rich&debz
-
Posts
10 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Partners
Immigration Wiki
Guides
Immigration Forms
Times
Gallery
Store
Blogs
Posts posted by rich&debz
-
-
Whilst I am pleased to hear that you have been successful with your expedite request, I think it is prudent to advise others that the reasons you have supplied in your request for an expedite are not usually successful. The financial hardship amounts to a party that has been planned for less than a year after you submitted the I-130. I don't know where you got the information that this process takes 8 months. The USCIS stage alone (according to USCIS themselves) can take up to 6 months. I have not seen any official source stating that the whole process from filing I-130 to POE taking 8 months. Sure, there are people who get through this quicker than that but they are the exception, not the norm. The department of state website and the embassy websites strongly encourage applicants not to make any financial commitments, buy tickets, sell homes, quit jobs, etc until the visa has been received.
I won't comment on your wife's emotional hardship because we all deal with this in different ways. Some people cope better than others. I know you had a rough ride at NVC with waiting over 6 weeks for your package to even be looked at but on the other hand you had a much quicker journey though the USCIS than many people had (myself included). We are all upset that we are apart from our spouses, not one of us is enjoying this process. For every case that is pulled to the front of the line, the rest of us wait that little bit longer.
Maybe there was something else that granted your expedite that you don't wish to share - that's your prerogative. But I wouldn't want people to think NVC will look favourably upon every request to expedite where someone's relatives have purchased plane tickets that cannot be refunded.
-
Update:
The petition was sent to the Consulate in Sydney on 9/7/2016. I contacted the Consulate and they confirmed that they were waiting on the paperwork to arrive, that it has already been flagged for fast track and they would inform us immediately when they receive it. I have not heard from them as of this writing.
-
I'll have to search what Packet 4 is -- that applies for a spousal visa too?
Do I have to request an expedite at the consulate level too?
Are you still waiting for an interview date?
I filed for expedite on 9/1/2016, it was approved on 9/5/2016 and the paperwork was shipped from NVC in New Hampshire to Australian consulate in Sydney on 9/7/2016. I called the consulate and they acknowledged the expediteapproval and informed me that they would schedule an interview no more that 2 business days from when they receive the petition. We are still waiting to hear from them.
Our petition is for a CR1 Spousal. I am the petitioner, my wife is Australian.
Good luck!
-
Thank you so much for the reply. I will definitely give that a try. Btw congratulations to both of you.
You are very welcome! The expedite request and subsequent approval has really helped to speed things up. Our petition has been sent to the consulate and we are being told that they will schedule the interview within 2 business days of receiving it!
My best wishes for a smooth transition to you as well.
-
Thank you so much for the reply. I will definitely give that a try. Btw congratulations to both of you.
-
-
Thank you JFH and Penguin for your help with this. I really appreciate it!
-
- Popular Post
I felt compelled to start this topic after I received an email reply from the NVC in response to a "Request to Expedite" that I had filed for my wife's CR1 Spousal Visa. I am the petitioner and the Agent of Choice and we began our journey on 01/25/2016.
I called the NVC on 08/16/2016 to get a status update after 8 weeks (56 days) had passed since they received it from USCIS and I had not heard anything from them. I was informed that our petition had been sent that very day to a Supervisor for review. The person I spoke with was cordial and patient with me but could not tell me why it was there nor who the supervisor was. She did tell me that I should call back in another 6 weeks to check the status. In the next 24 hours I called the NVC 4 times and spoke with 4 separate agents, each one giving me the same, or similar explanation. In a nutshell i was told that since 6 weeks had passed without getting reviewed it was mandatory that it be sent to a "Supervisor" simply because it had not been reviewed in a timely manner and if I didn't hear from the NVC sooner that I should call back in 6 weeks.
Luckily one of the agents suggested that I send a "Request to Expedite" in the form of an email to nvcexpedite@state.gov. I sent the email on September 1st and received a reply on the September 6th stating that my request had been approved. In the hopes that it will help others who may be suffering from "un-timely manners" at the NVC, I have copied the email with my expedite request that states the reasons I felt the request was justified:
From: Rich
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2016 4:18 PM
To: nvcexpedite@state.gov
Cc: Debbie
Subject: NVC Case Number SYDXXXXXXPetitioner Name: Rich
Date of Birth: xx/xx/xxxx
Beneficiary Name: Debbie
Date of Birth: xx/xx/xxxx
Dear Sir / Madam,
My name is Rich & I am the Petitioner and the Agent of Choice for Debbie ( #SYDXXXXX).
The following is a timeline of events regarding the CR1 visa application for Debbie :
01/18/2016 - Visa petition mailed to United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)
01/27/2016 - USCIS acknowledges receipt of visa petition (NOA1)
05/20/2016 - USCIS approves the visa petition and forwards it to National Visa Center (NVC)
06/29/2016 - NVC acknowledges receipt of visa petition from USCIS (NOA2)
06/30/2016 - Created online account for Debbie n at http://redirect.state.sbu/?url=https://ceac.state.gov/IV
06/30/2016 - Completed Agent of Choice - Rich
06/30/2016 - Affidavit of Support (AOS) Fees Paid - 120.00
07/05/2016 - Affidavit of Support Fees Processed - Transaction ID: 25SXXXX
07/09/2016 - IV Processing Fee Paid - 365.00
07/12/2016 - IV Processing Fee Processed - Transaction ID: 25SXXXXX
07/15/2016 - Completed DS260 and submitted online
07/15/2016 - Mailed AOS with supporting documents to NVC via USPS Certified Mail
07/15/2016 - Mailed civil documents required for IV application via USPS Certified Mail (mailed with AOS).
07/19/2016 - All documents received by NVC
08/16/2016 - I called the NVC to check the status of the application. I was instructed by the NVC to call back on 8/31/2016 because on that date the NVC would have had the documents for a total of 6 weeks.
08/31/2016 I called the NVC and was informed that the documents had not been reviewed and were now being sent to a Supervisor Review and the process could take an additional 6 weeks starting on 8/31/2016.
The agent I spoke with, Carly, submitted a request for a Supervisor call me. I have not received a call as of this date.
I was instructed to call back on 09/01/2016 to confirm the application was under Supervisor Review.
09/01/2016:
I called the NVC to confirm a Supervisor was reviewing the application and was told that the application had not yet been assigned to a Supervisor.
The agent informed of the following:
1. I could not have the name of the Supervisor.
2. I could not request to speak to any Supervisor.
3. I could not have a date that the application would actually be assigned to a Supervisor for review.
4. There is no evident reason the application was not reviewed in the first 6 weeks.
I hereby respectfully ask that NVC Case #SYDXXXXX be expedited for the following reasons:
1. Emotional Hardship:
Debbie , is the beneficiary and is suffering from and being treated for severe depression, stress and anxiety because we still have not been given an interview date with the Consulate in Sydney.
The NVC had the application for over 6 weeks with potentially 6 additional weeks added with no explanation for the delay. There is no evident reason for the delay, the civil documents and the AOS were submitted exactly as instructed.
2. Financial Hardship:
A wedding reception to mark and celebrate our marriage is to be held on 10/21/2016. The reception location, permits, food and entertainment have been paid for, invitations have been sent out and attendees, including those from Australia, have now purchased airline tickets to attend the reception.
The reception date was established with consideration for the normal, established amount of time it would take to complete the visa process, which is on average 8 months. It would create financial hardship for myself, Debbie and family members who have paid for airline tickets, ground transportation and lodging if Debbie is unable to arrive in the US prior to 10/21/2016.
Thank you for considering this request and have a peaceful day.
Sincerely,
Rich
09/01/2016
Here is the reply from NVC accepting my request:
Case Number: SYDXXXXX
Petitioner's Name: RICH
Principal Applicant's Name: ,DEBBIE
Preference Category: CR1
Your Priority Date: 25 Jan 2016
Foreign State Charge-ability: AUSTRALIA
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL
MLC CENTRE, LEVEL 59
19-29 MARTIN PLACE
SYDNEY, NSW 2000, AUSTRALIA
Dear Sir/Madam:
The National Visa Center (NVC) received your inquiry regarding the immigrant visa petition: SYDXXXXX filed by RICH on behalf of DEBBIE
The U.S. Embassy Consulate General has accepted this case for expedited processing. This file will be immediately forwarded to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General.
Any further questions concerning processing or the interview appointment date should be directed to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General.
The U.S. Embassy or Consulate General may still request additional forms or fees at the time of your interview. Please be prepared to bring any missing forms and pay any required fees at the time of your interview.
Please note that it could take up to two weeks for the consular section to receive the case file once it has shipped from NVC.
Thank you.
National Visa Center
Written Inquiry Unit
FCi Federal, Support Contractor
Good luck!!
-
Good evening,
I copied the following statement from an email I received from the NVC today:
IMPORTANT:
If your visa petition is currently processing at the National Visa Center, do not let more than one year pass without contacting NVC. If a period of one year passes from the last date of contact (by telephone, mail, or e-mail) with NVC, all submitted fees and documents expire. If this occurs, the fees must be paid again and documents must be resubmitted in order to continue the immigration process.
Hope this helps
NVC Expedite Request - It Really Works
in National Visa Center (Dept of State)
Posted