TheBigO

Can someone update for me? We received my husbands biometrics notice yesterday, dated November 26. His appointment is for Dec 13. I was really nervous that we would only get 1-2 days notice of the appointment given how long it took for our NOA 1 to arrive after it was issued, but fortunately 2 weeks is plenty of notice

Hi everyone.
Letting you know that I will not be collecting data after this month as I have moved into the interview phase of my process.
If you would like me to calculate for you a predicted case complete date using your last scan, please private message me.
I am glad I have helped so many people put a timeframe on their case and and more glad that the math has worked pretty much every time.
Cheers.

People get confused as to which amount to enter. If you read all information available to you from government sources, look at examples of the 1040 online and read other peoples experiences, you will know which is the correct number to enter. I don't understand how people can get this wrong. There is enough information out there to know exactly what it is the NVC wants.

People get confused as to which amount to enter. If you read all information available to you from government sources, look at examples of the 1040 online and read other peoples experiences, you will know which is the correct number to enter. I don't understand how people can get this wrong. There is enough information out there to know exactly what it is the NVC wants.

Hi everyone.
A reminder for all of you who are still waiting for a CC, I have been collecting heaps of data and using that information to mathematically predict Case Completes. The relationship between last scan-date and a CC is currently up at 84.08%.
If you would like to have a calculation done to predict your CC, please private message me your last scan date.
It has worked brilliantly for many people so far!

CEAC. Will do the call tomorrow to confirm.

That's the issue then. If you fill out the assets section, it indicates to them that you're going to qualify, at least partially if you have a joint sponsor, with those assets. So, when you fill out the assets section, you need to send in proof of such, which means financial evidence, such as bank account statements.

I would go black ink (most of the documents request using black ink) and press hard so that when they turn the sheet over they can see the indentation of the signature. That way they can tell it is an original signature.

Using September 18 the math predicts anywhere from 2 Nov - 10 Nov, and the math is only able to predict currently at 79.7% accuracy. So for a case complete of Nov 12, the math is not to bad at all :-)
Congratulations on your CC. Adding your data to the data I have increases the reliability of the prediction. Thank you!

Hey folks, some lovely news this morning!!
As of yesterday, November 12th, NVC will no longer collect ORIGINAL CIVIL DOCUMENTS for the IV package. That is correct, you read that right. From now on, photocopies of the civil documents (birth, marriage, police, military, etc) will be accepted. Originals of those documents will be brought to the interview instead!
Information found here (2nd link): http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/law-and-policy/visa-policy-update.html
Direct link to update: http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/policy_updates/National%20_Visa_Center_No_Longer_Collecting_Original_Civil_Documents_November_2014.pdf
I encourage you all to read the update. For those that haven't sent your packages yet, time to make photocopies of the civil documents and put the originals in a safe place in time for the interview!!
Please note, this does NOT mean you can send photocopies of the AOS form. The form still has to be an original, with the original signature. As should the employment letter, with an original signature. The optional cover letters should be original as well. Besides that, everything else can be photocopies now.
I'm going to guess that this new change will reduce the amount of checklists stating a document isn't an original (when in most cases it is). Not to mention, the scrutiny of civil documents will be less (I'm guessing), thus speeding up the review process. So, good news everywhere

I want to share some experience with everyone going through the grinder at NVC which might help some,
As background, I was granted an expedite (through NVC) by my consulate which required only that I pay my fees and submit the DS260. Things bogged down. I was told 60 days... blah, blah, blah. My case went to a supervisors review. They did finally find the missing form, and as a result I was calling back to thank my supervisor (and the rep) for her hard work and we chatted for 20 min or so (it was an enlightening conversation). It was eye-opening to connect with someone on the other side and it prompted me to share.
Here are my two cents worth of advice and observation:
NVC processing:
- To begin with, for crying out loud, read and reread Saylin's wiki on the process. She is the patron saint of the NVC process and continues to help us out of the goodness of her heart. She is up to date and often chimes in on this forum. She is a goddess.
- Once you understand the process and are complying, you will have to wait. Yes, sixty days... It stinks, I understand. But calling again and again hoping for some other information will do you little good. The reps and the supervisors will NOT tell you anything else, even when they are attempting to look into or fix your issue. They simply aren't allowed. For instance, the supervisor would still only give me the '60 days' spiel, even though she was able to get back to me an hour later with a case complete.
- If you are following the wiki, you will know when something doesn't seem right and it is time to call and verify. If a deadline has passed, call.... If they tell you documents are missing that you KNOW were included, call....
- NVC presently appears to be a little short of qualified supervisors, and the caseload on them is tremendous. But if something is amiss in your case. Ask for a supervisor's review if you can't speak directly to one. It will take a few days, and they don't always contact you. Follow up with a call to see if the review was completed.
- I cannot stress this enough: I know how strung out we all are during this and how rude some of the reps are, but stay calm and polite (and persistent). They are human too and are actually more sympathetic than it appears on our end. But, they are overwhelmed and hamstrung by a broken immigration system, consulate bullying and a plethora of rules and regulations. Nevertheless, don't let a rep bully you. Call back for a different rep if you are being handled rudely.
A word on 'expediting'
- If you feel your situation qualifies for an expedite (and not just because you are you and a wonderful human being, which you are of course ). I suggest you take your time composing your request. You should briefly, yet factually, lay out your case without embellishing it with too much emotional overtone. I cannot stress how important it is to then back the request up with paperwork (in PDF format). A good paper-trail is a bureaucrat's friend. You want the consulate to have every shred of evidence when it considers your request.
- If you are granted an expedite, you now enter a grey area (for NVC as well sometimes) and there is no wiki! Pay attention to what your response letter/email states you need to do next. Don't hesitate to call NVC to get direction (though each rep may have a different story). It was only once I read my expedite email word for word to the rep that she put my case up for a supervisor review. Remember: polite and persistent!!
- Please, if you get an expedite, don't brag here. So many deserving people have been waiting and suffering for ages at NVC. On the flip-side, please don't pester someone as to why they got an expedite, or begrudge them if they get one. It can be incredibly personal.
I know this is a long-winded post, but I hope my experience and advice can help some of you now being ground up by the slow gears of NVC. Eventually we will all be spit out. I hope everyone has a smooth exit.

I would pay the wife's fees and send out the documents ASAP. There is no point in waiting for son's fees to get invoiced and delay the wife's process.

Congrats! On those cc today. Praying NVC moves along quick of course with no checklist. Scan date Sept 24.

great news!!! just got off the phone with the nvc and they told me that hte case was completed today! could not b e happier. scan date sept 5th

Hello everyone, I just checked ceac and AOS had changed to N/A. I called NVC and our case is complete.
Our last scan date was September 2nd. Thank you everyone for all your help. We're hopeful that we will be together by Christmas break.
I was part of the old NVC process. I hope their new procedure speeds up the process for everyone else so you don't have to deal with multiple 60 day waits. Best wishes.

AOS scanned July 25th and approved September 18th.
IV Scan date was Sept 2nd.

I am sorry to hear this. But keep you head up ok and know that there are people in tougher situations. Always move forward and never step back

The equations are only accurate up to I think 70% in the last equation, so there is still a 30% error in the calculation. And that is only 95% confident! So the margin of error in the prediction, I feel, is quite large. You never know how the date could change due to the process at the NVC. Consider the prediction as a bit of fun :-) PS: I would take it up to Nov 9th just to be sure.

Re-worked mine, I am going to predict an exact date of 5th November! Putting it out there!!! :-/

UPDATE ON EQUATION:
Using your data Saylin and the bits I have just got from the posts since 20 October, I now get a linear regression of y = 0.7502x + 107.01, where y = Case Complete (as a numbered day of the year) and x = IV Scan Date (given as numbered day of the year). The Rsquare value is 0.7081 on this which means between the IV Scan Date and Case Complete there is a 70.81% correlation. Now, using 95% confidence level, we can say the margin of error is 5.81 days (this is worked out after figuring out the mean, standard deviation etc.).
Following me so far??? hehehehe
Using this new info, I can say for my IV Scan Date of 24 September, my CC should now come between 28/29 October and 9/10 November.

I was thinking the same also I would take it to Mid-November. And on top of that I got a check list for my AOS; which if everything goes ok should be Mid-December. ^^

Re-worked yours, I am predicting 15/16th November! Let me know if I am correct! ;-/

Called NVC same 60 days story. Rep state now all documents are being review at same time from now on.(IV,A0S,DS260)Scan date 9/24. Woohoo today we have 30 days on waiting. Praying this NVC nightmare is over soon.

Thank You Adilahmed. We are really hoping to receive the CC news soon. Please VJ keep updates on cc with Sept scan date. This waiting game is torture.

1. For the question asking about tax information, yes, it'd be the joint amount. You'd either include the tax transcripts and her W2s, or the entire tax package (1040, W2s, 1099s, schedules, worksheets, etc).
2. No, an I-864A isn't required if he doesn't want to fill it out.
3. No, civil documents aren't required of the petitioner in the AOS package (and only in IR-5 cases for the IV package). The civil documents just need to be of the beneficiary and in the IV package. Include photocopies with the originals and you'll get the originals back at the time of an approved interview. For the joint sponsor, they need to include a PHOTOCOPY (no original needed) of proof of their US citizenship/residency.
4. Read above in regards to petitioner documents.
I highly, highly, highly suggest you read the first post, specifically the wiki I wrote. I explain what's needed in both packages.