GL10

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

Your answer is SPOT ON! Everyone is run through a series of background checks.

 

There are background checks at USCIS.

 

As part of its benefits adjudication process and as required by law, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducts background checks on petitioners and applicants who seek certain immigration benefits. These background checks consist of four separate checks against systems within Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In order to facilitate the collection and transmission of information necessary to complete background check processes, USCIS maintains five information technology electronic systems: the Fingerprint Masthead Notification System (FMNS), the Customer Identity Capture System (CICS), the FD-258 Tracking System - Mainframe (FD-258 MF), the Benefits Bio-metrics Support System (BBSS), and the Inter-agency Border Inspection System (IBIS) Manifest. USCIS is conducting this privacy impact assessment (PIA) because FMNS, CICS, FD-258 MF, BBSS, and IBIS Manifest collect, use, and share personally identifiable information (PII). This PIA replaces the previously published USCIS PIA for the "Background Check Service (BCS)" which describes planned background check-related systems that were never implemented. Upon publication of this PIA, the BCS PIA will be retired.

 

There are checks at NVC.

 

When they receive the approved I-129f from USCIS, they check to ensure that it’s been stamped. NVC will occasionally receive a petition from USCIS and it does not have the appropriate approval stamp in the upper left-hand corner. They are also checking to make sure that the three criminal questions have been answered. He noted that there are times when the petitioner will forget to complete those questions and those questions are subsequently missed by the adjudicator.  In both of these instances the case will then be sent back to USCIS. If one of these things occur with a case file recently received from USCIS, NVC would know within the first week of receiving the case.

 

And there are checks at the Embassy.

 

The embassy will take a bio-metric (fingerprints) from the beneficiary at the time of the interview. During post-interview processing the fingerprint card is scanned and checked against a number of inter-agency databases to ensure the true integrity of the individual who is migrating.  

That was my thought from the beginning but I wasn't sure. SORRY. I asked multiple people and no one gave me a real answer. SORRY AGAIN and THANK YOU.

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

You do not need a FBI report from the States. Your name has already been run through the FBI system when you submitted the I-129f.

 

USC petitioner does not required a PCC. When you supply the I-129f his information is run through different Federal and Local for security checks. The beneficiary is the only one required to do complete PCC if they met living in another country, from your home country, since the age of 16 for 6 months or more.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html

Yes I am asking for the beneficiary. But her name has probably already been run through the system too. Because the beneficiary needs it from any country they lived in since age 16 for more than 6 months and she lived in the US for 25 months we asked for it. But we are unsure if it was necessary or not. And if it was, if it is enough. 

Hi,
I have lived in the US previously under a J1 visa. As we need a background check from each country we lived in after age 16 I got my criminal history from the FBI. is it enough? It says : THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE FURTHER CRIMINAL HISTORY AT THE STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL.

I thought getting it from the FBI would be enough but I am unsure now.

Hi,

my case says  "READY". Can I go ahead and schedule medical examination + visa appointment or should I wait to receive a letter? I feel like I am missing something. Some of you do schedule everything now but I need the "Embassy appointment letter containing your case number" to go to the medical exam. It means I have to wait for documents before going? (P4?) Or is it just some kind of confirmation tht I will get electronically once I book the interview app? 
Thank you!

8 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Your earlier post:

 

I do have a question... With the case number they give us the Invoice ID #. Dumb question but what do we do with this? Consult Number 8 from the PDF.
I thought after the "NVC step" we will just need to wait for the Embassy to receive the case but what about CEAC? Consult Number 9.  Is it just a way to track our case?  Yes and NO. You use the case number for a variety of steps one being the tracking of your case to the embassy. Do you HAVE to pays fees on CEAC? No fees are paid to CEAC. Fees are paid according to your embassy P3 letter. Ok. I am going to anticipate your next question what is a P3 letter. It's a set of instructions on what to prepare for the interview, how to pay your interview fees etc. I will include a copy below for your embassy.

Thank you.

 

https://fr.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/iv-dv-supplemental/PRS-Paris.pdf

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g3Kap3mdru6wVgE95v0aLDs7kCvUk3BP/view?usp=sharing

 

Now there you have it. Everything to get through from here to visa issuance. 

 

BTW there is a great section with guides on every step of the way located here https://www.visajourney.com/content/guides/

Thank you so much for everything. I think I do what I shouldn't do : stressing a bit too much as I want to make sure we do everything correctly. Sorry. 
One other thing I'd like to clarify is : Do you use a DS-260 or DS-160 for the K1?

8 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Let me help as you seem to be a lamb wondering in the wilderness. Go to the first page of this thread. In the first post their is a PDF file that I created to answer all the questions you may have concerning the steps that you are currently in (I have answered everyone you have asked so far, in that PDF). Reading it will give you insight and avoid asking the same questions 100's of others have asked. 

 

That's why it's a good idea when you come to thread that you start from page one and read what others have posted. Great learning experiencing. Good luck with the rest of your journey.

I may be missing something because I did read your PDF but it doesn't seem to answer my question... 

I do have a question... With the case number they give us the Invoice ID #. Dumb question but what do we do with this? 
I thought after the "NVC step" we will just need to wait for the Embassy to receive the case but what about CEAC? Is it just a way to track our case?  Do you HAVE to pays fees on CEAC? 

Thank you.

11 minutes ago, GL10 said:

NOA2 9/26 , just called the NVC and we got our case number assigned! Can't tell you when it was assigned exactly and when they ship it to the embassy, the lady just gave the case # and invoice ID # and was like "okay bye" we tried to ask a few questions but she wasn't really willing to answer... She said we'll get an email when it's being shipped though. But whatever at least we know things are moving forward!!!!

Actually according to what I've read case # got assigned on the 24th.

Apparently :

The digits tell us exactly when NVC created the case. For example a case with the number MNL2013747003 would be a case assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Manila. 2013 is the year in which NVC received the case from the USCIS (formerly INS). The Julian date is 747 plus 500, so this case was created on September 4, 2013, the 247th day of the year. The 003 shows that it was the third case created for Manila on that day. This case number is not the same as the USCIS receipt number, which is written on the Notice of Action, Form I-797, from the USCIS. A consular section abroad cannot find a case if all you have is the USCIS receipt number.

NOA2 9/26 , just called the NVC and we got our case number assigned! Can't tell you when it was assigned exactly and when they ship it to the embassy, the lady just gave the case # and invoice ID # and was like "okay bye" we tried to ask a few questions but she wasn't really willing to answer... She said we'll get an email when it's being shipped though. But whatever at least we know things are moving forward!!!!

15 minutes ago, DanMeirian said:

I emailed 10 days ago and still haven't heard from them. 

I’ve heard it takes them up to a month to answer emails... 

I am currently waiting on the phone to talk to somebody (finally!!!) but it’s been over 30 minutes already... time to test my limits and see how patient I am 🙂 haha 

7 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

NVC CONTACT INFORMATION:

Website: www.immigrantvisas.state.govwww.immigrantvisas.state.gov  

 

E-mail: NVCInquiry@state.gov    I highly recommend you email NVC for the case #, even if you call and get it, this will give you a correspondence from NVC with the case # for future reference.  The email request for your case # is also a great way to track when your file is forwarded to your Embassy as NVC will not reply to the email until that time. 

 

REQUIRED SECURITY INFORMATION:

You are required to provide the following security information with each inquiry to receive a case-specific response:

 

* NVC Case Number or USCIS Receipt Number (Place in the subject line of the e-mail).

* Petitioner's name and date of birth.

  ( NOTE: If the visa petition is employment-based, include the employer's company/organization name instead of the petitioner's name and date of birth. )

* Principal Applicant's name and date of birth.

Thank you so much! I’ve heard they take a long time to answer to emails though... 

Hi everyone! Our NOA2 is from 09/26. As I see a few of you having a case number assigned already I wanted to call the NVC too and ask but no matter when I call it's always telling me to call back later due to the high amount of calls they receive everyone is busy ... Is there another way to check?

Thank you!!!

27 minutes ago, Foibh said:

Good to see another French filer. I'll be following your timeline. Funny story: my fiance took me to Troyes when I visited and when we got there he realized he was thinking of a different city when he suggested we go.

Yayyyy!!! Omg that’s so cool not everyone knows my city! It’s small but pretty. Is there anyway we can chat in private?! I’ll look into this from my computer tonight and will send you a message if possible! 

11 minutes ago, Leah88 said:

Congratulations to everyone, who received their NOA2! We re also still waiting patiently. I saw someone on fb with my exact same NOA1 date, who got approved last week. I visited my fiancé last week, for only one week, but it was such a great time. I did not experience any problems with entering the states, for anyone wondering. No questions regarding the k1 visa were asked, just the usual questions. As off today we are not expecting the visa too soon. We have talked about the whole process, and I’m pretty sure it’ll take a little bit, I was hoping to be there in February, my fiancé thinks it’ll be April next year. We will see. I wish we would know what to expect, it would just be so much nicer to know when to expect the NOA2, as others have written before on this thread. Im trying not to be too Anxious about the situation. I’m  sure that everyone on here is going to be fine! Good luck and a happy weekend! 

Good to hear some stories about people who went to visit while having a pending K-1! 

I can’t wait to read about all the next approvals!!! 

19 minutes ago, Alexa&Nathan said:

Congrats! I couldn't figure out how to talk to a agent when i called . Kept getting automated messages . Did you get notified by text or checked the site ?

Thank you! I will keep checking on the forum because I wanna see you guys all get approved!

When you call you press whatever you need to (1 I think) to check your case status then you pretend you don’t have your case number each time it asks and at some point it will directly put you on the phone with someone. 

Didn’t get anything! We got a text for Noa1 but this time NOTHING. I just checked on the app (tracker) and then double check on the CHECK CASE STATUS website and triple check through the account haha! 

40 minutes ago, S_&_M said:

I don't think it is about having as much docs as possible  - at least not for us.

 

I have zero criminal/civil record, never married, and I am a lawyer and made sure our paperwork was complete - probably  overinclusive in my opinion. Or timeline of relationship, plane tickets, event tickets, reservations, photos, etc., was a larger paper stack than the required stuff.

 

I think it all depends on who your USCIS reviewing officer is & how diligent they are... 🤷‍♀️

0 criminal/civil record either. 

I don’t know I’ve always heard about « red flags » and we have a few of those apparently... Beneficiary also previously lived in the US under a J-1 (time we met). Thinking they could be looking into this also??? 

We got help to make sure everything was perfectly written and all the necessary proofs were included + many more (We were even scared it was too much and thought a long time before sending it like this!). I can’t imagine getting an RFE honestly!!! 

but yes let’s just be patient. we keep saying we should stop torturing ourselves with all those questions but it’s easy to say haha ... :) 

3 minutes ago, YB&TR said:

I called the assigned 800 number for uscis and explained the reason for my call and requested to speak with Tier2, I was never transferred. I was given the information regarding approval through a regular officer. Each case is different apparently.

Thank you so much! 

3 hours ago, YB&TR said:

I called uscis this morning to inquire about my case and was informed that we were approved on Friday 9/20!!!  The officer stated that the hard copy will be mailed today or tomorrow. No case updates on sites (old & new), app, or phone. I’m so excited!!

NOA1:6/24

NOA2: 9/20

I am curious about that though! How did you manage to talk to somebody? It gives me tons of options that never put me on the phone with an actual officer. 

2 hours ago, Alexa&Nathan said:

Hi my name is Alexa my fiance name is Nathan. 

 

Noa1 June 11 says out noa but uscis case status says June 14 . 

 

I'm sad. Not so patiently waiting. I keep wondering if I sent to much . We sent a lot of evidence and I also sent in the financial paperwork . For some reason we thought we did it then . I also have a previous divorce so i think all that is why they are taking forever . Seeing people who filed after me get approved makes me feel like I'm 5 playing a game of duck duck goose where I havent been picked . Lol is there anyone here still suffering with me ? 105 days 

Oh he is from the UK and our paperwork is at WAC California 

we are in the same boat!!! And if it can make you feel better about your case : we have way more red flags than just one divorce for the petitioner... I am thinking that is probably what is making us not being between the lucky ones having an early answer. I keep telling myself that processing time is 5-7months on the USCIS website also! So let’s hang on there, support each other and hope for the best! The answer will arrive at some point  

33 minutes ago, Charlee.Alex said:

Looks like a lot of the June 20ths are going through! Congrats guys! 

 

Other than me 😂😂😂 I’m just stuck here like 🤢

I am here with you!!! I am so happy for those who are getting an answer though! 
 

let’s hope we’re next!!!

2 minutes ago, soco said:

Hopefully it's out and just waiting for USPS. Good luck!

Thanks! 

1 hour ago, soco said:

For the rest of you 6/20 folks, I'm approved!

 

NOA1 6/20

NOA2 9/14, received thru USPS 9/19. No updates through the website, through the case tracker app, no email no text. Just hard copy.

 

SO. FREAKING. EXCITED.

CONGRATS!!! Same NOA1! Trying not to hope too much but it is so exciting to see this!!!
 

25 minutes ago, Charlee.Alex said:

I know we need some good news!!! 

 

My NOA1 was June 20th so I’m not expecting ours for a few weeks at least but this week has to bring some approvals for some of us! 

Hi,

my NOA1 was June 20th too!!! Hope to hear some news soon!!!