pgupta

I read the entire transcript. It doesn't discuss immigrant visas at all.

So, lets see what happens, aye?

here are remaining post, and i think currently it is for India:

Press Event: New Visa Processing System for India

September 5, 2012

•Namaste and good afternoon. Thank you for joining us today, and thank you to our team from Stanley.

•The United States is committed to providing all visa applicants with an efficient, transparent, and standardized application process.

•Worldwide, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is instituting significant changes to the visa application process under the Global Support Strategy program. This program will be implemented in India on September 26.

•It is our goal to make our visa process as efficient as possible to meet the increased demand for U.S. visas worldwide. In March, we launched the Interview Waiver Program in India, which allows certain qualified applicants to renew their visas without coming in for an interview.

•Today, it is my pleasure to introduce a new visa processing system that will streamline appointment scheduling, simplify fee payments, and provide new delivery options.

•First, we would like to introduce our brand new website, available in English and Hindi, that will answer all your questions about how to apply for a U.S. visa. Through the website, visa applicants will be able to fill out application forms, find out what documents are required, pay visa application fees, schedule an appointment for biometrics collection, and schedule an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You can access the website at www.ustraveldocs.com/in.

•Applicants can also contact us via telephone, email, or online chat. Our call center agents can answer questions in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, and Telugu. There are no fees for calling the call center.

•Under our new system, we have more payment options available. Applicants will have the option of paying their visa application fees by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or with a mobile phone. They will also be able to pay in cash at over 1,800 Axis and Citibank branches. The new system allows for bulk purchases of fee receipts, an important benefit for companies and travel agents. Within one hour of payment, applicants will receive an SMS message letting them know that their receipt has been activated, and they can proceed with scheduling their appointments.

•Appointments can be scheduled through our new website or by calling the call center. We are offering appointments by phone for the first time. The new global appointment scheduling system will offer group and expedited appointments.

•One important difference from our current system is that first-time applicants will need to schedule two appointments; one for fingerprint collection, and one for a consular interview. Fingerprints will be collected at an Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) prior to the visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

•For many first-time applicants, this will mean two appointments on two separate days. We are working to shorten this to one day, but at this point, we cannot say with certainty when that will happen.

•The OFCs will be located in convenient locations separate from the Embassy or Consulates to reduce congestion and to speed applicant processing.

•The good news is that most applicants will only need to submit their fingerprints at the OFC one time. Applicants who are renewing their visas will probably be able to skip this step. Over time, we expect the number of applicants who do not need to visit our premises to grow markedly.

•Our processing improvements also affect the delivery of documents. Under our new system, passports, visas, immigrant visa packets and other documents will be delivered to 33 document pick-up locations across India within a week at no charge. Applicants will be asked to choose a delivery location when they schedule their appointments. Using our website, they can track the progress of their visa application. When their documents are ready for pick-up, they will be notified via email and/or SMS.

•Of course, some things won’t change. Our visa application fees will remain the same worldwide; an American consular officer will still conduct the interview at the Embassy or Consulate; and our adjudication standards have not changed. Applicants must still meet the requirements for the appropriate visa class, whether they are traveling as tourists, business people, or students. We will continue to issue 10-year, multiple-entry visas to all those who qualify.

•We are committed to an efficient visa process for all visa applicants worldwide. Presently, visa applicants in India wait fewer than ten days for their appointments, spend less than one hour at our consular facilities, and typically have their visas in hand within a week of their interviews.

•We expect that our new system will further increase the efficiency and transparency of our visa processing, standardizing the process for all visa applicants worldwide. We expect that fewer applicants will need to visit our OFCs, Embassy and Consulates to renew their visas in the future.

•As the U.S.-India relationship continues to grow, we look forward to supporting and strengthening the people-to-people ties between our two countries by facilitating travel with secure and efficient visa processing.

Thank you.

so, this is for visitor visas, and business visas,

but not for immigrant visas (ie not for a K-1, NOT for a CR-1/IR-1)

all visas immigrant and non-immigrant

The U.S. Embassy Announces A New Visa Processing System

New Delhi -- The United States Embassy in India today announced it is implementing a new visa processing system throughout India that will further standardize procedures and will simplify fee payment and appointment scheduling through a new website at www.ustraveldocs.com/in. Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, Julia Stanley, announced at a press conference here today that beginning September 26, 2012 U.S. visa applicants will be able to pay application fees via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or with their mobile phones. They can also pay in cash at more than 1,800 Axis bank branches.

For the first time, applicants will be able to schedule their appointments online or by phone. The new system will also allow companies and travel agents to purchase multiple fee receipts for group travel, and it accommodates the scheduling of group and emergency appointments.

Visa applicants will be able to have their questions answered via telephone, email, or online chat. Call center agents in Noida and Hyderabad will answer questions in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, and Telugu. Call centers will be open 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday, and 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday. The numbers are (91-120) 660-2222 or (91-22) 6720-9400 in India or 1-310-616-5424 in the United States. Applicants can email in English or Hindi at support-india@ustraveldocs.com, or they can chat with us directly from our website (www.ustraveldocs.com/in) during call center hours.

One important change is that under the new system, applicants will have to make two appointments. Prior to their visa interviews, applicants will have to visit an Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) to submit their fingerprints and a photo. Located apart from the Embassy and Consulates in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, the OFCs will reduce congestion at U.S. consular facilities and speed applicant processing. Most applicants will need to visit an OFC only once.

In March, the U.S. Mission in India introduced the Interview Waiver Program (IWP) that allows applicants who meet certain criteria to be considered for waivers of personal interviews. Under the IWP and our new processing system, an increasing number of applicants will be able to complete all visa requirements without having to visit a U.S. Embassy or Consulate at all.

The U.S. Department of State continually strives to improve consular services to meet increased visa demand in India. In 2011, consular officers in India processed nearly seven lakh nonimmigrant visa applications, an increase of more than 11 percent over the previous year. Presently, applicants wait fewer than ten days for visa interview appointments and spend less than one hour at U.S. consular facilities in India.

For information about the visa application process, please visit www.ustraveldocs.com. To receive regular updates, follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook at www.facebook.com/India.usembassy.

Is Mumbai Consulate in India Standard or other ? Does the applicant bring documents to the embassy directly ? or do they send the package to the peticitioner in US ?

Based on you state of resident you get Delhi or Mumbai consulates. you can find that information in either of US consulate sites.

I recently went to local passport office to get a Police clearence certificate. The officer there told me that since i had mentioned i am married now, i need to get a new passport that has my spouse name mentioned(Indian passports mention your spouses name) and only after that i can apply for Police clearence certificate. However he was nice enough to suggest that alternativly i could just not mention that i am married in my application for a Police clearence certificate. Doing so would be lying but he stated i would be issued Police C Cert in 2 hours.

I dont know what to do ?

Any Indians here had similar issues ? what did you do ?

for Indian PCC they ask for Spouce name to be entered in Passport, so first update your passport by adding spouce name then you can apply for PCC.

I have sent to the NVC AOS and IV packets, and I plan to call them soon to find out if they have been reviewed. My question is once they review both packets are they going to provide us with a letter that my mom needs to take to the medical examiner's office in her country or can she go now and just say she needs to get her immigrant visa medical exam done. I'm trying to think of ways to speed up the process, and if we don't need a letter from the NVC she can do this now while we wait for the interview date. I'm the petitioner (choice of agent) and I don't know if I will be receiving an email from NVC with additional instructions, reading the forum it looks like most people get updates by calling them but I haven't seen anyone saying they were notified when their AOS and IV packets were completed and provided instructions on what they need to do to prepare for their interview.

P.S. Sorry my timeline is not complete.

You need interview letter to schedule medical exam and she will get list of doctors where she can do medical.

My wife just completed her visa interview at Mumbai Consulate an hour ago and she got it approved!!!!!!! She entered consulate at 7:30am and was out of consulate by 8:40am

I will write up detailed consulate review soon It's time for us to celebrate. I have also compiled a list of questions which may help other upcoming IR-1/CR-1 applicants interview at Mumbai Consulate and it will be posted soon!

Congratulations!!

Could you also tell if your wife paid any fees in India and what document submitted in India as we gave everything to NVC here.

I got my Invoice today, paid and sent 864 and DS-230. is there any chance to get October Interview Date at Mumbai?

I paid my AOS and IV fee and overnighted AOS and DS-230, how much time NVC is taking for Case Complete? Do i have to call everyday or NVC will inform me once Case Completed?

SO I'm thankful to say that my I130 has been approved, on 9-5-12. Now what is the next step? I contacted NVC to check if they had my case or my status. Yes, I know its only been one day, but still was hopeful and contacted them... They have not recieved my case and told me to wait 15 days after the approval for it to be transferred.....

Will the case me transferred to NVC within 15 days, or should I continue to call them?

What are the documents that I must prepare to submit, so the NVC process can we completed ASAP?

We do have a lawyer however that lawyer is in the same country as my spouse, I would rather be the choice agent, is this wise?

(FYI- the lawyer did make a few minor mistakes, actually a mistake that took the 1130 process longer then intented, I was the one that had to fix those mistakes)

Maybe I'm being paranoid, but their is no one that wants my spouse and me to finally reunite. The lawyer has been paid, however, he has other cases as well and whats the gurantee our case will be top priority? None, so should I be the choice agent/my spous, or the lawer?

Leave your lawyer as Agent, that will save you some time in NVC as you can pay AOS and IV fee together and there is no need to wait and send for DS-2030. Just be on top of your case and keep lawyer engaged. I also did same thing.

Congratulations!!!

Hello all...was wondering how to go about renewing an expired CR-1 visa.

Let me explain a bit, my husband has a visa but we are waiting on his countries exit visa and we are not sure how long this step will take. Just wanting to learn the process in case.

Thanks in advance.

He can extend the validity beyond 6 months at your local US consulate. Usually you request extention at the time of interview.

My wife finally had her interview on Tuesday in Montreal after 7 months of waiting and frustrations!.....Everything went so very smoothly thanks to all the help and advice we received here on Visajourney!.....A very big "special" thank you goes to Saylin for guiding us with her Wiki and her replies to our questions!

I will post a review of the interview in the Montreal consulate section and Darquise and I would like to wish you all a fast and successful journey through the immigration process!

Congratulations!!

I was just saying that because I have read where people have been told that K1 and CR1/IR1 interviews are different days and such. I know there are slotted days and I am sure its not a 8 to 5 mon-fri thing. But well I am curious as I am learning under your guidance and knowledge.

Today NVC payment portal is not allowing login and display message that "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."

earlier it used to take inside and displayed "No Invoice", is it usual/expected?

I am ready to send my AOS (Affidavit of Support) packet, however I am a bit confused. Do I send the receipt that I printed when I paid the AOS fee (no barcode)or do I send the the letter that I received via email from them?/

Someone, anyone please help. Also, what address do I forward this packet too?

Thanks,

Nattie :help: :help:

You need to print cover letter from NVC Payment site which contains bar code. without cover letter they will not accept it.

Can you ask them honestly to explain the interview queue process. And do Embassies really schedule only the 2nd week of the month. Ad why do K1 Visas seem to get priority booking over CR1/IR1's. Plzzzzzz

i think K1 visas skip NVC process and go directly to consulate.

Our case was also received by the NVC on 8/13, we have a case number and invoice number, but waiting to be billed. A family friend works at the NVC processing center in NH, and from what she said, they are incredibly busy at the moment but trying to push through as much as they can (and sadly, no, she can't expedite anything - I already asked ). I just keep checking the payment portal website to see if it's been invoiced.

Good to know NVC is working, I just called NVC, operator says 4-6 weeks from Case#

Once is sufficient, I suggest 8:30 PM EST.

Don't forget the magic question, aye?

Thanks

Suggest you call once a day and ask for the AOS FEE BILL to be emailed out to you.

Do that once a day, until it actually happens.

I am calling 2-3 times a day.

I am still waiting as well.. no worries it will come soon enough!!

Thanks Gracenp2

Its a rough estimate but maybe around 1 to 2 weeks from when they receive your case you get number. Mine took 17 days. But that was after being lost for 31 days from CSC to NVC. My NOA2 was 6/29 received at NVC 7/30 got case# and IIN on 8/16. It's when they do it. They will tell you on phone it takes up to 20 days believe them. Could be more could be less.

Thanks dwheels76

My Son's case was received by NVC on 08/13, 08/24 i got Case#, but no Invlice Yet. Do we have any Any NVC cases similar to this so i have idea when i will get Invoice?

HELLO VJ'S,IS ANYBODY HERE DOING EXPEDITE PROCESSING?OURs WAS EXPEDITE FROM THE USCIS TO NVC TO US EMBASSY MANILA.AND ALL OF THEM AGREED FOR THE EXPEDITE,NOW MY CASE IS ALREADY HERE IN MANILA AND THE KIDS MEDICAL WAS DONE WHICH IS EMBASSY TOLD ME TO FINISH THEIR MEDICAL AND CALL THEM BACK AND THEY WOULD GIVE US AN APPOINTMENT DATE BUT NOW THEY WONT BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ORIGINAL PAPERS IS NOT ON THEIR HANDS YET?AND THEY CANT GIVE ME A DATE WHEN THEY WILL CONTACT ME BACK OR WHEN THEY CAN SET ME AN APPOINTMENT EVEN THEY HAVE THE ELECTRONIC FILES THAT NVC SENT BEFORE THE ORIGINAL..ANYBODY HERE KNOWS HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO CONTACT ME FOR INTERVIEW?PLEASE SHARE ANY INFO YOU HAVE ON THIS MATTER IF YOU HAVE EXPEDITE CASE ALSO.THANK YOU AND GOODLUCK TO ALL OF US.

Call NVC ans ask them about originals.

I have a question, i also applied for expedite processing, how much time they take to decide about expedite request?

How long does it take for NOA to respond to the RFE you sent them? I submitted further evidence on the 22nd now just curious how long it will be, before I hear back from them or if its been approved?

Lastly how do you sign up for email alerts, from USCIS instead of waiting for a response in the mail?

I suppose I'm just tired or waiting and jumping through hoops for the past two years.....

it takes usually 1-2 weeks. for mine RFE it took 10 days.

Hi guys! been following this thread and decided to leave a reply. lol. my laptop and internet is 24/7 open only having these sites: FB, YMail, Payment portal and VJ with them my hubby over Oovoo. Lol. Its so addicting and at the same time frustrating. We got our case number last Aug 22 and still haven;t heard abything from NVC. And the worse thing is, we called them for how many times to ask/inquire about our status why we haven't got invoiced yet so we can pay. Most of them answered us after 20days.. 20-30 days.. Worst, after 4-6 weeks. Me and my husband was like huuuhhh??/ Are u kidding us???!!! NVC operators are so inconsistent! They make us more frustrated. I don't even know if they have any idea how hard it is to be apart from ur partner/love ones.. We called NVC twice today. The operator talks so fast and in a hurry. We wonder if she have a date to catch. Lol. The second agent was nice. she told us wait after 10days after CN was assigned (8-22-2012) and keep an eye on our email and portal. if she only knew i don't only keep an "eye" to it, even my mind is in it. lol.. how i wish we get invoiced before the end of this week.. Hayyyyy..

what is the point of assigning Case# and Invoice# when you cant pay. each step NVC put you for 10-20 business day, NVC better put these people to work and move files then answering calls with these types of answers.

Hi All,

I have not received my PCC yet.

Can I send my packet IV without the PCC and say that will submit PCC during interview.

Consulate is Mumbai.

Thanks.

Yes you can deposit PCC during Interview.