Mike and Lily

My sister in-law came several times on a tourist visa while her F2-B was pending. It was never questioned upon entry to the USA. When she had her F2-B interview, her tourist visits were never an issue.

Our F2B process is now complete.

This is our timeline:

NOA1 -                                      08/28/13

NOA2 -                                      12/24/13

Welcome Letter                       01/15/19

Case Complete                        02/28/19

Interview Letter                        06/20/19

Interview                              07/17-18/19 - Passed

We had two different interview days, one for brother and one for sister. Both passed. The usual questions were asked. What will you do in the USA? Why do you want to move to the USA? Where will you live? Are you a member of the CCP? Are you married?

We realize we were more fortunate than most with our timeline. We had the right service center and the right consulate to process our petitions quickly. The time from start to finish was 71 months.

We hope that those waiting longer than us have prompt and successful outcomes. Good luck to you all!

1 minute ago, Lil bear said:

Not sure why you say this is the wrong forum for IR 5 .. parents immigration. It’s the correct forum 

Each IR 5 is a separate  application and will process separately all the way through. The Consulate may identify them as “related “ but it’s no guarantee. Ours processed within a day of each other , our appointments were the same day and time , we were interviewed together.. but I think that was more luck than intention   Expect separate interview dates and times but you might be pleasantly surprised 

 

IR-5 is for parents of US CITIZENS ONLY. This forum is for family members of permanent residents.

Are you a US citizen? If so, this is the the wrong forum. But assuming you are, they will likely be processed together.

She already submitted the application for the new passport. She had it expedited and they said it would take 10 days. They let her keep the old one and just cut off a corner. I'm not sure if they stamped it "canceled" or not. But unless it takes much longer than expected, it looks like we're good.

Thanks for everyone's responses.

11 minutes ago, issea said:

My impression is it takes less than 4 weeks to renew the passport. And I also have the impression that valid visa on expired passport combined with new passport is acceptable. Check this if it applies to your case: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html

 

BTW, I believe you can expedite the passport renewal by paying extra. 

OK, thanks. The website I checked said 4-6 weeks. But I'll have my relative in China check it out right away, and see if there's an option to expedite. 

2 minutes ago, Pinkrlion said:

They will not accept the passport at the interview if it does not meet the requirements and will have to be submitted when you receive the new one. They will not care that you purchased plane tickets. Be prepared to make flight changes. 

It does meet the requirements at the time of the interview. The only assumption that would need to be made is that the visa would be received within 6 days of passing the interview. If we need to make flight changes, so be it.

5 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

5 weeks is not enought time to get a new passport?

 

There is no guarantee the visa will be issued within 6 days of the interview date. You are cutting it very close. Our general advice has always been never to buy tickets until you have that visa in hand

They say 4-6 weeks. But the passport is also required for the medical exam prior to the interview.

We were absolutely stunned this week to receive our interview letters. Our F2-B priority date isn't even current until July 1. As we have less than 5 weeks until the interview, we don't believe we safely have enough time to renew one of the passports. We also need the passport for the medical exam prior to the interview. One of the passports expires exactly six months and one week after the interview. (we had been planning to renew it shortly) The instructions state that the passport should have at least six months validity from INTENDED DATE OF ENTRY to the USA. Our best solution is to buy a plane ticket for 6 days after the interview and show it to the visa officer during the interview. It's been our experience that the Guangzhou consulate is very quick about issuing visas once the interviews have been passed. We hope the visa officer will accept this. She didn't want to rush her entry following the interview, but now it appears she has no choice. Does anyone have any better ideas or anything else to offer on this?

7 months movement in the last 2 months for F2B. As of July, we have our case complete with a current priority date. Woohoo! I hope the Guangzhou consulate works faster than Mumbai or Bangladesh!

5 hours ago, dannyrocks said:

yes!!  my case was approved June 2015. Got my case and invoice number from NVC

Really? So soon? According to the most recent Visa Bulletin, they're only sending "Welcome Letters" to applicants with a priority date of August 2014 or earlier.

So have you paid your fees and uploaded your documents yet?

As I said in a previous thread, you should be prepared for a long wait. The current visa bulletin indicates interview letters will only be given to those with a priority date of May 15, 2013 or earlier. Many with priority dates in 2012 are still waiting.

On ‎5‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 11:18 AM, dannyrocks said:

my case was approved June 2015 and it has been with NVC since then. I think my service center is California cause that's where my dad lives and he is the petitioner

Actually, you should start emailing NVC at askNVC@state.gov once the date on chart B of the visa bulletin becomes current. (currently 8/8/14) They will email you back telling you if you can start paying fees and submitting documents to NVC.

I haven't seen anyone with an F-2B petition get an interview in less than 6 years following their priority date, but maybe I missed seeing it. I know there are quite a few people here with priority dates in 2012 still waiting for interviews.

5 hours ago, dannyrocks said:

But I live outside the United States, I thought NVC will be the one to contact me

You can wait for them to contact you, but as far as the welcome letter is concerned, you're better off being proactive. NVC never contacted me, I emailed them at asknvc@state.gov.  They emailed me the "welcome letter" with login information.

22 hours ago, juskelzz said:

Hi All

I'm new to this thread so I've been trying to read all the updates but 156 page is a lot to go through lol. I have paid AOS, IV Application and uploaded all my civil and supporting documents to the CEAC website.

 

After 3 weeks I received an email yesterday from NVC that states "The National Visa Center (NVC) received all of the fees, forms, and documents that are required prior to attending an immigrant visa interview at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate General overseas.NVC will work with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General in KINGSTON, JAM to schedule an interview appointment for you. Once we have confirmed an interview date, we will send a notice to you, your petitioner and attorney (if applicable)."  <<<< Does this email mean my case is complete?

 

I'm in the F2B category with a priority date of March 14, 2014. Can you guys give me an idea of when I can expect an interview date?

It won't likely be soon. Your priority date will take a while to become current. The visa bulletin dates have been advancing 3 months every month for a while. Six months would be an optimistic guess. Probably longer.

4 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Presumably not a spouse of LPR visa though? ...given all that time studying and visiting and immigrant visa still pending?

That's a good point. An application for a student visa for a spouse with a pending immigration petition will probably be more suspect than an F2-B applicant with one.

My sister in-law applied and received a student visa after first being denied for a tourist visa. (we provided the funds) She went back to China after attending school here. She then applied for another tourist visa with an immigrant visa pending and she got it.

If you have the time, patience and money to jump through all hoops, it's worth trying IMO.

Chart A is used to determine when your interview is to be scheduled. If your NVC documents are complete, the beneficiary should receive an interview letter around the time the priority date is current.

Chart B is used to determine when you can pay fees, assemble and submit documents to the NVC. The NVC will notify you when you are able to do this and issue you a case number and invoice ID number to access their on-line system.

If your priority date in chart B is current and you haven't received notice yet, you may email the NVC at asknvc@state.gov and they will respond if you are eligible to start submitting documents.

2 hours ago, Scandi said:

Are you white? If so then no, you don't stand a chance. The rest of the white world refuses to recognize the genocide happening in SA.

3 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

 

Um hello, white South African here. There is no genocide. What there is, is a high rate of violent crime against all races in South Africa, some of which is publicized a lot more than others for certain political ends. There is admittedly a very cruel element against some of the white farmers, just as there is against black gay/trans people in certain parts of the country, though the latter somehow doesn’t get the same publicity. I wonder why? There’s apparently a lot of help/info available on the white nationalist/alt right type websites for those who believe there is persecution against whites. I’m sure OP can find the info he/she is looking for there. 

 

 

But you can claim asylum at a port of entry, then get admitted to the USA and wait for years until your asylum case is heard. I'm not saying that's right, but it's the way it is now.

On 4/5/2019 at 7:33 PM, ManprManpr said:

Any age limit in f2b 

No age limit, but if the petitioner dies, the petition dies with him/her. 

6 hours ago, aaron2020 said:

There's no age limit.  Beneficiary can be age 101 and still get the visa.  

Wrong on everything. The petitioner will sill need to be alive with a F2B beneficiary at age 101. That won't happen.

Re -entry permits are good for 2 years but they can only be used once. Once you get your green card, you can apply for a re-entry permit. You can then stay out of the country for up to two years without returning. When you return, your re-entry permit is taken from you at that time. They aren't cheap either. About $800 I believe.

K-1 would be a USC petitioner. This is the wrong forum for that inquiry.

4 minutes ago, Ssantiago said:

Okay thanks! Good to know, so from Case completion to schedule of interview it will take like how many months? 

Assuming your priority date is current, usually 1-2 months.

Assuming that they accept all your docs, it takes about 2 weeks from the time of NVC submission until they complete your case.