Do not estimate any thing based on last year's timeline that put new applicants in panic situation this year:
This year timelines are comparatively different than last year such as 'documents received' status update time increased from 20 days to 6-7 weeks this year as per recent posts in different threads. So I am summarizing all posts' conclusion here to give new applicants better experience update from new members recently submitted applications to prepare their application packet and send it using efficient mechanism and don't face panicking situation that many of us have faced due to recent shutdown and increased timelines (not related to shutdown). So here is my opinion and timeline based on personal experience and observations in this forum:
My timeline:
Application packet was sent to DOS by USPS Priority Mail: December 26th 2018
Packet received (USPS confirmed by email due to issues with tracking): December 28th 2018
Embassy received J1Waiver NOC from home country: January 21st 2019
Embassy sent NOS by mail: January 21st 2019
Embassy confirmed that documents received by DOS (tracking): January 23rd 2019
DOS updated status – Documents received: February 11th 2019
More updates to come as received ……..
Issue I have faced using USPS postal services:
USPS tracking is still showing “Schedule Re-delivery” for tracking number provided for my application packet, whereas upon investigations (based on my request from USPS customer services that involved days of communication), USPS has already sent me email (mid of January 2019) confirming that my packet was delivered on December 28th 2018 but post office scanned other packet for my tracking by mistake. So my advises are below to avoid some of such situations and other experienced in this forum:
Lessons learned for future applicants:
Sending your application packet: Use courier service Fedex or UPS with guaranteed delivery service + tracking
Sending Application Fee: Send Cashier’s Check so you could track if it has been cashed easily (please note USPS money order tracking is not easy and takes minimum 30 days with fee. If you have to use money order, then consider Money Gram etc with possibility to track when it is cashed).
Contacting DOS by email before documents received status update: I sent around 8 emails to DOS email address to get status if they have received my package since there was issue with USPS tracking after waiting for 20 days as per past timeline experience but have not received a single response for any email.
Contacting DOS by phone before documents received status update: They cannot help with this issue since it is handled by different unit and they can only help after receiving documents (based on one phone call discussion).
Wait time for documents received status update: According to recent experience shared by applicants on this forum, it is tacking between 4-7 weeks to get status update from date of delivery of documents. So no need to check last year’s timeline for such estimates that may lead to panic situation. For NOS status update, it is taking another
My personal advice: Try to send documents with guaranteed courier service and cashier’s check to avoid all issues some of us are facing. Check with courier and bank if mail has been delivered and check has been cashed then sit back on chair and check status once a week (ideally weekends) if you can wait.
These are my personal opinions based on experience and nothing is official so take you own decision based on our experience using your own wisdom.
