marc941

11 minutes ago, SolFreeman said:

Congrats!!! Where are you from? I mean the beneficiary? I wonder if we can schedule an appointment for Medical once we had the case number and invoice id. We haven't received the email letter from NVC yet but my fiancé just called them this morning and they just received our case few days ago.

My fiance is from the Dominican Republic.  The embassy there uses a website (www.ustraveldocs.com) to process the DS160 application online, along with the necessary payment.  I was able to complete both a few days ago, prior to even having a case number from NVC.  Once payment is complete, that website also allows us to schedule the interview, which is available as soon as July 11th, but I haven't booked it yet because I'm sure the embassy needs some time to receive and review the case.  I've just emailed the embassy to get some clarification on when it's appropriate for me to proceed with scheduling the appt.  I think some of this may be unique to each embassy.  In our case, we can proceed with medical as soon as we have the appointment confirmed.

11 hours ago, Alysia&Luis said:

 Because I am super impatient I just tried to call NVC - case not there yet

I tried calling NVC yesterday with the same result ... My NOA2 date was 2 days before you, 6/10.  Hopefully we can all just take turns calling and share when we get some results around certain dates

8 hours ago, mytruelove18 said:

 

Wow, thank you so much for all the helpful information!  I really appreciate it!

9 hours ago, Trinab80 said:

Congrats to you and your fiancé!

 

It's my understanding that you need your case# from NVC to be able to complete the DS-160. Once you complete and submit it, you need to print the confirmation page because you will need that to bring with you for the medical exam and I believe for the interview as well. You can schedule your interview once you submit the form and pay the visa fee. It's all done almost simultaneously.

 

Good luck!

Thank you!  We went through the entire ds160 application online except for hitting  the "submit" button at the end. It only asked for USCIS application number, nothing about CEAC.  It doesn't seem that there was any part of the process that would have prevented us from submitting it, unless it's something that would have kicked back a notice after trying to submit.  Nonetheless, I think I'll wait until we have CEAC # from NVC just to be safe.

9 hours ago, mytruelove18 said:

 

as I believe this must wait until it is processed by NVC?  Is that correct? YES YOU NEED WAAIT UNTIL NVC PROCESSED.

 

When is the soonest we can schedule interview? ALL DEPENTS FROM THE INTERVIEW DATES THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE EMBASSY CALENDAR AFTER YOU PAY THE FEE.

 

If we can move the process forward without waiting for the embassy to mail him something ("Packet 3", I think?), I'd much prefer that! YES YOU CAN SCHEDULE YOUR INTERVIEW WITHOUT WAIT FROM EMBASSY.

 

you do this steps aferter you get your case number and you see your status that says ready on ceac check visa status.

i HOPE THIS HELP this is the process that you need follow, this is for dominican embassy:

1. Fill out the DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application), electronically. Please follow this link https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/, answer all questions. If your children are applying for a visa with you, each one must completely fill out the Form DS-160, on line. You must present the print out of the confirmation page, which contains a series of bar codes, and present this confirmation sheet the day of the interview. We suggest to write down the Application ID displayed on the top right-hand corner of the page.

2. You need to create your profile/electronic account atwww.ustraveldocs.com, to schedule your appointment to visit the VAC, (prior to your appointment in the Consular Section). You also need to select the place that you would like to pick up your passport and the immigrant visa package, if issued, in any of the twelve MAILBOXES, ETC locations around the country. Mailboxes, Etc. has 12 locations in the Dominican Republic, in Santo Domingo, Santiago, San Cristobal, Las Terrenas, and La Romana. After completing your profile, you will be directed a confirmation page that lists the visa fee amount due. Please print this page and take it to Banco Popular Dominicano to pay your visa fee.

3. Pay the application fee of US$265, the equivalent in Dominican pesos at any branch of Banco Popular. This one-time fee covers appointment scheduling, client support, and delivery services.

4. Finally, Return to the website at www.ustraveldocs.com to schedule your appointment for fingers print and to be interviewed, for your K visa, in the Consular Section.

5-you can schedule your interview for fingersprint at Galeria 360 one day and other day your interview at the embassy.

 

MEDICAL EXAM YOU GO WITHOUT APPOINMENT, JUST GO 15 DAYS BEFORE INTERVIEW.

Remember to be on time to your visa interview in the Consular Section of the Embassy of the United States, and arrive not earlier than half an hour.

Thank you ... This info looks familiar and is a good refresher for me.  It seems that SDO embassy recently redesigned their website and I haven't been able to find the k-specific info that I saw a couple months ago when we started all this.  My question about when is the soonest we can schedule wasn't about how soon we can get an actual interview date, I meant when is the soonest we can actually do the scheduling of the interview... But from what you provided above, I think the answer is that it can be done as soon as we file ds160 and pay the application fee, the latter being dependent on first receiving CEAC # from NVC?

A couple of other questions that I thought of today on the plane ride home...

I know that the medical cannot be done without the embassy appointment being scheduled, and I know that medical should be done at least 15 days before interview, based on info you provided above.  But, is there any harm in doing medical sooner?  Like a month before embassy interview?  

A friend of mine from Germany showed up for her medical exam and was surprised to learn that she had to go elsewhere for her chest x-rays which should have been done prior.  Should we be concerned about that happening in the Dominican, or can anyone confirm if the chest x-rays are definitely performed during the medical exam?

I know vaccinations are not required for k1 entry to USA, but are recommended, because I believe I read somewhere that if our initial k1 medical certificate includes vaccination info, that same certificate can be used for AOS, possibly saving money by not needing to pay for a second medical exam 4-5 months from now.  Can anyone confirm that my understanding is correct?  Will the doc at medical exam perform vaccinations if requested, or does that need to be arranged with a private doctor in advance?

Does the VAC appointment have to be the day before embassy interview, or can it be done a week or two earlier?

Thanks so much, everyone!

On 6/15/2017 at 4:59 PM, mytruelove18 said:

congratulationsssssssss i am so happy for you.

now wait for NVC, then once you have your case number check the case status on ceac check visa status, once say in trasit then ready is at the embassy then you can schedule your interview.

 

Thanks, the timing of receiving NOA2 was very special for us ... I received it the day before I flew to D.R. to visit my fiance, so it felt amazing to be able to celebrate that together, in person!  I'm sitting in the airport now, waiting to fly back home.  It's my understanding that I should wait about 2 weeks from NOA2 to start calling NVC to ask for case number?  Also, I can't seem to find anything specific telling me when exactly I can submit DS160 and scheduled interview.  Yesterday, we filled out the DS160 online together, but did not yet submit it (it saves online for up to 30 days), as I believe this must wait until it is processed by NVC?  Is that correct?  When is the soonest we can schedule interview?  If we can move the process forward without waiting for the embassy to mail him something ("Packet 3", I think?), I'd much prefer that!

Thanks in advance!  All this time waiting for NOA2 and now that we're passed that, I feel like I'm lost again, not sure exactly what to expect and when.  The various guides talk about getting NVC number, proceeding with vaccinations and medical, and then interview, but no real specific information on the timing for them.

Thanks!

3 minutes ago, Mike & Tuyen said:

Yeah, in the upper right corner where your login is, go to account settings.  Then you will see a signature tab and you can enter it there.

Thank you, found it!

I can't figure out how to add a signature with my dates ... can anyone point me in the right direction?  I'm a techie by trade, but feeling incredibly stupid right now because I can't seem to find that setting.

14 minutes ago, Yzabelle said:

Congratulations in advance! :)) when is your received date?

Receive date 3/10 ... I guess I should add a signature now that it feels like there's something worth adding

2 hours ago, loreal said:

Hello everyone! Any updates for march filers? 

Our noa 1 was march 1. Im waiting for 95 days now and counting. 

The current statistical average is 101 days (see k1 Visa trends under the timelines menu) for California service center (which seems to handle the majority of K1's as far as I'm aware). 

I don't think their email/SMS notifications or website are working properly, so watch your postal mailbox closely.  Theoretically you should be processed in about 6 more days, and receive the letter in the mailbox a few days later.  And I hope to be about 15 days behind you!  (3/15 NOA1!)

9 hours ago, Kpetraska said:

Hello everyone!

I mailed by I129F forms on May 12th and received my NOA1 today, May 15th. I was not expecting it this soon!! That was crazy fast and really helps with positive thinking.

 

I'm a little confused on what happens next but I think now it's the long wait for the approval or NOA2? 

 

It's so nice to find this thread and see how it are progressing in this process. I've read December filers were approved in March, so the current time estimate is roughly 3 months?

 

I've read to check your timeline. Can anyone tell me what exactly that is and how I check it? I have already made my USCIS account.

Welcome to the waiting club!  Be sure to check out and subscribe to the thread for May filers!

Yes, now you wait for NOA2;  The current average time between NOA1 and NOA2 is around 100 days.  You can keep an eye on the statistics under "processing times" on the menu at the top.

The timeline is a feature on this website (VJ) which allows everyone to track their status, and the website uses those statistics to help keep everyone better informed about USCIS processing times and status.  It's by no means official or anything you should start planning a wedding around!  When you enter your info into your VJ timeline, it will use the statistics of other VJ users to give you an educated guess of what happens next, and when.

Yes, it was very good just now to see the VJ K1 stats for CSC jump from 1/31 to 2/4 rather suddenly, and my timeline jumped back 3 or 4 days close earlier.  I think the average NOA2 processing time was around 87 days when I submitted our application and it's been steadily climbing to over 100 over the past two months.  I'm happy to see it drop a little!  VJ stats currently show an average of 100 days from NOA1 to NOA2.

I read a comment about some people recently receiving NOA2's in the mail, but are not being notified by email/and, and are not being reflected on the my USCIS website.  Does anyone know any more about that?  Is it just a website problem, or a bigger internal USCIS computer problem that may have also been slowing down processing?

This long distance and long wait have been far more difficult than I'd imagined, but it's starting to feel a little easier knowing that some progress may be on the horizon.

10 minutes ago, eastcoastgroove said:

The visa journey timeline is just based on the recent averages of everyone who is updating their timelines on this site.  It is not official and is just there to give you an idea of when it *could* be processed based on others using this site.  USCIS seems to be behind right now, so people are waiting longer, which will push back your estimate.

Yes, I'm well aware of how it works, as I tried to express with my references to "VJ Timeline" (not a USCIS timeline) and "VJ Estimate" (not a USCIS estimate).  I was pointing out to others that based on VJ processing time statistics page, CSC seems to be on an upward trend (increased by about 10 additional days so far just within the past 3 week period).  So if the current trend continues, I'm thinking it's more likely we're going to be seeing our NOA2's in July rather than June.   If someone has a different interpretation of these statistics, I'd love to hear it

Are you are saying that the estimated adjudication date on my timeline updates automatically based on current statistics?  I wasn't sure if that changed/updated automatically, or if that was only calculated when doing an update to the timeline.

Has anyone else noticed that the CSC K1 processing time keeps getting longer?  When I first submitted my 129f about 3 weeks ago, the VJ stats showed they were "processing" around 81 or 82 days ago.  Now they're up to 91 days.  Does anyone know if VJ's estimate shown on our timeline updates automatically based on these increased processing times, or if we need to do something to 'refresh' it?  I don't recall what my VJ Timeline estimate said initially, so I'm not sure if it's changed.

12 hours ago, Manuela Santos said:

Hello everyone.  I just mailed my K1 packet on Monday March 20 via UPS.  My fiance is in Dominican Republic. The waiting game begins......it helps to read everyone's update  

Welcome to the club!   My fiance is also in the Dominican Republic!  I'm going down there for another visit at the end of April.  It can't come soon enough!  Luckily, I'm in Florida, so it's a pretty quick/convenient flight for frequent/short weekend trips to Santo Domingo!

11 hours ago, CubaAndChill said:

Thank you for your encouragement and setting some expectations for us! I was keeping up with the Nov thread for awhile and saw how some cases took longer than others to get their NOA2. It seems as though it's like CSC is just drawing a name out of a hat and somewhat disorganized in how they process the packets, but I know that sooner or later we'll all get our NOA2's and then it's off to the embassy for our interviews.

 

Is it bad I'm already doing everything like I have my NOA2? lol! I've already filled out the DS-160 for my fiance, just waiting for the NOA2 to submit it. That way I can get an interview date as soon as possible after submitting the DS-160. And, I've already filled out the I-134 form and printed out some of my tax forms. I'm just waiting to print out my paycheck stubs & get the letter from my employer about a month or so before the interview. I'm also preparing my fiance in what he needs to get before the interview too, so he doesn't do things last minute like he likes to do everything else lol.

 

Just call me Impatient Irene

There's nothing wrong with that!  I've already done the same, a few times, as practice runs... and carefully reviewed all the form instructions and checklists.  I want to make sure that I'm ready when it's time and that I fully understand the process without any last minute surprises or questions!  

I received our NOA1 hard-copy in the mail today, which was dated 3/15 (the same day I received the email and SMS confirmation). Now we wait patiently! 

19 hours ago, KULtoATL said:

@marc941 Congratulations. Don't forget to update your timeline  

Thanks! Already done!  now I just need a time machine so I can skip ahead to the end of this process!