Articgirl

When we went for our permanent resident status interview we were told they lost my daughters medical information. This was incredibly frustrating. We paid to get another medical, and were told to book an infopass appt to drop off the new sealed envelope. Every time I look there are no appointments available in my area. I believe there is a place I can mail it to, but am not sure where to find it. Does anyone know where to mail it to OR if I go to the office with the documents will they accept it without an infopass appointment? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Just called and the office is closed. Will try again on Monday. THANK YOU!

you chasing a visa ? That's managed by DoS, the Department of State.

National Visa Center (NVC) is a unit of the Department of State.

All Consulates and Embassies, worldwide, are units of the Department of State.

The Immigrant visa section inside of the Vancouver Consulate is part of the Department of State.

For Fast Human Getting, at DoS Hotline, press 1, then 0 .

Go Get Em, and Good Luck !

(PS -- restudy post #7 on the link I provided)

If NVC completed processing and sent it to Vancouver on June 11 - you can track it via the DHL website. There's another thread in VJ showing you how to search/track for these packages from NVC to various Consulates/Embassies globally (search for DHL track)

If I am using the tool correctly, it looks like the DHL package arrived in Vancouver on June 13 - see the URL below.

http://www.dhl.com/content/g0/en/express/tracking/shippers_reference.shtml?shipperReference=EXP+11+JUN+2013A&fromDayValue=11&fromMonthValue=06&fromYearValue=2013&toDayValue=14&toMonthValue=06&toYearValue=2013&accountNumber=&countryCodeIndex=36&countryCode=ca

That is awesome!!! I guess if they said it left on the 11th that is the shipment! Package 3 hopefully is on it's way and I will get it next week. THANK YOU! This is incredibly helpful!!! We are getting so close. I think it makes the waiting even harder. THANK YOU!

you chasing a visa ? That's managed by DoS, the Department of State.

National Visa Center (NVC) is a unit of the Department of State.

All Consulates and Embassies, worldwide, are units of the Department of State.

The Immigrant visa section inside of the Vancouver Consulate is part of the Department of State.

For Fast Human Getting, at DoS Hotline, press 1, then 0 .

Go Get Em, and Good Luck !

(PS -- restudy post #7 on the link I provided)

OK... I will do this. I ready post 7 but was more focused on post 1. Not knowing who I was calling made me a bit nervous as well. THANK YOU! Calling again now!

You have a consular casefile number from NVC? Cool !

Read: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/264972-shortcuts-when-checking-for-updates-from-the-nvc-and-dos/

study post #1 and post #7.

then plan your calling pattern, soonish.

Thank you so much Darnell. A really dumb question. What is DOS? I have my case number for Vancouver which is different than my WAC number for USCIS. I tried to call the info line in Vancouver but no human was made available. (Yes... humans are important!) I tried the DOS call but got cut off at step 3. Can you help further?? Sorry to be so needy:(

I don't know if its the same for Canada, but when I applied from the UK, I had to wait to receive an email confirmation on any progress made on my case. CSC aren't great at doing this so I called them maybe once every two weeks to check for updates and they had approved my application but did not send me package three until 2 days after they approved it. I am assuming your are in the equivalent of the NVC stage so you cannot, if memory serves me correctly, check their progress online. I would give them a call, find out your case number (if you do not already have it) and enquire with them that way. The computers are quicker than the employees are at sending out relevant information.

They will email you (if they have your email) should they need any additional information. I hope this helps you out

Thanks for your help. I guess we are between NVC and the Vancouver Consulate. It has moved from CSC to NVS and now has left NVS. (I can't believe I know what all this means!) Are you saying all Vancouver?? I have my case number so I will try to call Vancouver. Thanks for responding so quickly:)

Hi Everyone... I contacted NVS and found out our application was sent to Vancouver on June 11th. People seem to know when their application arrives in Vancouver. Is there a way to track this or do you just wait until Packet 3 arrives in the mail?? Thank you for your help.

Hi Everyone... we received our NOA2 on Friday night. Super happy! I am now unsure of how to find out when our case leaves CSS and moves to NSC then to Vancouver. I see on people's timelines that they have the info. I went to the USCIS website and can't find it. Is there a way to get this info?? Thank you for your help.

It is super fast once it hits Vancouver. The wait time for an interview after you compile all your documents and pay your interview fees is 2-3 days. Of course you need to get the medical first though. They can get you in very quickly too - but allow at least a week's wait for the medical.

My daughter has had all of her Canadian immunizations done, but the USCIS requires more than Canada gives. Double-check the immunizations for her age group. If you don't have your immunization card, go to your doctor and get a Titer test for yourself for MMR and Tdap. It's way cheaper than getting them re-done like I did.

Yes to the police report if she is over 16. That took two weeks for us to get because we went through our municipal police not the RCMP. Also order long form birth certificates if you don't have them. You need original divorce certificates as well. Have a new Intent to Marry letter prepared as well as the Affidavit of Support ready and dated within 30 days of the interview. Start thinking of what you will use for evidence.

You can check the Vancouver Consulate website for the documents that you will need and get them ready in advance. Those forms are so tedious and annoying. They were the WORST part of this process. You must fill out separate forms for your daughter as well.

You will need 5 US Visa photos for each of you, but they must be taken within 30 days of the interview.

You may be surprised at all the little fees that are going to start popping up. We calculated that we have spent a little over $1500 from start to finish.

That sucks hat you had to pay for your immunizations. I got the blood work and the Tdap and MMR done for free by Alberta Health Services. Thank goodness. This is an expensive process. I'm happy to save wherever I can!

Well you can either do the medical in Surrey (just outside Vancouver),or you can go to Ontario or Montreal. Unfortunately there isn't a physician who does them anywhere in the Prairies. If you opt to do the one in Vancouver, it is drcheema.ca and click on USA immigration medical exam at the top. Sounds like you are good to go on vaccinations and just finishing that up.

Long form birth certificate basically means it has to have your parents's names on it - I had always just had the birth certificate card with the basic facts on it from BC but I had to order in the long form one. It's actually quite pretty! I am not sure how Alberta does its birth certificates but if you are getting close you may want to look into that soon. It took me about 2 weeks to get mine after ordering it in BC but not sure on Alberta's timeline.

The passport photos have to be US style not Canadian style-they have different sizing. I live close to the border so just got mine taken at a Costco in the USA, but you can get them done in Canada at certain places. You will need to specify that it is for a US version not the Canadian one. Other posters on this board will probably have some suggestions where you can go and get those done, or you can try calling where you'd normally get them done to see if they also do the US version. On a bright note, the US version is less picky on certain things!

THANK YOU! I am literally making a list off your post! I checked and AB does have long form birth certificates. Problem is I have to be there to order it and I'm in the US. Is this something you have to have? I have my wallet size birth certificate that I've used for everything else.

I will get the passport photos done while here and get my daughter to get hers done US style in Canada.

I so very much appreciate this information. Thanks again!!!

It is super fast once it hits Vancouver. The wait time for an interview after you compile all your documents and pay your interview fees is 2-3 days. Of course you need to get the medical first though. They can get you in very quickly too - but allow at least a week's wait for the medical.

My daughter has had all of her Canadian immunizations done, but the USCIS requires more than Canada gives. Double-check the immunizations for her age group. If you don't have your immunization card, go to your doctor and get a Titer test for yourself for MMR and Tdap. It's way cheaper than getting them re-done like I did.

Yes to the police report if she is over 16. That took two weeks for us to get because we went through our municipal police not the RCMP. Also order long form birth certificates if you don't have them. You need original divorce certificates as well. Have a new Intent to Marry letter prepared as well as the Affidavit of Support ready and dated within 30 days of the interview. Start thinking of what you will use for evidence.

You can check the Vancouver Consulate website for the documents that you will need and get them ready in advance. Those forms are so tedious and annoying. They were the WORST part of this process. You must fill out separate forms for your daughter as well.

You will need 5 US Visa photos for each of you, but they must be taken within 30 days of the interview.

You may be surprised at all the little fees that are going to start popping up. We calculated that we have spent a little over $1500 from start to finish.

Great information. Thanks! Question about the medical. We have to do that in Vancouver before the interview. Is that correct? I'm from Calgary and it would be so great if I could get it done there. Help!

My 17 year old and I both have our police checks applied for. I got blood work showing what vaccinations I've had done and I got MMR and Tdap done a few weeks ago. She has all vaccinations and will get the one that's missing. (I can't remember the name.) The notarized letter from her Dad is the next step.

Long form birth certificate? I've never heard of that in Alberta? Do you know it if varies by province?

5 US Visas photos? Do you mean taken in the US?? That isn't possible?

This is a very helpful post. I hope you don't mind me asking more questions. Thank you!

THANK YOU!! I want this done SO fast! I really appreciate the help. THANK YOU!

We received our RFE in the mail today. A very simple mistake on our part. We are ready to send it back tonight and are wondering if we are best to courier it or to mail it. The address is a PO box. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thank you for your help.

I'm seeing very similar things around my WAC number. I am also November 7th but strangely, I don't see any ending in 83 near me, so you're not in my "watched" group! I have a list of 38 I-129s from Nov 5-Nov 7 (I probably did miss some, manually checking got really tiring after a while!), and of those 38 -- 24 of them have had RFEs or approvals in the last three days, that's 63% already completed. I'm getting REALLY nervous because that's approaching everyone EXCEPT me (only about 8 more before my number that aren't approved yet).

I am so excited, and yet so frustrated when I see so many approvals. So happy for everyone but gah where is mine please please please!!!

We got an RFE today. Not happy about the RFE but happy we've been touched. It came by email so we're waiting for the hard copy. Good news for those seeing a lot of numbers getting action that are near them. Hope you hear soon. I hope we get this RFE dealt with fast too. Thanks for your post:)

I just looked at the WAC #'s around us. Ours ends in 83. We are not approved and neither is 84 BUT out of 11 around us that are I29's, 5 are approved and 4 have RFE's. I'm Nov 7th. I am really hoping to see something soon! Congrats to everyone who has been approved!

Although I think it's likely that you'll be hearing soon (given CSC's improved pace) ... I really doubt one part of what the rep said: it's my understanding that Tier 2 and Tier 1 reps have NO INSIGHT as to the RFE vs approval status of your case. Unless the approval was already in the system, he would have no way of knowing whether you'll be approved or RFE'd -- that's not his job nor is his judgement any good, since he's not the officer reviewing your case.

I hope for your sake you do get approved soon, but I'd take that particular tidbit with a very large grain of salt, since that's not the way it works. Unless there's a LOT we don't know about the system!

November 5-8 has been REALLY active today (I'm tracking about 40 WAC numbers) and I'm in there as well, so let's hope we both see some results VERY soon!

Thanks for your thoughts. My fiance and I are both "skeptical" but want so badly to be hopeful. He said he really pushed for info and the rep said the info was on the computer system. The biggest news is that there is activity in our timeline. That is huge. Please keep updating on the numbers your tracking. As I said there was one RFE in the 10 or so applicants around my number. Fingers and toes are crossed! Thank you!!!

I posted this under progress reports but it looks like lots of stuff is happening with applicants with the same NOA1 date as us. (Nov. 7th.) I'm re-posting here. BIG congrats to all who have been approved. GREAT news!

My fiance talked to a tier 2 rep today. With some significant prodding he was told

• Our application looks like it will be approved with no RFE. "Straight approval" is what he said.
• We should hear by June 3rd. If we don't hear back by the end of May to call back again.
• He said this info came from the CSC.

I'm scared to believe that our application is being reviewed. Does this add up?? One of the WAC #'s a few away from ours was given an RFE in the last day. Has anyone else been told news "like" this? If so, what was the outcome? Thank you for your help.

My fiance talked to a tier 2 rep today. With some significant prodding he was told

• Our application looks like it will be approved with no RFE. "Straight approval" is what he said.
• We should hear by June 3rd. If we don't hear back by the end of May to call back again.
• He said this info came from the CSC.

I'm scared to believe that our application is being reviewed. Does this add up?? One of the WAC #'s a few away from ours was given an RFE in the last day. Has anyone else been told news "like" this? If so, what was the outcome? Thank you for your help.

We are 6 months today too. It gets harder the closer I think we "might" be. No fun.

Well maybe we should sent the timelines and Igor's list, and make them aware that we know what they are and are not doing. Yes it is just a small sample size however it has proven to be representative of what CSC is doing...

Edit -> just realized I am at 6 months today... sigh...

We are 2 days after you. How did you schedule your infopass appointment and what do you hope to accomplish with it? My fiance who is the US resident feels we are out of things to do now that we've contacted our congressman and been turned down. Is the infopass a viable option? I thought we'd need to wait until 7 1/2 months to schedule it. If you did it I think I can to! Oh... did you do it on the USCIS website?? I looked for the link for it yesterday for a bit and didn't see it. Thank you and best of luck.

I was on the wrong page for infopass. I just booked it. I guess we'll see what they can tell us. I am not sure it will be worth our time. Hopefully it will be.

This slow down is so disheartening. In a few days we mark our 6th month. We sent an email to Congressman Mike Honda and Senator Barbara Boxer and still waiting for their reply or non-reply. (sigh) Also scheduled an infopass for May 14th. I hope all these efforts do not go to waste.

I agree with Lynkali, we should keep the noise going... they should be aware of what's going on @ CSC.

We are 2 days after you. How did you schedule your infopass appointment and what do you hope to accomplish with it? My fiance who is the US resident feels we are out of things to do now that we've contacted our congressman and been turned down. Is the infopass a viable option? I thought we'd need to wait until 7 1/2 months to schedule it. If you did it I think I can to! Oh... did you do it on the USCIS website?? I looked for the link for it yesterday for a bit and didn't see it. Thank you and best of luck.

You've updated your timeline and it's not showing up on Igors list. Maybe there is a glitch with Igors list and there have been other approvals?? I hope so. Regardless, congrats!

We contacted our congressman Matt Salmon. His immigration rep Sherry (I don't know her last name) was extremely helpful. My fiance filled out the privacy forms and made some phone calls. The applied to expedite out case and were turned down. They were extremely helpful but didn't get anywhere.

I'm wondering if it's worth contacting them again after our 6 month date? They were helpful. Does anyone have any ideas?

(I'm sorry if I sound disrespectful to those waiting from July to August. I don't meant to be. Now that CSC has come to what looks to be a near stop in activity again anxiety is climbing as I know it is for everyone.)

Yeah I hope more members update their timeline later.. I guess I just got really excited for the past two weeks hoping CSC would keep approving the same amount of applications everyday, 7 approvals now seem slow for me. But it's just the start of the week, there's still more time left this week. I really wish they get to touch early November filers this week.

Me too:)

Hi,

Just wanted to shed some light into a conversation I had with customer service. I called and finally got a customer rep (CRP) as they're called. I told him its 5 months past and I wish to inquire about the status. He told me what I already knew from the case status update. He told me that there was no tier 2 service available and to call back tomorrow. It's interesting that there was no higher customer service available. I shall call them tomorrow and inquire about my case. Also, I'll ask about the real statistics as to what is happening to processing of I-129fs.

A side note: I have called both of my senators' offices and asked for congressional inquiries on my behalf. I'll keep everyone updated.

Our congressmen tried and was turned down. His office was extremely helpful but USCIS said no to any attempt to push us thru. I hope you have more luck.

#1 - Took them 10 days from NOA2 to Consulate receive for me (if you look at my timeline you can see it in more detail)

#2 - I think it varies and you won't really know until you can book one unless you run into someone who's done it recently. It is definitely a LOT faster than Montreal so hooray!

#3 - It took me 10 days to get my visa, BUT it was ready before that but no one let me know coz the tracking status kept saying 'undeliverable' - I made a post about that awhile ago. I think it's probably ready in just a few days after the interview. If it takes longer you could phone the location to ask if it's available or the service number with your tracking information to explain what is happening.

#4 - I couldn't get my vaccination records from BC since they didn't save them past a certain year (I think it was maybe 10 or 15 years and then they burned them - go figure). What you need to do is make sure you have the needed vaccinations before you go to the medical. You can find out what vaccinations you need from the doctor's website. If you go through the doctor in BC, his website is: http://www.drcheema.ca/

Click on the 'USA immigration medical exam' link at the top and scroll down till you find the age category you fit in and what is required. Some of the vaccinations you can check if you have had through blood tests called 'titers' and others you may need to get. I needed to get a new shot of Tdap (Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis) because when I went it had to be taken within the previous year or two or something like that, even though I'd had it as a child.

#5 - Can't answer that one for you

#6 - Faster than Montreal... I can't say exactly since I tried to make mine take a bit longer due to timing of moving. For example we put together "Packet 3" after we got the information instead of mailing it back the same day to extend it a week or so. We didn't pick the first interview date available either. Perhaps someone else can be of more help

THANK YOU! This is very helpful. One more question... did you stay in Vancouver to get your Visa or did they mail it to you? I live about 12 hours away and am in the sam boat as you. The vaccination stuff has me worried. I will get some blood work done to see what can be proven from that. You are wonderful! THANK YOU! It seems like it might not be 3 months to finish after NOA2 if I'm ready. I hope not. THANK YOU!