shawndoc

Try using epassportphoto.com.

You take your own photo, upload it to the site, and they have tools that make it really simple to properly crop and size the photo. You then print it out at home for free, or pay them to mail you the photos.

Just called today. Still nothing. They did change the spiel though from "Allow 2-4 weeks" to "Allow 4-6 weeks". Not sure if it was just because the person realized it had been 4 weeks already, or if they've changed the spiel due to problems at the CSC.

I had a HECK of a time getting through. First time ever I got busy signals calling in.

And the answers were?

The answers were that my petition wasn't lost when I feared it was lost, and that it had been mailed to the NVC the day before the DHS called me. I actually found everyone pretty responsive, as I look back on it -- 3 calls from the CSC, 1 call and 3 e-mails from the CIS Ombudsman, 1 call from the DHS, 1 call from the NVC, 1 call from my Senator's office and 4 calls from my Congressman's office. Since I work in a government office that processes merely thousands of files rather than hundreds of thousands or millions, it's probably fairly amazing that things go as smoothly as they do. Sorry not to sound as bitter as you might like, shawndoc.

No disappointment about the lack of bitterness. But I would have like some explanation besides "For some people it takes a super long time, for others it takes less than a week". Some explanation of the process that causes some cases to get "lost". But I guess that's not forthcoming. Oh well.

And the answers were?

So what was his excuse for the huge delay?

Just got off the phone with NVC, still no sign of my paperwork.

I'd gotten my hopes up after someone who got NOA2 after me got a NVC number earlier this week, but still nothing.

Damn you CSC. Damn you!

::shakes fist in general direction of CSC::

My mom is a big tea drinker.... And no, there are few electric kettles around. Its not a voltage thing (Amps are what are important, and that's the same), it just American's don't drink tea. Most drink coffee so there's plenty of electric coffee machines.

One question I have about the packet 3. I was hoping to have her send in the packet 3 checklist as soon as the embassy shows it has been mailed to get a jumpstart on things seeing as there's been many people where the packet 3 took weeks to arrive or never arrived at all. However the "checklist" on the Embassy website is very poor quality. Has anyone mailed in the checklist from the website? Any problems?

We got our NOA2 on March 19th via email. The hardcopy NOA2 arrived on March 25th and I then got a letter from the NVC on March 28th.

I wish the CSC was as efficient as the VSC.

I end up calling after 11pm EST, normally takes 5 or 6 tries to get to an operator. You just need persistence. Don't give up so easily.

Anyone know who to contact to update the K1 Process Flowchart? Clearly the 1-2 weeks between NOA2 and NVC should be updated to reflect the current delays and not get anyone's hopes up.

shawndoc, have u called NVC again and found out if u have gotten the case number? let us know

thanks!

I'm still waiting. But it sounds like maybe the NVC just got a new shipment, so hopefully soon. I'll be sure to post when I do.

Sounds like they ran out of DS156K and decided to mail the packets without it, rather than make you wait. Once they got the forms in-hand, they mailed them out to everyone who didn't get one.

I haven't tried this but got it from another post here:

US State Department: (202) 663-1225 - press 1, then 0.

They should be able to tell you if the consulate has received the paperwork from the NVC and also if the packet 3 has been mailed.

Class action lawsuit against the contractors for the infliction of emotional distress? Maybe find a few people who died during the K1 process and represent those families?

Only 32.6% serious. B)

See my recent thread about the black hole between CSC and NVC. I was approved on Feb. 4. I had a very productive call with a representative from the CSC yesterday, and she said that it is indeed not uncommon at the moment for there to be a delay of 1 to 2 months from approval until receipt at the NVC.

And this is unacceptable. The ONLY thing that needs to be done after approval is for them to MAIL the papers to the NVC. Their is no reason or process that would justify a 1-2 month delay. And there is no reason someone should have to go through the hell you did to find out the status of your application. It was crazy what they put you through.

Anyone know who to contact to update the K1 Process Flowchart? Clearly the 1-2 weeks between NOA2 and NVC should be updated to reflect the current delays and not get anyone's hopes up.

Hey Thee_Rak, I read that as the nearby translation services are making a quick buck "generating" a police report for you, as the person who added it to the Embassy info page was complaining about how long the police department takes to make it, so suggesting you pay the translation service to make one. Figured it was some sort of scam/counterfeit documented, but wanted to check here first to make sure they didn't have some sort of "expedited" service that was legit. I'm going to delete it from the Embassy page.

Also, the Packet 3 sheet explicitly says the only documents that need to be translated are those that are not in either English or Thai.

On the Bangkok embassy page here at VJ, someone has added this:

Translation service can also provide Police report for 2000 Baht. many translation services are near the US Embassy. The Police station takes over 2 weeks to process. Too Long.

Has anyone heard of getting your police report from a translation service instead of the police station? Seems bogus, and I'm inclined to remove it, but figured I'd check first.

I'm just venting. But this is crazy. 3 weeks since my NOA2, and yet the NVC still hasn't gotten their paperwork yet.

Anyone else get a NOA2 on or after March 19th and have the NVC receive it yet? (CSC only please.)

I know others are in the same boat as me, but I want to figure out if anyone is not facing these long wait times.

I got approved (NOA2) nearly 3 weeks ago, and I'm still waiting for the CSC to send the paperwork to the NVC. Grrr.

our stuff got to the NVC and was turned around the next day and sent. guess we got lucky heh

Nah, NVC is fast. The problem is the CSC, they are sending out NOA2's, but not sending the paperwork to the NVC in a timely manner. You went through Vermont, so have nothing to worry about.

If it would help, I'd volunteer to drive to the CSC and help them package up the approved petitions. Heck at this point I'd be willing to hand deliver my approved petition to the NVC.

4 years... wow.

Anyone know when ITR's for 2007 will be available?

I'd love to know too. I just hope mine doesn't stay in the black hole as long as yours. Only 15 days so far, for something that is supposed to take less than a week and that the VSC seems to have no problem doing.