lake_to_mountain

Called NVC and I have a case complete now. Apparently as of Aug 22nd. I'm still waiting to get the official email and hear back when my interview will be. Fingers crossed for a September interview.

Well forget the 30 business days window folks. I just got off the phone with NVC, I called to find out my scan date (Jul 8th) and was told that they are outside the 30 day window now and that I shouldn't expect it to be reviewed until late August.

I'm a little panicked now, I no longer have a job and based on this current information my hopes of even getting a September interview are now shot.

I guess I'll have to start looking for some part time work, but who's going to hire someone who will be leaving in a month

I know this may be small consolation for being apart for so long, but getting an IR-1 visa instead of a CR-1 will save you $600 from doing ROC, not to mention the headache of gathering a bunch of documents again.

Do they automatically change it to an IR-1 then?

By the time we get through this, we'll probably be married 2 years and will be needing a IR-1 rather than a CR-1.

It's terrible that it took them so long to scan it in.

I'm actually in the same boat as you. At the speed they are processing things I'm unlikely to have an interview before September and as of September 1 we'll have been married for 2 years.

I'd be upset with NVC for all the mistakes they are making but I suspect they are horribly overworked at the moment and that is leading to mistakes. At the same time they should have seen this coming and prepared a little better.

Ok. So for those who were following my earlier comment about the weird email I received from NVC after submitting my civil documents.

"You cannot participate in email processing because you already submitted a form or document to the National Visa Center by mail. This means you must continue processing your case by mailing your forms and documents to this address:"

The response I got from the supervisor was. "Well just send them again. Clearly someone made a mistake."

I tried to push to see if they could guarantee that I would not get a similar email if I sent it again with the reply. "Well I can't guarantee that."

It is really irritating that 1) Someone's mistake has now delayed my IV document processing by 1 week and 2) That I have no way of knowing that this mistake won't delay my IV processing even more because for all I know I will get another similar email next week and have to deal with this all over again.

My first impression was "What!?" Then, I thought that it could be good news if it's a false checklist (for EP filers?) since you have emailed your AOS and IV documents and filled out the DS-260 form.

I honestly don't know what it is since I'm not doing EP. Did you check the CEAC site to see if it looks any different (in the event of a CC)?

The only way to find out is to talk to a supervisor. You might want to call them back to see if you can talk to a supervisor tonight.

As happy as I would be for it to be a CC I highly doubt that is the case. I only filed the DS-260 last week. No luck with a supervisor last night so I'm hoping they call me back today. I will try tonight if I don't hear from them sooner.

Here is a situation that I am wondering if anyone on VJ has experienced or has any advice regarding. I enrolled in electronic processing and to date my wife and I have done everything either online or by email. Yet today I received the following email in response to my emailed submission of the supporting documents for my DS-260.

"You cannot participate in email processing because you already submitted a form or document to the National Visa Center by mail. This means you must continue processing your case by mailing your forms and documents to this address:"

Any ideas what is going on or what I should do? I called and the customer service agent couldn't figure it out either. I have been put down for a supervisor call back so I should get to talk to a supervisor soon but in the meantime I am now worried that this will delay everything even further.

It seems like Pakistan embassy is getting quicker.. but this would be a wild guess from the data i see in the interview spreadsheet! so you are looking at anywhere from 35-51 days.

Maybe those of us caught in the slowdown at NVC will get lucky at the embassy because they have less to deal with

Invoived! Finally!

Now once I can fill out my DS-260, I can get back to more waiting...

For those that just got DS-261 checklists, here's my theory:

Your AOS packages were reviewed and accepted (call to confirm), so they issue false checklists for the IV track. Before this 30-day fiasco for IV bills taking so long to invoice, most people received false checklists for the DS-260/IV package when their AOS packages are reviewed. But since there's such a bigger gap now between the two tracks, when NVC gets to the AOS package, you're still waiting on the IV bill to be invoiced. So, they don't checklist you for the DS-260/IV package, but rather the DS-261, since that's the latest IV step for you.

Hope that makes sense!

Saylin, the representative I spoke to at NVC just confirmed that your theory is exactly what happened. Hope this sets everyone else who received a checklist's mind at ease.

LtM

For those that just got DS-261 checklists, here's my theory:

Your AOS packages were reviewed and accepted (call to confirm), so they issue false checklists for the IV track. Before this 30-day fiasco for IV bills taking so long to invoice, most people received false checklists for the DS-260/IV package when their AOS packages are reviewed. But since there's such a bigger gap now between the two tracks, when NVC gets to the AOS package, you're still waiting on the IV bill to be invoiced. So, they don't checklist you for the DS-260/IV package, but rather the DS-261, since that's the latest IV step for you.

Hope that makes sense!

That's the best theory I've heard and it makes sense with how they operate. I'll let you all know what the answer is once I get through to someone.

i got a checklist for DS261 also....I am so worried....please helpppp anyone else got the checklist....it shows as completed...

I just got one as well. I'm on hold with them now to figure out what's up.

IV just invoiced and paid!!! ughh..such a relief!!!

Congrats! I'm still waiting I would call but I'm sure I'll just be told 30 business days.

One weird possibly promising thing. I saw that you got your invoice so I logged in to check. When I log in to CEAC site the fee payment spot now has no information under applicant. It used to have my name and birthdate and "Not invoiced" but now it is completely blank. Anyone else had this happen? Should I worry?

For me it's bad!!! Just now spoke to NVC lady regarding my IV bill and DS 261 resubmitted thing. She was like ohh somehow we skipped due to new systems and then she initialise superviser review. We will see when they will open my IV windows...

Wow how did you swing that. Mine was resubmitted on May 21st and every time I call them I get told to "wait 30 business days"

I paid my AOS and filled out the DS-261 June 2nd, still can't pay the IV fee... is this normal for everyone else without a lawyer?

Thanks

My DS-261 (the second one) was filed on May 21 and I'm still waiting for my IV invoice. So yes this is normal.

LtM

Hey, all, now that I've got that pesky IV fee paid (or at least in the process of paying) what's the current wait for the DS260 to be available to fill out? I paid the fee at about 9:30 am pacific time. Those of you who recently paid your fees, how long does it take to be able to click through on the IV application "button" on the ceac website? Will it be today? Tomorrow? When the IV fee shows paid?

I am excited that you were actually able to pay your fee! I bet it's a huge relief to be on to the next step.

I must say I find it crazy that the difference between when your DS261 was submitted and mine is one day and those of use with May 21 DS261 submission date are still waiting to be invoiced. They are most definitely slowing down.

Hey guys just want to confirm that My IV fee status changed to "PAY NOW" since I got my AOS fee .. but when I clicked on the Pay now button there's only one fee that I've already paid...I paid on 21st May and now its been 24th June and fee still not open yet...and second how can we know that our AOS has been scanned to their systems? Thanks

If as everyone is now saying it is 30 business days. You will have to wait until at least July 3rd before you can pay...I'm in the same boat.

So I decided to call anyway today as I had some time. It seems that now they are telling me "oh its 30 business days. I don't know why you were only told 30 days it has always been 30 business days."

So don't get your hopes up that they will do anything about your invoice once it goes past 30 days.

I really should stop calling it is completely pointless, they can never do anything and just change the answer so that everything is always within their timeline.

did you call them? what did they tell you for those 34 days?

I called on Friday (which was 30 days) and was told that they were working on May 20th and that I should hear sometime this week. I figured I would give them until Wednesday before I called again.

Day 34 still no invoice....

NVC seems to be slowing down even more.

It's been two weeks since I completed my DS-261 online form and paid my AOS fee, yet still no IV fee has been invoiced. How long is it supposed to take? Did I miss something?

I want to send both packages AOS and IV together at the same time. Any advice or guidance?

It takes a lot longer than 2 weeks these days. I'm still waiting for my IV fee to be invoiced and as of today its been almost 5 weeks.

You mean you'll need to wait for up to a month from the email acceptance date (June 13) instead of your sent date (May 21)?

If so, that's a long time to wait! It's more than 6 weeks. It's 7 weeks!?

Yes 30 days from the email acceptance date. It is a extremely long time to wait. Looks like old fashioned mailing is now faster than electronic processing. So much for speeding up the process.

I don't think I have any hope of getting an August interview at this point… So I need to decide if I want to be unemployed from July until after I move (whenever that will be) or if I want to sign a contract that commits me to work until January.

So frustrating that the recent NVC delays have forced this decision.

When did you submit DS261?

The first time May 13th, then because of the glitch that made it appear incomplete I submitted it again on May 21st. Guess which date they have in their system...

Very disheartening phone conversation with the NVC this morning. 1) Still no IV invoice (they said it should be next week). 2) Although our AOS was emailed on May 21st they didn't actually actually accept it until June 13th, meaning electronic processing saves no time. This means that even once we are allowed to pay and send the IV documents we're looking at 6 weeks from when they are sent before they will get to them. 3) This makes me pretty sure that any hope of an August interview is out and that I am looking at a September interview.

This causes major problems for me because I have to leave my job next month if I would like to move prior to January. So its either live apart until January or live without a job for 3 months....

Okay paid aos fee on Monday. today it states paid. Also filled out DS 261 and that states completed. Yesterday I sent aos package and it should be there today at 3. I checked this morning and IV bill states pay now when I click on it I cant get the option to select to pay that. How long before the IV bill will allow me to pay?

Thanks in advance

If it is as slow as it has been you'll have to wait at least 30 days until you can pay your IV.