Jematt

Quick update and check in. Finally heard back about AOS packet. Got a checklist. For a stupid, stupid thing. I did not check the NO on active duty military question. So it's going back in the mail tomorrow morning. It took them a full month to review the docs from the date they were sent/arrived to the date of review. 19 business days, so a little less than the promised 30 days, at least. Now, this will go back into the same process. No luck of having our interview before Christmas now.

Hope you all had lovely Thanksgiving celebrations!

...

Mr. Blueberry reached out to the Frank Wolf's office again yesterday and we were told they contacted USCIS last week and haven't heard anything back yet.

Not holding my breath about it, but would like to know where our petition is.. I don't believe in Overland Park anymore

Good luck, Blueberry! I hope that he gets some sort of assistance in moving your application through the process. Seriously...I DO believe that the Senators can and do make an impact. Keep at it. Ask Mr. Blueberry to keep up the good work and the pressure on. I'm really and truly confident it makes a difference. (From my experiences so far.) Good luck! Keep us posted!

They got my AOS on 16 Oct and it was review on 13 Nov so it look like around 20 working days. So now waiting on my IV Packet which they go in system on 1Nov which I hope will be review in another 20 working days. So looking at 29 Nov till that done.

jmack, if I use your timeframe, it will still be early December. Goodness gracious. I'm losing patience...

I don't think so they take individual 30 days for both packages .. Than it's not 30 days it will became 60 days... What I am understanding they take 30 business days which mean 1.5 month for both package review..

She's, they told me 30 days from their date of receiving them. So it will be 30 days from when they received AOS and 30 days from receiving IV. They are within a week of each other, so it won't add up to 60 days...more like 34. Still...that's 1.5 work months and a little longer due to the 3 days of holidays in November... pretty irksome.

My docs were reviewd in about 20 days...I sent both packages at the same time. They reviewed my IV docs on Friday and my AOS on Monday. I received a checklist (for dumb reasons-so angry) for my AOS by phone on Monday but received the official email yesterday (Tuesday). So I guess it is possible to get reviewed before the 30 days. I'm disappointed too with this process. They received our docs late sept too. Tacking on an extra month for them to review our new documents with our checklist, I have a feeling our interview won't be until mid January-early February. The light at the end of the tunnel keeps getting longer and longer

kmg, that was a while, but, I guess it's not awful. The process is just awful, really. I've written to my Senator about it. It looks like we'll be waiting for longer for the NVC stuff to clear than we waited for our NOA2, believe it or not. That's pretty ridiculous. Hubby keeps telling me to be patient. But, I'm feeling the same thing...looks like our interview won't be til possibly February now. So sad about that. I was really hoping it would miraculously be before Christmas, but for sure have him here by Valentine's Day (Feb 14.) Just a little (lot) sad about this...

Well either way, it still faster then the USCIS which took almost 6 months just to get NOA2 approved.

Well either way, it still faster then the USCIS which took almost 6 months just to get NOA2 approved.

jmack...not for us. This is much longer. I know we're unusually quick through USCIS, but....I thought this was the part of the process that was supposed to fly by...

Just called NVC and I found out that my case was C O M P L E T E D on Monday.

Congrats onek! At least someone got a case complete! Happy for you!!!

Any case Completers here yet. Man this is a slow month. Come on over to the Case complete interview thread.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/463284-december-2013-interviews/page-3

It seems to be a really slow month! I wonder if there's a reason....

I'm really not holding my breath about it... I am pretty sure they will come back with the standard "lack of resources, backlog, million more months" #######..

Ughhh, sorry to hear that... But, yes- you should keep making noise and contact anyone you possibly can to bring attention to this.

I wonder if NVC slowed down because of DACA too? Hmn..

Gosh, it was yet another sleepless night for moi. I'm so exhausted.

I had a bad night's sleep, too. It just sucks to wait another half a year when you have an approval. I will definitely keep making noise. This is ridiculous. My hubby thinks I'm being a bit over the top. He asked me if I've contacted the president yet. I guess he still has some stuff to learn about his wife. Because, he's on the "to write to" list....even if he won't read it. I'm contacting EVERYONE.

Remind me..what's DACA? I'm so tired. Think it's really bed time. I hope you got a good night's rest, Blueberry!

They got my AOS on 16 Oct and it was review on 13 Nov so it look like around 20 working days. So now waiting on my IV Packet which they go in system on 1Nov which I hope will be review in another 20 working days. So looking at 29 Nov till that done.

jmack...about a month. It looks like you're moving through a little faster.

it's getting annoying to call NVC and keep being told the same 30-days thing so I have contacted my Senator. Not sure it will do anything, but, I've done it anyway. The rep last night didn't even know that our DS-260 was done and confirmed on Nov. 2. That's pretty unacceptable. It was an online form..but I guess they want their 30 days for that, too.

Has anyone gotten their documents accepted/complete quicker than 30 days? What's the average we're really looking at? I think this system is in need of some fixing. It's now looking like it will be 3.5-4 months from our NOA2 to the interview....that is just ridiculous. It's 1/3 of a year.

Mr. Blueberry spoke on the phone with Frank Wolf's office today and asked them to track down our petition.

We shall see what they find out for us..

.

Also- they got The Letter as well!

Good job, Mr. Blueberry! Seriously glad he did! I also contacted my Senator today to complain about NVC. Guess we're all on the same bandwagon. It's ridiculous, this whole process. You know...on the end of waiting for the NOA2 is bad enough...but here I am with an APPROVAL since 9/24 and NVC still hasn't even reviewed our documents. TWO months later!!! They are telling me 30 business days...which means as late as December 20th. In other words, 3 months from NOA2. RIDICULOUS! Unacceptable. AND...we're PAYING for this.

So, I've made my feelings known to one of our 2 senators. I think that I'll be contacting the other one tomorrow. I don't care if they all bombard NVC. Maybe it'll help shine a light on that part of the process too. Waiting 3 months from date of approval just for "CASE COMPLETE" and the paperwork to be SENT to the other country is ridiculous. It means that it will take 4 months (at least) for our interview. How is that acceptable in anyone's mind?

Just my vent. I know you're all still waiting on NOA2. But, I'm going to keep making noise about NVC. Hopefully when you all get there, it will help you move through this nonsense faster than we are. It's bloody ridiculous.

I just got case complete!! very happy!! after one checklist... finally done.... Now for interview!!

How long did it take from sending to first checklist to final approval? This is driving me bananas....

Hi Guys! So excited because finallyyyy after 11 months our i130 was approved. We had to submit 2 RFE's and our case had been reassigned once (to our knowledge) but now, hopefully things are on the right track. It's been a lot of tears but God willing that will soon be a distant memory. Anyway, I just found out today that it was approved so I'm excited to join Nov 13 NVC filers!! Good luck

Congrats 4ourFuture! It will be a memory. But, just be prepared for a few months in NVC. We got approval on 9/24 and still waiting for them to review our NVC docs and give us a case complete. Not trying to be negative, but give you a realistic timeframe so you know what to expect. We hoped for an interview in December, but that's even looking unlikely. So, expect 4 months before your case gets approved/an interview is scheduled. That seems to be what we're really looking at. Good luck! Hope it's faster for you. It's frustrating me.

My update.... even though NVC got my AOS packet on 10/31, they say that they got one package on 11/4. That's just not cool, but it is what it is. So, they told me again today, that it's taking up to 30 BUSINESS days for review. Pretty uncool. My IV package is dated 11/8 even though it arrived on 11/4. So...they'll be reviewed by mid-December at this rate.

On the plus side, hubby was allowed entry into the US today. He's nowhere near me (business trip.) But, he got NO questions asked. Just thought I'd share that incase any of you are planning to have spouses travel to the US over the holidays.

...

It doesn't look good, IMHO.

NBC (I believe all OverlandParkers' files are at Lee's Summit... ) might ship out all stand-alone I-130s.

We shall see.

Very disheartened lately... Sigh.

Blueberry, BIG HUGS to you, girl! You're gonna see hubby soon, right? And after that, the wait will hopefully be shorter than what you've waited so far. Once you get NOA2, the process will speed up! I hope you get something soon! Do you know if yours has been sent to another center? Maybe you should have your hubby contact his Senator...especially since you're not getting answers about the new center. I haven't kept up with that news because I've been too busy with NVC and the current requirements (plus work, life, baby, etc...) Anyway, I'm seriously hoping/crossing fingers and praying for you!!!!!

We got our hardcopy of NOA2 today.

It came from Lee Summit, MO.

Our NOA1 was from Overland Park, KS.

I never saw a transfer of processing centers so I don't know why they came from different places ...

YAY!!!! I am super happy for you!!! That was really fast! So yours was originally in Overland Park and now this one is MO? That's good news for all the people who are here waiting. Hopefully they are transferring. Congrats though! You should come join us on the NVC page now. That's your next step. I hate to say it but NVC is also really slow right now. It takes about 3 weeks to get your case number from the date of your NOA2....and then it takes a couple of weeks for them to bill you for IV and AOS. Then another 30 (business) days to review your package and make it a case complete (assuming you have no errors that need fixing, which means that you should add another 30 days for each error.) Then whatever time it takes your embassy...so far, we're almost at 2 months since NOA2 and waiting for a case complete, HOPEFULLY before Thanksgiving. And hoping for an interview in December, but realistically, it will probably be January. Crossing fingers as that would be about 3 or 4 months from NOA2 to an interview. (Hope that isn't disappointing, but just giving you what is happening.) Come join us in the NVC thread! Here it is: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/463192-nvc-filers-november-2013/

It mean when someone actual input the documents in the system, not when it arrived at NVC.

Oh that's good, then. Hopefully it means they're working on the packages....30 days...yikes! That takes us to mid-December. Ugh!

Just got off the phone with the NVC -- we have an interview date!!!! Dec 13 10am !!!!

I had called earlier around 9 am and got connected to a grumpy robotic lady who was very evasive with my questions. She just kept repeating that my interview has not been scheduled and just sounded impatient and would not elaborate on her answers.

As I was totally frustrated with her attitude and general unwillingness to help, I decided to call again about an hour later. This time, I got connected with Kelley who I'm quite sure I had talked to before and who was always very patient and understanding. Before I could finish my question, she told me we were just scheduled for an interview!! Yayyyyy!!

So the moral of this story is to try calling NVC again and again (as Saylin had suggested before) until you get a satisfactory reply !!

Congratulations! I am glad you got answers. I think that's the same grumpy, rude woman I got last week. But, I'm glad your call back got you a better response.

Congrats! After reading your post, I called NVC and learned that our interview has been scheduled as well! It's on Dec 3.

Congrats!!! YAY! You will have it before Christmas! WOOOHOOO!

I've sent everything back and somewhat put it behind me but it still bothers me that this kind of thing happens.

The USCIC and the NVC are mandated by U.S. law to provide this service to U.S. citizens. It isn't optional for them and it is actually a "right" to which you, me and everyone else on here are entitled to - they are not extending a privilege to us. If you apply for the Visa for your immediate relative and you meet the guidelines for approval, then they are absolutely obligated to provide you that Visa for your immediate relatives. Their only authority is to exam your case and determine if you meet the approval requirements. Issuing a Visa to other Visa categories, not involving the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, is where the discretionary "privilege" comes into play. A person who is not a citizen of the U.S. and who is not being petitioned as an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen certainly doesn't have a "right" to a Visa, but I believe that if they are willing to contribute to our country, they should be extended that privilege and welcomed. Regardless, we as U.S. citizens are not being extended a "privilege", the USCIS and the NVC are mandated by Federal Law to provide us this service - which makes it a "right" and not a discretionary privilege.

The process is broken and failing. I will absolutely go through everything they throw at me, but I won't sit back and allow them to make mistake after mistake and negatively impact my life and others like me. Even if I get finished with this process in the next few weeks, I will continue applying pressure to right a wrong, if only because it helps someone coming behind me. The USCIS and the NVC are accountable to U.S. taxpayers. We can't forget that fact. They are also accountable to the Legislative Branch of our government - Senate and House. They know this fact too and that is why my case "magically" starting moving once my U.S. Senator got involved.

Listen, I'm not an unreasonable person. I realize that every process, whether within the government or private sector, has the potential for errors to be made and problems to be created. There will always be the extraordinary examples of things that went wrong and likewise there will be examples of a perfectly smooth experience. Mistakes are mistakes. They happen and we all make them but there is a huge difference between someone at some website messing up your order and someone at the NVC failing to properly review your documents, sending you a checklist, and then telling you that you need to wait another 6 weeks for someone to look at it again. That isn't acceptable to me, it wasn't acceptable to my U.S. Senator, it wasn't acceptable to the NVC supervisor who apologized and had my documents immediately reviewed again, and it shouldn't be acceptable to you.

Long story short, if anyone is reading this and you are filling out the I-864EZ, make sure you put "N/A or none" in any blank sections. It isn't anywhere in the written instructions for the I-864EZ, but thankfully we have sites like this to help us out and reduce delays. The thing is though, these sites wouldn't do anything for us without individuals like Saylin, who have helped out countless people on here for no reason other than goodwill. I know you get many "thank you" messages Saylin but I don't think you get enough gratitude from everyone in the community. Thank you for all the help you provide here!

Jayjam...good points & I agree. I think it's important for our Senators and Representatives to be made aware and apply appropriate pressure. The wait times are ridiculous... in addition to even the wait times we sit on hold when we call. Totally agree with you 100%.

Also agree that Saylin has been a great help to me and many others. This site has salvaged my sanity through this process. Saylin in particular has been very helpful during this arduous stage of the process.

I just receive a email with a checklist that says that we receive your DS260' please submit your civil documents. They have my civil document already, should I just ignore the email.

Glad you asked this....I'm trying to figure out what to expect. Still waiting for something after sending in my AOS and IV packages...

Here's the text from the last page of the checklist letter that I received. (I received it on Oct 11 and I got my case complete exactly 20 calendar days later.)

______CORRESPONDENCE INSTRUCTIONS:_________________________________

When responding to the National Visa Center, please include the bar code sheet that came with this

letter. Failure to include the bar code sheet may cause a delay in the processing of your case. The bar

code sheet should be placed on top of all documents being submitted for this case and mailed to the

address provided.

______1 - IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION PART 1:_______________________

The National Visa Center received your DS-260 form. We are waiting for the traveling applicant’s

supporting civil documents to be submitted to the NVC. Your online Immigrant Visa Application will be

reviewed upon receipt of your supporting documentation.

To view which documents the applicant must submit to the NVC, please go to:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html.

[A4S 10/11/2013] PRS2013******

Thanks also for posting...this helps me know what to look for!

Like teach706 said, it's an automatically generated message. It assumes that the applicant hasn't sent any civil documents yet prior to getting the email checklist. Their automated messaging system isn't very adaptive. We got it too after we'd already sent the documents. In our case, we didn't call them.

Thanks for the info.

I called and was told that my documents (IV and AOS) were received on the 4th and 8th, which isn't true...they both came one week before those dates (as in, Fed-Ex dropped them off one week prior.) Does anyone know what "received" means in NVC language? They want me to wait 30 more days to call back. Obviously, I won't. But, what's the likely timeframe for the docs to be reviewed based on what you all have been seeing/experiencing?

Oh gosh..you're scaring me. I have my IV and AOS packages in limbo in NVC. The checklist thing is scaring me. Will they tell you over the phone if they need more info.????

I think I also talked to the same person a couple days ago. Most of the phone reps I've spoken to in the last 6 weeks have been very friendly but the one I got a couple days ago was very rude and combative. I would describe her exactly the way you did. She ended up transferring me to a Supervisor but did it by cutting me off mid-sentence and saying very sarcastically, "just wait on hold". I know everyone has bad days and I'm sure the people answering those phones get bombarded all day long, but such is the nature of a customer service job, and since my taxes and petition fees are paying her salary I don't think it is unreasonable to expect friendly, courteous, and helpful assistance. The supervisor was friendly and helpful though. That was the first time I've been transferred to a supervisor and it did seem as if she had more information available to her. I'm almost sure that at one point she either went and spoke to the person reviewing my case or went and actually looked at my case file.

Does anyone know if they scan all the documents for each case into electronic format or does everything remain simply a paper file?

Jayjam--yes, combative is a good word to describe that woman I spoke with today. And definitely rude. She really needs to be written up for her lack of customer service, IMO...as you said, we're paying for this service. Did you ask for the Supervisor because she was so rude? I've never asked for a Supervisor but I like the idea of that if they have more info. How long was the hold for a Supervisor?

Good question about the scanning. I was wondering that, too....

Yeah, they might. But... so? We are not really saying anything here that would hurt us. Just voicing our frustrations

For the most part, that's true. I was referring to that post where someone might have been looking to engage in immigration fraud. If they're reading this stuff....I wouldn't want to be associated with that nonsense. Know what I mean?

P.S. I like the photo, Blueberry!

In that case, as the NVC rep admitted, they were in error. I did not fill out an EZ version but I've left things like A-number blank (on the non-EZ version you have to fill out both mailing address + place of residence separately, whether they're the same or not) and it wasn't flagged. I'm not sure if you should resubmit the form right away, in that case. Maybe someone who has had a similar experience can comment as to what your best course of action is. Was the NVC rep not forthcoming about what that would be? Sounds like supervisor review is your best bet and sending in a new form will result in a similar delay anyway (so sorry), as far as I understand the process--at least with supervisor review you'd have someone who's less likely to confuse i-864 with i-864EZ.

I can tell you, though, that even though I left one part of the i-864 form blank in a resubmit by accident (forgot to re-enter my income after entering it the first time elsewhere on the form... grr such a horribly confusing form), they let us proceed to the interview. They sent us a checklist and told us we need to bring the corrected i-864 form to the interview, but told us we cleared the minimum requirement. (The checklist was misleading... I thought I'd have to resend all over again and was kicking myself until my spouse pointed out that they actually cleared us for the interview.) And then at the interview, they didn't even ask for the corrected form. But that's kind of how things go... Hope things get figured out!

Thanks for sharing that, rysa! Hoping that's also the case for us as we're going to the Netherlands.

I just found this in another forum and shared it with you guys. I am not getting involved in this. Thank you for looking out though.

Someone mentioned on another forum that there is some belief that consular offices may be reading these forums....so I am now just being more careful and warning others the same...

Sometimes, the people who answer the phones at NVC amaze me with their attitude and ignorance. Just a vent. I had to repeat my case number about 8 times to a really rude woman. She sounded like she's older, definitely a native of the NH area. Just plain old rude and unhelpful. She insisted that I was reading her the wrong number, at least 7 times. Luckily, most of the people are friendly. </end rant/>

Anyway, no movement on my AOS. It arrived one week ago, so I gave it a week before calling. My IV package arrived today. She told me repeatedly that they're taking 30 days to review the packets. Has anyone had any luck getting a review quicker?

Can we use this post I saw for the purpose of a claim stating USCIS is rushing approving K-1 petitions? I mean, why in hell are they allowing people who is not fully committed to a relationship to be with her/his "significant other" rather than us, US. Citizens who are married, fully committed and we are already putting our marriage to a test because of them. I don't know maybe writing some letters to lawyers, senators, even the president for pete's sake. Here is the post and the link. With all due respect to everyone here but this is just F.ing BS.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/464342-need-advice-from-experts-please-comment-asap/

im helping a friend . and i told him that i have a great site where i can possibly ask for opinions and suggestions on what to do. so heres my friends situation.

my friend is a beneficiary from k1. everythign went well, he was able to go to the US, and got married, applied for aos and got his green card after three months. hes working as a nurse and fell in love with another nurse. he is only 6 months in the US ( i know hes stupid, ive told him already so many times) yet he managed to cheat and fell in love with another girl. ,. these are his questions.

can he file for a divorce to his wife even if hes on a 2year green card?

if so, can he marries the new girl after the divorce?

WOW. I wouldn't even attempt to answer that question for a few reasons. 1. It's so unethical, I'd want nothing to do with it. 2. If you are going through the visa process, do you want to be associated with someone who is doing something like this? It may be considered visa-fraud and if you are associated with it and they trace it back to you, could it result in losing your visa approval? Just a thought. Consider and be careful.

I read all of the post on that forum and I THINK they are trying to figure out the best way to commit fraud. The story changed a few times so as to become more favorable. I dunno.

Cashm....I think you're wise. I don't think that story sounds favorable anyway...but good point.

Saylin and other fellow VJ'ers, thank you so much for your effot in putting this together for us! My wife and I really appreciate it! Thank you!

I second that emotion!!!

And MVD, I love your quote. =)

the wait is so hard!

Good luck, barbie! I hope your wait is as short as possible.

Ya I get that and it's painful because it's stupid error.. In AOS package gross income wS not written according to new pattern.. So they want me to send them with new figures.. It's crazy.. But I send them the very next day cause it was minor thing.. Now I'm waiting for case complete... I called they said please wait 30 days..

Oh my goodness....I hope and pray that doesn't happen to us!!! That's just ridiculous....sorry, but it really is...

Oh wow, how did it happen? Did you finally get it though?

My hubby called them (USPS or Australian Post- not sure) and they re-routed it to Poland, thank God! prior to that the status already had shown "returned to sender". Whew!

Too funny.. What are the odds?!

I guess the UGGs really wanted to go back home

This was the second time my hubby shipped something to me visa USPS Express. The first time it took 3 weeks plus I had to pay ridiculous tax and customs for the Christmas gift (VS stuff... ) that came up to like 80% of gift's value. I was soo mad! But- had to pay

And now this. No more USPS Express Mail. EVER.

Blueberry, the package was finally delivered on Monday morning at 7:35am. I was so mad, but glad to get it. It contained the original police certificates that we have to turn in...and those things took 5 weeks to arrive in Europe! I couldn't imagine waiting another 5 weeks. Now they're en route to NVC, so I hope to God that they get there with no further ado.... *praying*

All I can recommend is that when you need to get your police certificates, do it in advance. The NVC stage goes fast. Thing is, those certificates are only good for a limited time...ugh. They tie our hands from being too prepared with these time limitations on stuff...

All our files are probably at Lee's Summit, MO.

So, we might get transferred, too. Also, all new petitions are going straight to Nebraska Service Center. Not to Overland Park anymore...

I'm guessing it means NBC Kansas is not and will not be fully operational any time soon.

I hope you get transferred to California!!! :-)

Wow, really? When did we figure out that Overland Park was just smoke and mirrors? Sigh. This is really frustrating that they're giving us false information if that's the case.

That seems to be the way they do things, k.dlg. It's really frustrating. They didn't even have info. about the California Center and I was so freaked out when I was transferred there originally....

Wait a minute, so if the cases before us are being transferred and the cases after us are going to Nebraska, where does that leave us??? I have a very bad feeling about this and am ready for a 16 month wait for NOA2.

Hope that's not the case!

I m waiting too for my case complete .. Very discouraged now.. they are damn slow..

I know. I got a response to an email from 2 weeks ago. It is super slow. So....I've just sent the IV package today. They got the AOS package last week. I guess I have to wait a week or so to be bothered calling. Since the two packets went about a week apart...I'm just thinking it might be towards the end of November before everything is completed. I'm hoping and praying that we don't get a checklist. Did you get one, She's?

My husband got me UGGs and shipped them to me last Wednesday. They just arrived in... Australia.

It's almost funny, but not really.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and that next week will bring more clarity and/or some good news for all of us...

Costa Rica loses... everything. When I first arrived a few years back my mom and friend both sent me packages for Christmas with tracking numbers & insured. After two months I went to see where they were. The workers told me that the tracking numbers were only for the USA and they change when they come into CR. Great system, right? They then told me the USA lost all my packages and mail (letters, postcards, etc). As you can imagine, I did not renew my mailbox.

I HAD to reply to you two....coz I had something similar happen this past weekend. Hubby sent me our IV package from Netherlands. I tracked it with Fed-Ex and they said it was in Newark on Saturday morning, then in Paris on Saturday afternoon. So it supposedly went from Amsterdam-Paris-Newark and back to Paris. We called and got two different answers. I got a call back from California. He got a call back from Montreal (in French.) It was all pretty ridiculous, frustrating...but now, I can say it was funny. But, yes...another of the joys of our LD marriages, eh?

Blueberry...UGGs are awesome! That was a super nice present. Good job Blueberry-Hubby!!! =)