Swafford

Not wrong! Most cases I've seen get it like next day. Congrats!!

It wont work - i tired it myself and they will call you to cancel the interview the day before ---it happened to me.
I was in Kyiv and saw the case had been sent to the embassy. I scheduled the interview a few days after it had been sent by NVC and the day before the interview the embassy called and said the paper file was not ready and that I should go onto usatraveldocs and reschedule the interview. I said the hell with it - i will show up to the consulate and we did the following morning.  We had nothing to lose as we were staying in Kyiv.  OUr name wasn't on the list outside and i spoke with security - showed them my confirmation letter from usa traeldcos -  they said hang tight and we will make a phone call and let you know.  SEcurity went inside and called the consular section and they advised that the elecronic file is there but the paper one is not and that they specifically told us to cancel the interivew b/c they need the actual file.  We had to wait a few more days - got notice from the embassy that we could schedule and did so a few days later.  Stupid rule but you will get a phone call the day before if you schedule before the file is ready at the embassy.
 
 

Just checked on K-1's from Ukraine from 2012...there were 884 that year. So you might be onto something.

NVC had been unusually quiet this last week and if people have updated their timelines today, my bet is that NVC received a batch of cases from USCIS so give them a few days to go through them. Last shipment the same thing happened.. They issued a bunch of case numbers on the day of shipping and the few days after. If y'all are on this batch you should hear something by Friday at the latest, but keep in mind there are still some late January NOAs that still haven't received their number so I guess it depends how big of a batch they received.
 
I hope y'all get yours soon!

I had a lot of problems similar to yours with my upload as well.  I kept diminishing the photo and then suddenly it uploaded.  I can't tell you the reason but just encourage you to be persistent.  I can't specifically say as to the "only bring the hard photos".  It sounds logical as not everyone has digital photography capability but I haven't seen it addressed formally.  

Yea, there's a huuuge 3 day concert coming up in NC that I'm planning to take her to. It's a mix of genres and it just happens to be featuring almost every artist that has a song on "our" list (as in memorable songs in our relationship, for one reason or another). It should be awesome. I will give Kyiv credit in the concert world though, they had some awesome concerts almost every weekend, including American artists. I saw Skillet while I was there 😁

Do be prepared to some disappointments. E.g. "Are streets always so empty?" And "Tomatoes taste absolutely terrible and are not even the same fruit" Also American Coca Cola is not nearly as good as the one made in Kyiv. 

Called NVC   Still nothing. My noa2 is 2/6/19. Looks like we will be in March 19th batch. Hopefully. 

I personally would suggest calling the embassy and speaking to someone the moment you see that the case has been sent to the embassy (electronic copy).  Of course I would rush to get the medical exam now, asap.  if they have the electronic copy there may be a chance that they're willing to schedule the interview but I would certainly ask for their advice as to whether it's possible.  I'd be very hesitant to merely make the appointment online.  Do you have all the materials ready for the interview other than the medical exam?

We haven't called yet. But i guess nothing for us either as we are also from Feb1😭

One small step completed today as I impatiently wait for the NVC case number to assigned.
 
Yesterday, Iryna made payment in Kyiv for the consulate visit ($265 /7685 UAH).  The next step was for me to go online to http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ to associate our payment receipt number with her existing DS-160 submission confirmation number.  As some members suggested, it apparently takes at least 24 hours for this number to be recognized in the system because I couldn't get it to associate all day yesterday but this morning, the step was completed.
 
So now, back to waiting for the NVC to assign the number.... today is one month since the NOA2 was issued, one month of "in transit".  Yesterday I saw a November 129F approval (NOA2).  While I'm proud for them, it certainly creates a sense of frustration as I sit here waiting with a NOA1 of July 2018 on a basic application (no children, no prior marriages, no oddities of any kind) without delays from RFE's and their responses.  
 
What do I have left?

NVC Case number will be assigned
I will immediately schedule medical examination 
CEAC will show ready
I will immediately schedule embassy visit
Everything else that I'm aware of is already complete and waiting

I called 603-334-0888

As to the calendar, they apparently don't make reservations far in advance.  The gray ones are "shadowed out" and not available to be chosen.  I'm sure these will become active as time progresses but they appear to be encouraging individuals to apply together within a 2-3 week period.

One small step completed today as I impatiently wait for the NVC case number to assigned.
 
Yesterday, Iryna made payment in Kyiv for the consulate visit ($265 /7685 UAH).  The next step was for me to go online to http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ to associate our payment receipt number with her existing DS-160 submission confirmation number.  As some members suggested, it apparently takes at least 24 hours for this number to be recognized in the system because I couldn't get it to associate all day yesterday but this morning, the step was completed.
 
So now, back to waiting for the NVC to assign the number.... today is one month since the NOA2 was issued, one month of "in transit".  Yesterday I saw a November 129F approval (NOA2).  While I'm proud for them, it certainly creates a sense of frustration as I sit here waiting with a NOA1 of July 2018 on a basic application (no children, no prior marriages, no oddities of any kind) without delays from RFE's and their responses.  
 
What do I have left?

NVC Case number will be assigned
I will immediately schedule medical examination 
CEAC will show ready
I will immediately schedule embassy visit
Everything else that I'm aware of is already complete and waiting

I understand exactly what you're saying and we've talked about the same thing as far as "impressions" can go.  I myself was very timid and suspecting, walking very cautiously for a long time due to the many warnings and the "known issues" and challenges faced by the Country.  With that said, it's a place I really enjoy, especially in an inquisitive academic sense as a social scientist having studied and worked with public institutions my entire career.  The societal differences are amazing to me.

I use the western union app on my phone and it works fine. first time sending they might put a fraud hold though. I had to call the fraud department and answer a bunch of questions before they released it. really annoying too. felt like I was being interrogated by the police.
 
edit. with that being said though, she'll still have to go to a wu and pick it up. there's plenty in Ukraine though. many banks have a wu service in them. 

Why do I need to complete 160 and then pay? I thought we need to pay first then when we do 160 we input that receipt number on it. 

Paying with a card also affords you to make appts immediately after paying and it automatically populates the receipt #.

Yea, sounds much nice.. 
 
I had to western union Kris the money, which has its own fee, then when she pays the fee it's higher than it's supposed to even be anyway...

We tried with both the wac number and DS160 number and they couldn't. 

Yea I don't think this is an option in Ukraine. I wish it was, it would make things much easier. (well and apparently cheaper).

Probably...

Same for DR. The appts I refer to are the VAC and Consular. in DR, it's a 1st come 1st serve for the medical.

In DR currency is the same situation: the exchange rate changes daily. So to avoid paying more, I paid the fee using my debit card here in NYC.