Do you feel like it's taking forever for your case file to reach the National Visa Center? Then this thread is for you!
It is not for you if:
You have been waiting less than three to four weeks, or 25 business days, or 30 days or 42 days for your case file to reach NVC (these are the random timelines the NVC reps tell you when you call to check for your case number)
You have received your case number and want to tell everyone how happy you are about it
You have been waiting however long for your NOA-2 from TSC or your CR-1 approval or whatever; this is for K-1 visa applicants who are waiting a very long time for their NVC case number
Several VJers currently are in the 70- to 80-day range, waiting for California Service Center to send their I-129f case files to New Hampshire. We are approaching the expiration dates on the I-797 (the NOA-2). We are helping each other with the process and I figure more of you are out there but lost in the process.
We have been commiserating in this thread; however, this new thread can serve as a central repository for advice, assistance and complaining.
It's OK to complain, by the way. Many people will tell you to have patience or to chill out. Patience and frustration DO NOT HAVE TO BE EXCLUSIVE OF EACH OTHER. The process is frustrating, especially when you hear a different story every time you call USCIS.
Thus far, we have been told our case files were redirected to our local offices (for me, Spokane, WA); they have been misdirected to the National Research Center (where immigration files go to die); NVC is backlogged and CSC is alleviating that workload by holding back files; and, most bizarrely, a courier is on standby waiting for the right size of packet to be sent to NVC.
We watch as others receive their case numbers in nine days, 10 days, and 20 days. If you have been waiting long past a month for your case number, here are the steps you need to take (many thanks to USMSBOW for his legwork):
1. Scan a copy of your NOA-2 and send it as an email attachment to NVCResearch@state.gov. Here is an example of the email you should send:
Hello,
I was instructed this morning to send you a copy of my I-797 notice from USCIS, which I've attached. USCIS approved my K1 petition on (month day, year), but my case has yet to arrive at NVC.
My receipt #: ABC##########
Petitioner: Name and date of birth
Beneficiary: Name and DOB
You can contact me at this e-mail address (frustrateddude@visajourney.com) or at 1-123-123-4567. Please let me know if you have any questions or need any more information.
Thank you,
(Give me my damn case number)
2. Call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 and request to speak to Tier 2 Immigration Officer. A Tier 1 agent is no assistance at this point. You must speak to an IO. If your Tier 1 agent refuses, hang up and keep calling until you find a T-1 who will connect you to a T-2. Do not fall for their 90-day baloney. Your I-797 is approaching its expiration date. This is crazy.
You will receive vague, uninformative information from your service request via snail mail. Do not settle for this. Call for another Tier 2 and request further assistance.
You can open a service request on your own on the USCIS website, after you create an account and login to your case file. I don't know if this works. We have not tried this. We preferred to speak verbally with an IO.
3. Contact your representatives in Congress and/or the Senate. Others have seen their cases sped up by doing this. While our Congresswoman is one of the most powerful women in the G.O.P., we have yet to see resolution in this arena but it's only been two weeks since we contacted her office. Once you contact your representative, you will have to fill out a privacy disclosure form. Only then can your rep take action. Get this done as quickly as you can.
Please note: your government representative cannot intervene for an approval or for expedition. He or she can only assist with locating your file.
You can find your representatives on these websites:
Congress
Senate
4. If you are at your wit's end and nothing thus far has given you satisfaction, file a Case Assistance request with the USCIS Ombudsman. You can email this department at cisombudsman@hq.dhs.gov.
I did this just yesterday and today received a form letter directing me to an online form. I attempted this link from the Ombudsman's web page but was given an Access Denied error page. I am at least able to open the form from within the email.
PLEASE NOTE: None of these steps has resolved our situation at this date. I - and hopefully the others - will continue to provide updates to our cases and let you know where and how we achieved success.
ALSO NOTE: I apologize for the lengthy post. I'm a professional writer with a full bottle of wine that's almost empty. That always spells trouble.
ALSO ALSO NOTE: Said wine is the culprit behind any syntax or grammatical errors you may find. I at least ran everything through spellcheck.
ALSO ALSO ALSO NOTE: Drinking is a good idea through this process. If you haven't started yet, I highly recommend red blends from Washington's Columbia Valley, vodka or craft beer.
Good luck. Please let us know if you have attained any resolution in retrieving your NVC case number after a lengthy wait.
As of December 9,2014, my wife got approved from her interview!! I just woke up from a nap after not going to sleep from my graveyard shift and waiting till my wife get to her interview until she gets done (almost 24hours). After all the waiting, mailing this, paying this and that, making this and that, sending this, sending that, our prayers, sacrifices and patience gave fruit! We're so blessed and thankful for all the help I got and guidance from this website! I'm not that active in this forum but surely my prayers are with y'all everyday. Surely, a lot of relief is off from our relationship with this long distance is about to come to an end. Thank you s much guys! I know that God made all thing possible! Even a few minutes of you time every single day is enough for Him. God bless y'all! Thank you! I will try my best to help our co-VJ members if anybody has questions regarding our visa journey.
