SabrinaJerome

3 hours ago, Ahmed & Amy said:

This was posted in another thread.... Don't know if this has had anything to do with such long review times. 

 

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20170221/portsmouth-visa-center-employees-protest-for-raise

very interesting!

On 2/21/2017 at 9:49 PM, Ahmed & Amy said:

When you see us speaking about 3 N/A's, it means case complete. When you only have 2 then your case is not complete. You will see your 3rd N/A when you see under 'Affidavit of Support Fee' change from  'PAID' to 'N/A'.

 

I hope this helps.

Thanks for this, it's very helpful.

Any idea of what the logic is of changing the Affidavit of Support Fee from PAID to N/A??

Doesn't seem intuitive.

11 hours ago, Thesmiths2016 said:

There's suddenly a lot more info available ... like when I log in to check my status it has links to information pages, and a case tracker "what's the next step" page. perhaps they've finally realised if they provide more information they get less enquiries.  Personally I'm quite impressed the changes, and I hope it allows them to have more time to get cases completed within the timeframe :-)
I think it probably was coincidental timing.
As a further piece of information .... I've submitted everything and today my case status showed from "AT NVC" to telling me to submit documents. Even though NVC has confirmed over the phone they received my packages.   I suspect they just keep telling you to make sure you've submitted everything until they've checked it all and given case complete.

I've just looked at the USPS mail tracker and it turns out the envelope was delivered AFTER the email was sent. So, indeed, it was a coincidence!!

They hadn't even seen our documents.

Whoda thunk it?

3 hours ago, Thesmiths2016 said:

There's suddenly a lot more info available ... like when I log in to check my status it has links to information pages, and a case tracker "what's the next step" page. perhaps they've finally realised if they provide more information they get less enquiries.  Personally I'm quite impressed the changes, and I hope it allows them to have more time to get cases completed within the timeframe :-)
I think it probably was coincidental timing.
As a further piece of information .... I've submitted everything and today my case status showed from "AT NVC" to telling me to submit documents. Even though NVC has confirmed over the phone they received my packages.   I suspect they just keep telling you to make sure you've submitted everything until they've checked it all and given case complete.

Okay thanks, I'm going to go with that! Makes me feel better.

It's funny that they're finally trying to help but they're actually causing more confusion.

9 hours ago, Thesmiths2016 said:

I received both those emails once I'd paid fees and had started my DS-260, but had not completed it yet or send our IV or AOS packages.  I think it might be an automatic email that the system sends for "in progress" applications perhaps?  I guess not everyone is as thorough with their research like we all are, and they don't read the instructions on the website, so this would "prompt" them to perhaps?

Thanks, TheSmiths2016 that's interesting... and it makes me giggle, thinking that they would try to help or prompt us.

Could it have been a coincidence that I received the email right after I had sent the IV and AOS package? (mailed Friday, email received Monday, a holiday)...  and that it wasn't in response to their receiving the package??

Also, we finished the online application in January, so it wasn't like they were giving us the next step immediately afterwards... hmm...

Anyone else hear about this kind of vague email (posted on the previous page)?

Hi all,

Sorry if this has come up recently, but I searched for someone with the same question and couldn't find it.

We mailed the NVC package on Friday, and yesterday, Monday, the holiday, I got an email. (weird, no?)

So the email is two parts, the first section says that I need to send the AOS form and documents and the second says I need to send the IV documents. Of course, I sent all of that.

I read somewhere that this is a weird false alarm email. There is no checklist, no specific requests, so... ??

The complete text of the email is below.

****NVC Notice of Missing Item: Please submit Affidavit of Support documents ****

Good day,
The National Visa Center (NVC) received the documents you submitted in support of [beneficiary]'s immigrant visa petition. This petition's NVC case number is Mxxx12345678. However, NVC will not review these documents until we receive the Affidavit of Support form(s) and/or supporting financial evidence required for this case. 

Please follow the online instructions at nvc.state.gov/aos (English) or nvc.state.gov/aos/espanol (Spanish) to complete the Affidavit of Support form and collect the appropriate financial evidence. Once you've gathered the required financial forms and documents, send them to NVC. Instructions are available at nvc.state.gov/submit (English) or nvc.state.gov/enviar/espanol (Spanish). If you have any questions, please call 1-603-334-0700 or use NVC's online inquiry form at nvc.state.gov/ask (English) or nvc.state.gov/ask/espanol (Spanish). 

After you submit an Affidavit of Support form, please allow up to six weeks for NVC to review your documents. Then, we will let you know if anything is missing or needs to be corrected.  

Reminder:  This is only a notice that we received documents from you. We will not review them until we have received both the financial documents from the petitioner and the applicant's civil documents. You must also have paid all required fees and submitted a DS-260 Immigrant Visa application online at ceac.state.gov.
_______________________________________________________________________________
****NVC Notice of Missing Item: Please submit civil documents ****

Good day,
The National Visa Center (NVC) received the documents you submitted in support of [beneficiary]'s immigrant visa petition. This petition's NVC case number is Mxx2016123456. However, NVC will not review these documents until we receive the required civil documents for each intending immigrant. Please follow the online instructions at nvc.state.gov/document (English) or nvc.state.gov/documento/espanol (Spanish) to learn which civil documents you need to submit. 

Please submit photocopies of these documents. Do not send original certificates to NVC.  Once you've gathered the required civil documents, send them to NVC. Instructions on how to send your documents to NVC are online at nvc.state.gov/submit (English) or nvc.state.gov/enviar/espanol (Spanish). If you have any questions, please call 1-603-334-0700 or use NVC's online inquiry form at nvc.state.gov/ask (English) or nvc.state.gov/ask/espanol (Spanish). 

After you submit your civil documents, please allow up to six weeks for NVC to review your documents. Then, we will let you know if there is anything missing or that needs to be corrected.

Reminder:  This is only a notice that we received documents from you. We will not review them until we have received both the financial documents from the petitioner and the applicant's civil documents. You must also have paid all required fees and submitted a DS-260 Immigrant Visa application online at ceac.state.gov.

17 minutes ago, Dre876 said:

So if I have this correct other than the financial docs I can mail photocopies of all the supporting civil docs to NVC but if I do I'd have to take the originals to the interview at the embassy?

Check this out, it's really great. The link I'm sending starts at the NVC part of the process. Click on the last section to learn about the interview requirements.

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents.html

4 minutes ago, Duncan21 said:

His mailing address should be where he is right now (which I believe is out of the US) since that is the address the embassy will mail his appointment letter to and other instructions (medical, etc).  What will be mailed to him in the US will be his green card and social security card (I think there is a place for this on the form to - where to send the SS card to).

Ok great, thank you. That (the appointment letter and medical info) is what I was wondering about.

I won't assume that that information will sent in an email.

1 hour ago, Duncan21 said:

You can find an example of a DS260 here: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/DS-260 Exemplar.pdf

Your husband should fill out the form with his current address in Jamaica.  There are some questions on his spouse (you) including your address in the US and intended address in the US and this is where you write your US address.

 

There are some other forums on VisaJourney that speaks about what to bring to the interview etc.  Here is a good overview of the process: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/approved/contact.html

Thanks for your response Duncan21.

Well, we are 99.9% done with the form so I won't need to look at the exemplar again.

And yes, we did put my address here in the US for the intended residence.

But my question is a little different. I'm asking about HIS mailing address and what might be mailed to him that HE would need over there (in Spain).

Hi all,

We're trying to finish the DS260.

I would like to know what is going to be sent via snail mail in response to the DS260. Correspondences etc. Is it anything my husband needs to have, to bring to the interview etc? 

I'm thinking if it takes as long to receive as everything else has during the I 130 form, (and one time we actually never received it) it might arrive after he leaves that address to move here.

So the application question is the famous "Is your mailing address the same as your present address?"

Should my husband write his present address in Spain? Or should we write mine here in the US?

I agree there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason but then how is it done? Proportionately by numbers of workers at te center?

There is a thread about people filing from abroad. I think they thought they found some common elements, but I'm not so sure about it.

For example, one of my neighbors in Spain was send to California I think, and she was done in about two months, and we waited almost 6 at Nebraska. One difference is that her husband is Spanish and mine is Moroccan. Another difference is that they have been married for many years and have two children, and we are recently married. It's so difficult to tell why things happen the way they do.

Hello,

Im at the same situation because we are going to spend Christmas in US but we are not ready to move.

Which kind of proof are he taking?

In my case Im still working abroad and my daughter is studying. (my husband is a US citizien and live abroad with us)

He'll probably bring:

Proof of ownership of the business.

Flyer and business card

Paid tax bills of the business, and other receipts (water, etc)

Proof of apartment rental

Car taxes/registration/ownership etc

Social security tax payments

Also, he should bring copies of our I130 and other parts of the process to show how hard we have worked to get this far. If he stayed in the US now, it would mess everything up. That's my thinking anyway!! lol

He has a strong track record of entering and leaving the country on time. He's been here I think 5 times over the past 3 years. Hopefully that helps too.

For your case, anything above and other proof of ties and reasons you need to go back. Will your daughter study there next semester? Do you have bills for that? Do you have a contract with your employer?

Hi everyone, I haven't been very active for a while now, first, for my own sanity, waiting, and these days because we came to the US in August, had our marriage celebrations, my husband had to leave, and I have stayed and started a new job.

So I'm happy to say that we have received notification from an app (I haven't gotten an email yet) that on the 26th our petition was approved. Never had an RFE, also happy to say. Waited almost 6 months. (ohh, Nebraska...)

We're so relieved. But know there miles to go before we rest.

He's not quite prepared to make the move yet (we are small business owners in Spain) so we are hoping that when he comes to visit in December we won't have any problems. Just having on hand all types of proof that he will once again visit, and return to Spain.

Hi everyone, I haven't been very active for a while now, first, for my own sanity, waiting, and these days because we came to the US in August, had our marriage celebrations, my husband had to leave, and I have stayed and started a new job.

So I'm happy to say that we have received notification from an app (I haven't gotten an email yet) that on the 26th our petition was approved. Never had an RFE, also happy to say. Waited almost 6 months. (ohh, Nebraska...)

We're so relieved. But know there miles to go before we rest.

He's not quite prepared to make the move yet (we are small business owners in Spain) so we are hoping that when he comes to visit in December we won't have any problems. Just having on hand all types of proof that he will once again visit, and return to Spain.

Hi, I'm submitting this because I've actually gotten the NOA2 notification. I'm sorry to say it's been frustrating to watch all of these responses pop up as I was waiting and hoping for an expedite (since MAY), when the people posting had only just begun and had no news!! Am i the only one that's here hoping to be able to make some sense of this process by seeing the ANSWERS here?

IMHO, please, for other the applicants' sake, post when you have news! There are a lot of other topics where you can join for support and give your updates.

And yes, I'm grouchy because we weren't expedited. lol

But at least we've finally been approved.

1. Country USC resides in: Spain - My husband is from Morocco, Permanent Res of Spain
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: End of April 2016
4. How long had you been living abroad: 2 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: Got a non-lucrative visa to live with my then fiance, later husband.
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Included residence documents with our address on it and a copy of my Spanish ID.
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes. I wrote a book. Facebook screenshots and the whole nine yards.
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? No. 177 days. Almost 6 months.

NEBRASKA SERVICE CENTER

Morocco, India, Kuwait, Iran, UAE, Pakistan... I am so curious to know who we are, still waiting since March, April, May...

If you are curious too, let's make a forum or we can email each other.

Ohhhh glad I came over here. Or, rather, disappointed.

Sounds like a hiccup. Maybe they're updating or changing something in the system.

We also got an "alert" on the App that gave us the same message (couldn't deliver our NOA1 in the mail) from June 17. And the date didn't even change.

I was hoping that someone touched a wrong key, and our file is being looked at, but maybe it's just a system glitch.

Starting to wonder since 90% of the cases around us have been approved.

Well... May2 NOA1 and stillllll.... hanging in there.

Today we got a weird App alert - - our update ("case result changed") is the exact same message we got back in June, with the same date (that they couldn't deliver the NOA1 paper to our residence in Spain).

Freaky.

I'm hoping that it means someone touched our file and hit a wrong key... at least it would mean that someone's touched our file!!

168 days now.

I swear I am about to remove the USCIS app from my phone .. The case before and after mine approved the one right after mine approved today .. My case is sitting alone " case received " How late has anyone gotten an email to advise of case Approval .. Wondering if they work past 5pm I know I do !

I feel like a USCIS Case Status Stalker

Hahaha yes that's exactly why I didn't install the app!

Wow.

Stinks.

I also just called, and marked #3 to get the change of address agents. She said she couldn't see the specifics of my case but agrees that it was probably just the NOA1 notice.

She said I wouldn't be able to change my address online because it's going to ask for my previous address (and entering foreign addresses are not posssssibblllleeee hahaah and I asked her WTH, she said, "I apologize"...)

and that I would have to call again when I could actually reach an agent that could do that (she couldn't and said that because of high call volume she was blocked from transferring calls)...

So... I guess I'll have to do that maybe next week, early in the morning so I can get an appropriate agent.

And one other thing I have wondered since we first wrote about this... how does ANYONE living abroad receive their documents???

Are there only a few agents who can't figure out how to get documents to be delivered abroad?

Hi, I managed to resolve this issue (I think, fingers crossed!) so I'll answer your questions and let you know what I did.

1.) Yes, all mail correspondence (including NOA1, NOA2, etc) does not get delivered abroad because... reasons. The vast majority of applicants are based in the US and they see no reason to change it. (The agent I spoke with regarding this was super apologetic.)

2.) Correct!

3.) Also, correct.

The helpful agent I spoke with the first time told me that if after filing the AR-11 (which by the way is meant to be filled out by the beneficiary not the petitioner and it also does not include a field for 'country') or completing the process online (which you and I have both tried to do and failed because it forces you to enter a state), the address change did not take (he said to give it a month to receive paper confirmation at the new address), to call USCIS and that the agent on the phone (Tier 2) could do it over the phone and when they ask for your old address, use the old street address but use the call center's ZIP code. He said some agents may refuse to do it, but that they absolutely can and often do as a last resort. He said to make sure they include notes in the call log about why the street address is foreign but city, state and ZIP are in the US.

Knowing all this, here is what I did:

1.) Set up a Google Voice number using my mom's cell phone number and Google account. (I chose to use her account because mine has a 2-step security method that is a pain in the ###.) I did this with my mom while video chatting on Google Hangouts. I chose a number in California because that is where I'm from and where my mom is based, but you can choose any state you want.

2.) Added $10 credit to the Google Voice account.

3.) Installed the Google Hangouts Dialer on my phone and signed into my mom's Google account.

4.) Used the Hangouts Dialer app to call USCIS as soon as they opened in PST. The USCIS phone line can tell where you are calling from and treat your call accordingly; whenever I tried to call before 8am PST, it would tell me to call back during 'normal business hours', FYI.

5.) I told the tier 1 agent on the phone that I needed to change my address and requested to have my call escalated.

6.) After they escalated my call, there was an automated message telling me that they had a high volume of calls and that I could call back later OR schedule a call back. I scheduled a call back to the Google Voice number, but just FYI, unless you call within an hour or so of them opening for your 'time zone', you will get an automated message telling you to call back later and there will be no option for them to call you back. (I learned this the hard way... twice.)

7.) When they did call me back, I explained to the agent exactly what my problem was and told her that I wasn't sure what to do because it's vital that I receive my paper correspondence from USCIS. Immediately, she changed my address in the system using the method I mentioned above (using the call center's ZIP code), and I received an email confirmation regarding this about a week later. The email notification I received said it takes an additional 7-10 business days to receive paper confirmation at the new address, which puts the deadline for that at June 15th, so I'll be happy to update this thread then.

You don't need to use Google Voice to do this, I chose it because the phone app makes it incredibly easy and affordable. You can't sign up for it from your computer unless you are using a VPN, because Google's web services will detect your location and not offer you the option to create a Google Voice number, which is why I had my mom do it on her computer while we were video chatting. Skype also has VOIP thing where you can get an American number, but their service was a little more expensive. Also, something hilarious: even though I was required by the Google Hangouts Dialer app to put a minimum credit on the account ($10), because USCIS is a toll-free number, it doesn't actually use any of the credit. It's $10 that gets stuck in limbo basically; however Google does offer a refund of account credit if you haven't used it. I haven't put in for a refund since we are not done with this process. It's also important to make sure that if you are using an app on your phone to receive the call, that you have all the options set up properly; for Google Voice I had to turn off the 'call screening' option (via the website), turn off call forwarding to my mom's cell phone and make sure that the app was set to receive calls.

I hope that was helpful; if something isn't clear let me know and I'll be happy to clarify

Hi wtfika,

Thank you so so so much for that info. I have been dealing with so much, and travel to the US, and moving etc that I never responded to this great post.

How is your case moving along these days?

Our updates... really nothing. We are in NebraskaSC. Nothing yet, which seems normal for their center.

I chose to assume that what was being sent to me in June was just the notice of receipt of our application (or whatever you call it) so I haven't done anything.

Our next step is that I will be trying to find a job in August and if I do (and I most likely will), I will be moving to the US. So. I am considering changing my address to my US address. Orrr, my parents' address, which is about a 6 hour drive from where I live. Would either of those make sense? Any correspondences would be mailed to me (or my family), the petitioner, not my husband in Spain.

Any thoughts on this? What are some things that could be mailed to us? RFEs? or...?

I am considering calling the 1-800-375-5283 number just to check on my case, even though I haven't gotten any emails and the website still has the same "could not deliver notice" message. A waste of time?

Thanks!

I made sure to file a G-1145 when I filed our I-130 and so I received email notification on April 12th that my application had been received and forwarded on to the Nebraska Service Center. The 30-day deadline for my NOA1 was May 8th, which came and went. After that point I tried several times to call USCIS and find out why I hadn't received the NOA1 by mail. Every time my call was escalated I was told to either call back later, or asked to put in a number to be called back at. I am in Sweden so a call back was not possible. I set up a Google Voice number in San Diego (where I am from) to receive a call back. I finally got to talk to a Tier 2 USCIS officer today and found out the following information.

1.) They do not mail NOA1s abroad, NOA1s/NOA2s/etc are only sent 'abroad' if you go through consular processing.

2.) The system auto-generated a city/state to mail my NOA1 to, based on the zip code on my form, which is a 5-digit zipcode here in Sweden. That same sequence of five numbers is a zip code in Ohio. This explains why I never received our NOA1.

3.) The officer couldn't actually change my address in the system because every time he put in my zip code, it would change the city/state to a city in Ohio.

He suggested I file an AR-11, but that too assumes you live in the United States and it's meant to be filled out by the applicant. I have a PO Box address I can use, but it is my name on there, not my husband's. I tried to use the online form but that also assumes you are changing from one US address to another. Any other USCs abroad changed your address while you were filing? I'm not sure how I can even do this.

I am beyond frustrated because it's sort of like, well, you took away DCF for American citizens abroad, forcing us to apply through the USCIS like everyone else. If you are going to do that, why not make changes in your software and forms to allow us to put our addresses properly and change them if we need to? I don't understand the logic here.

Hi, I just found this topic because I was searching for an answer about the possible consequences for not receiving a hard copy of the NOA1. (just got an email stating it was sent back because it was undeliverable, here in Spain)

Thanks so much for your energy in following up and calling, wtfika!!

So am I to understand the following? - -

1 - this particular agent said that NOA1s do not get delivered abroad (!??!?!?) because... computer forms.

2 - the NOA1 is only a receipt and will not help me in any way, more than the email notification I received re the NOA1

3 - possible problems regarding this - - future, possibly more important snail mail may also not be delivered

I followed the USCIS's email advice and tried to reconfirm my address, but you know what?? The computer form they're using doesn't allow for foreign addresses!!! No place to indicate another country, and it insists that you indicate a state.

hi Ms.F.Brown, thanks for your advice! may i ask if you actually received notice of the address change? as in, did they notify you that they will change your address? or did you just send your letter to nebraska and wait to see if you received your mail finally? haha.

You can't use this page?

https://egov.uscis.gov/coa/displayCOAForm.do

Welcome to the forum,

The first question..... You're going to have to write a informal letter to Nebraska to do the address change. I had to do one for husband in Jamaica.

The second question...... USCIS goes by the received date of the petition. The priority date used for availability purposes only in the NVC stage. It's pretty much irrelevant right now at the moment. The Notice Of Action date is your NOA1 date. I really hope this makes sense and helps you a lil.

Hi Mrs. Brown -

She can't use this to change address??

https://egov.uscis.gov/coa/displayCOAForm.do