Maria16

Thank you. But I still don't know. I can't help but to worry. I was given the option to send the F2B retention notice of approval letter to NVC via email, but I'm afraid it might reopen our case. I'm planning to call them every 2 weeks to check if they had scheduled us an interview already. Is it possible to request for an earlier date in case they give us a later one?

I don't think you need to send a copy of the F2B retention approval to the NVC. Just bring the letter to your embassy interview. Make sure to photocopy everything because they will keep the original copies of your documents. The W2 form should also be original.

Assuming that you will hear from NVC 30 days from now, your interview will most probably be in April. We got the notice in December and the interview was for January, so that's a one-month wait. I never tried calling to follow up, but maybe you can do that. I'm not sure though if you can request for an earlier schedule. No harm in trying

I don't think anyone gets denied during the interview (for immigrant visas). If documents are lacking, they will just ask you to send them the additional documents. They will keep the passports until they receive the remaining docs. I also got quite a scare when they asked for the F2B retention approval DURING our interview. Before then, we didn't know about the retention stuff. But the consuls were nice. It took us about a month to get the approval and now, we're just waiting for our passports to be delivered.

As long as you have all the needed documents, you'll be fine

Thank you so much! Nagsimula po talaga kasi yung NVC processing namin sa F2B category, pero nung sumunod na months nachange na siya sa F1, that time lang siguro nila napansin. Pero hanggang ngayon, ganun pa rin even sa latest letter na natanggap namin. Dun po ba sa letter niyo about case complete status, ano pong category type ang stated?

F2B. You have your retention approval already so don't worry

Hi! F2B din ba kayo na naging F1? Gaano katagal bago naischedule yung interview niyo after mag case complete sa NVC? I think I have the same problem. Only difference is I already have my F2B retention approval letter although natatakot ako na baka hindi agad kami maischedule ng interview or malayong date yung maibigay sa amin kasi ang alam ng NVC ay F1 pa rin kami. Please help. Thank you.

Case Complete: Feb 10 2016

Priority Date: Dec 6 2004

Current cut-off dates for February 2016:

F1: Nov 1 2003

F2B: Feb 1 2005 (Current)

Just be sure to bring the following to your interview (not everything is listed in the letter you will receive from NVC or in the website of the US embassy):

F2B retention notice of approval

Cenomar (NSO copy)

Complete financial documents of petitioner (W2 form)

Certificate of naturalization of petitioner

Hi! It was a relief when I saw this thread. I'm not sure if my case was same as yours. Originally, F2B din kami. Although nachange yung category namin to F1 since na naturalize yung father ko nung 2008. Our NVC processing started on February 2015. Last July 2015, I was able to find out the possibility of having it changed back to F2B so I applied for the F2B retention and got it approved a month after (Aug 25 2015). By that time, our case was still processing at NVC. Just recently, Feb 10 2016, to be exact, we had a case complete status for nvc. And they said that they're going to schedule us for an interview. However, based on the letter, NVC thought that our category is still F1. So I called, and confirmed it so. For the reason that they will be the ones to schedule our interview, I am afraid that we won't be able to get an earlier appointment date if they are basing it on F1 category. Our priority date is Dec 6 2004 and as of now, we have been 'current' in the F2B category already. But not in the F1. I want to know what happened to your case maybe you can help me out. I want to be in the US as early as possible so that we'll be there on my son's 18th birthday on May. What a great birthday gift would that be. Did you have the same case? How long did it take before they schedule your interview from the day you had a case complete status? Please reply to my message as soon as possible. Maraming salamat.

Hi! As far as I know, if your category type is originally F2B, even if you automatically get converted to F1, they will still process everything under the original visa category. That's what happened to us. We got the letter from NVC in July2014 stating that pur case is ready for processing. It just took us quite a while to complete all the required documents since there are six of us so It was already more than a year after, November 2015, when we satisfied all that's needed for us to be scheduled for an interview. They informed us in December2015 that we are scheduled for an interview in January2016.

If you already have a case complete status, don't worry. You just have to wait for instructions from the NVC. It usually takes them 30-60 days to process eveything. You'll probably hear from them next month. God bless!

how long did you wait for the petition?

Our priority date is sept 2004. We received a letter in 2014 informing us that our visas are ready for processing. The whole process, gathering and submission of documents, waiting for replies, took about a year. For some, it may take only a few months. Then you have to wait for the interview schedule. We had our interview early this month. So all in all, it took us more than 11 years to complete everything.

it may take 1 to 2 weeks, just check your status https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx here.

if approved they will just send the packet to 2GO for pickup or deliver.

Thanks, i still have my jetlag. : )

Thank you!!! Sent our documents a few days ago.

yup and thanks!

by the way anyone who needs to ask something just asked, glad to help!

I have two questions. How long did it take them to approve your F2B retention? We will submit our letter and documents on Monday. Will they mail us the approval then we have to mail it back via 2Go?

Congratulations! May you (and all of us) have a great life in the US!

hello everyone,

may i ask anyone here (philippines) who has the same situation regarding submission of 221(g) letter re: f2b retention letter.

my interview was on september 4, 2015 and all was well until my consul told me to submit a f2b retention letter, no other documents was needed since we ask

are there anymore documents and she just told us that we go to step 5 that is the window 5 i guest for further instruction, then the person in that window told us what to do and same submit f2b retention letter. we submitted the letter on sept. 9, 2015 and until now we are still waiting.

during the interview another person has the same situation the submission of f2b retention letter, but his consul told him to go upstair (EMBASSY) for additional instruction, well the instruction was to submission add: documents like: letter of approval, cenomar, cert of naturalization of the petitioner. he did submit but at a later date somewhere 3rd week of september. he was approved just this today (October 17).

the thing is will we submit those documents that he was obliged to submit? the consul told us to submit f2b retention letter, thats it.

I know that somehow it is a case to case basis. but to enlighten may we know from you who experience this kind of situation.

We also had the same problem. We were told to go upstairs to get a list of requirements for the approval. We will send the documents next week. We hope everything goes well. I've been doing extensive research about F2B retention since our interview, but apart from explanations of what it is and sample letters, I can't find anything about the process, like their basis for approval or denial.

Have you already secured your F2B retention approval since your last post?

You need to submit more documents along with the F2B retention letter. The person at Window 5 should have instructed you to go upstairs to inquire at the Department of Homeland Security for the requirements. You need a cenomar, the certificate of naturalization of the petitioner and Form I-130.

Hey allanandr3w, we have the same experience. We interviewed last december 7 , 2015. And told us to submit f2b retention letter. We submitted the letter last december 9 2015. And until now we are still waiting.

By the way, what happen to your case? Did you get your visa? When did you receive your approved f2b retention? Please enlighten us. Thank you.