Jematt

Hi everyone. Quick qs. What docents do we need after we get noa 2. ? My wife lived in UK for approx 13 mmonths so she will need police certificate from there. But I heard It has be within 6 months of sending that.? Any idea when should I start the application for the police certificate as don't knw when I will get my noa 2 and I Don't want my police certificate to expire if that is the case. Any inputs will be appreciated. Thank u

Read this next and start to memorize it: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse (Only change is that there is no DS-230 anymore, only DS-260, so that info. is outdated since September 2013.) Other than that, it is perfectly good.Shanijav, you will need to do a lot.

I recommend you join the NVC thread here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/472916-nvc-filers-january-2014/

Read the first posts by Saylin. She knows a LOT. Really really read it thoroughly and try to memorize the process. You will constantly be reading back. I used the first link that I provided to you a LOT.

Congratulations on your NOA2.

You will need police certificates for anywhere she lived for more than 6 months, by the way. And certified translations for any documents in any language other than English (they require them to be notarized in some places, but certification is ok in others...better to do it right, I recommend. Get them notarized.) The police certs expire in 6 months, so don't do them too soon. We took 4 months in NVC, if that gives you some help.

Hope that helps & isn't more info. than you ever wanted....

I found out that I got case complete yesterday!!! Yay!! Now just waiting for the interview to be scheduled....patience is a virtue!

Congrats kiky!!! Don't feel bad...it's hard to remain patient with this long process.

Jematt- We called the NVC and asked of our interview date and was told over the phone and asked if they would please email- and it was in email a couple of days later. If I were you, I would call them and ask for update.

Dance of Life - thank you! After I wrote all of that yesterday, I planned to call NVC tonight....just coz it was driving me batty not knowing.... and this afternoon, around 4pm, I got the email....THE email with our interview date! We're scheduled for Feb 6th!!! When I say we, I mean my hubby...but you know what I mean. So so excited!!! When is your interview? Good luck!!!

Okay you aren't understanding. Everyday a petitions are going to every single embassy in the world. K1, CR1/IR1. Its not your petition. You have not been assigned an interview so you are still at NVC. Please understand this.

https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/

dhwheels, thanks again for the info. It is now giving me an "unexpected error" message...guess it's since they finally scheduled the interview, so we're in limbo. But, super happy to have our interview beginning of Feb...less than a month away! YAY YAY!!!!

Okay you aren't understanding. Everyday a petitions are going to every single embassy in the world. K1, CR1/IR1. Its not your petition. You have not been assigned an interview so you are still at NVC. Please understand this.

https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/

I understand you. Thanks for the link. In CEAC, it says to follow instructions as mailed to us by NVC...of course, we have received no instructions. Guess I'd better wait for them to contact us...

No they will not thats why we do it. That shippers reference is the date not a tracking number. It's not really something that you need to do accept to be curious. Petitions take 2 to 4 days to get to embassy after they interview assign.

If you watch the CEAC Visa tracker it should say At NVC. Once Interview is assigned it says ready. Not much else to do.

Since you weren't assigned this go it will be end of this month for next round. Sorry.

This is strange...my hubby got on to DHL and it worked for him. He got a listing saying that the package left on December 30th and arrived in Amsterdam Consulate on 1/2/14. But, we haven't heard anything from them yet....

Sorry...what is CEAC Visa Tracker?

One seek. You don't seem to want to check the link so I will repost here. I was just using some the format in hopes someone actually reads the post. here you go.

I went to www.dhl.com clicked Express then Tracking, then Track by Shipper's Reference, on this page you add your search info..You change the day and month to what you think your's might have left NVC

EXAMPLE:

* Shipper´s Reference : EXP 24 MAR 2011A

* Date range for shipment - From: 23 - 03 - 2011

* Date range for shipment - To: 26 - 03 - 2011

Account Number - Leave this blank

Shipment Destination: Egypt / You Choose your Country

**Hold up you just got case complete and no interview? Dear your case doesn't move until interview. Goodness I thought youhad interview. You have to wait to do this than.

dhwheels, thanks....I thought we could track where the paperwork was this way. No, still no interview date.

Will they give us this DHL number after an interview date is assigned? I wasn't sure from the post if we should use the number you gave or if NVC assigns one to each person?

Thank you for your help! I might be getting a bit impatient in my excitement.

Did you got to the first post here? It takes you to the thread where she shows you tracking. Shows you how to plug in numbers all we use is date EXP JAN 07 all that. Go rest the 1st post on tracking.

Just to clarify, dhwheels.... you use this exactly as the shipper's reference?:

EXP JAN 07

I tried doing it and got "No result found for your query. Please try again."

Does that mean it has not yet been shipped out? We got case complete on 12/27. Seems to be taking a long time. Should I be calling NVC?

Yaaayyy! Congrats Jenmatt!!

Thank you so much, LRP!!! Good luck to you, too, during 2014!!!

Congrats Jematt

when was your checklist recievied by NVC. I also got a checklist around the same time so wanted to know if I could get my hopes up?

Good luck here on out.

Thanks pob! It was received on 12/5. Good luck! You should be any day now. :-)

CONGRATULATIONS:) see you in the interview thread:)

Thank you! See you there, dance of life!

Congratulations. I have added you. But your petition will not be going anywhere until you get interview. Hopefully there are still slots for your embassy and they are still scheduling for February. Hang on for tomorrow or friday.

The P4 (Interview letter) comes within 24 hours of assignment.

be sure to Thank you

Thank you for adding me. I hope there are slots, too. I've read that they sometimes schedule later in the month. The case was actually completed on 12/27, but I'm imagining that people have been on vacation and won't start back to work until Monday. I'm probably overly hopeful in thinking it *could* happen in January, huh?

Congrats!

And as dwheels said, the case won't be sent out until an interview date is assigned. And then it's usually the day after that in which the case is sent out. Time to review the bottom of post 2

Thanks Saylin! I'll go have a review of that. I thought they sent it right out....ahhh! Never that simple with this process....

Case Complete Interview thread coming up.

I think I should join your case complete thread, dhwheels. Oh my, am I excited to say those words!!! :-)

Case Complete Interview thread coming up.

I think I should join your case complete thread, dhwheels. Oh my, am I excited to say those words!!! :-)

It's probably not going to be 9 months for you , some people in July are getting NOA2's. Also just be think of yourself as lucky that you're not staring down the gun barrel of unlimited AP after the interview is done like I am because my wife is a Muslim with a common Muslim name (and I am not).

So sorry, the dude. That sucks. I hope and pray that they approve her quickly and can work past this. I hope you're contacting your congressman/woman, senators etc. If you haven't, please, please do. I entirely believe they help. Just my 2 cents and hope it can help you along your journey. I have Muslim extended family members and understand the troubles they get put through sometimes. Good luck to you both!

Thank you, O'Lisa! Haven't seen him since our wedding in JUNE! Hope you get to see your hubby soon as well....

Ah, I don't want to get my hopes up... The July approvals don't seem like a trend just yet, so ... Sigh.

So sorry, thedude... I really hope you won't end up in AP. ***in my prayers***

Blueberry, I hope you are having a WONDERFUL time with your hubby!!!! My poor hubby caught the flu for NYE and he's really really sick. But....guess what we got TONIGHT? We got....

CASE COMPLETE!!!! That's right. C A S E C O M P L E T E!!!! AMEN!!!!!!!!

So excited to let you all know that we just got CASE COMPLETE tonight when I called for an update! Talk about an awesome NYE present! 2014 is starting out right for us!

Thanks for all of your help along the way, folks!

Saylin, particular thanks to you!

Now, I guess we just have to wait for our case to arrive in Amsterdam. She can't give me an estimate....if anyone has any idea, that would be awesome!

Either way...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Still waiting for Case Complete, but wanted to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Have a great holiday, everyone!!!

Yay! Merry Christmas to you too!

Merry Christmas! It's really here!

And Merry Christmas to everyone here!!!

Wow, just wow...I've lost all faith in this process. I might miss out on my child's first steps at the rate this is all going. And they haven't even been born yet....

So in total: 9 months for NOA2 and 5-6 months to the interview. January 2015 it is.

Sorry to be the bearer of that bad news....I really didn't want to tell you, but, maybe you can get through faster. I really hope so. This "space" is awful. Anyway, Merry Christmas! Are you at least going to see your wife for Christmas?

Blueberry, you asked me about POE - just to let you know - it was really really nice!!!! They were actually friendly and only asked him the usual, basic POE questions. They were more concerned at customs, about how much stuff he brought and what it was worth. LOL! Go figure...after our worrying. Merry Christmas!!!

No, he's not going to make it for Christmas. He always spends xmas with his parents (in their 90s) and children. So it is what it is We'll spend NYE together so it's all good

Chocolate does help, girl!

I am doing the same kind of countdown 9 days and 4 hours!

Have a wonderful time with your husband And Merry Christmas to both of you- I doubt you will have time to come on VJ when your hubby is there

Umm... That did depress me.

But thank you, Jen, for telling us.. Better to know and be ready...

So if we get approved around May, add 5-6 months- > October-November 2014. Holy ###.

Aww...that's good that he's spending Christmas with his parents, especially if they're that age. And at least you get him for New Years! That's awesome, too! Just think...2014 will be your year to be living together like a regular husband and wife!

I'm really counting down now...just cross your fingers for no issues at POE! I need to see him!!! You're probably right that I won't have much time for VJ while he's here....at least, I hope not to be, to be honest! I want to enjoy every second.

I'm sorry...I was afraid it would depress folks if I was honest. Maybe it'll speed up by the time y'all get there...I sure hope so. I really thought NOA2 meant we were just going to be done by Christmas. Dream on! I was wrong. Now I'm really really really hoping for Valentine's Day. IF that happens, it will be about 5 months. That's *IF* it happens. So, I'll leave that be for now and we'll just think about our times together for Christmas & New Years!

Enjoy your hubby, Blueberry...and all the chocolate you eat before he arrives! LOL! Merry Christmas in advance!!!!

So how long do you think the total time from NOA2 to Interview takes? Can you give us an estimate of what we can expect?

r060...it's not a great timeframe. Here's what it looks like. They take about 3 weeks from NOA2 to giving you a case #. Things then speed up a bit. About one week or sometimes two weeks later, you can log in and access your AOS and IV bills. Call that a month. It takes about a week between submitting your DS-261. 5 weeks. Then, it takes them about 1-2 weeks to accept all of that. Now you're at 7 weeks. Then, you can submit all of your paperwork (you just have to wait for them to release the DS-260 to do the IV, but you can do the AOS pretty quickly.) They are currently taking 6 weeks to review that. Now you have 13 weeks. (Over 3 months.) Then, you hope not to get a checklist. Most people have gotten one, but, you could be lucky and not get one. We got one. Add 6 more weeks if you do. 4.5 months. Takes between 1-2 months for the interview. Add 4 weeks. 5-months or more. We're right now at 3 months since NOA2. Looks like we're hoping for a case complete end of Dec/early January (hopefully no more problems/checklist.) I doubt we'll be faster than 5 months. It sucks. I can't lie to you.

I debated whether or not to answer it so honestly...I don't want to depress you guys waiting for NOA2's. But, I guess it's better to know. Sorry. It sucks. It really sucks.

Quite a few people received the same message from the Ombudsman, some of us responded... haven't heard back yet. I really doubt there will be any meetings though!

Sorry the NVC stage is taking so long But you're almost done... And your hubby is coming!

I can't even think of NVC yet. I will worry when I get there.. This waiting now is overwhelming enough

Ah, Christmas. Me no likey. And will hate it this year cause I won't spend it with Mr. Blueberry.

Can't wait for a hug from my husband, too! soon, soon, soon! it actually seems sooo unreal that I'm finally gonna see him! my brain has a hard time comprehending it

Chocolate. Ha. Now that you said it... I realized I've been eating chocolate very single day lately.

I know...I keep trying to think...2-3 months more. I can do it. I shouldn't complain. But, you know how it goes. 2-3 months more just sounds like forever right now. I feel so bad for you and everyone stuck in the nether, not knowing...that is just awful. I guess, at least I know where my stuff is being held up...LOL! As if that should make anyone feel better, right? Only in this crazy process!!!

Wait...is your hubby not going to make it for Christmas? I thought he'd be here since you said 2 weeks. Awww! What date does he arrive??? Enjoy your time together and act like a normal, married couple. It's definitely a small positive in a long wait!!! Make the best of it!!!

Chocolate helps. LOL!

Time to seeing my hubby: 2 days, 16 hours, 33 mins. Yep...I'm down to that kind of counting. Want the seconds? LOL!

Thank you, ladies!

Jematt, how many weeks did your hubby have to wait til he received his police clearance? And was it sent to him or to the embassy? I think i should start requesting mine anytime soon.. Im glad you get to see him in less than a week! I can imagine the excitement!

You're welcome, krispykreme! I sent you a response to your message with all the details. Good luck with that.

Is it cheesy to admit that I am now truly counting the hours--4 days and 18 hours, 24 minutes to be precise, until he's with me. (Hopefully less than that if he gets through immigration faster than I'm anticipating!) Really really do miss him! So does our son. Time for this to end!

He contacted his congressman, Frank Wolf.

He sent him another email today and demanded some answers. We know we only waited for 3 months (and 4 days) but we do not appreciate being told that we have 6 more months of waiting. That would put us outside of the average processing time (currently 7.4 months) and their dream goal of 5 months that they are trying to reach by May's end.

We shall see what happens now. (not holding my breath )

Also, he took the Ombudsmen up on his offer and asked for a meeting http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/470030-i-130-petitioners-send-today/?p=6700451

Great to hear that NVC is speeding up!

Let us know about your hubby's POE experience and .. hope all goes smoothly

Mr. Blueberry is coming in 2 weeks!!! So excited!

YAY about Mr. Blueberry coming in 2 weeks! I totally know the feeling....you saw what I posted up above. LOL! I'm so glad you're going to see him soon! You deserve it!

Super glad he is having a meeting with the Ombudsman! Seriously!

NVC isn't speeding up. 30 days to review everything isn't speedy in my opinion. Keep in mind--30 days means 30 business days. That's usually 6 weeks of real time. And they're taking it. And they're rude on the phone when you call for updates. Just awful. I'm going to write a really scathing letter when this is all done. But, I just don't know if it will make a difference. Nobody seems to be too concerned about the fate of people who are waiting. It's a shame. I know I shouldn't complain because here you are, stuck in a backlog with no info...and that's worse. But, you'll have to deal with this nonsense after that nonsense ends. Just ridiculous.

Anyway, let's stay positive. We're seeing our Misters in a few days! And THAT is a good thing. It's almost Christmas. Also a really good thing. I just can't wait. Actually...I just really can't wait for a hug from my hubby. (Yes, I'm a sap.)

Thank God we have chocolate, huh? LOL!

By the way, three people posted "CASE COMPLETE" statuses from NVC today. Hopefully that's a sign that the backlog is getting handled on a bigger level. Just thought I'd share incase it helps you see some light at the end of the tunnel!

hi...can you tell me when you submitted the AOS package and the IV package ?

Halloween (Oct 31st) but NVC didn't acknowledge "receiving" them for about one week after that. So, basically, took them one full month to check the package.

Hello everyone case complete for me

Congrats! I'm so happy to hear that cases are being completed! Gives me hope! :-)

Just received my case complete email notification from NVC ~ a day shy of 1 month after emailing the AOS and DS-260 supporting documents. [we are doing electronic processing]

And the biggest joy is that we did not get a checklist!

That's the same time-frame I've seen with our paperwork! Congratulations!!!! Unfortunately, we got one checklist item and are now in the midst of that stupid 30-day wait for review again. Only one item, though, so hopefully this time, it's a go. Congrats again!

Case complete Dec 9 interview Jan 23!!!

YAY! That's pretty good and not too far away! What a great new year's gift! Congrats!!!

Update about our congressional inquiry. Mr. Blueberry received a letter from his congressman yesterday.

After a review of our systems it was found that Case MSC 139xxxxxxx Form I-130 filed on behalf of Mr. Blueberry is currently pending. The estimated processing time for I-130 petitions is an additional six months from today’s date. These delays are due to workload factors not related to your constituent’s case. If your constituent does not receive a decision or other notice of action from USCIS by that date, please contact your USCIS congressional liaison again.

No word about were our file actually is and that's what we wanted to know

I knew USCIS would give us their standard brush off response, but it still hurt a bit. Sigh.

Blueberry, did he contact his Congress Man/Woman, or the USCIS Ombudsman/Liaison? That response is totally unacceptable, IMO. I would tell him to call the Congress person back and say that this response is unhelpful & that his inquiry is to (1) locate the petition and (2) get it moving into approval. Oye! That is so uncool. I feel like September-December is already 3+ months. That response is really not OK at all.

In your situation, you should also file a complaint with the Ombudsman for USCIS. They need to give you information about where your file is. This is government work and since they are accountable to citizens, you may need to push hard to make them accountable, but, ultimately, they are.

Ugh...I'm so sorry for you guys going through this nonsense. Seriously-have Mr. Blueberry utilize his 1st amendment rights & freedom of speech! :-)

*hugs* Maybe call back and tell them that they didn't actually answer your question? That's what I'm going to do with mine tomorrow.

I agree. Push back hard.

Just got an early Christmas gift from Santa! USCIS finally approved our petition today (12/12/2013) we didnt receive any transfer notice so i assume it stayed at NBC.. God is so good!! I hope my fellow September filers will be transferred and approved, if not this month, early next year. Keep the faith everyone!

YAY! Congrats krispykreme! SO happy for you!!! I'm glad to see approvals starting to trickle in for others on here!

P.S. Assuming he has no problems entering the country, less than 6 days til I see my honey! OMG do I miss him!!!! I know you all understand....

We got our IV "checklist" yesterday, which showed that everything was acceptable. Since I got a checklist and had to return the I-864, that should be another 20 business days. This can't move fast enough, but, here we are...still waiting. I am hoping there's a chance of a January interview for my hubby!

Approved on Dec 9th through a requested expedite..our case is now headed to either the state department or the visa board..

CONGRATS!!! So happy for you to get approval! Finally another approval in our thread here!

At first I applied for an expedite as part on the humanitarian relief our USA was providing to Filipino's..10 days went by with no word..A day after that, my father was diagnosed to have stage 4 lung/brain cancer and so I called and spoke to a tier 2 operator about getting my wife over to meet him before it was too late..My wife and dad had grown close through skype but had never met in person..He was very empathetic to my situation so I felt I would get my request approved..Yesterday I checked my case status and there it was..POST DECISION ACTIVITY CIRCLE in blue..

It's been a rough few months, so it was extra special getting great news like that. I feel for all of you..Hopefully the I-130 process continues to pick up the pace..

I am so sorry to hear the circumstances and about your dad. Prayers & thoughts to you as you go through this. I hope that NVC hurries you through their process. It has been painstakingly slow for us...so I hope it moves faster for you. Good luck! Keep us posted and truly, I am sorry about your father. I lost my dad to lung cancer and I know the pain of it. to your family.

Sorry you had a checklist. I am waiting on interview date- and it is December now. Gotta look at it with postiive eyes- the fact that you must make this Christmas a memorable one with your family and friends where you are and take pictures, you will look back at it next year and miss it all.

Goodluck.

Thank you! I'm lucky...my hubby is planning to come for Christmas. He was able to come in and out last month on a business trip to the USA (East coast though, so I didn't see him.) But, will definitely enjoy our Christmas...and counting 16 days to seeing him! Also, saw your other post...congrats on getting an interview date!!! That's wonderful news! YAY!!!!

Interview set for end of January- processing this news and the fact that the long stressful journey is about to be over.

SO SO SO happy to hear that!!1 It seems like it takes so long...we think the NOA2 is the big thing, but this NVC piece has taken so long for many of us! Keep us posted and good luck! You'll be able to be together so soon!!!! What a great Christmas/New Year present!

I received two email. One was to pay the AOS fees and another was to my wife telling her visa process is now at NVC. I paid the AOS fees. What is the preferred way; wait for the AOS to be paid and then send the package, or send right away.

Will the IV invoice happen soon? or more delay?

P.S. I already filled the Choice agent before I got the AOS invoice.

I sent my packages immediately upon payment. I knew the funds were in the bank so wasn't worried. Had no problem. I just didn't want to delay any extra days. It should show as pending almost immediately.

Hello again,

Checking in! Still at NVC (going at this since Sept)....hopefully we will move over to the interview thread for January. Just waiting for them to review the new docs from my checklist. :/

Thankfully I will be flying out to see my husband for our 1 year anniversary.

I'm right there with you! Keep me posted on your status. I just sent the items from my checklist today. They arrive Wednesday. Hopefully they'll accept all of our IV paperwork too and we don't have a checklist on that. (But, I'm expecting the worst, just incase.) Good luck to you!!!

Checking in...honestly this is more stressful than the USCIS process!

At least some of you guys statuses have updated on the USCIS website, stating that they mailed it to the NVC, mine is still stuck on:

On November 13, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

Totally agree with you there! Totally stressful and they're so unhelpful and non communicative. You should call and ask for your case number. Have you been doing that? Once you have that, you can log in to the site.

Since I am desperate to finish this long process like most of us, do you think is it helpful to call NVC everyday or twice a day to speed up the process??????????? Today was my 1st anniversary and was sad that I am not with my wife

I was calling every day at first, then switched to 2-3 times per week. Now that we're waiting to hear back about our IV and AOS packets, I was calling about 2-times per week. Well, I've learned that calling daily is a bit of a waste of time, because our checklist was generated and sent out within 2 days of my last call. I called on Tuesday night and they were closed for Thanksgiving. I got the checklist by email on Friday. That means that it was sent out within 2 days of my call...not bad. So, if you're at the point where you're waiting for checklists....I'd actually take a different perspective to what some recommend--I wouldn't recommend calling every day. Call maybe 2-times per week (beginning and towards the end of the week maybe.) If there's news in between, you'll get an email pretty quickly if you signed up for electronic updates. Just my 2-cents. I don't know about you, but sitting on hold for 30-45 minutes is not something I enjoy doing every night (nor have time for.) And it just adds to my stress. So, twice per week has been working for me. I hate to say it...but it looks like patience is truly a virtue at this point for all of us. I really thought this part of the process would have been faster. Looks like we have at least one more month in NVC at their current rate...and hopefully no more checklists.... Sorry you are in the same shoes! Good luck!

Thanks, Jen!

What's new, what's new? Done at NVC yet??

OMG..not even CLOSE, Blueberry. I don't want to depress you all by telling you about this part of the process. I just got a checklist because I didn't check a freaking box. Took them one full month to review that paperwork & they will now do the same with the returned paperwork. At this point, we've been a NVC almost 2 months. I'm a little depressed about it. Not looking like he'll have an interview now until possibly Feb. And I'm probably hopeful to say that...it's ridiculous.

Still no news on you guys? Is your paperwork in limbo/nowhere to be found???