fayrog

1) Our NOA2 will expire before the interview date. Do we need to email the embassy to request an extension or will they automatically extend the expiration?

2) I know that petitioners are not allowed in the interview, but I've read that sometimes the beneficiaries are asked if the petitioners are in Juarez. Is it bad that I will not be there? I was just there for a visit this month and he was here for 2 months previous to that, so we have had a lot of visits.

On 8/9/2019 at 12:16 PM, Ben & Katy said:

You can do biometrics in your own city if they have that option.  We did not do our biometrics in Juarez because where we lived at the time Nogales,Sonora has a biometrics.  I would check to see if you city has it.  That will save you some time during your appointment week in Juarez. 

Chihuahua has a biometrics place, but when I try to schedule it there it says that there are no appointment there. 

I was able to move our appointment up to Sept 6. There's an opening now on Nov. 21 if anyone is looking. Yes, you can see it that it's open online- at least as of 620am CT. 

33 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

OK. You can call customer service to book the appointment, but they see exactly what you see on the website.

You could try both calling and checking on the website, it does no harm. 

That's what I thought. I'll just keep checking the website. I've already been able to move it up once. 

2 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

As you're already traveling to CDJ for the medical, the advice you've been given is correct and pretty convenient: ASC appointment earlier on the day of the medical examination. 

Yes. I got that. I was referring to the appointment day/time for the interview. 

9 hours ago, GyC said:

This is correct, you will take about 15 to 20 min max at the ASC, just arrive on time.

Also you can call the consulate at CDJ to check for earlier interview dates, they will help you. Best of luck!

Really? Would that work better than just checking the website?

18 hours ago, Elif_and_Greg said:

Yikes, that's crazy man. 

 

I do see Mexico has around 24 pending applications, whereas Turkey has about 11. But then numbers of pending cases aside, I guess it could be fast or slow for other reasons entirely. 

I do think Mexico is one of the busiest for visas, so it would make more sense if they opened a second place to receive K1 or CR-1 visas. At the very least they should open more days/time slots.I think CR-1 approval is now taking around 20 months from start to finish, which is why we chose the K1.

1 hour ago, Elif_and_Greg said:

I kind of figured that while the rest of the steps could take longer combined than the NOA2, is it not correct that the NOA2 tends to be the single longest step you have to wait on? So I'm really hoping once I get my NOA2 that my fiance could possibly have her visa in September. This could be an optimistic estimate, but mid to late September. That's what I'm hoping and maybe I can still take her to Yellowstone in time. 

For us the longest part will be waiting for the interview- NOA2 in 3 months- interview is scheduled for 4 months from the time the embassy received our case. It was originally longer, but I move it up when I saw a cancellation.

8 hours ago, Horty said:

Yes you have to pick the K1 Visa option and I also saw the next dates where Into December. But check back every few days as sometimes other newer dates may appear. It has happened to others. Tid bit.... when doing the medical give yourself 2 to 3 days before your interview date to ensure the results are complete. Best of luck!

What was the link that you had? I only had the immigrant option.

2 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Yes,  We did that twice.   Moved up to september from december.

Oh great! Thanks!

6 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Just schedule it the day before on the same day as medical.

Gah! I feel really stupid because I wasn't even thinking of that. 

If I do schedule for December and I see a cancellation for sooner I will be able to move it correct?

24 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

Can't you do ACS in CDJ?

Yes, he could but it would be about 6 hours round trip just do biometrics.

2 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Be careful with scheduling your medical to far out from the interview as your visa validity is only valid for 6 months and that date is determined when you complete the medical exam and not the interview. 

Yeah. Since it's so far out I'm thinking he will just do medical a few days before.

On 7/24/2019 at 2:03 PM, Horty said:

I did my DS160 as soon as it left NVC. Then waited 5 days and scheduled our interview. You will need the letter present to make you medical appt. But dates were 2 months out so I scheduled it knowing i would have the letter by then. Just FYI medical exams have to be done in Juarez too and you should allow 2 to 3 days prior to the interview to be sure you get results back in time for the interview.  Best of luck 

Apparently they are now 4 months out. I tried to schedule yesterday, but the only thing showing is December and I am unable to schedule since there are no appointments at the ACS in Chihuahua. 😑   I'm scheduling under nonimmigrant correct?

So everything has been going surprisingly smooth and quick....until it was time to schedule an appointment. Right now it's only showing December available, but I can't schedule anything because there aren't any appointments available at the ACS in Chihuahua for the biometrics.  My questions are: I'm assuming this is because the ACS has not opened its schedule for that far out yet and also what is the possibility that there will be cancellations before December? Has anyone had that happen?

1 hour ago, Horty said:

I did my DS160 as soon as it left NVC. Then waited 5 days and scheduled our interview. You will need the letter present to make you medical appt. But dates were 2 months out so I scheduled it knowing i would have the letter by then. Just FYI medical exams have to be done in Juarez too and you should allow 2 to 3 days prior to the interview to be sure you get results back in time for the interview.  Best of luck 

My paperwork left NVC yesterday and today CEAC status is showing as ready so I guess we are good to go whenever my fiance does the DS160. Do you if there is expiration on the medical exams? We are driving through Juarez next month and it would be nice if he just do it then instead of having to drive up twice in a couple of days.

1 hour ago, Horty said:

P3 received and interview scheduled almost there. 😍

Did you have to wait for P3 before scheduling an interview or can you schedule once the DS-160 is done?

You will still have some time. We got our NOA2 June 20 and just received our case number from the NVC yesterday. You cannot do any of the next steps until you have a case number. You can start gathering the documents you need for the interview. Our case will not leave NVC to the embassy until 7/23 and from what I understand we cannot schedule the medical or interview until the embassy receives our case.

2 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Are using "immigrant" as the visa type?

Yes. In Firefox it didn't work either way, but in Internet Explorer it does.

I just called the NVC and got our case number, however, when I try to put into ceac to get an update it invalid application ID or case number. Any idea why?

EDIT: Apparently it works in Internet Explorer and not Firefox.

1 hour ago, d99gr81 said:

Congrats... what APP are you using?

I have two- Lawfully Case tracker and then the other one (I'm not sure of the name) that has been mentioned in the forum several times. Lawfully is the one that updated automatically and notified me.

We were just approved! I had just checked both the old and new sites an hour ago and they were still showing "case received". I received a notification on the app a few minutes ago that our petition was approved and the old site has been updated but not the new.

NOA1- March 22

NOA2- June 20

Boyfriend crossed at the Bridges of the Americas to fly out of El Paso. We filed for our K-1 back in March. The only questions he was asked were: where was he going, why was he going to Iowa, and that I must be a good girlfriend if he was willing to come to Iowa to visit me.

4 hours ago, Loren Y said:

I've crossed into Mexico many times, if your walking across, you will more than likely get a stamp as long as you use the passport book, not the card. He should for sure get a stamp into Mexico, and when coming back just ask the CBP to please stamp my passport, they will usually do it no questions asked, just say you need a record of return for work or even for immigration reasons. 

If you want to guarantee a stamp, when you cross into Mexico say you are traveling farther into Mexico, or that you are staying more than 3 days, and that requires the Visa or entry stamp be placed in the passport.

The last time I crossed into Mexico we drove from El Paso to Chihuahua City and I stayed for almost two weeks. No one was at the border to stamp my passport and on return  they just looked at my passport and asked if I was an American citizen. No stamps. When I went to Mexico City and flew I of course went through immigration, got a stamp, and the visa, but no exit stamp.

Mailed in today!