approved, pay your Domex fee and CELEBRATE! Felicidades!!!
**K-1 Visa Interview Checklist**
Beneficiary's Documents
- Birth Certificate Inextensa (including children's for K2 visas)
- Police Certificate
- Passport
- Cedula (National ID Card)
- Medical Exam/Vaccination Results (may be there already, check before attending interview)
- Two 2x2 photos (with name printed on the back)
- Letter of Intent (dated and signed)
- DS-160 (online)(print out confirmation page and barcode only) (children's also)
- DS-156k
- Cita appointment letter/packet
- Any Marriage or Divorce Decrees from previous marriages.
- Permiso de salida para menores (for K2 visa)

Petitioner’s Documents
- I-134- Affidavit of Support (financial responsibility)
- Tax returns for (Last 3 years)
- Letter from Employer
- Recent pay stubs (last 3 months - 6 total)
- Bank account information
- Birth Certificate
- Passport
- Letter of Intent (dated and signed)

Other Documents
- Copy of I-129F packet sent
- Original and copy of NOA1
- Original and copy of NOA2
- Original and copy of NVC letter
- Military Records
- Judicial or Prison Records

Evidence
- Trip receipts (boarding passes, luggage airline stickers)
- Hotel/resort receipts, reservations (AirBnB)
- Cell Phone bills
- Western Union/Money Gram/Xoom receipts
- Internet Messenger service logs (Google, AIM, Windows, SKYPE, BBM, etc.)
- Social Media Messages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,  etc.)
- International phone bill (WhatsApp, Vonage, Magic Jack, etc.)
- Emails
- Printed out text messages
- Separate photo binder (with pics on a sheet put in plastic sheet protectors for easy removal)
- Last but not least - all of your prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Expenses: (as of 2020)
- Medical Exam = $190 USD
- Vaccines = $265-275 USD (optional, but highly recommended) Prices vary based on age/season of the year.
- Visa Fee = $265 USD
- Courier Service to approved Visa = $ 11.00 USD (depending on delivery location) or ask to pick up from Consulate or Santiago.
- Travel/Uber & Hotel/AirBnB Expenses = Varies
-New Immigrant fee ($165) is only for Marriage Visas (CR1/IR1) not K1.
*Administrative Processing/Review
(Everyone’s Worst Fear, even after visa approval) Why haven’t you received your Visa yet? Sometimes when they say you are approved, you really aren’t. (I know, it sucks!!!) Unfortunately, you could be in Administrative Processing/Review. This means that your case has not been finalized yet, due to “undisclosed reasons”. For example, the beneficiary’s name could be the same/similar to someone who has a history of visa fraud or criminal record. They will have to do additional background checks. This could take anywhere from 7 days to 2 years. This is a very frustrating part of the process. There is really not much I can tell you but to contact the Consulate to see what the reasoning is. Some people have contacted their local Congressman/Congresswoman for help. This has been beneficial. This could move you case along much faster. Read the links below for more information.
https://do.usembassy.gov/ask-consul-applying-nonimmigrant-u-s-visa-visa-approval-denial-administrative-processing-2/
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/113-waivers-i-601-and-i-212-and-administrative-processes-221g/
 
*Receiving Visa
*http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/do/do-niv-passporttrack.asp#ChecktheStatusofYourVisa
*Purchasing Flights:
Also, NEVER purchase airline tickets for your partner until they have the VISA IN HAND. Once they receive their K-1 Visa from Domex make sure they understand the requirements. They can only use it once to enter the U.S.; and they have 6 months to use it (from the day your took your medical). There will be an expiration date on it. Accompanied with the K-1 Visa is a sealed packet that must not be opened. It will be brought with them to the U.S. and given to the Customs agent once they arrive in the U.S. Many beneficiaries have to travel to the States alone (unless accompanied with a child) and you meet them at POE. They should be fine going through Customs; just make sure they understand the LAW (you have to get married within 90 days of entering the U.S. then adjust status.) Let your partner know to “tell Custom’s agent” they are “entering on a K-1 Visa.” Complete the I-94 electronically (no longer on paper); they will need this later for their Social Security card, Driver’s License, and AOS. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94
Note: For CR1 Visa Holders, it will be beneficial to wait until you have been married for exactly 2 years or more before entering the US. When you enter after the 2 year anniversary, you will automatically receive a 10yr Green Card. If not, you will receive a 2yr Green Card and will have to go through the Removal of Conditions Process.
*Point of Entry (POE) Reviews:
http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?stats=1
After you are arm-&-arm with your loved one (you better be after all these months of waiting), relax and enjoy each other. Read up on how to obtain your partner’s Social Security Card and begin planning your marriage/wedding. Read up on State laws for Marriage Licenses. After you are legally married within 90 days, you can immediately file for Adjustment of Status (AOS).
Note: K-1ers cannot legally work, go to school, or travel outside the U.S. until they receive legal documents (Work Authorization Card, Travel Documents and/or Green Card) through the Adjustment of Status process.
 
*What to Bring to the U.S.:
These documents will be needed in America if you plan to enter any type of educational program or gain employment.
-High School Transcript and/or copy of Degree (official)
-College Transcript and/or copy of Degree (official)
-Extra Birth Certificate (legalized & inextensa) & accompanying children
-Divorce Document/Decree
 
*How K1ers Get a Social Security Card:
This can be troublesome for some. Make sure you follow the link below. Around 7-10 days after arriving in the U.S. the K1ers status should be stored in the system. If you go too early, the Social Security office may not have your records. Since you are not married yet, your fiancée will have to get their Social Security card in their birth name. They can change it only after they get married and you have your marriage certificate. Make sure they bring the following documents (K1 Visa, passport, I-94 #, 2 proofs of address, SS-5 form).
https://www.visajourney.com/guides/social-security-number/
https://www.ssa.gov/people/immigrants/
*Adjusting to Life in the U.S.:
Every couple is different, every experience is different. Below there are a few threads on couples experiences. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/439416-once-your-fiance-arrives/#entry6353428
 
NEXT STOP ON YOUR JOURNEY (K1 only):
Apply for Marriage License...Marriage...Adjustment of Status (AOS)
Looking Ahead:
-Adjustment of Status (K1 only) (AOS)
Allows K1 visa holders to become a 2yr Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder (can live, work, and study legally) (travel restrictions-you may need a visa to travel to specific countries) K2 (child) visa don’t go through AOS. The AOS Process has no time limit, but the sooner you apply after marriage the faster you can work, study and travel without restrictions. You may or may not be requested for an interview.
Estimated Costs: $535+ Estimated Wait Time: 3-6 months
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/adjustment-status

-Removal of Conditions (ROC)
Allows K1/CR1 visa holders to become a 10yr Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder (travel restrictions-you may need a visa to travel to specific countries) K2 (child) visa will need to Remove Conditions. No interview is necessary unless something fraudulent is apparent.
Note: For CR1 Visa Holders, it will be beneficial to wait until you have been married for exactly 2 years or more before entering the US. When you enter after the 2 year anniversary, you will automatically receive a 10yr Green Card. If not, you will receive a 2yr Green Card and will have to go through the Removal of Conditions Process.
Estimated Costs: $680+ Estimated Wait Time: 7-9 months
https://www.uscis.gov/i-751

-Naturalization
Allows you to become a US Citizen after 3 years of marriage with your U.S. Citizen spouse. (Gives you all the benefits of a Natural-born citizen: voting, traveling, etc.). You will need to take a Test on basic U.S. History and take an Oath.
Estimated Costs: $725+ Estimated Wait Time: 3-5 months
https://www.uscis.gov/n-400
 

Have a Great Journey!
MrTee12 http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/77476-mrtee12/

NOA2 Thread: Any comments, concerns, questions can be posted in the link below. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Dominican_Republic:_After_Receiving_the_NOA2
PS: I would appreciate any updates/info from recent interviewees so I can update this page. Thanks!

The following information is from an original post by VisaJourney Member KIYA in the Mid-east/North Africa Forum, Returning petitions to the US via 221g. Due to many non related discussions within the thread, this page was created to help those searching for information find the information more quickly.

Here is what is happens when a petition is returned:
221(g) is issued to beneficiary at conclusion of the interview stating the application and/or petition is being returned to the United States. Petition is returned to the United States by the interviewing consulate for "further review" in what is called a diplomatic pouch. Returned petition is received by the NVC. It is reviewed and entered into the fraud database by fraud management. Returned petition is sent to the local service center where the petition was originally filed. Local service center receives returned petition. Local service center who processed the original petition sends a notice of receipt to the petitioner. Local service center reviews the returned petition and consular officer notes on the case. Local service center then sends either a NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny) or NOIR (Notice of Intent to Revoke) to the petitioner also asking for more proof of the relationship, many cases have specific consular objections to rebut. Petitioner is given 30-60 days from date of NOIR/NOID (depending on the service center) to respond with additional evidence of the relationship or other specific evidence. The timeframe to respond will be provided in the letter. Local service center receives evidence...if in the timeframe given (30-60 days) the case is reviewed and either reaffirmed or denied. If the petition is denied the local service center sends the petitioner an 'official' denial letter. This can be be appealed if the denial letter states such. If the petition is reaffirmed the local service center sends the petitioner an official notice of reaffirmation. Local service center sends the reaffirmed petition AND its evidence provided in the rebuttal directly to the consulate along with a recommendation to issue a visa. Consulate notifies the beneficiary of a new interview date. Beneficiary has interview for the reaffirmed petition and the visa is either issued, or the case in placed in Administrative Processing which after cleared a visa is issued, or worst case scenario it is denied via 221(g) and returned again to the USCIS.
What can you do immediately when faced with this issue:
Immediately have the beneficiary send a scanned copy of the 221(g) issued. Contact the consulate directly (immediately) and attempt to have the petition reviewed by the senior consular before it is returned. If you are unable to get through to the consulate on the phone, contact them via email, and if you're mail has a "read verification" use it. Contact your congressman/senator, get them involved immediately. You will need to sign a release form giving them permission to make an inquiry on your behalf. Provide your congressman/senator with as much information as possible about your case, the interview, and the result. If your congressman/senator is top notch, they will not just send an email or letter to the consulate, they will call on the phone and try to get the petition reviewed again before it is sent back. If they are not successful, they can request the diplomatic pouch number the petition is being returned in. This number will allow you to track the petition until it is received by the local service center. If you do not know who your congressman/senator is, use the following links to find out who represents your area: US Congressional Representatives (By State) US Senators (By State) If the petition is returned, you are in for a wait. The diplomatic pouch the petition is returned in is sent from embassy to embassy picking up other returned petitions along the way. It could take up to 2 or 3 months for it to be received by fraud management at the NVC...then the NVC has the petition for about 1 month before sending it to the local service center where it was originally filed. One thing to also know is that returned petitions do not take priority...they are reviewed in the order they are received...that is after new petitions have been processed.  
What you can do in the meantime while you wait:
Continue contacting the consulate to get an actual reason for the return...not the blanket "validity of relationship" response. Stay in contact with your congressman/senator, they can assist you in getting the actual reason for denial. Immediately file a Freedom Of Information Act request for the Department of State asking specifically for the consular notes on your returned petition: DOS FOIA Immediately file for a Freedom of Information Act request for the USCIS asking for the same specific consular notes on your returned petition: USCIS FOIA Continue to document your relationship, emails, letters, phone bills, visits to their country, etc. Be ready for the opportunity to rebut the consular findings. Contact a good immigration attorney...preferrably one who has experience in returned and denied petitions.  
After a period of 6 months or longer has passed and you do not hear anything from the local service center regarding the receipt of your return, or the results of the review, you can contact the CIS Ombudsman. While the Ombudsman cannot make the USCIS reaffirm your returned petition, they can assist when processing times are outside of guidelines

Now, there are some differences between returned fiance petitions and marriage petitions. The K1 is especially at risk due to the expiration of the original approval, many returned K1s are not given the opportunity to rebut, they receive a notice telling them their K1 has expired and may file again at any time...this is why the FOIA is so important. You need to know the exact reason the petition was returned, just filing again is a huge risk if you do not know why the petition was returned in the first place.
 
While the K3 does have an expiration date also, they are treated more seriously. I have not known anyone who has had a returned K3 not being given the opportunity to rebut. Obviously the CR1 does not expire. Still, it is very important to file the FOIA, not every service center will tell you exactly what the consular office findings or objections to issuing the visa are. Some people are only asked to provide more evidence of their relationship.

This wiki will help guide you through the NVC stage, specifically for IR-1/CR-1 applicants and their derivatives. Along with this wiki, please read all official instructions. This wiki is merely to help you out and doesn't replace any legal advice.
 
Please note: all mentioned time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.
If you see anything that needs updating: please send me a PM letting me know and I'll edit the wiki to reflect the change.
 
Useful Information
 
NVC's website can be found here [1] and should be read in conjunction with this wiki.

Work Hours
NVC only works Mondays to Fridays. They do NOT work on Saturdays, Sundays, or US National Holidays. And despite what you may see or hear, they unlikely work any overtime.
And keep in mind, emails are automated and delayed. So, if you receive an email on the weekend, it does NOT mean they are actually working on the weekend. It's normal for it to take awhile to receive emails from NVC.

Phone Number
NVC - 603-334-0700 [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]

Menu
For non-immigrant cases, call 603-334-0888
Press 1, for English Press 2, for Spanish After pressing 1 for English, the options are:
1, to verify priority date 2, to establish an agent, request fee bill or invoice number 3, to verify that they received your mail 4, to confirm date and time of interview 5, to update your mailing address, phone number, email address 6, if your case is at a US embassy or consulate overseas 7, for all other questions
Note: Either the petitioner or beneficiary can call NVC. Both are able to at this stage. Just make sure you have both names, dates of birth, as well as the USCIS receipt number (or NVC case number once it's assigned) on hand before calling.

Email Addresses
asknvc@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email scanned packages for EP
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests

Links
Eligibility for Electronic Processing [2]
NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms [3]
NVC Electronic Processing [4] [note: if doing EP in China, only enroll AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]
Thread on Ryan H's EP Experience through China [5]
Online Forms Portal (to fill out DS-261 and DS-260) [6]
Payment Portal [7]
Free Passport Photos [8]
 
Overview of NVC Process
 
To view a (NEW!!) flowchart of the below overview, you can find one I put together here [9]

-get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
-complete the online DS-261
-pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
-pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
-complete the online DS-260
-submit both packages together
-respond to any checklists, if applicable
-get case complete
-get interview date scheduled
-case is sent to embassy/consulate
 
Step 1 - Case Number
 
Once your I-130 has been approved from USCIS, it will be sent to NVC (a part of the Department of State). Depending what service center the I-130 is coming from, this can take anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. You may or may not get an email from USCIS/update on their website stating when it was sent.
 
You won't get correspondence from NVC when they receive your case from USCIS. You need to call an operator at NVC to find this out.
 
Once NVC does receive your case, it's currently taking around 3 weeks for a case number to be assigned..
 
If you'd like to stay on top of things, it's best to call about once a week after your NOA2 to see if NVC has received your case. Once they do have your case and about 2-3 weeks have passed since then, increase your calls to about 2-3 times a week (or even more if you wish) until you get a case number assigned.
 
Note: if your case doesn't arrive at NVC in a timely manner (timely manner being the current wait time), VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who would take the time to confirm this for you."  
Once a case number is assigned, get that number along with the IIN (Invoice Identification Number) from the operator. If the operator doesn't want to give over the IIN (some operators are finicky), then just call back up later and try again. And don't worry about the BIN (Beneficiary Identification Number) as it's no longer needed. You only need the case number and IIN.
 
At the same time, you can give over both the petitioner's and beneficiary's email addresses. By doing this, ALL correspondence (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, checklists, etc) from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages (link to eligibility in the first section, under links).
 
Note: there is a difference between EP and online forms. Online forms are just that, online forms. The DS-261 and DS-260 are NOT part of electronic processing. Electronic processing (EP) is emailing in documents. Not everyone can do this yet. You still have to be eligible for EP before emailing in packages. The link to see who's eligible is in the first section, under links. Everyone though (regardless of country) is required to fill out the online forms (DS-261 and DS-260).
How to Find Out WHEN Your Case Number was Assigned
For those that don't call every single day and want to know exactly what date their case number was assigned, there's an easy way to find out that simply involves looking at your case number. The first three letters are the three-letter consulate/embassy code. The next four numbers are the year the case number was assigned. The next three numbers are the Julian date it was assigned, plus 500. And finally, the last three numbers are the sequential order of when it was assigned that date. You can find a chart with Julian dates here [10].
 
For example: MTL2014815162. Let's put some lines in to divide it up. So: MTL|2014|815|162. This means that this case is going through Montreal and the number was assigned on November 11th, 2014, and it was the 162nd case that day to be assigned a number.
 
Step 2 - Submit DS-261
 
The DS-261 replaces the old DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) and is filed by the beneficiary. You'll have to wait for the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal (link in the first section, under links). This is currently taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned. Once it's available, fill it out. It's exactly like the DS-3032, except online.
If you wish to see screenshots of the DS-261, you can do so here: Saylin's DS-261 screenshots [11] (these are screenshots from 2011, but should still be the same, or at least similar). To go through all the screenshots, click on the 'next' button (there are 6 images in total). Please note: the BIN referenced in the screenshots are no longer required.
 
On choosing an agent, most people select the petitioner as one. Although, to be honest, due to giving over both email addresses to an operator (and thus having NVC email all correspondence), this form has become moot as, no matter who is selected as agent, both of you will receive correspondence.
 
Once you've submitted the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. This is for your own records.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-261 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection. Note: if you have a lawyer/attorney/legal representative from the I-130 petition, then they'll be automatically selected as agent for your case, thus by-passing the DS-261. This also means that the IV bill will be invoiced at or around the same time as the AOS bill.   *Important note: Once you fill in the DS-261 and it shows as complete, do NOT go back into the DS-261 as it will re-set the date and start the clock all over again for ~30 business days.
*Tip: if after a week of submitting the DS-261 and the IV fee hasn't been unlocked yet, you can try calling NVC and requesting they review the DS-261 over the phone. If the operator refuses to do so, try again until you get a nice operator that is willing to do so.
 
Step 3 - Pay AOS Fee
 
Currently, it's taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned for the AOS fee to be invoiced (about the same amount of time as the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal).
 
The AOS fee is $120 per case. If you have multiple cases joined at NVC, then you'll only have to pay ONE fee for all of them. For the IV fee though, you'll have to pay for each applicant.
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [12] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 4 - Pay IV Fee
 
A few weeks after after you complete the DS-261, NVC will accept and add it to your case file. A few days after that, the IV bill will be invoiced and available to pay on the payment portal. You won't get an email of acceptance, so you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.
 
The IV fee is $325 per applicant.
 
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [13] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 5 - Submit DS-260
 
The DS-260 replaces the old DS-230. As before, you will still submit the IV package, just without the DS-230. The DS-260 will be done online. It's only available once the IV appears as PAID in the payment portal. Like the DS-261, it'll be on the online forms portal (link in first section).
 
Note: depending on how prepared you are, the DS-260 can take a few hours. You can always save and return, if you wish; it doesn't need to be all done in one sitting. But, it'll take an hour at the least (30 minutes maybe if you're really fast). My suggestion is to have a DS-230 pre-filled out (found here [14]) and that way you can just copy over the answers. This will shave off quite some time if you prepare ahead. But be warned, there are some differences between the DS-230 and DS-260 where the DS-260 asks for more information. You can view screenshots (and thus the differences) here [15] from when it was first released back in 2010. NVC also has a page with DS-260 screenshots (from October 2013) found here [16].  
As with the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. But make sure to bring this one to the interview as NVC states it's required.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-260 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection.
How to answer the vaccinations question: Since there are some people having issues with answering this question, I thought it'd be good to explain it a little further as there's not just one right answer. If you have your vaccinations AND the record to prove it, then just explain that. If you don't have the vaccines and/or the record to show it, then again, just explain that, and add everything will be done at (or before) the medical. People are over-thinking this question when you really shouldn't be. Just answer honestly.
 
Step 6 - Gather AOS Package
 
The AOS package is all about the petitioner and whether or not they can financially support the intending immigrant(s).
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). This is in case NVC misplaces one of your documents. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.
 
Note: for petitioners living and working abroad, put $0 for the question on current income (unless your income will continue, then put the amount). In either case, include an employment letter with all the details and if your job will NOT continue, make sure it is stated as such in the letter. It'd also be a good idea to mention this in the cover letter.

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:
-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [17] -Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
-Tax information^^ of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:
-All of the above of the petitioner
-Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
-Tax information^^ of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
-Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

^^You have two choices here of what to send in:
- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040), W2s, 1099s, and any other schedules/worksheets (if applicable)
Note: If you haven't filed this year's taxes yet and filed for an extension instead, you can submit the tax extension letter in lieu of an entire tax return or tax transcript. Please be warned though, the consulate/embassy may request for this year's taxes to be filed despite applying for an extension.

Which I-864 Form to Use
If you look at the USCIS website, there are a multitude of I-864 forms listed: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, I-864W, and even I-864P.
 
The I-864 is the most common of the forms used. This is what petitioners and joint sponsors use.
 
The I-864EZ has three different criteria points that need to be met before a petitioner can use it. Remember, if you do meet all the criteria, it doesn't mean you have to use it; you can still use the I-864 if you wish. But, since the I-864EZ is shorter (and thus easier) to fill out, if you can use it, I suggest it as there's lower chances of messing up and getting a checklist.
 
The I-864A is used for household members of sponsors. Typically, the only time I recommend using the I-864A is for spouses of joint sponsors who are deciding to contribute their income as well. So, in these cases, the petitioner would file an I-864, the main joint sponsor would file an I-864 as well, and then the joint sponsor's spouse would file an I-864A.
 
The I-864W is rarely used. The only time I see it used is for children immigrating (with one of their parents) who will become US citizens upon POE. Please read the I-864W and its instructions for more information.
 
The I-864P, which really isn't a form, is the poverty guidelines and is used to see how much income is needed for different household sizes.

Domicile
Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Form I-864
Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.
 
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
 
Step 7 - Gather IV Package
 
The IV package is all about the beneficiary.
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). The writing of the case number on documents is in case NVC misplaces one of them. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.

Generally, the following is needed:

-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [18] -Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
-Photocopy of beneficiary's birth certificate
-Photocopy of marriage certificate
-Photocopy of police certificate(s)

Please read the link here [19] for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).
 
Also read the country-specific documents found here [20] (start typing the beneficiary's country in search box, choose it, then click 'Go'). There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

The NVC is no longer asking for photos to be sent with your package, but they are required at the interview.
 
-Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
 
Don’t forget: You’ll need to bring the original civil documents to the interview.

Translations
NVC's website states:
"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
 
-Translation is accurate, and
-Translator is competent to translate."
 
Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.
 
Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are.
 
Step 8 - Send in AOS and IV Packages
 
Once both fees have been paid and you’ve collected everything, send both packages together to NVC.
 
I suggest putting each package in a separate manila envelope (and clearly mark it and write "AOS" or "IV" on each one), then putting both manila envelopes inside one shipping envelope.
 
The address to send the package can be found on the bar-coded cover sheet from the payment portal. And it doesn't matter where the package is sent from (either in the US or abroad). As long as NVC receives it, that's all they care about.
 
Note: there may be two different addresses on each bar-coded cover sheet. Just pick one and send it there. It’s essentially the same address, just different departments. There’s absolutely no reason to stress about which address to choose as it’ll be directed to the correct department once it gets there.  
Step 9 - Review: Checklists and Case Complete
 
It can take up to 60 calendar days to review packages. This INCLUDES checklists. So, this means 60 days to review the initial packages and, if you get a checklist, another 60 days to review that once they receive it. This is why it's important to make sure your packages are PERFECT before sending them off.
 
You will not get an email if your packages have been accepted. You have to call NVC every day (or as often as you want) and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.
 
Note: if you're in the EP program, people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.  
If you call and an operator says they haven't received your package(s) yet (even though tracking says it was delivered), don't panic! Unfortunately, the package may not show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

Avoiding Checklists
Here are a few common checklist items I see all the time:
 
Use the correct numbers on the I-864/I-864EZ for past year's incomes. As it states RIGHT IN THE QUESTION, if you filed a 1040 (or 1040A), then use total income, and if you filed a 1040EZ, then use adjusted gross income. If you filed jointly, then make sure you use the combined income (since it doesn't separate the incomes) and then submit W2s to show individual income. Although the I-864 instructions say if the answer is none or N/A, then to leave it blank, do NOT do this. I have seen countless people get checklists for leaving things blank, specifically the question asking for place of residence on the I-864EZ. Although it says to fill it out only if it's different from the mailing address, I have seen dozens and dozens of people getting checklists for leaving it blank. Make sure every single question has been filled out. I quite frequently see people get checklists for skipping a question. Please take your time reviewing the form. And make sure everything is dated and signed. After printing out the forms, double check again that everything is filled out properly. I've heard that sometimes after printing, a box that was checked on the computer gets unchecked after it's printed. If this happens to you, just check it off by hand.
False vs. Real Checklists
If you sent the packages, then get a checklist asking for one of the packages, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first.
 
The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm either way.

Case Complete
There's currently a way to know (not 100% guaranteed though) if you have case complete by looking on the CEAC site. If the AOS fee changes from PAID to N/A, then I'd suggest calling NVC up pronto as most, if not all, people who have reported seeing this have a case complete.
 
Although case complete emails used to be rare for non-EP folk, it's becoming more common (it might even be that everyone is getting them now). But, they're severely delayed (sometimes a week or more!), so do not rely on it (unless you're in no rush to find out). The fastest way to find out if your case is complete is to call an operator at NVC and ask.
After the case is complete, the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled.

Warning: If you apply for an expedite, be warned that if you have any pending packages (re: not reviewed yet), then NVC may not go around digging for it when they forward your package off. If that's the case, then NVC should return the package to you once they do get to it, but it may be past the interview by then. So, you'll need to re-create the package to bring to the interview. So, if you want to apply for an expedite, it's best to do it BEFORE sending any packages.
 
Step 10 - Interview Date
 
The time frames for case complete to interview date scheduled vary by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months.
 
To best way to get an estimate for your beneficiary's country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled. To do this, go here [21] and choose the beneficiary country's from the drop-down (leave the service center drop-downs alone). Then, sort by interview date by clicking on the down arrow to the left of the 'Interview' column. There's no 'Case Complete' column (or even when the interview date was scheduled), so you'll have to open each individual member's timeline. This may sound like a lot of work, but if you want to get a good idea of estimates for your beneficiary's country, you'll crunch the numbers.
 
Not only can the above be helpful, but if you join VJ member dwheels76's case complete/interview threads, you can wait along with others (and often others of the same country) to see when interview dates start getting assigned. The current thread is for April, found here [22]. She has her own spreadsheet (found here [23]) and if you want to be added, fill out the form here [24].
Once an interview date is scheduled, NVC will then ship out your case to the consulate/embassy. Typically, this is done the next day after the interview is scheduled, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases. You can find out when NVC ships your case by simply calling and asking.
 
After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
 
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few.   From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25].
 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
 
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
 
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
 
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
 
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
 
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Extra: Tax Information
 
Here are two frequently asked questions and my answers in regards to tax season:

Do I have to file 2015 taxes before I can fill out the I-864 form?
No. Up until April 18th, 2016 (tax deadline), you can still use 2014 as the most recent tax year. If for whatever reason you want to use 2015 as the most recent year instead (due to whatever reason), then yes, you can use 2015 as the most recent year as well. Both are valid options.
 
Keep in mind though: if you submit 2014 tax information as the most recent year and your interview is scheduled after April 18th, then 2015 tax information will likely be required at the interview.

As the petitioner, what filing status do I use for my tax returns?
You have three options: married filing separately (MFS), married filing jointly (MFJ), or head of household (HOH).
 
For HOH, there's some criteria you need to meet to be able to use this. Please see the IRS website for more information. For most people though, it's either between MFS or MFJ.
 
Before I continue, I will say this once and only once: YOU CANNOT FILE SINGLE. If you are married, you are married. Doesn't matter where in the universe your spouse is, YOU ARE STILL MARRIED. You will be lying to the IRS if you file as single, and if caught, could cause serious issues. If you have already filed taxes, either this year or last, and were married, yet filed as single, amend your tax return ASAP. If at the time of the interview, there are tax return transcripts in the case file showing the petitioner filed as single, this can be a HUGE red flag. The CO will have to wonder why the petitioner filed as single when they're trying to get a spousal visa. In their eyes, your relationship can be seen as a fraud and could be reason for denial.
 
For both MFS and MFJ, the petitioner will have to file a paper tax return. Electronic submissions won't be possible the first year.
 
Filing MFS will probably be the easiest for most people as it doesn't require any extra documents from the foreign spouse, nor does it require their signature. On the tax return, where it asks for the spouse's SSN, you would put 'NRA' for Non-Resident Alien. Continue filling out the rest of the return as normal. That is all you have to do. (And if desired, once the spouse has immigrated to the US and has obtained a SSN, the petitioner can then amend their tax return to MFJ, to possibly get a bigger refund, but this isn't required.)
 
Filing MFJ will typically mean a bigger refund up front, with no need to amend. This route takes a little more work though as the beneficiary will have to fill out a W7 (available on the IRS site), which requires a signature, and include document(s), so they can obtain a ITIN (it's like a SSN, but for the sole purpose of filing taxes, and is available for those not currently living in the US). This would then be included with the tax return, and sent to a special address for ITIN generation. For most countries, it may be hard to get the needed documents. (For Canada, it was uber easy, and this is how my husband did his taxes while I was still in Canada, waiting for my interview). Please view the instructions for the W7 form on the IRS website to see what documents will be needed.
 
For more information, please read this page on IRS's website here [32].

Note: August 2019 >> Some Information May Be Outdated.  Members, Please Update with Current Information & Remove this Notice at That Time.

Step 1: Submit your I-129F package to USCIS
Click here for instructions on submitting your I-129F packet.
 
As specific as your question may be, you can find most answers by doing a simple search of the VisaJourney website:
 
Go to the VisaJourney website. See that blue toolbar near the top of the page? At the right-hand side, there is a box. Type your question in there. See that list of "hits"? Lots of people have asked your question! Click on the first page and read through the thread. Click on the second, third, fourth, tenth page and read the answers. If you still haven't found your answer, post it on VisaJourney.  
Cuba-Specific Questions
What if I don't have a permit from the US Treasury to go to Cuba (aka go through a third country)?  No problem! It hasn't been a problem for anybody on this page. What about submitting my plane tickets to prove I've seen my partner within the past two years?  You do not need to submit your plan tickets. Instead, submit photos, emails, and phone records.  
What do I do next?
Wait 2-3 weeks for your first Notice of Action (NOA1) from USCIS. You will receive a letter in the mail confirming that they received your I-129F package (aka that big "fiance visa" package you sent in).
 
Step 2: Receive your NOA1
Two-three weeks after you mail your I-129F packet, you should receive your first Notice of Action. You will receive a letter in the mail. This is also known as NOA1.
 
What do I do next?
Wait 5-7 months to receive your second Notice of Action (NOA2) in the mail. Basically, do nothing. Just wait.
Another thing: During this time, your partner needs to get a passport! Once you receive your NOA2 things will move quickly.
When about 5 months have gone by, you should have your partner get copies of certain documents so that you are ready for the interview when it comes along. You don't want to get the documents too early though, because they could expire.
 
The documents that your partner needs to get are:
 
Birth certificate Certificado de solteria or divorce records Criminal records  
Is it going to be 5 months or 7 months or more?
Some good news!: Your NOA1 tells you which "Service Center" your petition has been forwarded to. Some examples include "Texas Service Center" and "California Service Center." You can use that information to find out how long it should take to get your NOA2. Each Service Center has its own rhythm. It might take 5 months to get an NOA2 if your petition was sent to the California Service Center, but 7 months if it is sent to a different Service Center. I know, it's not fair.
To find out how long it's taking other people to get their NOA2, depending on their Service Center, click here.
Under the chart, you will see the word "Filter." Then you will see "Service Center." Select your Service Center. Click "Set Filter." But I only see a few rows? Scroll down all the way to the bottom of the page. Click on the button that says "Change # of Rows Displayed." A box will pop up. Put a large number, like 100. Click "OK." Look under the fourth column "I-129F NOA1" and look under the next column "I-129F NOA2" to find out who has been getting approved and when you can expect to be approved.  
Step 3: Receive your NOA2
Congrats! You've received your second Notice of Action (NOA2). It comes as a letter in the mail.
Now your application is being forwarded from USCIS to the National Visa Center.
 
What do I do next?
Wait 1-2 weeks for another letter from the National Visa Center. Besides for waiting, do nothing.
According to this page: "Two weeks after you receive the NOA2 you can contact the NVC to see if they have received your approved I-129F. You can contact them at 603 334-0700."
 
Step 4: Receive your letter from the National Visa Center
Click here to see what the letter will look look. Notice that the HAV # is circled on the letter. You will need this number for Step 5 and Step 6. Here is also a picture of the envelope my letter came in.
The National Visa Center will now forward your file to the US Interests Section in Havana. It will take about a week.
 
What do I do next?
Gather the information you need to schedule your partner's interview. (See Step 5.) Also, tell your partner your HAV number. Your partner will need to know the HAV number for Step 6.
 
The US Interests Section will receive your file about a week after you've received your letter from the National Visa Center. Once they have your file you can call and schedule your interview. You will NOT know when the US Interests Section has received your file. You should just wait a week or so, and call. Calling costs money though, so wait at least a week or even two weeks!
 
Update: Some people have had success in scheduling their partner's interview immediately after receiving the HAV number from the National Visa Center (NVC). It may not be necessary to wait until your case is received in Havana. As mentioned in step 3, you can call begin to call the NVC two weeks after your NOA2 to verify that they have received your case and also obtain the HAV number over the phone. Once you have that number, follow the steps below to schedule the interview. This is worth a try if you want to get the interview scheduled ASAP.
 
Step 5: Schedule your partner's interview
About a week after you receive a letter from the National Visa Center, you are ready to schedule your partner's interview. This website is a bit confusing, but there you have all the information you need to schedule your appointment!
 
How to schedule the interview
Call the United States the Visa Information and Appointment Scheduling Service from anywhere in the U.S., 1-866-374-1769 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern time), Monday-Friday on behalf of the applicant in Cuba.
 
You will be prompted to purchase a Personal Identification Number (PIN). PINs can be purchased for $11 USD using Visa or MasterCard. The PIN allows the caller to access the service multiple times for information and appointment scheduling for up to a total of 8 minutes. The PIN is nonrefundable. In the event it is lost the family member or associate must pay for a new one. If the time allowed for the PIN runs out, the caller must obtain a new PIN and call the service again. Up to 5 immediate family members residing in the same household may be scheduled on one call using one PIN. Immediate family members include: husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, mother and father. Please note there is no guarantee that all family members will be scheduled for the same day.
 
Information you will need to schedule the interview
HAV# Full name of the applicant as it appears in the passport Date of birth Country of birth Applicant's complete address, including contact phone number in Cuba Email Address Passport number Purpose of visit: Fiance visa Check-in with your partner to make sure that there aren't any dates that wouldn't work for the interview: graduation, thesis presentations, etc. What do I do next?
Your partner schedules a time to pick up their packet from the US Interests Section.
 
Step 6: Your partner schedules a time to pick up their packet from the US Interests Section
The US Interests Section will NOT deliver the packet to your partner's house. Your partner should call this Cuban-based phone number: (53)(7) 839-4100 between 8am and 4:30pm. They may have to call several times to get through. Your partner MUST provide the HAV #.
Update: Physically picking up the packet is not required. You can utilize the Interests Section website to review the documents required for the interview ([1]).
 
What do I do next?
Your partner picks up the packet.
 
 
Step 7: Your partner picks up the packet at the US Interests Section
That's it. Your partner picks up the packet. I wasn't there, but my partner said it was pretty straightforward.
 
What do I do next?
Start filling out the documents and getting documents prepared.
 
 
Step 8: Prepare the documents for your visa interview
To make things easier, I'm providing photos of the documents my partner received:
Cover letter: Photo. List of the things we need to bring to the interview: Photo. List of hospitals for the chequeo medico: Page 1 and Page 2.  
Things you will need to bring to the interview
Carta de citacion: Click [here for image (Note: You will not have this if you do not physically pick up the packet. It is not required for the interview). Valid passport and photocopy of pages where issuance and expiration dates as well as the passport number and photo appear (Beneficiary) Form DS-160 - Confirmation page only as the application is completed online. Photos, (2) color photos on white background of the beneficiary facing the camera and measuring 50 mm x 50 mm taken within the last six months (Beneficiary) Birth certificate (Beneficiary) Proof of eligibility to marry: Acta de solteria (Beneficiary) Criminal Records from Cuba (Beneficiary) I-134 Affidavit of Support and supporting materials Relationship evidence Processing fee: $265 CUC or USD I would also suggest bringing the following documents if you can: Copy of the letter from National Visa Center Copy of the NOA2 received by mail Copy of the entire I-129F package Do not bring anything in envelopes, as they will empty each one at security. The only type of envelope allowed in are clear/plastic envelopes. DS Forms & I-134 Form
For more information, including samples, of the DS forms and the I-134 form, click here.
As specific as your question may be, you can find most answers by doing a simple search of the VisaJourney website:
Go to the VisaJourney website. See that blue toolbar near the top of the page? At the right-hand side, there is a box. Type your question in there. See that list of "hits"? Lots of people have asked your question! Click on the first page and read through the thread. Click on the second, third, fourth, tenth page and read the answers. If you still haven't found your answer, post it on VisaJourney.  
Frequently Asked Questions Specific to Cuba
What if my partner is in the UJC or the Communist Party?  Be honest when filing out the forms. Your partner should be ready to explain that membership was recommended, the young age at which they joined, etc. The people interviewing you will understand. How much does the chequeo medico cost?  400 CUC Where can I get the certificado de solteria?  Consultoría Internacional Where can I get the police records?  Consultoría Internacional Where can I get the birth certificate?  Consultoría Internacional Question  Answer Step 9: The Interview!
Click here for more information on the interview. These reviews will probably answer many questions you have, so please read them first before posting questions.

VisaJourney Member Ranks indicate how many posts a member has made on the website. The table below shows the amount of posts to reach each level. When you reach "Platinum Member" status you can change your member name to something other than the default. The number of "blue blocks" and "hearts" in a Member's profile simply correlates directly to their post count and Member Rank. It is not an indication of anything beyond this. This is no way indicates an expertise on any topic or issue with regards to the Forums.
 
Rank Posts Needed Newbie 0 Junior Member 10 Member 30 Member 100 Senior Member 200 Senior Member 300 Gold Member 400 Gold Member 500 Platinum Member 750 Platinum Member 1000 Diamond Member 2000 Diamond Member 3000 Star Member 4000 Star Member 5000 Super Star Member 6000 Super Star Member 7000 Elite Member 8000 Super Elite Member 9000 Long Time Member 10000 Elder Member 12000 Mucho Elder Member 14000 Ancient Member 16000 Supreme Member 20000 Supreme Member 30000 Supreme Member 40000 Supreme Member 50000 Supreme Member 60000 Supreme Member 70000 Supreme Member 80000 Supreme Member 90000

[Note: this list was complied from several sources, including postings on VisaJourney (For additional specific questions, check out VJ's consulate feedback/reviews and VJ's Example Interview Questions. The questions below are directed toward people who have applied for the CR-1/IR-1 visas with the beneficiary living abroad, but many would be applicable to Adjustment of Status interviews, too. Of course no one will be asked all of these questions, and many won't apply if you don't live together, but it appears that all of these questions have been asked in someone's interview somewhere. Please add your own in the appropriate sections...]

First, here are some tips for the interview [from VJ member Virtual wife, April '07. Also the original pinned posting includes many immigration questions - similar to, but different from the ones listed below - in post #5]:
 
1. Do not volunteer information. For most questions, the shorter and more direct the answers are, the shorter the interview and the higher the chance of success. If the question is a yes or no question, give yes or no answers only. If the question is a simple question like "What is your name?" answer simply with your name.
2. If you do not know the answer to a question, do not lie. Say, "I don't know the answer to that at this time." or "I don't remember."
3. The answer to many questions will be in the papers that were sent in the petitions. Questions like, "what are your husband's parent's names". They will expect you to know the information given in your petitions. Review everything in your paperwork with your wife before her interview, and do a mock interview to see how the information may be applied.
4. Avoid saying "I think . . .". Women do this a lot. The examiner will expect you to know not be unsure, of your answers. Also, avoid adding "umm", "you know" and "ahh" type fillers to your speech.
5. When applicable, don't just state, demonstrate. If the examiner asks a question that can be answered with a document or photograph(s), provide it along with your answer.
For example, if the examiner asks, "What does your family think of your husband?", give them a picture or two with your answer; "They like him very much. Here is a picture of him with my mother and father at my parent's home."
Or, "How many attended your wedding?" Answer, "(give a number, then say) We have some lovely wedding photos of our guests having fun. Here are a few that I can show you."
6. Give American answers for dates and times. 12/24/07, not 24/12/07.
7. Dress well, but not overdressed.
8. Try to appear calm, well organized, and friendly. Nervousness raises suspicions.
9. Remain focused. If the examiner makes jokes, smile and enjoy, but do not make jokes too.
10. Make proper eye contact when conversing with the examiner, and try to control your own facial expressions so that your face remains pleasant and cordial.
11. Be audible so that your examiner doesn't have to ask you to repeat your answers.
12. Organize your papers in a way that will allow you to retrieve them easily and quickly. Examiners appreciate order and someone who doesn't waste their time.
13. When the interview is over, always ask for the results. "What should I now tell my husband about my visa status after our interview?" Before you leave, have them explain any papers they give to you and/or any procedures they will be taking to complete your case. Try to get the examiner's name for future reference, if needed. Write it down.
14. If the interview is in another city than the one you live in, arrive a day or two early to complete biometrics and get the results of your medical exam.
15. Arrive early to the consulate, but also be prepared to wait for a time past your scheduled interview appointment time. Be careful of thieves around the consulate if you have to carry cash. Bring ID; you cannot enter without it.
16. It is rare for the consulate to give you a visa on the spot. Be prepared to return for it, if approved.
 
For the interview, bring:
 
1. Original marriage documents, translations and certifications.
2. Formal, long form birth certificate.
3. Copies of any divorce records or death decrees of former SO(s).
4. Passport, with an expiration date of no earlier than 6 months. Try to have more than 6 months before expiration.
5. Police certificate with "Nothing" written on it, indicating no criminal record
6. Fingerprints (consulate will instruct you regarding how, when and where these will be taken). There is a fee for this.
7. Medical exam results (consulate will instruct you regarding how, when and where this will be taken). There is a fee for this. Make sure you get a copy from the medical examiner.
8. Passport type photos of each of you. (consulate will instruct you regarding these)
 
QUESTIONS FOR THE BENEFICIARY
 
ABOUT YOU:
 
What do you do for a living in your home country?
Do you plan to work in the U.S and what position?
Have you ever been issued/denied a visa to the US?
Have you ever been in the US?
If so, when and how long were you in the US? Where were you? What did you do while you were there? Did you work while you were there? Doing what? Have you ever been deported ? Were you married before this marriage?
Do you have any children?
Have you ever been convicted of any crime?
Describe your employment history
Describe your education history
Do you need a social security number (SSN) when you arrive in the US?
 
ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE:
General information
 
Name/Date of birth/Place of birth. Spell your spouse's name.
Immigration status in the US? (Citizen or Permanent Resident) [Additional questions if your spouse was not born in the US: Where did your spouse first live in the US? When and where was his or her naturalization?]
Where does your spouse live in the US? How long has s/he been at the current address?
Contact numbers/ E-mail address?
Was your spouse married before?
If divorced: Ex-spouse’s name, age, etc. Why did the previous marriage not last; reasons for divorce Who initiated the divorce? Do you have the copy of divorce papers Where did the divorce take place Are there any outstanding issues related to divorce? If yes, describe in detail How much are the alimony payments? Does your spouse still see his/her ex-spouse? Why or why not?
Does your spouse have any children?
If yes: How many? What are the name(s) and age(s) of the child(ren)? Whom do they live with, and why? (Why do they not live with your spouse? How often does your spouse see the children? How much is the monthly child support? How does your spouse manage child support? Are they planning to move with your spouse? If both of you have kids, how have you ensured that your kids and your spouse’s kid will live/get together/co-operate with each other?  
Has your spouse ever been convicted or have a criminal record?
Do you know your spouse’s friends?
Provide the names, if possible phone numbers How long have they known each other? Where do they live? Do they know about your spouse’s previous relationships? What are your spouse’s hobbies? What does your spouse like/dislike? Foods/movies/books/music/activities/etc. What does your spouse own? House? Car (Make, model, year of manufacture, and color of the car. License plate number?)
Your Relationship/Wedding/Marriage
 
How long have you known each other?
Where and how did you meet? Was anyone else around?
What did you do on your first meeting? What did you first notice about your future spouse? Do you remember what either of you were wearing?
What language do the two of you converse in?
When did the relationship turn romantic?
Did your spouse meet any of your relatives? If not, why not? Did you meet any of your spouse’s relatives? If not, why not?
How much time did you spend together before you decided to get married? Why did you decide to get married? Who proposed to whom? How did the topic come up? Why did you decide to have a long/short engagement? What do your parents/friends think of your decision to marry this person? What do your spouse’s parents/friends think?
When and where was your wedding ? Do you have any photos of the ceremony and/or reception? Who from the US came to attend your marriage? (Why did others not come here to attend the marriage?) How many people were at your wedding? Did you have a reception? Describe.
Did you go for a honeymoon? If so, when and where?
How has your relationship been since you got married?
Why do you want to come to the US? What do you like and dislike about moving there?
Did you get married to get in to the US? Did you pay your spouse to get married or make any other deals?
What are your concerns about being married to someone from another culture?
What do you think the biggest problems will be, and have you thought about how you will deal with them?
Do you think that your relationship will work?
Do you trust your spouse?
 
Employment/Education
 
If your spouse is working:
What does your spouse do for living? Where does s/he work? Employer name & location; phone number if possible What are his/her job duties/job title? How much does s/he make per hour/annual salary? What is your spouse’s work schedule? If your spouse is in school: Provide details of the degree/diploma s/he is registered in; what kind of courses taken What year of study? Total length of program/ expected completion date? Describe your spouse’s education history
 
Spouse’s Living Situation
 
Who does your spouse live with? (details on roommates/relatives)
What kind of place it is? (apartment, condo, house, etc.)
How much rent/mortgage?
Have you been to where your spouse lives?
If so, how many rooms there are? How many bathrooms? Can you remember any details of what kind of furniture is in the house, colors, etc? What kind of TV, stereo, etc is in the house? Who else lives near by – neighbors? What is the neighborhood like?
Finances – show copies of everything
 
Did you file a joint tax return this year? Do you have an International Tax ID number?
What is your spouse’s bank in the US? What are the accounts there?
Do you share any accounts? Why or why not?
Do you own any property together?
Do you have an insurance policy listing your spouse as the beneficiary? Does your spouse have insurance policy where you are the beneficiary?

Spouse’s relatives
 
Father’s name and where he lives? Where does he work?
Mother’s Name and where she lives? Where does she work?
If they have spouses other than each other, who are they?
Were they born in the US? Where?(many more questions about when they arrived, etc if they immigrated )
What is your spouse's mom's parents' [maternal grandparents'] names and information?
What is your spouse's Dad's parents' [paternal grandparents'] names and information?
How many brother and sisters does your spouse have?
Names? Names of their spouses? Names of their kids? Where were they married? Where do they live now? How many maternal and paternal uncles and aunts does your spouse have? Name all of them and their spouses Name all their kids QUESTIONS FOR THE PETITIONER, IF YOU ATTEND THE INTERVIEW
(Many are the same as above)
ABOUT YOU:
 
What is your immigration status in the US? (Citizen or Permanent Resident? If naturalized, expect more questions about when arrived, when naturalized, etc etc)
When and where was your US passport issued?
Where do you live?
What are you doing in this country? (if not just visiting for the interview) Do you like it here? What don't you like? Would you ever consider living here?
Do you speak your spouse’s language?
What do you do for a living?
What is your education?
Were you married before this marriage?
Do you have any children?
Have you ever been convicted of any crime?

ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE:
General information
 
Name/Date of birth/Place of birth
Where does your spouse live? How long s/he has been at the current address?
Contact numbers/ E-mail address?
If divorced: Ex-spouse’s name, age, etc. Why did the previous marriage not last; reasons for divorce Who initiated the divorce? Do you have the copy of divorce papers Where did the divorce take place Are there any outstanding issues related to divorce? If yes, describe in detail How much are the alimony payments? Does your spouse still see his/her ex-spouse? Why or why not?
Does your spouse have any children?
If yes: How many? What are the name(s) and age(s) of the child(ren)? Whom do they live with, and why? (Why do they not live with your spouse? How often does your spouse see the children? How much is the monthly child support? How does your spouse manage child support? Are they planning to move with your spouse? If both of you have kids, how have you ensured that your kids and your spouse’s kid will live/get together/co-operate with each other? Has your spouse ever been convicted or have a criminal record? Do you know your spouse’s friends? Provide the names, if possible phone numbers How long have they known each other? Where do they live? Do they know about your spouse’s previous relationships? What are your spouse’s hobbies? What does your spouse like/dislike? Foods/movies/books/music/activities/etc. What does your spouse own? House? Car (Make, model, year of manufacture, and color of the car. License plate number?)  
Your Relationship/Wedding/Marriage
 
How long have you known each other?
Where and how did you meet? Was anyone else around?
What did you do on your first meeting? What did you first notice about your future spouse? Do you remember what either of you were wearing?
What language do the two of you converse in?
When did the relationship turn romantic?
Did your spouse meet any of your relatives? If not, why not? Did you meet any of your spouse’s relatives? If not, why not?
How much time did you spend together before you decided to get married? Why did you decide to get married? Who proposed to whom? How did the topic come up? Why did you decide to have a long/short engagement? What do your parents/friends think of your decision to marry this person? What do your spouse’s parents/friends think?
When and where was your wedding ? Do you have any photos of the ceremony and/or reception? Who from the US came to attend your marriage? (Why did others not come here to attend the marriage?) How many people were at your wedding? Did you have a reception? Describe.
Did you go for a honeymoon? If so, when and where?
How has your relationship been since you got married?
What are your concerns about being married to someone from another culture? What do you think the biggest problems will be, and have you thought about how you will deal with them?
Are you worried about how your spouse will adjust to life in the US?
Why do you think your spouse wants to come to the US? Are you worried that s/he married you for a green card? Did your spouse pay or you to get married or make any other deals with you?
Do you think that your relationship will work?
Do you trust your spouse?

Employment/Education
 
If your spouse is working:
What does your spouse do for living? Where does s/he work? Employer name & location; phone number if possible What are his/her job duties/job title? How much does s/he make per hour/annual salary? What is your spouse’s work schedule? If your spouse is in school: Provide details of the degree/diploma s/he is registered in; what kind of courses taken What year of study? Total length of program/ expected completion date? Describe your spouse’s education history
Spouse’s Living Situation
 
Who does your spouse live with? (details on roommates/relatives)
What kind of place it is? (apartment, condo, house, etc.)
How much rent/mortgage?
Have you been to where your spouse lives?
If so, how many rooms there are? How many bathrooms? Can you remember any details of what kind of furniture is in the house, colors, etc? What kind of TV, stereo, etc is in the house? Who else lives near by – neighbors? What is the neighborhood like?  
Finances – show copies of everything
 
Did you file a joint tax return this year? Why did you decide to file/not file jointly? Did you apply for an International Tax ID number for your spouse?
What accounts do you have in the US? Do you share any accounts? Why or why not?
Do you own any property together?
Do you have an insurance policy listing your spouse as the beneficiary? Does your spouse have insurance policy where you are the beneficiary?
 
Spouse’s relatives
 
Father’s name and where he lives? Where does he work?
Mother’s Name and where she lives? Where does she work?
If they have spouses other than each other, who are they?
Were they born in the US? Where?(many more questions about when they arrived, etc if they immigrated )
What is your spouse's mom's parents' [maternal grandparents'] names and information?
What is your spouse's Dad's parents' [paternal grandparents'] names and information?
How many brothers and sisters does your spouse have?
 
Names? Names of their spouses? Names of their kids? Where were they married? Where do they live now? How many aunts and uncles does your spouse have? Name all of them and their spouses Name all their kids

This wiki will help guide you through the NVC stage, specifically for IR-1/CR-1 applicants and their derivatives. Along with this wiki, please read all official instructions. This wiki is merely to help you out and doesn't replace any legal advice.
 
Please note: all mentioned time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.
If you see anything that needs updating: please send me a PM letting me know and I'll edit the wiki to reflect the change.
 
Useful Information
 
NVC's website can be found here [1] and should be read in conjunction with this wiki.

Work Hours
NVC only works Mondays to Fridays. They do NOT work on Saturdays, Sundays, or US National Holidays. And despite what you may see or hear, they unlikely work any overtime.
And keep in mind, emails are automated and delayed. So, if you receive an email on the weekend, it does NOT mean they are actually working on the weekend. It's normal for it to take awhile to receive emails from NVC.

Phone Number
NVC - 603-334-0700 [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]

Menu
For non-immigrant cases, call 603-334-0888
Press 1, for English Press 2, for Spanish After pressing 1 for English, the options are:
1, to verify priority date 2, to establish an agent, request fee bill or invoice number 3, to verify that they received your mail 4, to confirm date and time of interview 5, to update your mailing address, phone number, email address 6, if your case is at a US embassy or consulate overseas 7, for all other questions
Note: Either the petitioner or beneficiary can call NVC. Both are able to at this stage. Just make sure you have both names, dates of birth, as well as the USCIS receipt number (or NVC case number once it's assigned) on hand before calling.

Email Addresses
asknvc@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email scanned packages for EP
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests

Links
Eligibility for Electronic Processing [2]
NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms [3]
NVC Electronic Processing [4] [note: if doing EP in China, only enroll AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]
Thread on Ryan H's EP Experience through China [5]
Online Forms Portal (to fill out DS-261 and DS-260) [6]
Payment Portal [7]
Free Passport Photos [8]
 
Overview of NVC Process
 
To view a (NEW!!) flowchart of the below overview, you can find one I put together here [9]

-get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
-complete the online DS-261
-pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
-pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
-complete the online DS-260
-submit both packages together
-respond to any checklists, if applicable
-get case complete
-get interview date scheduled
-case is sent to embassy/consulate
 
Step 1 - Case Number
 
Once your I-130 has been approved from USCIS, it will be sent to NVC (a part of the Department of State). Depending what service center the I-130 is coming from, this can take anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. You may or may not get an email from USCIS/update on their website stating when it was sent.
 
You won't get correspondence from NVC when they receive your case from USCIS. You need to call an operator at NVC to find this out.
 
Once NVC does receive your case, it's currently taking around 3 weeks for a case number to be assigned..
 
If you'd like to stay on top of things, it's best to call about once a week after your NOA2 to see if NVC has received your case. Once they do have your case and about 2-3 weeks have passed since then, increase your calls to about 2-3 times a week (or even more if you wish) until you get a case number assigned.
 
Note: if your case doesn't arrive at NVC in a timely manner (timely manner being the current wait time), VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who would take the time to confirm this for you."  
Once a case number is assigned, get that number along with the IIN (Invoice Identification Number) from the operator. If the operator doesn't want to give over the IIN (some operators are finicky), then just call back up later and try again. And don't worry about the BIN (Beneficiary Identification Number) as it's no longer needed. You only need the case number and IIN.
 
At the same time, you can give over both the petitioner's and beneficiary's email addresses. By doing this, ALL correspondence (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, checklists, etc) from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages (link to eligibility in the first section, under links).
 
Note: there is a difference between EP and online forms. Online forms are just that, online forms. The DS-261 and DS-260 are NOT part of electronic processing. Electronic processing (EP) is emailing in documents. Not everyone can do this yet. You still have to be eligible for EP before emailing in packages. The link to see who's eligible is in the first section, under links. Everyone though (regardless of country) is required to fill out the online forms (DS-261 and DS-260).
How to Find Out WHEN Your Case Number was Assigned
For those that don't call every single day and want to know exactly what date their case number was assigned, there's an easy way to find out that simply involves looking at your case number. The first three letters are the three-letter consulate/embassy code. The next four numbers are the year the case number was assigned. The next three numbers are the Julian date it was assigned, plus 500. And finally, the last three numbers are the sequential order of when it was assigned that date. You can find a chart with Julian dates here [10].
 
For example: MTL2014815162. Let's put some lines in to divide it up. So: MTL|2014|815|162. This means that this case is going through Montreal and the number was assigned on November 11th, 2014, and it was the 162nd case that day to be assigned a number.
 
Step 2 - Submit DS-261
 
The DS-261 replaces the old DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) and is filed by the beneficiary. You'll have to wait for the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal (link in the first section, under links). This is currently taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned. Once it's available, fill it out. It's exactly like the DS-3032, except online.
If you wish to see screenshots of the DS-261, you can do so here: Saylin's DS-261 screenshots [11] (these are screenshots from 2011, but should still be the same, or at least similar). To go through all the screenshots, click on the 'next' button (there are 6 images in total). Please note: the BIN referenced in the screenshots are no longer required.
 
On choosing an agent, most people select the petitioner as one. Although, to be honest, due to giving over both email addresses to an operator (and thus having NVC email all correspondence), this form has become moot as, no matter who is selected as agent, both of you will receive correspondence.
 
Once you've submitted the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. This is for your own records.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-261 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection. Note: if you have a lawyer/attorney/legal representative from the I-130 petition, then they'll be automatically selected as agent for your case, thus by-passing the DS-261. This also means that the IV bill will be invoiced at or around the same time as the AOS bill.   *Important note: Once you fill in the DS-261 and it shows as complete, do NOT go back into the DS-261 as it will re-set the date and start the clock all over again for ~30 business days.
*Tip: if after a week of submitting the DS-261 and the IV fee hasn't been unlocked yet, you can try calling NVC and requesting they review the DS-261 over the phone. If the operator refuses to do so, try again until you get a nice operator that is willing to do so.
 
Step 3 - Pay AOS Fee
 
Currently, it's taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned for the AOS fee to be invoiced (about the same amount of time as the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal).
 
The AOS fee is $120 per case. If you have multiple cases joined at NVC, then you'll only have to pay ONE fee for all of them. For the IV fee though, you'll have to pay for each applicant.
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [12] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 4 - Pay IV Fee
 
A few weeks after after you complete the DS-261, NVC will accept and add it to your case file. A few days after that, the IV bill will be invoiced and available to pay on the payment portal. You won't get an email of acceptance, so you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.
 
The IV fee is $325 per applicant.
 
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [13] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 5 - Submit DS-260
 
The DS-260 replaces the old DS-230. As before, you will still submit the IV package, just without the DS-230. The DS-260 will be done online. It's only available once the IV appears as PAID in the payment portal. Like the DS-261, it'll be on the online forms portal (link in first section).
 
Note: depending on how prepared you are, the DS-260 can take a few hours. You can always save and return, if you wish; it doesn't need to be all done in one sitting. But, it'll take an hour at the least (30 minutes maybe if you're really fast). My suggestion is to have a DS-230 pre-filled out (found here [14]) and that way you can just copy over the answers. This will shave off quite some time if you prepare ahead. But be warned, there are some differences between the DS-230 and DS-260 where the DS-260 asks for more information. You can view screenshots (and thus the differences) here [15] from when it was first released back in 2010. NVC also has a page with DS-260 screenshots (from October 2013) found here [16].  
As with the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. But make sure to bring this one to the interview as NVC states it's required.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-260 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection.
How to answer the vaccinations question: Since there are some people having issues with answering this question, I thought it'd be good to explain it a little further as there's not just one right answer. If you have your vaccinations AND the record to prove it, then just explain that. If you don't have the vaccines and/or the record to show it, then again, just explain that, and add everything will be done at (or before) the medical. People are over-thinking this question when you really shouldn't be. Just answer honestly.
 
Step 6 - Gather AOS Package
 
The AOS package is all about the petitioner and whether or not they can financially support the intending immigrant(s).
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). This is in case NVC misplaces one of your documents. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.
 
Note: for petitioners living and working abroad, put $0 for the question on current income (unless your income will continue, then put the amount). In either case, include an employment letter with all the details and if your job will NOT continue, make sure it is stated as such in the letter. It'd also be a good idea to mention this in the cover letter.

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:
-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [17] -Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
-Tax information^^ of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:
-All of the above of the petitioner
-Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
-Tax information^^ of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
-Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

^^You have two choices here of what to send in:
- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040), W2s, 1099s, and any other schedules/worksheets (if applicable)
Note: If you haven't filed this year's taxes yet and filed for an extension instead, you can submit the tax extension letter in lieu of an entire tax return or tax transcript. Please be warned though, the consulate/embassy may request for this year's taxes to be filed despite applying for an extension.

Which I-864 Form to Use
If you look at the USCIS website, there are a multitude of I-864 forms listed: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, I-864W, and even I-864P.
 
The I-864 is the most common of the forms used. This is what petitioners and joint sponsors use.
 
The I-864EZ has three different criteria points that need to be met before a petitioner can use it. Remember, if you do meet all the criteria, it doesn't mean you have to use it; you can still use the I-864 if you wish. But, since the I-864EZ is shorter (and thus easier) to fill out, if you can use it, I suggest it as there's lower chances of messing up and getting a checklist.
 
The I-864A is used for household members of sponsors. Typically, the only time I recommend using the I-864A is for spouses of joint sponsors who are deciding to contribute their income as well. So, in these cases, the petitioner would file an I-864, the main joint sponsor would file an I-864 as well, and then the joint sponsor's spouse would file an I-864A.
 
The I-864W is rarely used. The only time I see it used is for children immigrating (with one of their parents) who will become US citizens upon POE. Please read the I-864W and its instructions for more information.
 
The I-864P, which really isn't a form, is the poverty guidelines and is used to see how much income is needed for different household sizes.

Domicile
Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Form I-864
Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.
 
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
 
Step 7 - Gather IV Package
 
The IV package is all about the beneficiary.
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). The writing of the case number on documents is in case NVC misplaces one of them. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.

Generally, the following is needed:

-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [18] -Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
-Photocopy of beneficiary's birth certificate
-Photocopy of marriage certificate
-Photocopy of police certificate(s)

Please read the link here [19] for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).
 
Also read the country-specific documents found here [20] (start typing the beneficiary's country in search box, choose it, then click 'Go'). There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

The NVC is no longer asking for photos to be sent with your package, but they are required at the interview.
 
-Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
 
Don’t forget: You’ll need to bring the original civil documents to the interview.

Translations
NVC's website states:
"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
 
-Translation is accurate, and
-Translator is competent to translate."
 
Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.
 
Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are.
 
Step 8 - Send in AOS and IV Packages
 
Once both fees have been paid and you’ve collected everything, send both packages together to NVC.
 
I suggest putting each package in a separate manila envelope (and clearly mark it and write "AOS" or "IV" on each one), then putting both manila envelopes inside one shipping envelope.
 
The address to send the package can be found on the bar-coded cover sheet from the payment portal. And it doesn't matter where the package is sent from (either in the US or abroad). As long as NVC receives it, that's all they care about.
 
Note: there may be two different addresses on each bar-coded cover sheet. Just pick one and send it there. It’s essentially the same address, just different departments. There’s absolutely no reason to stress about which address to choose as it’ll be directed to the correct department once it gets there.  
Step 9 - Review: Checklists and Case Complete
 
It can take up to 60 calendar days to review packages. This INCLUDES checklists. So, this means 60 days to review the initial packages and, if you get a checklist, another 60 days to review that once they receive it. This is why it's important to make sure your packages are PERFECT before sending them off.
 
You will not get an email if your packages have been accepted. You have to call NVC every day (or as often as you want) and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.
 
Note: if you're in the EP program, people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.  
If you call and an operator says they haven't received your package(s) yet (even though tracking says it was delivered), don't panic! Unfortunately, the package may not show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

Avoiding Checklists
Here are a few common checklist items I see all the time:
 
Use the correct numbers on the I-864/I-864EZ for past year's incomes. As it states RIGHT IN THE QUESTION, if you filed a 1040 (or 1040A), then use total income, and if you filed a 1040EZ, then use adjusted gross income. If you filed jointly, then make sure you use the combined income (since it doesn't separate the incomes) and then submit W2s to show individual income. Although the I-864 instructions say if the answer is none or N/A, then to leave it blank, do NOT do this. I have seen countless people get checklists for leaving things blank, specifically the question asking for place of residence on the I-864EZ. Although it says to fill it out only if it's different from the mailing address, I have seen dozens and dozens of people getting checklists for leaving it blank. Make sure every single question has been filled out. I quite frequently see people get checklists for skipping a question. Please take your time reviewing the form. And make sure everything is dated and signed. After printing out the forms, double check again that everything is filled out properly. I've heard that sometimes after printing, a box that was checked on the computer gets unchecked after it's printed. If this happens to you, just check it off by hand.
False vs. Real Checklists
If you sent the packages, then get a checklist asking for one of the packages, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first.
 
The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm either way.

Case Complete
There's currently a way to know (not 100% guaranteed though) if you have case complete by looking on the CEAC site. If the AOS fee changes from PAID to N/A, then I'd suggest calling NVC up pronto as most, if not all, people who have reported seeing this have a case complete.
 
Although case complete emails used to be rare for non-EP folk, it's becoming more common (it might even be that everyone is getting them now). But, they're severely delayed (sometimes a week or more!), so do not rely on it (unless you're in no rush to find out). The fastest way to find out if your case is complete is to call an operator at NVC and ask.
After the case is complete, the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled.

Warning: If you apply for an expedite, be warned that if you have any pending packages (re: not reviewed yet), then NVC may not go around digging for it when they forward your package off. If that's the case, then NVC should return the package to you once they do get to it, but it may be past the interview by then. So, you'll need to re-create the package to bring to the interview. So, if you want to apply for an expedite, it's best to do it BEFORE sending any packages.
 
Step 10 - Interview Date
 
The time frames for case complete to interview date scheduled vary by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months.
 
To best way to get an estimate for your beneficiary's country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled. To do this, go here [21] and choose the beneficiary country's from the drop-down (leave the service center drop-downs alone). Then, sort by interview date by clicking on the down arrow to the left of the 'Interview' column. There's no 'Case Complete' column (or even when the interview date was scheduled), so you'll have to open each individual member's timeline. This may sound like a lot of work, but if you want to get a good idea of estimates for your beneficiary's country, you'll crunch the numbers.
 
Not only can the above be helpful, but if you join VJ member dwheels76's case complete/interview threads, you can wait along with others (and often others of the same country) to see when interview dates start getting assigned. The current thread is for April, found here [22]. She has her own spreadsheet (found here [23]) and if you want to be added, fill out the form here [24].
Once an interview date is scheduled, NVC will then ship out your case to the consulate/embassy. Typically, this is done the next day after the interview is scheduled, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases. You can find out when NVC ships your case by simply calling and asking.
 
After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
 
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few.   From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25].
 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
 
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
 
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
 
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
 
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
 
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Extra: Tax Information
 
Here are two frequently asked questions and my answers in regards to tax season:

Do I have to file 2015 taxes before I can fill out the I-864 form?
No. Up until April 18th, 2016 (tax deadline), you can still use 2014 as the most recent tax year. If for whatever reason you want to use 2015 as the most recent year instead (due to whatever reason), then yes, you can use 2015 as the most recent year as well. Both are valid options.
 
Keep in mind though: if you submit 2014 tax information as the most recent year and your interview is scheduled after April 18th, then 2015 tax information will likely be required at the interview.

As the petitioner, what filing status do I use for my tax returns?
You have three options: married filing separately (MFS), married filing jointly (MFJ), or head of household (HOH).
 
For HOH, there's some criteria you need to meet to be able to use this. Please see the IRS website for more information. For most people though, it's either between MFS or MFJ.
 
Before I continue, I will say this once and only once: YOU CANNOT FILE SINGLE. If you are married, you are married. Doesn't matter where in the universe your spouse is, YOU ARE STILL MARRIED. You will be lying to the IRS if you file as single, and if caught, could cause serious issues. If you have already filed taxes, either this year or last, and were married, yet filed as single, amend your tax return ASAP. If at the time of the interview, there are tax return transcripts in the case file showing the petitioner filed as single, this can be a HUGE red flag. The CO will have to wonder why the petitioner filed as single when they're trying to get a spousal visa. In their eyes, your relationship can be seen as a fraud and could be reason for denial.
 
For both MFS and MFJ, the petitioner will have to file a paper tax return. Electronic submissions won't be possible the first year.
 
Filing MFS will probably be the easiest for most people as it doesn't require any extra documents from the foreign spouse, nor does it require their signature. On the tax return, where it asks for the spouse's SSN, you would put 'NRA' for Non-Resident Alien. Continue filling out the rest of the return as normal. That is all you have to do. (And if desired, once the spouse has immigrated to the US and has obtained a SSN, the petitioner can then amend their tax return to MFJ, to possibly get a bigger refund, but this isn't required.)
 
Filing MFJ will typically mean a bigger refund up front, with no need to amend. This route takes a little more work though as the beneficiary will have to fill out a W7 (available on the IRS site), which requires a signature, and include document(s), so they can obtain a ITIN (it's like a SSN, but for the sole purpose of filing taxes, and is available for those not currently living in the US). This would then be included with the tax return, and sent to a special address for ITIN generation. For most countries, it may be hard to get the needed documents. (For Canada, it was uber easy, and this is how my husband did his taxes while I was still in Canada, waiting for my interview). Please view the instructions for the W7 form on the IRS website to see what documents will be needed.
 
For more information, please read this page on IRS's website here [32].

This wiki will help guide you through the NVC stage, specifically for IR-1/CR-1 applicants and their derivatives. Along with this wiki, please read all official instructions. This wiki is merely to help you out and doesn't replace any legal advice.
 
Please note: all mentioned time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.
If you see anything that needs updating: please send me a PM letting me know and I'll edit the wiki to reflect the change.
 
Useful Information
 
NVC's website can be found here [1] and should be read in conjunction with this wiki.

Work Hours
NVC only works Mondays to Fridays. They do NOT work on Saturdays, Sundays, or US National Holidays. And despite what you may see or hear, they unlikely work any overtime.
And keep in mind, emails are automated and delayed. So, if you receive an email on the weekend, it does NOT mean they are actually working on the weekend. It's normal for it to take awhile to receive emails from NVC.

Phone Number
NVC - 603-334-0700 [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]

Menu
For non-immigrant cases, call 603-334-0888
Press 1, for English Press 2, for Spanish After pressing 1 for English, the options are:
1, to verify priority date 2, to establish an agent, request fee bill or invoice number 3, to verify that they received your mail 4, to confirm date and time of interview 5, to update your mailing address, phone number, email address 6, if your case is at a US embassy or consulate overseas 7, for all other questions
Note: Either the petitioner or beneficiary can call NVC. Both are able to at this stage. Just make sure you have both names, dates of birth, as well as the USCIS receipt number (or NVC case number once it's assigned) on hand before calling.

Email Addresses
asknvc@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email scanned packages for EP
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests

Links
Eligibility for Electronic Processing [2]
NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms [3]
NVC Electronic Processing [4] [note: if doing EP in China, only enroll AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]
Thread on Ryan H's EP Experience through China [5]
Online Forms Portal (to fill out DS-261 and DS-260) [6]
Payment Portal [7]
Free Passport Photos [8]
 
Overview of NVC Process
 
To view a (NEW!!) flowchart of the below overview, you can find one I put together here [9]

-get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
-complete the online DS-261
-pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
-pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
-complete the online DS-260
-submit both packages together
-respond to any checklists, if applicable
-get case complete
-get interview date scheduled
-case is sent to embassy/consulate
 
Step 1 - Case Number
 
Once your I-130 has been approved from USCIS, it will be sent to NVC (a part of the Department of State). Depending what service center the I-130 is coming from, this can take anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. You may or may not get an email from USCIS/update on their website stating when it was sent.
 
You won't get correspondence from NVC when they receive your case from USCIS. You need to call an operator at NVC to find this out.
 
Once NVC does receive your case, it's currently taking around 3 weeks for a case number to be assigned..
 
If you'd like to stay on top of things, it's best to call about once a week after your NOA2 to see if NVC has received your case. Once they do have your case and about 2-3 weeks have passed since then, increase your calls to about 2-3 times a week (or even more if you wish) until you get a case number assigned.
 
Note: if your case doesn't arrive at NVC in a timely manner (timely manner being the current wait time), VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who would take the time to confirm this for you."  
Once a case number is assigned, get that number along with the IIN (Invoice Identification Number) from the operator. If the operator doesn't want to give over the IIN (some operators are finicky), then just call back up later and try again. And don't worry about the BIN (Beneficiary Identification Number) as it's no longer needed. You only need the case number and IIN.
 
At the same time, you can give over both the petitioner's and beneficiary's email addresses. By doing this, ALL correspondence (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, checklists, etc) from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages (link to eligibility in the first section, under links).
 
Note: there is a difference between EP and online forms. Online forms are just that, online forms. The DS-261 and DS-260 are NOT part of electronic processing. Electronic processing (EP) is emailing in documents. Not everyone can do this yet. You still have to be eligible for EP before emailing in packages. The link to see who's eligible is in the first section, under links. Everyone though (regardless of country) is required to fill out the online forms (DS-261 and DS-260).
How to Find Out WHEN Your Case Number was Assigned
For those that don't call every single day and want to know exactly what date their case number was assigned, there's an easy way to find out that simply involves looking at your case number. The first three letters are the three-letter consulate/embassy code. The next four numbers are the year the case number was assigned. The next three numbers are the Julian date it was assigned, plus 500. And finally, the last three numbers are the sequential order of when it was assigned that date. You can find a chart with Julian dates here [10].
 
For example: MTL2014815162. Let's put some lines in to divide it up. So: MTL|2014|815|162. This means that this case is going through Montreal and the number was assigned on November 11th, 2014, and it was the 162nd case that day to be assigned a number.
 
Step 2 - Submit DS-261
 
The DS-261 replaces the old DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) and is filed by the beneficiary. You'll have to wait for the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal (link in the first section, under links). This is currently taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned. Once it's available, fill it out. It's exactly like the DS-3032, except online.
If you wish to see screenshots of the DS-261, you can do so here: Saylin's DS-261 screenshots [11] (these are screenshots from 2011, but should still be the same, or at least similar). To go through all the screenshots, click on the 'next' button (there are 6 images in total). Please note: the BIN referenced in the screenshots are no longer required.
 
On choosing an agent, most people select the petitioner as one. Although, to be honest, due to giving over both email addresses to an operator (and thus having NVC email all correspondence), this form has become moot as, no matter who is selected as agent, both of you will receive correspondence.
 
Once you've submitted the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. This is for your own records.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-261 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection. Note: if you have a lawyer/attorney/legal representative from the I-130 petition, then they'll be automatically selected as agent for your case, thus by-passing the DS-261. This also means that the IV bill will be invoiced at or around the same time as the AOS bill.   *Important note: Once you fill in the DS-261 and it shows as complete, do NOT go back into the DS-261 as it will re-set the date and start the clock all over again for ~30 business days.
*Tip: if after a week of submitting the DS-261 and the IV fee hasn't been unlocked yet, you can try calling NVC and requesting they review the DS-261 over the phone. If the operator refuses to do so, try again until you get a nice operator that is willing to do so.
 
Step 3 - Pay AOS Fee
 
Currently, it's taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned for the AOS fee to be invoiced (about the same amount of time as the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal).
 
The AOS fee is $120 per case. If you have multiple cases joined at NVC, then you'll only have to pay ONE fee for all of them. For the IV fee though, you'll have to pay for each applicant.
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [12] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 4 - Pay IV Fee
 
A few weeks after after you complete the DS-261, NVC will accept and add it to your case file. A few days after that, the IV bill will be invoiced and available to pay on the payment portal. You won't get an email of acceptance, so you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.
 
The IV fee is $325 per applicant.
 
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [13] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 5 - Submit DS-260
 
The DS-260 replaces the old DS-230. As before, you will still submit the IV package, just without the DS-230. The DS-260 will be done online. It's only available once the IV appears as PAID in the payment portal. Like the DS-261, it'll be on the online forms portal (link in first section).
 
Note: depending on how prepared you are, the DS-260 can take a few hours. You can always save and return, if you wish; it doesn't need to be all done in one sitting. But, it'll take an hour at the least (30 minutes maybe if you're really fast). My suggestion is to have a DS-230 pre-filled out (found here [14]) and that way you can just copy over the answers. This will shave off quite some time if you prepare ahead. But be warned, there are some differences between the DS-230 and DS-260 where the DS-260 asks for more information. You can view screenshots (and thus the differences) here [15] from when it was first released back in 2010. NVC also has a page with DS-260 screenshots (from October 2013) found here [16].  
As with the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. But make sure to bring this one to the interview as NVC states it's required.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-260 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection.
How to answer the vaccinations question: Since there are some people having issues with answering this question, I thought it'd be good to explain it a little further as there's not just one right answer. If you have your vaccinations AND the record to prove it, then just explain that. If you don't have the vaccines and/or the record to show it, then again, just explain that, and add everything will be done at (or before) the medical. People are over-thinking this question when you really shouldn't be. Just answer honestly.
 
Step 6 - Gather AOS Package
 
The AOS package is all about the petitioner and whether or not they can financially support the intending immigrant(s).
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). This is in case NVC misplaces one of your documents. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.
 
Note: for petitioners living and working abroad, put $0 for the question on current income (unless your income will continue, then put the amount). In either case, include an employment letter with all the details and if your job will NOT continue, make sure it is stated as such in the letter. It'd also be a good idea to mention this in the cover letter.

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:
-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [17] -Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
-Tax information^^ of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:
-All of the above of the petitioner
-Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
-Tax information^^ of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
-Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

^^You have two choices here of what to send in:
- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040), W2s, 1099s, and any other schedules/worksheets (if applicable)
Note: If you haven't filed this year's taxes yet and filed for an extension instead, you can submit the tax extension letter in lieu of an entire tax return or tax transcript. Please be warned though, the consulate/embassy may request for this year's taxes to be filed despite applying for an extension.

Which I-864 Form to Use
If you look at the USCIS website, there are a multitude of I-864 forms listed: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, I-864W, and even I-864P.
 
The I-864 is the most common of the forms used. This is what petitioners and joint sponsors use.
 
The I-864EZ has three different criteria points that need to be met before a petitioner can use it. Remember, if you do meet all the criteria, it doesn't mean you have to use it; you can still use the I-864 if you wish. But, since the I-864EZ is shorter (and thus easier) to fill out, if you can use it, I suggest it as there's lower chances of messing up and getting a checklist.
 
The I-864A is used for household members of sponsors. Typically, the only time I recommend using the I-864A is for spouses of joint sponsors who are deciding to contribute their income as well. So, in these cases, the petitioner would file an I-864, the main joint sponsor would file an I-864 as well, and then the joint sponsor's spouse would file an I-864A.
 
The I-864W is rarely used. The only time I see it used is for children immigrating (with one of their parents) who will become US citizens upon POE. Please read the I-864W and its instructions for more information.
 
The I-864P, which really isn't a form, is the poverty guidelines and is used to see how much income is needed for different household sizes.

Domicile
Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Form I-864
Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.
 
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
 
Step 7 - Gather IV Package
 
The IV package is all about the beneficiary.
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). The writing of the case number on documents is in case NVC misplaces one of them. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.

Generally, the following is needed:

-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [18] -Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
-Photocopy of beneficiary's birth certificate
-Photocopy of marriage certificate
-Photocopy of police certificate(s)

Please read the link here [19] for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).
 
Also read the country-specific documents found here [20] (start typing the beneficiary's country in search box, choose it, then click 'Go'). There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

The NVC is no longer asking for photos to be sent with your package, but they are required at the interview.
 
-Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
 
Don’t forget: You’ll need to bring the original civil documents to the interview.

Translations
NVC's website states:
"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
 
-Translation is accurate, and
-Translator is competent to translate."
 
Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.
 
Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are.
 
Step 8 - Send in AOS and IV Packages
 
Once both fees have been paid and you’ve collected everything, send both packages together to NVC.
 
I suggest putting each package in a separate manila envelope (and clearly mark it and write "AOS" or "IV" on each one), then putting both manila envelopes inside one shipping envelope.
 
The address to send the package can be found on the bar-coded cover sheet from the payment portal. And it doesn't matter where the package is sent from (either in the US or abroad). As long as NVC receives it, that's all they care about.
 
Note: there may be two different addresses on each bar-coded cover sheet. Just pick one and send it there. It’s essentially the same address, just different departments. There’s absolutely no reason to stress about which address to choose as it’ll be directed to the correct department once it gets there.  
Step 9 - Review: Checklists and Case Complete
 
It can take up to 60 calendar days to review packages. This INCLUDES checklists. So, this means 60 days to review the initial packages and, if you get a checklist, another 60 days to review that once they receive it. This is why it's important to make sure your packages are PERFECT before sending them off.
 
You will not get an email if your packages have been accepted. You have to call NVC every day (or as often as you want) and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.
 
Note: if you're in the EP program, people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.  
If you call and an operator says they haven't received your package(s) yet (even though tracking says it was delivered), don't panic! Unfortunately, the package may not show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

Avoiding Checklists
Here are a few common checklist items I see all the time:
 
Use the correct numbers on the I-864/I-864EZ for past year's incomes. As it states RIGHT IN THE QUESTION, if you filed a 1040 (or 1040A), then use total income, and if you filed a 1040EZ, then use adjusted gross income. If you filed jointly, then make sure you use the combined income (since it doesn't separate the incomes) and then submit W2s to show individual income. Although the I-864 instructions say if the answer is none or N/A, then to leave it blank, do NOT do this. I have seen countless people get checklists for leaving things blank, specifically the question asking for place of residence on the I-864EZ. Although it says to fill it out only if it's different from the mailing address, I have seen dozens and dozens of people getting checklists for leaving it blank. Make sure every single question has been filled out. I quite frequently see people get checklists for skipping a question. Please take your time reviewing the form. And make sure everything is dated and signed. After printing out the forms, double check again that everything is filled out properly. I've heard that sometimes after printing, a box that was checked on the computer gets unchecked after it's printed. If this happens to you, just check it off by hand.
False vs. Real Checklists
If you sent the packages, then get a checklist asking for one of the packages, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first.
 
The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm either way.

Case Complete
There's currently a way to know (not 100% guaranteed though) if you have case complete by looking on the CEAC site. If the AOS fee changes from PAID to N/A, then I'd suggest calling NVC up pronto as most, if not all, people who have reported seeing this have a case complete.
 
Although case complete emails used to be rare for non-EP folk, it's becoming more common (it might even be that everyone is getting them now). But, they're severely delayed (sometimes a week or more!), so do not rely on it (unless you're in no rush to find out). The fastest way to find out if your case is complete is to call an operator at NVC and ask.
After the case is complete, the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled.

Warning: If you apply for an expedite, be warned that if you have any pending packages (re: not reviewed yet), then NVC may not go around digging for it when they forward your package off. If that's the case, then NVC should return the package to you once they do get to it, but it may be past the interview by then. So, you'll need to re-create the package to bring to the interview. So, if you want to apply for an expedite, it's best to do it BEFORE sending any packages.
 
Step 10 - Interview Date
 
The time frames for case complete to interview date scheduled vary by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months.
 
To best way to get an estimate for your beneficiary's country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled. To do this, go here [21] and choose the beneficiary country's from the drop-down (leave the service center drop-downs alone). Then, sort by interview date by clicking on the down arrow to the left of the 'Interview' column. There's no 'Case Complete' column (or even when the interview date was scheduled), so you'll have to open each individual member's timeline. This may sound like a lot of work, but if you want to get a good idea of estimates for your beneficiary's country, you'll crunch the numbers.
 
Not only can the above be helpful, but if you join VJ member dwheels76's case complete/interview threads, you can wait along with others (and often others of the same country) to see when interview dates start getting assigned. The current thread is for April, found here [22]. She has her own spreadsheet (found here [23]) and if you want to be added, fill out the form here [24].
Once an interview date is scheduled, NVC will then ship out your case to the consulate/embassy. Typically, this is done the next day after the interview is scheduled, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases. You can find out when NVC ships your case by simply calling and asking.
 
After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
 
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few.   From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25].
 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
 
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
 
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
 
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
 
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
 
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Extra: Tax Information
 
Here are two frequently asked questions and my answers in regards to tax season:

Do I have to file 2015 taxes before I can fill out the I-864 form?
No. Up until April 18th, 2016 (tax deadline), you can still use 2014 as the most recent tax year. If for whatever reason you want to use 2015 as the most recent year instead (due to whatever reason), then yes, you can use 2015 as the most recent year as well. Both are valid options.
 
Keep in mind though: if you submit 2014 tax information as the most recent year and your interview is scheduled after April 18th, then 2015 tax information will likely be required at the interview.

As the petitioner, what filing status do I use for my tax returns?
You have three options: married filing separately (MFS), married filing jointly (MFJ), or head of household (HOH).
 
For HOH, there's some criteria you need to meet to be able to use this. Please see the IRS website for more information. For most people though, it's either between MFS or MFJ.
 
Before I continue, I will say this once and only once: YOU CANNOT FILE SINGLE. If you are married, you are married. Doesn't matter where in the universe your spouse is, YOU ARE STILL MARRIED. You will be lying to the IRS if you file as single, and if caught, could cause serious issues. If you have already filed taxes, either this year or last, and were married, yet filed as single, amend your tax return ASAP. If at the time of the interview, there are tax return transcripts in the case file showing the petitioner filed as single, this can be a HUGE red flag. The CO will have to wonder why the petitioner filed as single when they're trying to get a spousal visa. In their eyes, your relationship can be seen as a fraud and could be reason for denial.
 
For both MFS and MFJ, the petitioner will have to file a paper tax return. Electronic submissions won't be possible the first year.
 
Filing MFS will probably be the easiest for most people as it doesn't require any extra documents from the foreign spouse, nor does it require their signature. On the tax return, where it asks for the spouse's SSN, you would put 'NRA' for Non-Resident Alien. Continue filling out the rest of the return as normal. That is all you have to do. (And if desired, once the spouse has immigrated to the US and has obtained a SSN, the petitioner can then amend their tax return to MFJ, to possibly get a bigger refund, but this isn't required.)
 
Filing MFJ will typically mean a bigger refund up front, with no need to amend. This route takes a little more work though as the beneficiary will have to fill out a W7 (available on the IRS site), which requires a signature, and include document(s), so they can obtain a ITIN (it's like a SSN, but for the sole purpose of filing taxes, and is available for those not currently living in the US). This would then be included with the tax return, and sent to a special address for ITIN generation. For most countries, it may be hard to get the needed documents. (For Canada, it was uber easy, and this is how my husband did his taxes while I was still in Canada, waiting for my interview). Please view the instructions for the W7 form on the IRS website to see what documents will be needed.
 
For more information, please read this page on IRS's website here [32].

This wiki will help guide you through the NVC stage, specifically for IR-1/CR-1 applicants and their derivatives. Along with this wiki, please read all official instructions. This wiki is merely to help you out and doesn't replace any legal advice.
 
Please note: all mentioned time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.
If you see anything that needs updating: please send me a PM letting me know and I'll edit the wiki to reflect the change.
 
Useful Information
 
NVC's website can be found here [1] and should be read in conjunction with this wiki.

Work Hours
NVC only works Mondays to Fridays. They do NOT work on Saturdays, Sundays, or US National Holidays. And despite what you may see or hear, they unlikely work any overtime.
And keep in mind, emails are automated and delayed. So, if you receive an email on the weekend, it does NOT mean they are actually working on the weekend. It's normal for it to take awhile to receive emails from NVC.

Phone Number
NVC - 603-334-0700 [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]

Menu
For non-immigrant cases, call 603-334-0888
Press 1, for English Press 2, for Spanish After pressing 1 for English, the options are:
1, to verify priority date 2, to establish an agent, request fee bill or invoice number 3, to verify that they received your mail 4, to confirm date and time of interview 5, to update your mailing address, phone number, email address 6, if your case is at a US embassy or consulate overseas 7, for all other questions
Note: Either the petitioner or beneficiary can call NVC. Both are able to at this stage. Just make sure you have both names, dates of birth, as well as the USCIS receipt number (or NVC case number once it's assigned) on hand before calling.

Email Addresses
asknvc@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email scanned packages for EP
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests

Links
Eligibility for Electronic Processing [2]
NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms [3]
NVC Electronic Processing [4] [note: if doing EP in China, only enroll AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]
Thread on Ryan H's EP Experience through China [5]
Online Forms Portal (to fill out DS-261 and DS-260) [6]
Payment Portal [7]
Free Passport Photos [8]
 
Overview of NVC Process
 
To view a (NEW!!) flowchart of the below overview, you can find one I put together here [9]

-get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
-complete the online DS-261
-pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
-pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
-complete the online DS-260
-submit both packages together
-respond to any checklists, if applicable
-get case complete
-get interview date scheduled
-case is sent to embassy/consulate
 
Step 1 - Case Number
 
Once your I-130 has been approved from USCIS, it will be sent to NVC (a part of the Department of State). Depending what service center the I-130 is coming from, this can take anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. You may or may not get an email from USCIS/update on their website stating when it was sent.
 
You won't get correspondence from NVC when they receive your case from USCIS. You need to call an operator at NVC to find this out.
 
Once NVC does receive your case, it's currently taking around 3 weeks for a case number to be assigned..
 
If you'd like to stay on top of things, it's best to call about once a week after your NOA2 to see if NVC has received your case. Once they do have your case and about 2-3 weeks have passed since then, increase your calls to about 2-3 times a week (or even more if you wish) until you get a case number assigned.
 
Note: if your case doesn't arrive at NVC in a timely manner (timely manner being the current wait time), VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who would take the time to confirm this for you."  
Once a case number is assigned, get that number along with the IIN (Invoice Identification Number) from the operator. If the operator doesn't want to give over the IIN (some operators are finicky), then just call back up later and try again. And don't worry about the BIN (Beneficiary Identification Number) as it's no longer needed. You only need the case number and IIN.
 
At the same time, you can give over both the petitioner's and beneficiary's email addresses. By doing this, ALL correspondence (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, checklists, etc) from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages (link to eligibility in the first section, under links).
 
Note: there is a difference between EP and online forms. Online forms are just that, online forms. The DS-261 and DS-260 are NOT part of electronic processing. Electronic processing (EP) is emailing in documents. Not everyone can do this yet. You still have to be eligible for EP before emailing in packages. The link to see who's eligible is in the first section, under links. Everyone though (regardless of country) is required to fill out the online forms (DS-261 and DS-260).
How to Find Out WHEN Your Case Number was Assigned
For those that don't call every single day and want to know exactly what date their case number was assigned, there's an easy way to find out that simply involves looking at your case number. The first three letters are the three-letter consulate/embassy code. The next four numbers are the year the case number was assigned. The next three numbers are the Julian date it was assigned, plus 500. And finally, the last three numbers are the sequential order of when it was assigned that date. You can find a chart with Julian dates here [10].
 
For example: MTL2014815162. Let's put some lines in to divide it up. So: MTL|2014|815|162. This means that this case is going through Montreal and the number was assigned on November 11th, 2014, and it was the 162nd case that day to be assigned a number.
 
Step 2 - Submit DS-261
 
The DS-261 replaces the old DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) and is filed by the beneficiary. You'll have to wait for the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal (link in the first section, under links). This is currently taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned. Once it's available, fill it out. It's exactly like the DS-3032, except online.
If you wish to see screenshots of the DS-261, you can do so here: Saylin's DS-261 screenshots [11] (these are screenshots from 2011, but should still be the same, or at least similar). To go through all the screenshots, click on the 'next' button (there are 6 images in total). Please note: the BIN referenced in the screenshots are no longer required.
 
On choosing an agent, most people select the petitioner as one. Although, to be honest, due to giving over both email addresses to an operator (and thus having NVC email all correspondence), this form has become moot as, no matter who is selected as agent, both of you will receive correspondence.
 
Once you've submitted the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. This is for your own records.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-261 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection. Note: if you have a lawyer/attorney/legal representative from the I-130 petition, then they'll be automatically selected as agent for your case, thus by-passing the DS-261. This also means that the IV bill will be invoiced at or around the same time as the AOS bill.   *Important note: Once you fill in the DS-261 and it shows as complete, do NOT go back into the DS-261 as it will re-set the date and start the clock all over again for ~30 business days.
*Tip: if after a week of submitting the DS-261 and the IV fee hasn't been unlocked yet, you can try calling NVC and requesting they review the DS-261 over the phone. If the operator refuses to do so, try again until you get a nice operator that is willing to do so.
 
Step 3 - Pay AOS Fee
 
Currently, it's taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned for the AOS fee to be invoiced (about the same amount of time as the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal).
 
The AOS fee is $120 per case. If you have multiple cases joined at NVC, then you'll only have to pay ONE fee for all of them. For the IV fee though, you'll have to pay for each applicant.
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [12] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 4 - Pay IV Fee
 
A few weeks after after you complete the DS-261, NVC will accept and add it to your case file. A few days after that, the IV bill will be invoiced and available to pay on the payment portal. You won't get an email of acceptance, so you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.
 
The IV fee is $325 per applicant.
 
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [13] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 5 - Submit DS-260
 
The DS-260 replaces the old DS-230. As before, you will still submit the IV package, just without the DS-230. The DS-260 will be done online. It's only available once the IV appears as PAID in the payment portal. Like the DS-261, it'll be on the online forms portal (link in first section).
 
Note: depending on how prepared you are, the DS-260 can take a few hours. You can always save and return, if you wish; it doesn't need to be all done in one sitting. But, it'll take an hour at the least (30 minutes maybe if you're really fast). My suggestion is to have a DS-230 pre-filled out (found here [14]) and that way you can just copy over the answers. This will shave off quite some time if you prepare ahead. But be warned, there are some differences between the DS-230 and DS-260 where the DS-260 asks for more information. You can view screenshots (and thus the differences) here [15] from when it was first released back in 2010. NVC also has a page with DS-260 screenshots (from October 2013) found here [16].  
As with the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. But make sure to bring this one to the interview as NVC states it's required.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-260 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection.
How to answer the vaccinations question: Since there are some people having issues with answering this question, I thought it'd be good to explain it a little further as there's not just one right answer. If you have your vaccinations AND the record to prove it, then just explain that. If you don't have the vaccines and/or the record to show it, then again, just explain that, and add everything will be done at (or before) the medical. People are over-thinking this question when you really shouldn't be. Just answer honestly.
 
Step 6 - Gather AOS Package
 
The AOS package is all about the petitioner and whether or not they can financially support the intending immigrant(s).
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). This is in case NVC misplaces one of your documents. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.
 
Note: for petitioners living and working abroad, put $0 for the question on current income (unless your income will continue, then put the amount). In either case, include an employment letter with all the details and if your job will NOT continue, make sure it is stated as such in the letter. It'd also be a good idea to mention this in the cover letter.

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:
-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [17] -Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
-Tax information^^ of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:
-All of the above of the petitioner
-Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
-Tax information^^ of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
-Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

^^You have two choices here of what to send in:
- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040), W2s, 1099s, and any other schedules/worksheets (if applicable)
Note: If you haven't filed this year's taxes yet and filed for an extension instead, you can submit the tax extension letter in lieu of an entire tax return or tax transcript. Please be warned though, the consulate/embassy may request for this year's taxes to be filed despite applying for an extension.

Which I-864 Form to Use
If you look at the USCIS website, there are a multitude of I-864 forms listed: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, I-864W, and even I-864P.
 
The I-864 is the most common of the forms used. This is what petitioners and joint sponsors use.
 
The I-864EZ has three different criteria points that need to be met before a petitioner can use it. Remember, if you do meet all the criteria, it doesn't mean you have to use it; you can still use the I-864 if you wish. But, since the I-864EZ is shorter (and thus easier) to fill out, if you can use it, I suggest it as there's lower chances of messing up and getting a checklist.
 
The I-864A is used for household members of sponsors. Typically, the only time I recommend using the I-864A is for spouses of joint sponsors who are deciding to contribute their income as well. So, in these cases, the petitioner would file an I-864, the main joint sponsor would file an I-864 as well, and then the joint sponsor's spouse would file an I-864A.
 
The I-864W is rarely used. The only time I see it used is for children immigrating (with one of their parents) who will become US citizens upon POE. Please read the I-864W and its instructions for more information.
 
The I-864P, which really isn't a form, is the poverty guidelines and is used to see how much income is needed for different household sizes.

Domicile
Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Form I-864
Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.
 
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
 
Step 7 - Gather IV Package
 
The IV package is all about the beneficiary.
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). The writing of the case number on documents is in case NVC misplaces one of them. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.

Generally, the following is needed:

-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [18] -Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
-Photocopy of beneficiary's birth certificate
-Photocopy of marriage certificate
-Photocopy of police certificate(s)

Please read the link here [19] for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).
 
Also read the country-specific documents found here [20] (start typing the beneficiary's country in search box, choose it, then click 'Go'). There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

The NVC is no longer asking for photos to be sent with your package, but they are required at the interview.
 
-Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
 
Don’t forget: You’ll need to bring the original civil documents to the interview.

Translations
NVC's website states:
"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
 
-Translation is accurate, and
-Translator is competent to translate."
 
Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.
 
Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are.
 
Step 8 - Send in AOS and IV Packages
 
Once both fees have been paid and you’ve collected everything, send both packages together to NVC.
 
I suggest putting each package in a separate manila envelope (and clearly mark it and write "AOS" or "IV" on each one), then putting both manila envelopes inside one shipping envelope.
 
The address to send the package can be found on the bar-coded cover sheet from the payment portal. And it doesn't matter where the package is sent from (either in the US or abroad). As long as NVC receives it, that's all they care about.
 
Note: there may be two different addresses on each bar-coded cover sheet. Just pick one and send it there. It’s essentially the same address, just different departments. There’s absolutely no reason to stress about which address to choose as it’ll be directed to the correct department once it gets there.  
Step 9 - Review: Checklists and Case Complete
 
It can take up to 60 calendar days to review packages. This INCLUDES checklists. So, this means 60 days to review the initial packages and, if you get a checklist, another 60 days to review that once they receive it. This is why it's important to make sure your packages are PERFECT before sending them off.
 
You will not get an email if your packages have been accepted. You have to call NVC every day (or as often as you want) and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.
 
Note: if you're in the EP program, people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.  
If you call and an operator says they haven't received your package(s) yet (even though tracking says it was delivered), don't panic! Unfortunately, the package may not show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

Avoiding Checklists
Here are a few common checklist items I see all the time:
 
Use the correct numbers on the I-864/I-864EZ for past year's incomes. As it states RIGHT IN THE QUESTION, if you filed a 1040 (or 1040A), then use total income, and if you filed a 1040EZ, then use adjusted gross income. If you filed jointly, then make sure you use the combined income (since it doesn't separate the incomes) and then submit W2s to show individual income. Although the I-864 instructions say if the answer is none or N/A, then to leave it blank, do NOT do this. I have seen countless people get checklists for leaving things blank, specifically the question asking for place of residence on the I-864EZ. Although it says to fill it out only if it's different from the mailing address, I have seen dozens and dozens of people getting checklists for leaving it blank. Make sure every single question has been filled out. I quite frequently see people get checklists for skipping a question. Please take your time reviewing the form. And make sure everything is dated and signed. After printing out the forms, double check again that everything is filled out properly. I've heard that sometimes after printing, a box that was checked on the computer gets unchecked after it's printed. If this happens to you, just check it off by hand.
False vs. Real Checklists
If you sent the packages, then get a checklist asking for one of the packages, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first.
 
The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm either way.

Case Complete
There's currently a way to know (not 100% guaranteed though) if you have case complete by looking on the CEAC site. If the AOS fee changes from PAID to N/A, then I'd suggest calling NVC up pronto as most, if not all, people who have reported seeing this have a case complete.
 
Although case complete emails used to be rare for non-EP folk, it's becoming more common (it might even be that everyone is getting them now). But, they're severely delayed (sometimes a week or more!), so do not rely on it (unless you're in no rush to find out). The fastest way to find out if your case is complete is to call an operator at NVC and ask.
After the case is complete, the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled.

Warning: If you apply for an expedite, be warned that if you have any pending packages (re: not reviewed yet), then NVC may not go around digging for it when they forward your package off. If that's the case, then NVC should return the package to you once they do get to it, but it may be past the interview by then. So, you'll need to re-create the package to bring to the interview. So, if you want to apply for an expedite, it's best to do it BEFORE sending any packages.
 
Step 10 - Interview Date
 
The time frames for case complete to interview date scheduled vary by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months.
 
To best way to get an estimate for your beneficiary's country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled. To do this, go here [21] and choose the beneficiary country's from the drop-down (leave the service center drop-downs alone). Then, sort by interview date by clicking on the down arrow to the left of the 'Interview' column. There's no 'Case Complete' column (or even when the interview date was scheduled), so you'll have to open each individual member's timeline. This may sound like a lot of work, but if you want to get a good idea of estimates for your beneficiary's country, you'll crunch the numbers.
 
Not only can the above be helpful, but if you join VJ member dwheels76's case complete/interview threads, you can wait along with others (and often others of the same country) to see when interview dates start getting assigned. The current thread is for April, found here [22]. She has her own spreadsheet (found here [23]) and if you want to be added, fill out the form here [24].
Once an interview date is scheduled, NVC will then ship out your case to the consulate/embassy. Typically, this is done the next day after the interview is scheduled, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases. You can find out when NVC ships your case by simply calling and asking.
 
After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
 
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few.   From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25].
 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
 
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
 
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
 
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
 
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
 
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Extra: Tax Information
 
Here are two frequently asked questions and my answers in regards to tax season:

Do I have to file 2015 taxes before I can fill out the I-864 form?
No. Up until April 18th, 2016 (tax deadline), you can still use 2014 as the most recent tax year. If for whatever reason you want to use 2015 as the most recent year instead (due to whatever reason), then yes, you can use 2015 as the most recent year as well. Both are valid options.
 
Keep in mind though: if you submit 2014 tax information as the most recent year and your interview is scheduled after April 18th, then 2015 tax information will likely be required at the interview.

As the petitioner, what filing status do I use for my tax returns?
You have three options: married filing separately (MFS), married filing jointly (MFJ), or head of household (HOH).
 
For HOH, there's some criteria you need to meet to be able to use this. Please see the IRS website for more information. For most people though, it's either between MFS or MFJ.
 
Before I continue, I will say this once and only once: YOU CANNOT FILE SINGLE. If you are married, you are married. Doesn't matter where in the universe your spouse is, YOU ARE STILL MARRIED. You will be lying to the IRS if you file as single, and if caught, could cause serious issues. If you have already filed taxes, either this year or last, and were married, yet filed as single, amend your tax return ASAP. If at the time of the interview, there are tax return transcripts in the case file showing the petitioner filed as single, this can be a HUGE red flag. The CO will have to wonder why the petitioner filed as single when they're trying to get a spousal visa. In their eyes, your relationship can be seen as a fraud and could be reason for denial.
 
For both MFS and MFJ, the petitioner will have to file a paper tax return. Electronic submissions won't be possible the first year.
 
Filing MFS will probably be the easiest for most people as it doesn't require any extra documents from the foreign spouse, nor does it require their signature. On the tax return, where it asks for the spouse's SSN, you would put 'NRA' for Non-Resident Alien. Continue filling out the rest of the return as normal. That is all you have to do. (And if desired, once the spouse has immigrated to the US and has obtained a SSN, the petitioner can then amend their tax return to MFJ, to possibly get a bigger refund, but this isn't required.)
 
Filing MFJ will typically mean a bigger refund up front, with no need to amend. This route takes a little more work though as the beneficiary will have to fill out a W7 (available on the IRS site), which requires a signature, and include document(s), so they can obtain a ITIN (it's like a SSN, but for the sole purpose of filing taxes, and is available for those not currently living in the US). This would then be included with the tax return, and sent to a special address for ITIN generation. For most countries, it may be hard to get the needed documents. (For Canada, it was uber easy, and this is how my husband did his taxes while I was still in Canada, waiting for my interview). Please view the instructions for the W7 form on the IRS website to see what documents will be needed.
 
For more information, please read this page on IRS's website here [32].

This wiki will help guide you through the NVC stage, specifically for IR-1/CR-1 applicants and their derivatives. Along with this wiki, please read all official instructions. This wiki is merely to help you out and doesn't replace any legal advice.
 
Please note: all mentioned time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.
If you see anything that needs updating: please send me a PM letting me know and I'll edit the wiki to reflect the change.
 
Useful Information
 
NVC's website can be found here [1] and should be read in conjunction with this wiki.

Work Hours
NVC only works Mondays to Fridays. They do NOT work on Saturdays, Sundays, or US National Holidays. And despite what you may see or hear, they unlikely work any overtime.
And keep in mind, emails are automated and delayed. So, if you receive an email on the weekend, it does NOT mean they are actually working on the weekend. It's normal for it to take awhile to receive emails from NVC.

Phone Number
NVC - 603-334-0700 [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]

Menu
For non-immigrant cases, call 603-334-0888
Press 1, for English Press 2, for Spanish After pressing 1 for English, the options are:
1, to verify priority date 2, to establish an agent, request fee bill or invoice number 3, to verify that they received your mail 4, to confirm date and time of interview 5, to update your mailing address, phone number, email address 6, if your case is at a US embassy or consulate overseas 7, for all other questions
Note: Either the petitioner or beneficiary can call NVC. Both are able to at this stage. Just make sure you have both names, dates of birth, as well as the USCIS receipt number (or NVC case number once it's assigned) on hand before calling.

Email Addresses
asknvc@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email scanned packages for EP
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests

Links
Eligibility for Electronic Processing [2]
NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms [3]
NVC Electronic Processing [4] [note: if doing EP in China, only enroll AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]
Thread on Ryan H's EP Experience through China [5]
Online Forms Portal (to fill out DS-261 and DS-260) [6]
Payment Portal [7]
Free Passport Photos [8]
 
Overview of NVC Process
 
To view a (NEW!!) flowchart of the below overview, you can find one I put together here [9]

-get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
-complete the online DS-261
-pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
-pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
-complete the online DS-260
-submit both packages together
-respond to any checklists, if applicable
-get case complete
-get interview date scheduled
-case is sent to embassy/consulate
 
Step 1 - Case Number
 
Once your I-130 has been approved from USCIS, it will be sent to NVC (a part of the Department of State). Depending what service center the I-130 is coming from, this can take anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. You may or may not get an email from USCIS/update on their website stating when it was sent.
 
You won't get correspondence from NVC when they receive your case from USCIS. You need to call an operator at NVC to find this out.
 
Once NVC does receive your case, it's currently taking around 3 weeks for a case number to be assigned..
 
If you'd like to stay on top of things, it's best to call about once a week after your NOA2 to see if NVC has received your case. Once they do have your case and about 2-3 weeks have passed since then, increase your calls to about 2-3 times a week (or even more if you wish) until you get a case number assigned.
 
Note: if your case doesn't arrive at NVC in a timely manner (timely manner being the current wait time), VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who would take the time to confirm this for you."  
Once a case number is assigned, get that number along with the IIN (Invoice Identification Number) from the operator. If the operator doesn't want to give over the IIN (some operators are finicky), then just call back up later and try again. And don't worry about the BIN (Beneficiary Identification Number) as it's no longer needed. You only need the case number and IIN.
 
At the same time, you can give over both the petitioner's and beneficiary's email addresses. By doing this, ALL correspondence (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, checklists, etc) from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages (link to eligibility in the first section, under links).
 
Note: there is a difference between EP and online forms. Online forms are just that, online forms. The DS-261 and DS-260 are NOT part of electronic processing. Electronic processing (EP) is emailing in documents. Not everyone can do this yet. You still have to be eligible for EP before emailing in packages. The link to see who's eligible is in the first section, under links. Everyone though (regardless of country) is required to fill out the online forms (DS-261 and DS-260).
How to Find Out WHEN Your Case Number was Assigned
For those that don't call every single day and want to know exactly what date their case number was assigned, there's an easy way to find out that simply involves looking at your case number. The first three letters are the three-letter consulate/embassy code. The next four numbers are the year the case number was assigned. The next three numbers are the Julian date it was assigned, plus 500. And finally, the last three numbers are the sequential order of when it was assigned that date. You can find a chart with Julian dates here [10].
 
For example: MTL2014815162. Let's put some lines in to divide it up. So: MTL|2014|815|162. This means that this case is going through Montreal and the number was assigned on November 11th, 2014, and it was the 162nd case that day to be assigned a number.
 
Step 2 - Submit DS-261
 
The DS-261 replaces the old DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) and is filed by the beneficiary. You'll have to wait for the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal (link in the first section, under links). This is currently taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned. Once it's available, fill it out. It's exactly like the DS-3032, except online.
If you wish to see screenshots of the DS-261, you can do so here: Saylin's DS-261 screenshots [11] (these are screenshots from 2011, but should still be the same, or at least similar). To go through all the screenshots, click on the 'next' button (there are 6 images in total). Please note: the BIN referenced in the screenshots are no longer required.
 
On choosing an agent, most people select the petitioner as one. Although, to be honest, due to giving over both email addresses to an operator (and thus having NVC email all correspondence), this form has become moot as, no matter who is selected as agent, both of you will receive correspondence.
 
Once you've submitted the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. This is for your own records.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-261 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection. Note: if you have a lawyer/attorney/legal representative from the I-130 petition, then they'll be automatically selected as agent for your case, thus by-passing the DS-261. This also means that the IV bill will be invoiced at or around the same time as the AOS bill.   *Important note: Once you fill in the DS-261 and it shows as complete, do NOT go back into the DS-261 as it will re-set the date and start the clock all over again for ~30 business days.
*Tip: if after a week of submitting the DS-261 and the IV fee hasn't been unlocked yet, you can try calling NVC and requesting they review the DS-261 over the phone. If the operator refuses to do so, try again until you get a nice operator that is willing to do so.
 
Step 3 - Pay AOS Fee
 
Currently, it's taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned for the AOS fee to be invoiced (about the same amount of time as the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal).
 
The AOS fee is $120 per case. If you have multiple cases joined at NVC, then you'll only have to pay ONE fee for all of them. For the IV fee though, you'll have to pay for each applicant.
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [12] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 4 - Pay IV Fee
 
A few weeks after after you complete the DS-261, NVC will accept and add it to your case file. A few days after that, the IV bill will be invoiced and available to pay on the payment portal. You won't get an email of acceptance, so you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.
 
The IV fee is $325 per applicant.
 
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [13] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 5 - Submit DS-260
 
The DS-260 replaces the old DS-230. As before, you will still submit the IV package, just without the DS-230. The DS-260 will be done online. It's only available once the IV appears as PAID in the payment portal. Like the DS-261, it'll be on the online forms portal (link in first section).
 
Note: depending on how prepared you are, the DS-260 can take a few hours. You can always save and return, if you wish; it doesn't need to be all done in one sitting. But, it'll take an hour at the least (30 minutes maybe if you're really fast). My suggestion is to have a DS-230 pre-filled out (found here [14]) and that way you can just copy over the answers. This will shave off quite some time if you prepare ahead. But be warned, there are some differences between the DS-230 and DS-260 where the DS-260 asks for more information. You can view screenshots (and thus the differences) here [15] from when it was first released back in 2010. NVC also has a page with DS-260 screenshots (from October 2013) found here [16].  
As with the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. But make sure to bring this one to the interview as NVC states it's required.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-260 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection.
How to answer the vaccinations question: Since there are some people having issues with answering this question, I thought it'd be good to explain it a little further as there's not just one right answer. If you have your vaccinations AND the record to prove it, then just explain that. If you don't have the vaccines and/or the record to show it, then again, just explain that, and add everything will be done at (or before) the medical. People are over-thinking this question when you really shouldn't be. Just answer honestly.
 
Step 6 - Gather AOS Package
 
The AOS package is all about the petitioner and whether or not they can financially support the intending immigrant(s).
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). This is in case NVC misplaces one of your documents. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.
 
Note: for petitioners living and working abroad, put $0 for the question on current income (unless your income will continue, then put the amount). In either case, include an employment letter with all the details and if your job will NOT continue, make sure it is stated as such in the letter. It'd also be a good idea to mention this in the cover letter.

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:
-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [17] -Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
-Tax information^^ of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:
-All of the above of the petitioner
-Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
-Tax information^^ of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
-Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

^^You have two choices here of what to send in:
- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040), W2s, 1099s, and any other schedules/worksheets (if applicable)
Note: If you haven't filed this year's taxes yet and filed for an extension instead, you can submit the tax extension letter in lieu of an entire tax return or tax transcript. Please be warned though, the consulate/embassy may request for this year's taxes to be filed despite applying for an extension.

Which I-864 Form to Use
If you look at the USCIS website, there are a multitude of I-864 forms listed: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, I-864W, and even I-864P.
 
The I-864 is the most common of the forms used. This is what petitioners and joint sponsors use.
 
The I-864EZ has three different criteria points that need to be met before a petitioner can use it. Remember, if you do meet all the criteria, it doesn't mean you have to use it; you can still use the I-864 if you wish. But, since the I-864EZ is shorter (and thus easier) to fill out, if you can use it, I suggest it as there's lower chances of messing up and getting a checklist.
 
The I-864A is used for household members of sponsors. Typically, the only time I recommend using the I-864A is for spouses of joint sponsors who are deciding to contribute their income as well. So, in these cases, the petitioner would file an I-864, the main joint sponsor would file an I-864 as well, and then the joint sponsor's spouse would file an I-864A.
 
The I-864W is rarely used. The only time I see it used is for children immigrating (with one of their parents) who will become US citizens upon POE. Please read the I-864W and its instructions for more information.
 
The I-864P, which really isn't a form, is the poverty guidelines and is used to see how much income is needed for different household sizes.

Domicile
Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Form I-864
Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.
 
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
 
Step 7 - Gather IV Package
 
The IV package is all about the beneficiary.
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). The writing of the case number on documents is in case NVC misplaces one of them. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.

Generally, the following is needed:

-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [18] -Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
-Photocopy of beneficiary's birth certificate
-Photocopy of marriage certificate
-Photocopy of police certificate(s)

Please read the link here [19] for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).
 
Also read the country-specific documents found here [20] (start typing the beneficiary's country in search box, choose it, then click 'Go'). There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

The NVC is no longer asking for photos to be sent with your package, but they are required at the interview.
 
-Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
 
Don’t forget: You’ll need to bring the original civil documents to the interview.

Translations
NVC's website states:
"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
 
-Translation is accurate, and
-Translator is competent to translate."
 
Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.
 
Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are.
 
Step 8 - Send in AOS and IV Packages
 
Once both fees have been paid and you’ve collected everything, send both packages together to NVC.
 
I suggest putting each package in a separate manila envelope (and clearly mark it and write "AOS" or "IV" on each one), then putting both manila envelopes inside one shipping envelope.
 
The address to send the package can be found on the bar-coded cover sheet from the payment portal. And it doesn't matter where the package is sent from (either in the US or abroad). As long as NVC receives it, that's all they care about.
 
Note: there may be two different addresses on each bar-coded cover sheet. Just pick one and send it there. It’s essentially the same address, just different departments. There’s absolutely no reason to stress about which address to choose as it’ll be directed to the correct department once it gets there.  
Step 9 - Review: Checklists and Case Complete
 
It can take up to 60 calendar days to review packages. This INCLUDES checklists. So, this means 60 days to review the initial packages and, if you get a checklist, another 60 days to review that once they receive it. This is why it's important to make sure your packages are PERFECT before sending them off.
 
You will not get an email if your packages have been accepted. You have to call NVC every day (or as often as you want) and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.
 
Note: if you're in the EP program, people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.  
If you call and an operator says they haven't received your package(s) yet (even though tracking says it was delivered), don't panic! Unfortunately, the package may not show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

Avoiding Checklists
Here are a few common checklist items I see all the time:
 
Use the correct numbers on the I-864/I-864EZ for past year's incomes. As it states RIGHT IN THE QUESTION, if you filed a 1040 (or 1040A), then use total income, and if you filed a 1040EZ, then use adjusted gross income. If you filed jointly, then make sure you use the combined income (since it doesn't separate the incomes) and then submit W2s to show individual income. Although the I-864 instructions say if the answer is none or N/A, then to leave it blank, do NOT do this. I have seen countless people get checklists for leaving things blank, specifically the question asking for place of residence on the I-864EZ. Although it says to fill it out only if it's different from the mailing address, I have seen dozens and dozens of people getting checklists for leaving it blank. Make sure every single question has been filled out. I quite frequently see people get checklists for skipping a question. Please take your time reviewing the form. And make sure everything is dated and signed. After printing out the forms, double check again that everything is filled out properly. I've heard that sometimes after printing, a box that was checked on the computer gets unchecked after it's printed. If this happens to you, just check it off by hand.
False vs. Real Checklists
If you sent the packages, then get a checklist asking for one of the packages, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first.
 
The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm either way.

Case Complete
There's currently a way to know (not 100% guaranteed though) if you have case complete by looking on the CEAC site. If the AOS fee changes from PAID to N/A, then I'd suggest calling NVC up pronto as most, if not all, people who have reported seeing this have a case complete.
 
Although case complete emails used to be rare for non-EP folk, it's becoming more common (it might even be that everyone is getting them now). But, they're severely delayed (sometimes a week or more!), so do not rely on it (unless you're in no rush to find out). The fastest way to find out if your case is complete is to call an operator at NVC and ask.
After the case is complete, the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled.

Warning: If you apply for an expedite, be warned that if you have any pending packages (re: not reviewed yet), then NVC may not go around digging for it when they forward your package off. If that's the case, then NVC should return the package to you once they do get to it, but it may be past the interview by then. So, you'll need to re-create the package to bring to the interview. So, if you want to apply for an expedite, it's best to do it BEFORE sending any packages.
 
Step 10 - Interview Date
 
The time frames for case complete to interview date scheduled vary by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months.
 
To best way to get an estimate for your beneficiary's country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled. To do this, go here [21] and choose the beneficiary country's from the drop-down (leave the service center drop-downs alone). Then, sort by interview date by clicking on the down arrow to the left of the 'Interview' column. There's no 'Case Complete' column (or even when the interview date was scheduled), so you'll have to open each individual member's timeline. This may sound like a lot of work, but if you want to get a good idea of estimates for your beneficiary's country, you'll crunch the numbers.
 
Not only can the above be helpful, but if you join VJ member dwheels76's case complete/interview threads, you can wait along with others (and often others of the same country) to see when interview dates start getting assigned. The current thread is for April, found here [22]. She has her own spreadsheet (found here [23]) and if you want to be added, fill out the form here [24].
Once an interview date is scheduled, NVC will then ship out your case to the consulate/embassy. Typically, this is done the next day after the interview is scheduled, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases. You can find out when NVC ships your case by simply calling and asking.
 
After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
 
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few.   From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25].
 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
 
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
 
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
 
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
 
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
 
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Extra: Tax Information
 
Here are two frequently asked questions and my answers in regards to tax season:

Do I have to file 2015 taxes before I can fill out the I-864 form?
No. Up until April 18th, 2016 (tax deadline), you can still use 2014 as the most recent tax year. If for whatever reason you want to use 2015 as the most recent year instead (due to whatever reason), then yes, you can use 2015 as the most recent year as well. Both are valid options.
 
Keep in mind though: if you submit 2014 tax information as the most recent year and your interview is scheduled after April 18th, then 2015 tax information will likely be required at the interview.

As the petitioner, what filing status do I use for my tax returns?
You have three options: married filing separately (MFS), married filing jointly (MFJ), or head of household (HOH).
 
For HOH, there's some criteria you need to meet to be able to use this. Please see the IRS website for more information. For most people though, it's either between MFS or MFJ.
 
Before I continue, I will say this once and only once: YOU CANNOT FILE SINGLE. If you are married, you are married. Doesn't matter where in the universe your spouse is, YOU ARE STILL MARRIED. You will be lying to the IRS if you file as single, and if caught, could cause serious issues. If you have already filed taxes, either this year or last, and were married, yet filed as single, amend your tax return ASAP. If at the time of the interview, there are tax return transcripts in the case file showing the petitioner filed as single, this can be a HUGE red flag. The CO will have to wonder why the petitioner filed as single when they're trying to get a spousal visa. In their eyes, your relationship can be seen as a fraud and could be reason for denial.
 
For both MFS and MFJ, the petitioner will have to file a paper tax return. Electronic submissions won't be possible the first year.
 
Filing MFS will probably be the easiest for most people as it doesn't require any extra documents from the foreign spouse, nor does it require their signature. On the tax return, where it asks for the spouse's SSN, you would put 'NRA' for Non-Resident Alien. Continue filling out the rest of the return as normal. That is all you have to do. (And if desired, once the spouse has immigrated to the US and has obtained a SSN, the petitioner can then amend their tax return to MFJ, to possibly get a bigger refund, but this isn't required.)
 
Filing MFJ will typically mean a bigger refund up front, with no need to amend. This route takes a little more work though as the beneficiary will have to fill out a W7 (available on the IRS site), which requires a signature, and include document(s), so they can obtain a ITIN (it's like a SSN, but for the sole purpose of filing taxes, and is available for those not currently living in the US). This would then be included with the tax return, and sent to a special address for ITIN generation. For most countries, it may be hard to get the needed documents. (For Canada, it was uber easy, and this is how my husband did his taxes while I was still in Canada, waiting for my interview). Please view the instructions for the W7 form on the IRS website to see what documents will be needed.
 
For more information, please read this page on IRS's website here [32].

This wiki will help guide you through the NVC stage, specifically for IR-1/CR-1 applicants and their derivatives. Along with this wiki, please read all official instructions. This wiki is merely to help you out and doesn't replace any legal advice.
 
Please note: all mentioned time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.
If you see anything that needs updating: please send me a PM letting me know and I'll edit the wiki to reflect the change.
 
Useful Information
 
NVC's website can be found here [1] and should be read in conjunction with this wiki.

Work Hours
NVC only works Mondays to Fridays. They do NOT work on Saturdays, Sundays, or US National Holidays. And despite what you may see or hear, they unlikely work any overtime.
And keep in mind, emails are automated and delayed. So, if you receive an email on the weekend, it does NOT mean they are actually working on the weekend. It's normal for it to take awhile to receive emails from NVC.

Phone Number
NVC - 603-334-0700 [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]

Menu
For non-immigrant cases, call 603-334-0888
Press 1, for English Press 2, for Spanish After pressing 1 for English, the options are:
1, to verify priority date 2, to establish an agent, request fee bill or invoice number 3, to verify that they received your mail 4, to confirm date and time of interview 5, to update your mailing address, phone number, email address 6, if your case is at a US embassy or consulate overseas 7, for all other questions
Note: Either the petitioner or beneficiary can call NVC. Both are able to at this stage. Just make sure you have both names, dates of birth, as well as the USCIS receipt number (or NVC case number once it's assigned) on hand before calling.

Email Addresses
asknvc@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email scanned packages for EP
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests

Links
Eligibility for Electronic Processing [2]
NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms [3]
NVC Electronic Processing [4] [note: if doing EP in China, only enroll AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]
Thread on Ryan H's EP Experience through China [5]
Online Forms Portal (to fill out DS-261 and DS-260) [6]
Payment Portal [7]
Free Passport Photos [8]
 
Overview of NVC Process
 
To view a (NEW!!) flowchart of the below overview, you can find one I put together here [9]

-get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
-complete the online DS-261
-pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
-pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
-complete the online DS-260
-submit both packages together
-respond to any checklists, if applicable
-get case complete
-get interview date scheduled
-case is sent to embassy/consulate
 
Step 1 - Case Number
 
Once your I-130 has been approved from USCIS, it will be sent to NVC (a part of the Department of State). Depending what service center the I-130 is coming from, this can take anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. You may or may not get an email from USCIS/update on their website stating when it was sent.
 
You won't get correspondence from NVC when they receive your case from USCIS. You need to call an operator at NVC to find this out.
 
Once NVC does receive your case, it's currently taking around 3 weeks for a case number to be assigned..
 
If you'd like to stay on top of things, it's best to call about once a week after your NOA2 to see if NVC has received your case. Once they do have your case and about 2-3 weeks have passed since then, increase your calls to about 2-3 times a week (or even more if you wish) until you get a case number assigned.
 
Note: if your case doesn't arrive at NVC in a timely manner (timely manner being the current wait time), VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who would take the time to confirm this for you."  
Once a case number is assigned, get that number along with the IIN (Invoice Identification Number) from the operator. If the operator doesn't want to give over the IIN (some operators are finicky), then just call back up later and try again. And don't worry about the BIN (Beneficiary Identification Number) as it's no longer needed. You only need the case number and IIN.
 
At the same time, you can give over both the petitioner's and beneficiary's email addresses. By doing this, ALL correspondence (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, checklists, etc) from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages (link to eligibility in the first section, under links).
 
Note: there is a difference between EP and online forms. Online forms are just that, online forms. The DS-261 and DS-260 are NOT part of electronic processing. Electronic processing (EP) is emailing in documents. Not everyone can do this yet. You still have to be eligible for EP before emailing in packages. The link to see who's eligible is in the first section, under links. Everyone though (regardless of country) is required to fill out the online forms (DS-261 and DS-260).
How to Find Out WHEN Your Case Number was Assigned
For those that don't call every single day and want to know exactly what date their case number was assigned, there's an easy way to find out that simply involves looking at your case number. The first three letters are the three-letter consulate/embassy code. The next four numbers are the year the case number was assigned. The next three numbers are the Julian date it was assigned, plus 500. And finally, the last three numbers are the sequential order of when it was assigned that date. You can find a chart with Julian dates here [10].
 
For example: MTL2014815162. Let's put some lines in to divide it up. So: MTL|2014|815|162. This means that this case is going through Montreal and the number was assigned on November 11th, 2014, and it was the 162nd case that day to be assigned a number.
 
Step 2 - Submit DS-261
 
The DS-261 replaces the old DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) and is filed by the beneficiary. You'll have to wait for the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal (link in the first section, under links). This is currently taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned. Once it's available, fill it out. It's exactly like the DS-3032, except online.
If you wish to see screenshots of the DS-261, you can do so here: Saylin's DS-261 screenshots [11] (these are screenshots from 2011, but should still be the same, or at least similar). To go through all the screenshots, click on the 'next' button (there are 6 images in total). Please note: the BIN referenced in the screenshots are no longer required.
 
On choosing an agent, most people select the petitioner as one. Although, to be honest, due to giving over both email addresses to an operator (and thus having NVC email all correspondence), this form has become moot as, no matter who is selected as agent, both of you will receive correspondence.
 
Once you've submitted the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. This is for your own records.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-261 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection. Note: if you have a lawyer/attorney/legal representative from the I-130 petition, then they'll be automatically selected as agent for your case, thus by-passing the DS-261. This also means that the IV bill will be invoiced at or around the same time as the AOS bill.   *Important note: Once you fill in the DS-261 and it shows as complete, do NOT go back into the DS-261 as it will re-set the date and start the clock all over again for ~30 business days.
*Tip: if after a week of submitting the DS-261 and the IV fee hasn't been unlocked yet, you can try calling NVC and requesting they review the DS-261 over the phone. If the operator refuses to do so, try again until you get a nice operator that is willing to do so.
 
Step 3 - Pay AOS Fee
 
Currently, it's taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned for the AOS fee to be invoiced (about the same amount of time as the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal).
 
The AOS fee is $120 per case. If you have multiple cases joined at NVC, then you'll only have to pay ONE fee for all of them. For the IV fee though, you'll have to pay for each applicant.
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [12] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 4 - Pay IV Fee
 
A few weeks after after you complete the DS-261, NVC will accept and add it to your case file. A few days after that, the IV bill will be invoiced and available to pay on the payment portal. You won't get an email of acceptance, so you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.
 
The IV fee is $325 per applicant.
 
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [13] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 5 - Submit DS-260
 
The DS-260 replaces the old DS-230. As before, you will still submit the IV package, just without the DS-230. The DS-260 will be done online. It's only available once the IV appears as PAID in the payment portal. Like the DS-261, it'll be on the online forms portal (link in first section).
 
Note: depending on how prepared you are, the DS-260 can take a few hours. You can always save and return, if you wish; it doesn't need to be all done in one sitting. But, it'll take an hour at the least (30 minutes maybe if you're really fast). My suggestion is to have a DS-230 pre-filled out (found here [14]) and that way you can just copy over the answers. This will shave off quite some time if you prepare ahead. But be warned, there are some differences between the DS-230 and DS-260 where the DS-260 asks for more information. You can view screenshots (and thus the differences) here [15] from when it was first released back in 2010. NVC also has a page with DS-260 screenshots (from October 2013) found here [16].  
As with the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. But make sure to bring this one to the interview as NVC states it's required.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-260 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection.
How to answer the vaccinations question: Since there are some people having issues with answering this question, I thought it'd be good to explain it a little further as there's not just one right answer. If you have your vaccinations AND the record to prove it, then just explain that. If you don't have the vaccines and/or the record to show it, then again, just explain that, and add everything will be done at (or before) the medical. People are over-thinking this question when you really shouldn't be. Just answer honestly.
 
Step 6 - Gather AOS Package
 
The AOS package is all about the petitioner and whether or not they can financially support the intending immigrant(s).
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). This is in case NVC misplaces one of your documents. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.
 
Note: for petitioners living and working abroad, put $0 for the question on current income (unless your income will continue, then put the amount). In either case, include an employment letter with all the details and if your job will NOT continue, make sure it is stated as such in the letter. It'd also be a good idea to mention this in the cover letter.

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:
-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [17] -Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
-Tax information^^ of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:
-All of the above of the petitioner
-Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
-Tax information^^ of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
-Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

^^You have two choices here of what to send in:
- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040), W2s, 1099s, and any other schedules/worksheets (if applicable)
Note: If you haven't filed this year's taxes yet and filed for an extension instead, you can submit the tax extension letter in lieu of an entire tax return or tax transcript. Please be warned though, the consulate/embassy may request for this year's taxes to be filed despite applying for an extension.

Which I-864 Form to Use
If you look at the USCIS website, there are a multitude of I-864 forms listed: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, I-864W, and even I-864P.
 
The I-864 is the most common of the forms used. This is what petitioners and joint sponsors use.
 
The I-864EZ has three different criteria points that need to be met before a petitioner can use it. Remember, if you do meet all the criteria, it doesn't mean you have to use it; you can still use the I-864 if you wish. But, since the I-864EZ is shorter (and thus easier) to fill out, if you can use it, I suggest it as there's lower chances of messing up and getting a checklist.
 
The I-864A is used for household members of sponsors. Typically, the only time I recommend using the I-864A is for spouses of joint sponsors who are deciding to contribute their income as well. So, in these cases, the petitioner would file an I-864, the main joint sponsor would file an I-864 as well, and then the joint sponsor's spouse would file an I-864A.
 
The I-864W is rarely used. The only time I see it used is for children immigrating (with one of their parents) who will become US citizens upon POE. Please read the I-864W and its instructions for more information.
 
The I-864P, which really isn't a form, is the poverty guidelines and is used to see how much income is needed for different household sizes.

Domicile
Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Form I-864
Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.
 
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
 
Step 7 - Gather IV Package
 
The IV package is all about the beneficiary.
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). The writing of the case number on documents is in case NVC misplaces one of them. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.

Generally, the following is needed:

-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [18] -Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
-Photocopy of beneficiary's birth certificate
-Photocopy of marriage certificate
-Photocopy of police certificate(s)

Please read the link here [19] for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).
 
Also read the country-specific documents found here [20] (start typing the beneficiary's country in search box, choose it, then click 'Go'). There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

The NVC is no longer asking for photos to be sent with your package, but they are required at the interview.
 
-Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
 
Don’t forget: You’ll need to bring the original civil documents to the interview.

Translations
NVC's website states:
"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
 
-Translation is accurate, and
-Translator is competent to translate."
 
Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.
 
Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are.
 
Step 8 - Send in AOS and IV Packages
 
Once both fees have been paid and you’ve collected everything, send both packages together to NVC.
 
I suggest putting each package in a separate manila envelope (and clearly mark it and write "AOS" or "IV" on each one), then putting both manila envelopes inside one shipping envelope.
 
The address to send the package can be found on the bar-coded cover sheet from the payment portal. And it doesn't matter where the package is sent from (either in the US or abroad). As long as NVC receives it, that's all they care about.
 
Note: there may be two different addresses on each bar-coded cover sheet. Just pick one and send it there. It’s essentially the same address, just different departments. There’s absolutely no reason to stress about which address to choose as it’ll be directed to the correct department once it gets there.  
Step 9 - Review: Checklists and Case Complete
 
It can take up to 60 calendar days to review packages. This INCLUDES checklists. So, this means 60 days to review the initial packages and, if you get a checklist, another 60 days to review that once they receive it. This is why it's important to make sure your packages are PERFECT before sending them off.
 
You will not get an email if your packages have been accepted. You have to call NVC every day (or as often as you want) and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.
 
Note: if you're in the EP program, people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.  
If you call and an operator says they haven't received your package(s) yet (even though tracking says it was delivered), don't panic! Unfortunately, the package may not show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

Avoiding Checklists
Here are a few common checklist items I see all the time:
 
Use the correct numbers on the I-864/I-864EZ for past year's incomes. As it states RIGHT IN THE QUESTION, if you filed a 1040 (or 1040A), then use total income, and if you filed a 1040EZ, then use adjusted gross income. If you filed jointly, then make sure you use the combined income (since it doesn't separate the incomes) and then submit W2s to show individual income. Although the I-864 instructions say if the answer is none or N/A, then to leave it blank, do NOT do this. I have seen countless people get checklists for leaving things blank, specifically the question asking for place of residence on the I-864EZ. Although it says to fill it out only if it's different from the mailing address, I have seen dozens and dozens of people getting checklists for leaving it blank. Make sure every single question has been filled out. I quite frequently see people get checklists for skipping a question. Please take your time reviewing the form. And make sure everything is dated and signed. After printing out the forms, double check again that everything is filled out properly. I've heard that sometimes after printing, a box that was checked on the computer gets unchecked after it's printed. If this happens to you, just check it off by hand.
False vs. Real Checklists
If you sent the packages, then get a checklist asking for one of the packages, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first.
 
The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm either way.

Case Complete
There's currently a way to know (not 100% guaranteed though) if you have case complete by looking on the CEAC site. If the AOS fee changes from PAID to N/A, then I'd suggest calling NVC up pronto as most, if not all, people who have reported seeing this have a case complete.
 
Although case complete emails used to be rare for non-EP folk, it's becoming more common (it might even be that everyone is getting them now). But, they're severely delayed (sometimes a week or more!), so do not rely on it (unless you're in no rush to find out). The fastest way to find out if your case is complete is to call an operator at NVC and ask.
After the case is complete, the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled.

Warning: If you apply for an expedite, be warned that if you have any pending packages (re: not reviewed yet), then NVC may not go around digging for it when they forward your package off. If that's the case, then NVC should return the package to you once they do get to it, but it may be past the interview by then. So, you'll need to re-create the package to bring to the interview. So, if you want to apply for an expedite, it's best to do it BEFORE sending any packages.
 
Step 10 - Interview Date
 
The time frames for case complete to interview date scheduled vary by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months.
 
To best way to get an estimate for your beneficiary's country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled. To do this, go here [21] and choose the beneficiary country's from the drop-down (leave the service center drop-downs alone). Then, sort by interview date by clicking on the down arrow to the left of the 'Interview' column. There's no 'Case Complete' column (or even when the interview date was scheduled), so you'll have to open each individual member's timeline. This may sound like a lot of work, but if you want to get a good idea of estimates for your beneficiary's country, you'll crunch the numbers.
 
Not only can the above be helpful, but if you join VJ member dwheels76's case complete/interview threads, you can wait along with others (and often others of the same country) to see when interview dates start getting assigned. The current thread is for April, found here [22]. She has her own spreadsheet (found here [23]) and if you want to be added, fill out the form here [24].
Once an interview date is scheduled, NVC will then ship out your case to the consulate/embassy. Typically, this is done the next day after the interview is scheduled, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases. You can find out when NVC ships your case by simply calling and asking.
 
After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
 
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few.   From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25].
 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
 
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
 
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
 
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
 
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
 
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Extra: Tax Information
 
Here are two frequently asked questions and my answers in regards to tax season:

Do I have to file 2015 taxes before I can fill out the I-864 form?
No. Up until April 18th, 2016 (tax deadline), you can still use 2014 as the most recent tax year. If for whatever reason you want to use 2015 as the most recent year instead (due to whatever reason), then yes, you can use 2015 as the most recent year as well. Both are valid options.
 
Keep in mind though: if you submit 2014 tax information as the most recent year and your interview is scheduled after April 18th, then 2015 tax information will likely be required at the interview.

As the petitioner, what filing status do I use for my tax returns?
You have three options: married filing separately (MFS), married filing jointly (MFJ), or head of household (HOH).
 
For HOH, there's some criteria you need to meet to be able to use this. Please see the IRS website for more information. For most people though, it's either between MFS or MFJ.
 
Before I continue, I will say this once and only once: YOU CANNOT FILE SINGLE. If you are married, you are married. Doesn't matter where in the universe your spouse is, YOU ARE STILL MARRIED. You will be lying to the IRS if you file as single, and if caught, could cause serious issues. If you have already filed taxes, either this year or last, and were married, yet filed as single, amend your tax return ASAP. If at the time of the interview, there are tax return transcripts in the case file showing the petitioner filed as single, this can be a HUGE red flag. The CO will have to wonder why the petitioner filed as single when they're trying to get a spousal visa. In their eyes, your relationship can be seen as a fraud and could be reason for denial.
 
For both MFS and MFJ, the petitioner will have to file a paper tax return. Electronic submissions won't be possible the first year.
 
Filing MFS will probably be the easiest for most people as it doesn't require any extra documents from the foreign spouse, nor does it require their signature. On the tax return, where it asks for the spouse's SSN, you would put 'NRA' for Non-Resident Alien. Continue filling out the rest of the return as normal. That is all you have to do. (And if desired, once the spouse has immigrated to the US and has obtained a SSN, the petitioner can then amend their tax return to MFJ, to possibly get a bigger refund, but this isn't required.)
 
Filing MFJ will typically mean a bigger refund up front, with no need to amend. This route takes a little more work though as the beneficiary will have to fill out a W7 (available on the IRS site), which requires a signature, and include document(s), so they can obtain a ITIN (it's like a SSN, but for the sole purpose of filing taxes, and is available for those not currently living in the US). This would then be included with the tax return, and sent to a special address for ITIN generation. For most countries, it may be hard to get the needed documents. (For Canada, it was uber easy, and this is how my husband did his taxes while I was still in Canada, waiting for my interview). Please view the instructions for the W7 form on the IRS website to see what documents will be needed.
 
For more information, please read this page on IRS's website here [32].

This wiki will help guide you through the NVC stage, specifically for IR-1/CR-1 applicants and their derivatives. Along with this wiki, please read all official instructions. This wiki is merely to help you out and doesn't replace any legal advice.
 
Please note: all mentioned time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.
If you see anything that needs updating: please send me a PM letting me know and I'll edit the wiki to reflect the change.
 
Useful Information
 
NVC's website can be found here [1] and should be read in conjunction with this wiki.

Work Hours
NVC only works Mondays to Fridays. They do NOT work on Saturdays, Sundays, or US National Holidays. And despite what you may see or hear, they unlikely work any overtime.
And keep in mind, emails are automated and delayed. So, if you receive an email on the weekend, it does NOT mean they are actually working on the weekend. It's normal for it to take awhile to receive emails from NVC.

Phone Number
NVC - 603-334-0700 [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]

Menu
For non-immigrant cases, call 603-334-0888
Press 1, for English Press 2, for Spanish After pressing 1 for English, the options are:
1, to verify priority date 2, to establish an agent, request fee bill or invoice number 3, to verify that they received your mail 4, to confirm date and time of interview 5, to update your mailing address, phone number, email address 6, if your case is at a US embassy or consulate overseas 7, for all other questions
Note: Either the petitioner or beneficiary can call NVC. Both are able to at this stage. Just make sure you have both names, dates of birth, as well as the USCIS receipt number (or NVC case number once it's assigned) on hand before calling.

Email Addresses
asknvc@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email scanned packages for EP
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests

Links
Eligibility for Electronic Processing [2]
NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms [3]
NVC Electronic Processing [4] [note: if doing EP in China, only enroll AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]
Thread on Ryan H's EP Experience through China [5]
Online Forms Portal (to fill out DS-261 and DS-260) [6]
Payment Portal [7]
Free Passport Photos [8]
 
Overview of NVC Process
 
To view a (NEW!!) flowchart of the below overview, you can find one I put together here [9]

-get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
-complete the online DS-261
-pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
-pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
-complete the online DS-260
-submit both packages together
-respond to any checklists, if applicable
-get case complete
-get interview date scheduled
-case is sent to embassy/consulate
 
Step 1 - Case Number
 
Once your I-130 has been approved from USCIS, it will be sent to NVC (a part of the Department of State). Depending what service center the I-130 is coming from, this can take anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. You may or may not get an email from USCIS/update on their website stating when it was sent.
 
You won't get correspondence from NVC when they receive your case from USCIS. You need to call an operator at NVC to find this out.
 
Once NVC does receive your case, it's currently taking around 3 weeks for a case number to be assigned..
 
If you'd like to stay on top of things, it's best to call about once a week after your NOA2 to see if NVC has received your case. Once they do have your case and about 2-3 weeks have passed since then, increase your calls to about 2-3 times a week (or even more if you wish) until you get a case number assigned.
 
Note: if your case doesn't arrive at NVC in a timely manner (timely manner being the current wait time), VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who would take the time to confirm this for you."  
Once a case number is assigned, get that number along with the IIN (Invoice Identification Number) from the operator. If the operator doesn't want to give over the IIN (some operators are finicky), then just call back up later and try again. And don't worry about the BIN (Beneficiary Identification Number) as it's no longer needed. You only need the case number and IIN.
 
At the same time, you can give over both the petitioner's and beneficiary's email addresses. By doing this, ALL correspondence (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, checklists, etc) from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages (link to eligibility in the first section, under links).
 
Note: there is a difference between EP and online forms. Online forms are just that, online forms. The DS-261 and DS-260 are NOT part of electronic processing. Electronic processing (EP) is emailing in documents. Not everyone can do this yet. You still have to be eligible for EP before emailing in packages. The link to see who's eligible is in the first section, under links. Everyone though (regardless of country) is required to fill out the online forms (DS-261 and DS-260).
How to Find Out WHEN Your Case Number was Assigned
For those that don't call every single day and want to know exactly what date their case number was assigned, there's an easy way to find out that simply involves looking at your case number. The first three letters are the three-letter consulate/embassy code. The next four numbers are the year the case number was assigned. The next three numbers are the Julian date it was assigned, plus 500. And finally, the last three numbers are the sequential order of when it was assigned that date. You can find a chart with Julian dates here [10].
 
For example: MTL2014815162. Let's put some lines in to divide it up. So: MTL|2014|815|162. This means that this case is going through Montreal and the number was assigned on November 11th, 2014, and it was the 162nd case that day to be assigned a number.
 
Step 2 - Submit DS-261
 
The DS-261 replaces the old DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) and is filed by the beneficiary. You'll have to wait for the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal (link in the first section, under links). This is currently taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned. Once it's available, fill it out. It's exactly like the DS-3032, except online.
If you wish to see screenshots of the DS-261, you can do so here: Saylin's DS-261 screenshots [11] (these are screenshots from 2011, but should still be the same, or at least similar). To go through all the screenshots, click on the 'next' button (there are 6 images in total). Please note: the BIN referenced in the screenshots are no longer required.
 
On choosing an agent, most people select the petitioner as one. Although, to be honest, due to giving over both email addresses to an operator (and thus having NVC email all correspondence), this form has become moot as, no matter who is selected as agent, both of you will receive correspondence.
 
Once you've submitted the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. This is for your own records.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-261 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection. Note: if you have a lawyer/attorney/legal representative from the I-130 petition, then they'll be automatically selected as agent for your case, thus by-passing the DS-261. This also means that the IV bill will be invoiced at or around the same time as the AOS bill.   *Important note: Once you fill in the DS-261 and it shows as complete, do NOT go back into the DS-261 as it will re-set the date and start the clock all over again for ~30 business days.
*Tip: if after a week of submitting the DS-261 and the IV fee hasn't been unlocked yet, you can try calling NVC and requesting they review the DS-261 over the phone. If the operator refuses to do so, try again until you get a nice operator that is willing to do so.
 
Step 3 - Pay AOS Fee
 
Currently, it's taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned for the AOS fee to be invoiced (about the same amount of time as the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal).
 
The AOS fee is $120 per case. If you have multiple cases joined at NVC, then you'll only have to pay ONE fee for all of them. For the IV fee though, you'll have to pay for each applicant.
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [12] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 4 - Pay IV Fee
 
A few weeks after after you complete the DS-261, NVC will accept and add it to your case file. A few days after that, the IV bill will be invoiced and available to pay on the payment portal. You won't get an email of acceptance, so you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.
 
The IV fee is $325 per applicant.
 
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [13] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 5 - Submit DS-260
 
The DS-260 replaces the old DS-230. As before, you will still submit the IV package, just without the DS-230. The DS-260 will be done online. It's only available once the IV appears as PAID in the payment portal. Like the DS-261, it'll be on the online forms portal (link in first section).
 
Note: depending on how prepared you are, the DS-260 can take a few hours. You can always save and return, if you wish; it doesn't need to be all done in one sitting. But, it'll take an hour at the least (30 minutes maybe if you're really fast). My suggestion is to have a DS-230 pre-filled out (found here [14]) and that way you can just copy over the answers. This will shave off quite some time if you prepare ahead. But be warned, there are some differences between the DS-230 and DS-260 where the DS-260 asks for more information. You can view screenshots (and thus the differences) here [15] from when it was first released back in 2010. NVC also has a page with DS-260 screenshots (from October 2013) found here [16].  
As with the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. But make sure to bring this one to the interview as NVC states it's required.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-260 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection.
How to answer the vaccinations question: Since there are some people having issues with answering this question, I thought it'd be good to explain it a little further as there's not just one right answer. If you have your vaccinations AND the record to prove it, then just explain that. If you don't have the vaccines and/or the record to show it, then again, just explain that, and add everything will be done at (or before) the medical. People are over-thinking this question when you really shouldn't be. Just answer honestly.
 
Step 6 - Gather AOS Package
 
The AOS package is all about the petitioner and whether or not they can financially support the intending immigrant(s).
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). This is in case NVC misplaces one of your documents. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.
 
Note: for petitioners living and working abroad, put $0 for the question on current income (unless your income will continue, then put the amount). In either case, include an employment letter with all the details and if your job will NOT continue, make sure it is stated as such in the letter. It'd also be a good idea to mention this in the cover letter.

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:
-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [17] -Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
-Tax information^^ of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:
-All of the above of the petitioner
-Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
-Tax information^^ of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
-Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

^^You have two choices here of what to send in:
- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040), W2s, 1099s, and any other schedules/worksheets (if applicable)
Note: If you haven't filed this year's taxes yet and filed for an extension instead, you can submit the tax extension letter in lieu of an entire tax return or tax transcript. Please be warned though, the consulate/embassy may request for this year's taxes to be filed despite applying for an extension.

Which I-864 Form to Use
If you look at the USCIS website, there are a multitude of I-864 forms listed: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, I-864W, and even I-864P.
 
The I-864 is the most common of the forms used. This is what petitioners and joint sponsors use.
 
The I-864EZ has three different criteria points that need to be met before a petitioner can use it. Remember, if you do meet all the criteria, it doesn't mean you have to use it; you can still use the I-864 if you wish. But, since the I-864EZ is shorter (and thus easier) to fill out, if you can use it, I suggest it as there's lower chances of messing up and getting a checklist.
 
The I-864A is used for household members of sponsors. Typically, the only time I recommend using the I-864A is for spouses of joint sponsors who are deciding to contribute their income as well. So, in these cases, the petitioner would file an I-864, the main joint sponsor would file an I-864 as well, and then the joint sponsor's spouse would file an I-864A.
 
The I-864W is rarely used. The only time I see it used is for children immigrating (with one of their parents) who will become US citizens upon POE. Please read the I-864W and its instructions for more information.
 
The I-864P, which really isn't a form, is the poverty guidelines and is used to see how much income is needed for different household sizes.

Domicile
Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Form I-864
Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.
 
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
 
Step 7 - Gather IV Package
 
The IV package is all about the beneficiary.
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). The writing of the case number on documents is in case NVC misplaces one of them. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.

Generally, the following is needed:

-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [18] -Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
-Photocopy of beneficiary's birth certificate
-Photocopy of marriage certificate
-Photocopy of police certificate(s)

Please read the link here [19] for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).
 
Also read the country-specific documents found here [20] (start typing the beneficiary's country in search box, choose it, then click 'Go'). There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

The NVC is no longer asking for photos to be sent with your package, but they are required at the interview.
 
-Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
 
Don’t forget: You’ll need to bring the original civil documents to the interview.

Translations
NVC's website states:
"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
 
-Translation is accurate, and
-Translator is competent to translate."
 
Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.
 
Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are.
 
Step 8 - Send in AOS and IV Packages
 
Once both fees have been paid and you’ve collected everything, send both packages together to NVC.
 
I suggest putting each package in a separate manila envelope (and clearly mark it and write "AOS" or "IV" on each one), then putting both manila envelopes inside one shipping envelope.
 
The address to send the package can be found on the bar-coded cover sheet from the payment portal. And it doesn't matter where the package is sent from (either in the US or abroad). As long as NVC receives it, that's all they care about.
 
Note: there may be two different addresses on each bar-coded cover sheet. Just pick one and send it there. It’s essentially the same address, just different departments. There’s absolutely no reason to stress about which address to choose as it’ll be directed to the correct department once it gets there.  
Step 9 - Review: Checklists and Case Complete
 
It can take up to 60 calendar days to review packages. This INCLUDES checklists. So, this means 60 days to review the initial packages and, if you get a checklist, another 60 days to review that once they receive it. This is why it's important to make sure your packages are PERFECT before sending them off.
 
You will not get an email if your packages have been accepted. You have to call NVC every day (or as often as you want) and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.
 
Note: if you're in the EP program, people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.  
If you call and an operator says they haven't received your package(s) yet (even though tracking says it was delivered), don't panic! Unfortunately, the package may not show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

Avoiding Checklists
Here are a few common checklist items I see all the time:
 
Use the correct numbers on the I-864/I-864EZ for past year's incomes. As it states RIGHT IN THE QUESTION, if you filed a 1040 (or 1040A), then use total income, and if you filed a 1040EZ, then use adjusted gross income. If you filed jointly, then make sure you use the combined income (since it doesn't separate the incomes) and then submit W2s to show individual income. Although the I-864 instructions say if the answer is none or N/A, then to leave it blank, do NOT do this. I have seen countless people get checklists for leaving things blank, specifically the question asking for place of residence on the I-864EZ. Although it says to fill it out only if it's different from the mailing address, I have seen dozens and dozens of people getting checklists for leaving it blank. Make sure every single question has been filled out. I quite frequently see people get checklists for skipping a question. Please take your time reviewing the form. And make sure everything is dated and signed. After printing out the forms, double check again that everything is filled out properly. I've heard that sometimes after printing, a box that was checked on the computer gets unchecked after it's printed. If this happens to you, just check it off by hand.
False vs. Real Checklists
If you sent the packages, then get a checklist asking for one of the packages, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first.
 
The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm either way.

Case Complete
There's currently a way to know (not 100% guaranteed though) if you have case complete by looking on the CEAC site. If the AOS fee changes from PAID to N/A, then I'd suggest calling NVC up pronto as most, if not all, people who have reported seeing this have a case complete.
 
Although case complete emails used to be rare for non-EP folk, it's becoming more common (it might even be that everyone is getting them now). But, they're severely delayed (sometimes a week or more!), so do not rely on it (unless you're in no rush to find out). The fastest way to find out if your case is complete is to call an operator at NVC and ask.
After the case is complete, the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled.

Warning: If you apply for an expedite, be warned that if you have any pending packages (re: not reviewed yet), then NVC may not go around digging for it when they forward your package off. If that's the case, then NVC should return the package to you once they do get to it, but it may be past the interview by then. So, you'll need to re-create the package to bring to the interview. So, if you want to apply for an expedite, it's best to do it BEFORE sending any packages.
 
Step 10 - Interview Date
 
The time frames for case complete to interview date scheduled vary by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months.
 
To best way to get an estimate for your beneficiary's country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled. To do this, go here [21] and choose the beneficiary country's from the drop-down (leave the service center drop-downs alone). Then, sort by interview date by clicking on the down arrow to the left of the 'Interview' column. There's no 'Case Complete' column (or even when the interview date was scheduled), so you'll have to open each individual member's timeline. This may sound like a lot of work, but if you want to get a good idea of estimates for your beneficiary's country, you'll crunch the numbers.
 
Not only can the above be helpful, but if you join VJ member dwheels76's case complete/interview threads, you can wait along with others (and often others of the same country) to see when interview dates start getting assigned. The current thread is for April, found here [22]. She has her own spreadsheet (found here [23]) and if you want to be added, fill out the form here [24].
Once an interview date is scheduled, NVC will then ship out your case to the consulate/embassy. Typically, this is done the next day after the interview is scheduled, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases. You can find out when NVC ships your case by simply calling and asking.
 
After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
 
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few.   From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25].
 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
 
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
 
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
 
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
 
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
 
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Extra: Tax Information
 
Here are two frequently asked questions and my answers in regards to tax season:

Do I have to file 2015 taxes before I can fill out the I-864 form?
No. Up until April 18th, 2016 (tax deadline), you can still use 2014 as the most recent tax year. If for whatever reason you want to use 2015 as the most recent year instead (due to whatever reason), then yes, you can use 2015 as the most recent year as well. Both are valid options.
 
Keep in mind though: if you submit 2014 tax information as the most recent year and your interview is scheduled after April 18th, then 2015 tax information will likely be required at the interview.

As the petitioner, what filing status do I use for my tax returns?
You have three options: married filing separately (MFS), married filing jointly (MFJ), or head of household (HOH).
 
For HOH, there's some criteria you need to meet to be able to use this. Please see the IRS website for more information. For most people though, it's either between MFS or MFJ.
 
Before I continue, I will say this once and only once: YOU CANNOT FILE SINGLE. If you are married, you are married. Doesn't matter where in the universe your spouse is, YOU ARE STILL MARRIED. You will be lying to the IRS if you file as single, and if caught, could cause serious issues. If you have already filed taxes, either this year or last, and were married, yet filed as single, amend your tax return ASAP. If at the time of the interview, there are tax return transcripts in the case file showing the petitioner filed as single, this can be a HUGE red flag. The CO will have to wonder why the petitioner filed as single when they're trying to get a spousal visa. In their eyes, your relationship can be seen as a fraud and could be reason for denial.
 
For both MFS and MFJ, the petitioner will have to file a paper tax return. Electronic submissions won't be possible the first year.
 
Filing MFS will probably be the easiest for most people as it doesn't require any extra documents from the foreign spouse, nor does it require their signature. On the tax return, where it asks for the spouse's SSN, you would put 'NRA' for Non-Resident Alien. Continue filling out the rest of the return as normal. That is all you have to do. (And if desired, once the spouse has immigrated to the US and has obtained a SSN, the petitioner can then amend their tax return to MFJ, to possibly get a bigger refund, but this isn't required.)
 
Filing MFJ will typically mean a bigger refund up front, with no need to amend. This route takes a little more work though as the beneficiary will have to fill out a W7 (available on the IRS site), which requires a signature, and include document(s), so they can obtain a ITIN (it's like a SSN, but for the sole purpose of filing taxes, and is available for those not currently living in the US). This would then be included with the tax return, and sent to a special address for ITIN generation. For most countries, it may be hard to get the needed documents. (For Canada, it was uber easy, and this is how my husband did his taxes while I was still in Canada, waiting for my interview). Please view the instructions for the W7 form on the IRS website to see what documents will be needed.
 
For more information, please read this page on IRS's website here [32].

This wiki will help guide you through the NVC stage, specifically for IR-1/CR-1 applicants and their derivatives. Along with this wiki, please read all official instructions. This wiki is merely to help you out and doesn't replace any legal advice.
 
Please note: all mentioned time frames are just estimates. Do NOT freak out if your case takes a little bit longer. The time frames are constantly changing. They also depend on NVC's work load for that day/week.
If you see anything that needs updating: please send me a PM letting me know and I'll edit the wiki to reflect the change.
 
Useful Information
 
NVC's website can be found here [1] and should be read in conjunction with this wiki.

Work Hours
NVC only works Mondays to Fridays. They do NOT work on Saturdays, Sundays, or US National Holidays. And despite what you may see or hear, they unlikely work any overtime.
And keep in mind, emails are automated and delayed. So, if you receive an email on the weekend, it does NOT mean they are actually working on the weekend. It's normal for it to take awhile to receive emails from NVC.

Phone Number
NVC - 603-334-0700 [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]

Menu
For non-immigrant cases, call 603-334-0888
Press 1, for English Press 2, for Spanish After pressing 1 for English, the options are:
1, to verify priority date 2, to establish an agent, request fee bill or invoice number 3, to verify that they received your mail 4, to confirm date and time of interview 5, to update your mailing address, phone number, email address 6, if your case is at a US embassy or consulate overseas 7, for all other questions
Note: Either the petitioner or beneficiary can call NVC. Both are able to at this stage. Just make sure you have both names, dates of birth, as well as the USCIS receipt number (or NVC case number once it's assigned) on hand before calling.

Email Addresses
asknvc@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email scanned packages for EP
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests

Links
Eligibility for Electronic Processing [2]
NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms [3]
NVC Electronic Processing [4] [note: if doing EP in China, only enroll AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]
Thread on Ryan H's EP Experience through China [5]
Online Forms Portal (to fill out DS-261 and DS-260) [6]
Payment Portal [7]
Free Passport Photos [8]
 
Overview of NVC Process
 
To view a (NEW!!) flowchart of the below overview, you can find one I put together here [9]

-get case number and IIN, give email addresses over
-complete the online DS-261
-pay the AOS bill, once it's invoiced
-pay the IV bill, once it's invoiced
-complete the online DS-260
-submit both packages together
-respond to any checklists, if applicable
-get case complete
-get interview date scheduled
-case is sent to embassy/consulate
 
Step 1 - Case Number
 
Once your I-130 has been approved from USCIS, it will be sent to NVC (a part of the Department of State). Depending what service center the I-130 is coming from, this can take anywhere from a few business days to a few weeks. You may or may not get an email from USCIS/update on their website stating when it was sent.
 
You won't get correspondence from NVC when they receive your case from USCIS. You need to call an operator at NVC to find this out.
 
Once NVC does receive your case, it's currently taking around 3 weeks for a case number to be assigned..
 
If you'd like to stay on top of things, it's best to call about once a week after your NOA2 to see if NVC has received your case. Once they do have your case and about 2-3 weeks have passed since then, increase your calls to about 2-3 times a week (or even more if you wish) until you get a case number assigned.
 
Note: if your case doesn't arrive at NVC in a timely manner (timely manner being the current wait time), VJ member tokinaija suggests: "Call USCIS, and specifically request to be connected to a Tier 2 supervisor (bypassing the contract customer reps). When connected to a Tier 2 representative, request that you want confirmation that your approved case has been physically shipped to NVC. In amenable words, request for the specific date that the package was shipped. If you are lucky, you will get someone who would take the time to confirm this for you."  
Once a case number is assigned, get that number along with the IIN (Invoice Identification Number) from the operator. If the operator doesn't want to give over the IIN (some operators are finicky), then just call back up later and try again. And don't worry about the BIN (Beneficiary Identification Number) as it's no longer needed. You only need the case number and IIN.
 
At the same time, you can give over both the petitioner's and beneficiary's email addresses. By doing this, ALL correspondence (initial information package, invoices, instructions, interview letter, checklists, etc) from NVC will be sent through email. This does not necessarily mean that YOU can send THEM information by email though. Only those eligible for EP (electronic processing) can email the AOS and IV packages (link to eligibility in the first section, under links).
 
Note: there is a difference between EP and online forms. Online forms are just that, online forms. The DS-261 and DS-260 are NOT part of electronic processing. Electronic processing (EP) is emailing in documents. Not everyone can do this yet. You still have to be eligible for EP before emailing in packages. The link to see who's eligible is in the first section, under links. Everyone though (regardless of country) is required to fill out the online forms (DS-261 and DS-260).
How to Find Out WHEN Your Case Number was Assigned
For those that don't call every single day and want to know exactly what date their case number was assigned, there's an easy way to find out that simply involves looking at your case number. The first three letters are the three-letter consulate/embassy code. The next four numbers are the year the case number was assigned. The next three numbers are the Julian date it was assigned, plus 500. And finally, the last three numbers are the sequential order of when it was assigned that date. You can find a chart with Julian dates here [10].
 
For example: MTL2014815162. Let's put some lines in to divide it up. So: MTL|2014|815|162. This means that this case is going through Montreal and the number was assigned on November 11th, 2014, and it was the 162nd case that day to be assigned a number.
 
Step 2 - Submit DS-261
 
The DS-261 replaces the old DS-3032 (Choice of Agent form) and is filed by the beneficiary. You'll have to wait for the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal (link in the first section, under links). This is currently taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned. Once it's available, fill it out. It's exactly like the DS-3032, except online.
If you wish to see screenshots of the DS-261, you can do so here: Saylin's DS-261 screenshots [11] (these are screenshots from 2011, but should still be the same, or at least similar). To go through all the screenshots, click on the 'next' button (there are 6 images in total). Please note: the BIN referenced in the screenshots are no longer required.
 
On choosing an agent, most people select the petitioner as one. Although, to be honest, due to giving over both email addresses to an operator (and thus having NVC email all correspondence), this form has become moot as, no matter who is selected as agent, both of you will receive correspondence.
 
Once you've submitted the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. This is for your own records.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-261 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection. Note: if you have a lawyer/attorney/legal representative from the I-130 petition, then they'll be automatically selected as agent for your case, thus by-passing the DS-261. This also means that the IV bill will be invoiced at or around the same time as the AOS bill.   *Important note: Once you fill in the DS-261 and it shows as complete, do NOT go back into the DS-261 as it will re-set the date and start the clock all over again for ~30 business days.
*Tip: if after a week of submitting the DS-261 and the IV fee hasn't been unlocked yet, you can try calling NVC and requesting they review the DS-261 over the phone. If the operator refuses to do so, try again until you get a nice operator that is willing to do so.
 
Step 3 - Pay AOS Fee
 
Currently, it's taking around a week or so from the case number being assigned for the AOS fee to be invoiced (about the same amount of time as the DS-261 to become available on the online forms portal).
 
The AOS fee is $120 per case. If you have multiple cases joined at NVC, then you'll only have to pay ONE fee for all of them. For the IV fee though, you'll have to pay for each applicant.
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [12] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 4 - Pay IV Fee
 
A few weeks after after you complete the DS-261, NVC will accept and add it to your case file. A few days after that, the IV bill will be invoiced and available to pay on the payment portal. You won't get an email of acceptance, so you need to call to find out when it's been accepted and added to the case file.
 
The IV fee is $325 per applicant.
 
The fee has to be paid with a US banking account on the payment portal (site linked in first section, under links). See information here [13] about paying both online or, if you choose to do so, through mail.
 
Note: if you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-261 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.  
Step 5 - Submit DS-260
 
The DS-260 replaces the old DS-230. As before, you will still submit the IV package, just without the DS-230. The DS-260 will be done online. It's only available once the IV appears as PAID in the payment portal. Like the DS-261, it'll be on the online forms portal (link in first section).
 
Note: depending on how prepared you are, the DS-260 can take a few hours. You can always save and return, if you wish; it doesn't need to be all done in one sitting. But, it'll take an hour at the least (30 minutes maybe if you're really fast). My suggestion is to have a DS-230 pre-filled out (found here [14]) and that way you can just copy over the answers. This will shave off quite some time if you prepare ahead. But be warned, there are some differences between the DS-230 and DS-260 where the DS-260 asks for more information. You can view screenshots (and thus the differences) here [15] from when it was first released back in 2010. NVC also has a page with DS-260 screenshots (from October 2013) found here [16].  
As with the DS-261, print out the confirmation page at the end. But make sure to bring this one to the interview as NVC states it's required.
 
Note: if needed, yes, the petitioner can file the DS-260 on behalf of the beneficiary. This is very common, especially due to the language barrier and/or no/low internet connection.
How to answer the vaccinations question: Since there are some people having issues with answering this question, I thought it'd be good to explain it a little further as there's not just one right answer. If you have your vaccinations AND the record to prove it, then just explain that. If you don't have the vaccines and/or the record to show it, then again, just explain that, and add everything will be done at (or before) the medical. People are over-thinking this question when you really shouldn't be. Just answer honestly.
 
Step 6 - Gather AOS Package
 
The AOS package is all about the petitioner and whether or not they can financially support the intending immigrant(s).
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). This is in case NVC misplaces one of your documents. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.
 
Note: for petitioners living and working abroad, put $0 for the question on current income (unless your income will continue, then put the amount). In either case, include an employment letter with all the details and if your job will NOT continue, make sure it is stated as such in the letter. It'd also be a good idea to mention this in the cover letter.

Generally, the following is needed:

With no joint sponsors:
-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [17] -Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner
-Tax information^^ of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:
-All of the above of the petitioner
-Original completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor
-Tax information^^ of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)
-Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)
-Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)
-Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

^^You have two choices here of what to send in:
- Tax return transcripts ordered from IRS (preferred by NVC and of most consulates/embassies) RECOMMENDED
OR
- Tax returns (1040), W2s, 1099s, and any other schedules/worksheets (if applicable)
Note: If you haven't filed this year's taxes yet and filed for an extension instead, you can submit the tax extension letter in lieu of an entire tax return or tax transcript. Please be warned though, the consulate/embassy may request for this year's taxes to be filed despite applying for an extension.

Which I-864 Form to Use
If you look at the USCIS website, there are a multitude of I-864 forms listed: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, I-864W, and even I-864P.
 
The I-864 is the most common of the forms used. This is what petitioners and joint sponsors use.
 
The I-864EZ has three different criteria points that need to be met before a petitioner can use it. Remember, if you do meet all the criteria, it doesn't mean you have to use it; you can still use the I-864 if you wish. But, since the I-864EZ is shorter (and thus easier) to fill out, if you can use it, I suggest it as there's lower chances of messing up and getting a checklist.
 
The I-864A is used for household members of sponsors. Typically, the only time I recommend using the I-864A is for spouses of joint sponsors who are deciding to contribute their income as well. So, in these cases, the petitioner would file an I-864, the main joint sponsor would file an I-864 as well, and then the joint sponsor's spouse would file an I-864A.
 
The I-864W is rarely used. The only time I see it used is for children immigrating (with one of their parents) who will become US citizens upon POE. Please read the I-864W and its instructions for more information.
 
The I-864P, which really isn't a form, is the poverty guidelines and is used to see how much income is needed for different household sizes.

Domicile
Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Form I-864
Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box
• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union
• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank
• Maintained my XXXX drivers license
• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX
• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX
• Maintained my US PO box
• Maintained licensure by the XXXX
• Maintained membership in the XXXX
• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address
• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address
• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address
• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address
• XXXX license currently up to date
• Renewal of XXXX membership
• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in
• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement for our house
• Email from schools regarding registration requirements
• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.
 
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________
 
Step 7 - Gather IV Package
 
The IV package is all about the beneficiary.
 
Don't forget, it's highly recommended you write your case number on the top right of ALL documents (except the bar-coded cover sheet and the cover letter). The writing of the case number on documents is in case NVC misplaces one of them. If it has the case number written on it, it has a much better chance of being reunited with the case.
 
Note: it is currently normal for it to show as N/A under affidavit of support documents and civil documents on the CEAC site. It's assumed NVC will use this feature in the future, but currently doesn't display anything.

Generally, the following is needed:

-Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal
-Cover letter (optional)
You can find a sample cover letter I wrote here [18] -Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport
-Photocopy of beneficiary's birth certificate
-Photocopy of marriage certificate
-Photocopy of police certificate(s)

Please read the link here [19] for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).
 
Also read the country-specific documents found here [20] (start typing the beneficiary's country in search box, choose it, then click 'Go'). There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

The NVC is no longer asking for photos to be sent with your package, but they are required at the interview.
 
-Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)
 
Don’t forget: You’ll need to bring the original civil documents to the interview.

Translations
NVC's website states:
"All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:
 
-Translation is accurate, and
-Translator is competent to translate."
 
Despite this, I have seen cases of people getting checklists for not having translations of non-English documents. I'd suggest you get everything translated anyways to be on the safe side. It's not needed, but highly recommended.
 
Additionally, embassies/consulates in some countries require translations of documents into English even though they are written in the official language of the country, so it's best to check with the embassy/consulate to see what document translation requirements are.
 
Step 8 - Send in AOS and IV Packages
 
Once both fees have been paid and you’ve collected everything, send both packages together to NVC.
 
I suggest putting each package in a separate manila envelope (and clearly mark it and write "AOS" or "IV" on each one), then putting both manila envelopes inside one shipping envelope.
 
The address to send the package can be found on the bar-coded cover sheet from the payment portal. And it doesn't matter where the package is sent from (either in the US or abroad). As long as NVC receives it, that's all they care about.
 
Note: there may be two different addresses on each bar-coded cover sheet. Just pick one and send it there. It’s essentially the same address, just different departments. There’s absolutely no reason to stress about which address to choose as it’ll be directed to the correct department once it gets there.  
Step 9 - Review: Checklists and Case Complete
 
It can take up to 60 calendar days to review packages. This INCLUDES checklists. So, this means 60 days to review the initial packages and, if you get a checklist, another 60 days to review that once they receive it. This is why it's important to make sure your packages are PERFECT before sending them off.
 
You will not get an email if your packages have been accepted. You have to call NVC every day (or as often as you want) and ask for updates on your case to find out if a package has been reviewed and accepted.
 
Note: if you're in the EP program, people have been getting acceptance emails, but don't ever rely on receiving emails from NVC. Call, call, call.  
If you call and an operator says they haven't received your package(s) yet (even though tracking says it was delivered), don't panic! Unfortunately, the package may not show up in the operator's system until the package has begun to be reviewed. At that point, it's entered in the system. So, don't fret. If your tracking says it arrived, it arrived.

Avoiding Checklists
Here are a few common checklist items I see all the time:
 
Use the correct numbers on the I-864/I-864EZ for past year's incomes. As it states RIGHT IN THE QUESTION, if you filed a 1040 (or 1040A), then use total income, and if you filed a 1040EZ, then use adjusted gross income. If you filed jointly, then make sure you use the combined income (since it doesn't separate the incomes) and then submit W2s to show individual income. Although the I-864 instructions say if the answer is none or N/A, then to leave it blank, do NOT do this. I have seen countless people get checklists for leaving things blank, specifically the question asking for place of residence on the I-864EZ. Although it says to fill it out only if it's different from the mailing address, I have seen dozens and dozens of people getting checklists for leaving it blank. Make sure every single question has been filled out. I quite frequently see people get checklists for skipping a question. Please take your time reviewing the form. And make sure everything is dated and signed. After printing out the forms, double check again that everything is filled out properly. I've heard that sometimes after printing, a box that was checked on the computer gets unchecked after it's printed. If this happens to you, just check it off by hand.
False vs. Real Checklists
If you sent the packages, then get a checklist asking for one of the packages, just ignore it; it's a false checklist. Please understand that as soon as NVC reviews a package, they very frequently generate a checklist for the other package, without even checking if they have it in the building first.
 
The only time a checklist is real (and not false) is if it asks for something very specific missing in a package (like a police certificate, for example). If it asks for something general, like the entire package, then you can assume it's false. Call up an operator at NVC to confirm either way.

Case Complete
There's currently a way to know (not 100% guaranteed though) if you have case complete by looking on the CEAC site. If the AOS fee changes from PAID to N/A, then I'd suggest calling NVC up pronto as most, if not all, people who have reported seeing this have a case complete.
 
Although case complete emails used to be rare for non-EP folk, it's becoming more common (it might even be that everyone is getting them now). But, they're severely delayed (sometimes a week or more!), so do not rely on it (unless you're in no rush to find out). The fastest way to find out if your case is complete is to call an operator at NVC and ask.
After the case is complete, the case is put in a queue to get an interview date scheduled.

Warning: If you apply for an expedite, be warned that if you have any pending packages (re: not reviewed yet), then NVC may not go around digging for it when they forward your package off. If that's the case, then NVC should return the package to you once they do get to it, but it may be past the interview by then. So, you'll need to re-create the package to bring to the interview. So, if you want to apply for an expedite, it's best to do it BEFORE sending any packages.
 
Step 10 - Interview Date
 
The time frames for case complete to interview date scheduled vary by country and consulate/embassy. Some people find out within a day or two, others a few weeks, then the few unfortunate that wait a few months.
 
To best way to get an estimate for your beneficiary's country is to search, using the timeline feature, when others got case completes and when they got their interview dates scheduled. To do this, go here [21] and choose the beneficiary country's from the drop-down (leave the service center drop-downs alone). Then, sort by interview date by clicking on the down arrow to the left of the 'Interview' column. There's no 'Case Complete' column (or even when the interview date was scheduled), so you'll have to open each individual member's timeline. This may sound like a lot of work, but if you want to get a good idea of estimates for your beneficiary's country, you'll crunch the numbers.
 
Not only can the above be helpful, but if you join VJ member dwheels76's case complete/interview threads, you can wait along with others (and often others of the same country) to see when interview dates start getting assigned. The current thread is for April, found here [22]. She has her own spreadsheet (found here [23]) and if you want to be added, fill out the form here [24].
Once an interview date is scheduled, NVC will then ship out your case to the consulate/embassy. Typically, this is done the next day after the interview is scheduled, but it can take up to a week or more in rare cases. You can find out when NVC ships your case by simply calling and asking.
 
After NVC
 
Medical
After you have the interview letter, you can schedule a medical.
 
Note: there are a few countries (like the Philippines, for example) that allow advance medicals (ie: you can get the medical done as soon as you have the first piece of correspondence from NVC, instead of waiting for an interview date to be assigned). Check with your panel physician to see if they're one of the few.   From NVC's website, you can find a list of FAQ on the medical here [25].
 
You can also find country-specific medical information here [26] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).

Interview
You can find country-specific interview information at NVC's website here [27] (choose the three letter consulate/embassy code from the drop-down).
 
For an extensive list of possible interview questions, read this wiki here [28].
 
For ideas on proof of relationship evidence to bring to the interview, read this ENTIRE thread here [29] (don't just read the first page!).
 
And you can also get some good ideas on how to organize everything for the interview if you read this thread here [30].

POE
After you get approved at the interview, there is one more fee to pay. It's for the actual green card and the current cost is $165. You'll receive a letter about this at the interview, which you can read in advance here [31]. This fee can either be paid before or after POE, but it's recommended to do it before, so as not to cause any delays.
 
It may also be possible to get a tracking number for the green card. Follow VJ member Darnell's advice:
 
"Call USCIS, get a human, ask for the TRACKING NUMBER on the green card. Yes, such a thing exists, and they will give it to you when asked. Then call USPS and inquire for status. In the end, if USPS sent it back to USCIS, you'll need to call USCIS again, talk with an ISO about 'returned mail pieces', go over your address again on the telephone, and ask to have all returned mail pieces sent back to you."
 
Extra: Tax Information
 
Here are two frequently asked questions and my answers in regards to tax season:

Do I have to file 2015 taxes before I can fill out the I-864 form?
No. Up until April 18th, 2016 (tax deadline), you can still use 2014 as the most recent tax year. If for whatever reason you want to use 2015 as the most recent year instead (due to whatever reason), then yes, you can use 2015 as the most recent year as well. Both are valid options.
 
Keep in mind though: if you submit 2014 tax information as the most recent year and your interview is scheduled after April 18th, then 2015 tax information will likely be required at the interview.

As the petitioner, what filing status do I use for my tax returns?
You have three options: married filing separately (MFS), married filing jointly (MFJ), or head of household (HOH).
 
For HOH, there's some criteria you need to meet to be able to use this. Please see the IRS website for more information. For most people though, it's either between MFS or MFJ.
 
Before I continue, I will say this once and only once: YOU CANNOT FILE SINGLE. If you are married, you are married. Doesn't matter where in the universe your spouse is, YOU ARE STILL MARRIED. You will be lying to the IRS if you file as single, and if caught, could cause serious issues. If you have already filed taxes, either this year or last, and were married, yet filed as single, amend your tax return ASAP. If at the time of the interview, there are tax return transcripts in the case file showing the petitioner filed as single, this can be a HUGE red flag. The CO will have to wonder why the petitioner filed as single when they're trying to get a spousal visa. In their eyes, your relationship can be seen as a fraud and could be reason for denial.
 
For both MFS and MFJ, the petitioner will have to file a paper tax return. Electronic submissions won't be possible the first year.
 
Filing MFS will probably be the easiest for most people as it doesn't require any extra documents from the foreign spouse, nor does it require their signature. On the tax return, where it asks for the spouse's SSN, you would put 'NRA' for Non-Resident Alien. Continue filling out the rest of the return as normal. That is all you have to do. (And if desired, once the spouse has immigrated to the US and has obtained a SSN, the petitioner can then amend their tax return to MFJ, to possibly get a bigger refund, but this isn't required.)
 
Filing MFJ will typically mean a bigger refund up front, with no need to amend. This route takes a little more work though as the beneficiary will have to fill out a W7 (available on the IRS site), which requires a signature, and include document(s), so they can obtain a ITIN (it's like a SSN, but for the sole purpose of filing taxes, and is available for those not currently living in the US). This would then be included with the tax return, and sent to a special address for ITIN generation. For most countries, it may be hard to get the needed documents. (For Canada, it was uber easy, and this is how my husband did his taxes while I was still in Canada, waiting for my interview). Please view the instructions for the W7 form on the IRS website to see what documents will be needed.
 
For more information, please read this page on IRS's website here [32].