Rhaenerys

Your case number is on the letter that comes from the consulate, I believe, but then you have to wait until it gets through the NVC, arrives at the consulate, and is mailed to you in the regular mail. That's a long time to have no idea where things are at. If you can get your case number, you can track the status online.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong please!

My Fiancé tried to call yesterday, but he said he tried for almost 50 times but it's all busy tone and at the last attempt he had the recording message is there any magical telephone number you can share please! Thank you!

I keep getting the new recorded message that says they're too busy to take my call, and to call back later. The ONE time I got through to the menu in the last few days, I picked the wrong option, as the options have changed in their menu. It's been 37 days, so I need to give the NVC a hard time.

If you can call right exactly when the NVC opens in the morning, you might have better luck getting through. I've been trying at least once every 10 minutes before work, once or twice on my lunch break, and once every hour or so after work. I just want my case #!

I'm sorry TSC filers. The disparity seems so unfair!

Make sure his package of ties to Canada is really robust. Print everything you can think of. Also make sure he packs as light as possible. I got turned away at the border over the holidays because I "had too much stuff" and they decided it looked like I was moving in early (I wasn't). Then they didnt like my ties to Canada, there wasn't enough proof. It was terrifying. So be careful, and be prepared!

I can't get through to the NVC this morning. I'm west coast and I couldn't drag myself out of bed at 5, so I started calling at 6:30. I've been calling every 2 minutes for the last hour and I just get the busy signal.

Today is day 33.... I bet they have my case number, I just can't get through to get it. Worst system ever.

Case number still not working

It's a US government holiday today, so I'm not surprised that nothing is updated. Try again tomorrow and Wednesday, if it's not working by then, then you may have to follow up.

BTW Monday is a federal holiday, MLK day, so I doubt NVC will be opening.

Darn to that too! Guess I need to be really patient!

I hope they have yours too! Is the NVC open on Saturdays?

Darn, no they aren't. I'll call Monday then, as I'm driving down to visit my fiance tonight.

Thanks for the link, that's very useful!

Edited because the forum edits out the mildest of dirty words, apparently!

My fiance called NVC today - We got our case number! Our file has not been sent to the consulate yet, but I was thinking - instead of trying to get through to NVC to find out when it gets sent out, do you think its worth just calling the DOS instead in about a week? Is it easier to get them on the phone, or is it about the same in terms of busy signals and hold wait times?

You are my hero andymac, that gives me hope. I'm calling tomorrow! We'll see if ours were on the same truck! I'm excited I don't know about the DOS, but do keep us posted on what you find out.

Hi all,

I'm compiling all of the paperwork for my K1 visa for my packet 3 checklist and eventual interview.

I'm Canadian and I just got my criminal record check in the mail. My question is, is it okay to open it? It doesn't say anything special on the envelope, and I think I'll need to scan it at some point.
I think I can open it but I dont want to mess it up if I need it to be sealed. Anyone know the rule for Canada? It's not clear to me from the rules for the Vancouver Consulate.

Happy Birthday Pheebs!

I just got through to NVC again after 35 min on hold. Still no case number. I asked the lady (politely) if she knew why they take so long and she said she doesn't know, but USCIS sends visas to the NVC by the literal truckload. So, more waiting. I'll call Friday I guess!

And are you having the petitioner call, or are some beneficiaries calling? And how do you deal with the international calling expense when you are sitting on hold for half an hour? Do you just suck it up?

I'm the beneficiary and I call. Call them as close to their opening time as possible. I just suck up the long distance fees, personally.

Got our case number! ☺️

Oooh your time line is just a few days ahead of mine, that's very encouraging! I'll call again Monday!

Edited because I cant spell.

Call them at least once or twice a week. The last time I called (last Monday) they had my file and said "they received it 7 days before"... Well, I called them the prior Monday and they said they didn't have it yet. Every time they said it was taking 35 days. It's such a weird system. I honestly don't understand it. There were people that got their NOA2's around the same time as us (we got ours Dec 3rd) and got to the NVC a week or two BEFORE ours. I don't understand how they "send" the files.

And I'm very jealous that you are so close to your loved one.. but very happy you get to see them often!!

Thanks, I will do just that! I'll call them mid next week. I dont understand either, it clearly doesnt take 35 days to mail something, so they have a weird system!!

I don't know what I'd do without you guys for support, advice, and to see everyone's similar stories. I'd fall apart on my own!

ETA: Thanks Pheebs! I will!

I guess I'm lucky that my fiance and I are in driving distance, I'm happy for everyone getting to see their partner while they wait!

I called NVC this morning and they dont have my case yet. My NOA2 was dated Dec 17th. The lady said that it's normal and I shouldnt worry. She said they havent received it, but I wonder if they have and just no one's opened it yet. She told me to call back closer to the 21st (35 days) for an update. Grrr.

NVC is indeed open until 12 EST but they must stop taking calls at about 11:30. I called 17 times last night between 10:30 and 11:30 EST and it was busy the first 16 times, and then I got through and the recording told me I couldnt inquite about immigration until 5 AM EST the next day. Guess I'll get up at 5 on Friday and try again.

That really sucks! So did they let you in after you dropped everything off, or not at all?

My fiance and I have travelled back and forth at least 3 times since being engaged, and haven't had any problems. I just tell them I am visiting my boyfriend instead of fiance and they just crack jokes about internet dating and what ever. I've never been asked for extra documentation or anything. My passport is not officially tied to our I129f, so it's not like they will scan it and see that my fiance applied for K1. I just slip my ring off for talking to the guard, and then put it back on when I am done.

It's one of those small "lies" that really make my life a lot easier. I am honest in that I am visiting my significant other, and really don't have any intentions to get married or stay in the US until I get my K1 Visa, so I don't feel the need to make them suspicious.

I understand though, that this is not necessarily your situation, Rhaenerys, and that most of the issues were raised when they saw how much stuff you were bringing in.

We dropped off all of the stuff at my house and tried to cross again about 24 hours later, at a different crossing. We got through the border the second time with no problems (and amost no stuff), so maybe that guy was just having a bad day. But I think I'm going to cut down on my visits!

My passoport is the one tied to the I-129F, so no hiding that! My fiance will just have to come to me more often until this is done.

I need to start checking the mail for my letter every day, as you guys are getting them! I think I'll call NVC this week as well. 8 am EST is so early....

We had a scary nightmare today crossing while in NOA2 status. My American fiance and I were in Canada for Christmas, and we tried to cross back to the US today by car, where I was going to stay until Monday. We are only about 2.5 hours away by car so we see each other a lot. We didnt go back to my Canadian apartment, so we had all of our christmas gifts. The border officer decided that I was trying to move my stuff in before my visa was approved, which was not at all true. They also didnt like my proof that I was returning (a very detailed letter from my work, and a lease that is month to month currently). Also it was a holiday so they couldnt call my work. They threatened to take my Nexus card and deny my visa, it was terrifying. In the end they refused the presents, so we had to go back to my house in Canada to drop them all off. Not sure how we're going to move the stuff that is actually his and belongs in the US...

I just gathered a ton more proof, including bills, a letter from my landlord, a receipt for my work parking pass from now until May, and some pay stubs. Any other advice on proof? Since we drive, I have no return tickets to show.

I tried to cross the border into the US with my fiance today and I got turned away. We had some christmas presents that we received at my parents' house in Canada, and they deemed it that we were trying to move my stuff in, even though that wasnt true. They didnt like my proof, even though I did have some, and they said they couldnt verify with my work because it's a holiday. They threatened to take my Nexus card and deny my visa. In the end they just refused my stuff, so I had to come back and drop everything off. The canadian guard told me to take an absolute bare minimum when I visit from now on. It was terrifying. I cant wait for this to all be done!

Merry Christmas everyone! We got our NOA2, we found it in the mail about 10 minutes before we left for the holidays. It was dated Dec 17th, not even 2 full weeks from our NOA1!

For some reason, we didn't get an e-notification about the NOA2, even though we did for the NOA1, so we were very surprised and shocked to open it in the mail.

Great Christmas present!!

Just a quick note - I checked your timeline because I was curious about your NOA1 date, and it says you were at the Texas Service Centre then transferred to California? Its a common mistake, but the Texas Lockbox is not the same as the TSC, so you can just enter California as your Service centre and leave Transferred? as No. It just helps with the accuracy for the overall VJ timeline info.

Ah okay! I didnt realize, I'll fix that now!

I'm a November K1 filer from Vancouver Canada, we're NOA1 waiting on NOA2 at the moment. Looks like the California Service Center is processing Canadians quickly at the moment, so fingers crossed!