Chris&Angel

U.S. Department of State
National Visa Center Process of Pending Applications IR-1/CR-1
Under the old policy of document submissions and the step by step process:
Step 1. DS-261 Online Form
Choice of Agent Form (Contact Person for matters involving the Status of the Pending Application)
Notification from NVC as “Complete”
Step 2. Affidavit of Support (AOS) Fee Window is opened for the Petitioner to make payment.
Petitioner Makes Payment
Notification from NVC as “Paid”; with Acknowledgement (Receipt) and Document Submission using the NVC Generated Cover Letter.
I-864 Affidavit of Support Form, with Petitioner Financial Documents
Step 3. DS- 260 Online Visa Application data-entry:
Immigration Visa (IV) Fee Window is opened for the Petitioner to make payment.
Petitioner Makes Payment
Notification from NVC as “Paid”; with Acknowledgement (Receipt) and Document Submission using NVC Generated Cover Letter.
Civil Document Submission: Marriage Cert., Birth Cert, Police Reports etc.
Step 4. NVC Beneficiary Visa Application Approval (Case Complete)
Step 5. NVC sends Approved Visa Petition sent to Local U.S. Embassy with Visa Interview Date.
Step 6. U.S. Embassy send letter to Applicant with Instructions and needed Documents prior to the Interview.
Step 7. The Interview
Step 8. U.S. Embassy Issuance of Visa or Denial of the Visa
Old Step by Step Process with the Nations Visa Center.
http://www.visajourney.com/examples/NVC_Process_Flowchart_v1-2.pdf
Old Process for Fee Payments:
http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/fees.html
Normal Application Processing time was 30 Days. On or about 1 August 2014, this policy changed to 60 days (word of mouth from the NVC Call Center), and has been reported by pending Petitioners/Applicants when calling the NVC to inquire about their Application Status, that the NVC is experiencing delays because of the number of Applications they’re receiving from USCIS.
Application Fee changes for various Documents went into effect on 12 Sept 2014; this should “Only” apply “New Applications”, not the current Pending Application that were filed months or years ago.
Under the New Policy of Document Submission to the NVC, all Documents must be submitted at the same time (One Package); this change occurred on or about 19 September 2014. There was No “News” notification posted anywhere on the Department of State Consular’s website informing current Petitioners/Applicants of this change.
http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant process/documents/Submit_documents.html
NVC News Bulletin:
http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/news.html
It’s not like the NVC “Didn’t know” who these Petitioners/Applicants were, once the DS-261 is completed, the NVC has an entire “Database of email addresses (Choice of Agent)” of pending Applications that should have been “Notified Immediately of this Change”!
The main contradiction to this “New Policy Change” is, the Petitioner/Applicant cannot Access the DS-260 Online Application without being “Billed and Paying the IV Fee First”, because it’s “Not Available” until the IV Fee is “Paid First”, therefore making the “One Package Submission is Moot”!
There is “No” remedy given by the NVC to those who have filed documents prior to this change and who will have Priority at this point, other than the “Fact of Significant Delays”, because these New Procedures were “Not Followed”!
It was discovered after reviewing the Consular’s “Step by Step” procedures and processing of Visa Applications on or about the same date as stated above.
http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process.html
As it stands right now, those who filed and followed the “Old Process and Procedures” are now victimized and penalized by the NVC because of this change in Policy! This shouldn’t be the case; the NVC should be using “FIFO” method to resolve this issue!
Issue:
Since nearly 100% of all pending Visa Applications (at least a Thousand or more that are pending) where submitted under the Old Policy prior to this change, now the Petitioner/Applicant faces delays beyond their control because of this change in Policy. This should not be the case; the Department of State created this new problem, therefore causing “Significant” delays in the process of Pending Applications because of the Policy Change.
Solution:
Open the IV Fee Payment Window “Immediately”; so that all “Pending Applications” prior to this change can pay the IV Fee and submit their “Documents” without “Delay”!
http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents.html
These are the NEW steps as I read and understand them.
Step 1 – Choose an agent
Step 2 – Pay fees (Immigrant visa application processing fee and Affidavit of support fee)
If you pay online allow 5 days for the NVC to process your fee payments before continuing to the next step
Step 3 – Complete DS-260 (Cannot Access or Complete this Document until the IV Fee is Paid)
After completing the DS-260 you must print the confirmation page and bring it to your interview.
Step 4 – Collect financial documents
· Complete Affidavit of Support Form i.e., I-864
· Obtain financial evidence i.e., IRS Tax Transcripts
Step 5 – Collect supporting documents (These are the IV documents, marriage cert/ police cert etc)
Step 6 – Submit documents to the NVC as ‘ONE package’ (Impossible to Submit as “One Package”)
· After you collect your affidavit of support form (s) and financial evidence in Step 4, and supporting documents in Step 5, You must submit all of the documents in 'ONE package' to the NVC. Your case may be significantly delayed if you fail to submit all of your documents in one package.
· PLEASE ALLOW 60 DAYS for the NVC to review your forms and documents.

Biometics Appointment is the 1st step in the process of the K1 AOS, your soon to be husband has to be personally here, this appointment applies to the EAD (Employment Authorization Document - Work Premit, and the Advanced Parole Document - Travel Document), there is "No-Way" around this Government requirement once he arrives and you two are married. You might make in InfoPass appointment (Local Office) if he comes before December, they maybe can help in the process, but before you enter this office check your attitude, as you don't want to PO these people who oversee your happiness, do this after the Biometics.
Be aware that regardless of how you work the Oct and Dec problems out, this process you can't avoid, it will happen.
Be wise and smart, this forum has a wealth of valuable information, from people who have been thru this process.
I have been thru both the K1 and CR1 process, and as painful as the process is, this is a cornerstone place of knowledge, use it wisely!

Thank you for the clarification of the VISA, your friend was here using the VWP 2 year Visa, she was not here on a B2 Visa, is this Correct? Quote "Her 2 years multiple Visa will expire in Nov.,2015".
IMHO, she needs to stay home, go through the Visa process (K1) and have a Lawyer.

Read the terms and conditions of the retainer agreement, is it a Flat Rate or hourly rate and None-Refundable contract? Your lawyer needs to earn the legal fees, seek Fee's arbatration, and file a complaint with your State Bar Association.

Guys and Girls, I would highly suggest, that you submit the Original Certified Police Certificate, unless your in EP status. A Notarized copy will lead to a check list. Don't take the chance!