goodluck

I had exactly the same experience as goodluck. My payment cleared on 7/10 and I was able to print the barcode cover sheet immediately. I sent the DS-230 package the same day via express mail (USPS) and it was received on 7/14 (Mon). I called AVR on 7/15 (Tues) and the message said that my checklist materials had been received. I next called AVR on 7/17 (Thurs) but the message said there were missing documents and that a letter had been sent on 7/17. I patiently waited for the deficiency letter that finally arrived on 7/22 (Tues). It simply said that I need to pay my IV fee!

I talked with an operator, Amy, on 7/23 (Wed) morning who said that the fees were indeed paid, and that this was a problem stemming from on-line payment (which has caused many problems for them). She said everything else about our application looked to be in order and that she would let her supervisor know and that I would probably have a "case complete" in 10-15 days.

Based on this experience, I would recommend that everyone using the on-line payment also submit some proof of IV fee payment, in addition to the barcode sheet (there is a Dept. of State receipt that you can print on-line as well as any of your own bank payment information), along with your DS-230 package.

I just called AVR again (7/24) and it is still saying the same thing (that I am missing documentation), so I went ahead and sent in a copy of my D.O.S. receipt and my bank transaction information to NVC along with the checklist barcode cover sheet.

I'm sorry with your experience. After time, it will clear. It does takes two or three weeks.

Anyhow, I am in a different dilemma now. DS-230 for my parents were sent to NVC in one envelope. Due to the problem with my mother's online payment, now my father's case was forwarded to Guangzhou (although I requested at least 10 times to hold it and send it with my mother's case) and my mother's case is still under review. Guangzhou is a standard post and it arranges interviews in the embassy. Now I don't know what to do to make sure the interviews can be arranged. Can anyone give me some suggestions?

I once read something about that it takes 2 to 3 months for packages from NVC to be sent to Guangzhou embassy due to the fact that Chinese custom is restricting how much official documents go through every day. That's why there is such a long delay.

well i got the same generic answer of wait 2 to 3 weeks, but i kept calling till i found an operatort that realy looked at the problem and told me that it shows payed in one system and not payed on the other, he asked me to wait, called another department, and told me the problem will be fixed. I checked in the evening and it shows payed. I think you just need to find the right operator who has knowledge of what to do and is willing to put an effort beyond locking at the screen and repeating the case status as in AVR.

Thank you. That really helps. I called operator 4 times and they always told me that I had to wait 10 to 15 business days. Yesterday the lady asked me to send email, which I did last Wednesday and still haven't heard anything. I guess I just have to be consistent and keep calling until they give me a firm answer.

After talking to many operators in these 18 days, I finally got to talk to Kelly and asked her whether she could speak to another department now. She had me on hold for two minutes and got back to me that the other department found IV fee was paid online and changed the status to PAID in the moment. So now the payment issue is cleared. I'm so relieved. But I will check back again next week just to be sure since I can't log in online anymore. Hopefully this will help someone who are in similar situation.

well i got the same generic answer of wait 2 to 3 weeks, but i kept calling till i found an operatort that realy looked at the problem and told me that it shows payed in one system and not payed on the other, he asked me to wait, called another department, and told me the problem will be fixed. I checked in the evening and it shows payed. I think you just need to find the right operator who has knowledge of what to do and is willing to put an effort beyond locking at the screen and repeating the case status as in AVR.

Thank you. That really helps. I called operator 4 times and they always told me that I had to wait 10 to 15 business days. Yesterday the lady asked me to send email, which I did last Wednesday and still haven't heard anything. I guess I just have to be consistent and keep calling until they give me a firm answer.

Hello, just wanted to ask a quick question. I am about to pay for the AOS and IV fee for NVC. Is it possible to pay those bills with a visa card??

Not as far as I know. You need a US banking account (checking or saving) to do online payment.

Mine Was fixed today and now it shows paid in both invoice and receipt tabs. Just called again and they said it shows paid in their system too, just waiting for them to change the AVR message and complete the case.

Did you call on 7/8/2008 and asked to talk to a supervisor? I called on 7/9/2008 morning and the operator told me that he would request to assess the situation and should have something in 10 to 15 business days. On 7/15/20008 (this morning), I talked to an operator again and it still showed UPPAID (the payment didn't go through) and the operator asked me to wait for 10 to 15 business days. I can't even log in to the online payment system anymore. So I just have to wait a few more days and call back later. Can you tell me how exactly your phone call conversation went? Thank you!

Call the NVC and be persistant with Operator (try a different one if it does not work) but they will their supervisor who will in turn call the right Department in NVC and will get it fix for you.

Good luck

So is your problem already fixed? I called twice, last Wednesday and this morning, both times was told that I need to wait 10 to 15 business days. Our case have been in NVC since middle April and I'm slowly losing patience.

called NVC and talked to an operator just now. She isn't sure why I couldn't login to the system anymore. DS-230 hasn't been entered or reviewed. My mother's case payment was made but showing the payment didn't go through, although the money came out from my bank half a month ago.

I got this message too like a month after they entered my DS230...I think once you paid everything they disable your account....

If that's the case, sounds like good news. I have been trying to call since seeing the message, but the line has been busy as always. I'll try again early in the morning.

The case number wasn't entered wrong. This morning my invoice showed $400 UNPAID regardless they actually took my money 2 weeks ago and I have an online receipt of PAID. I hope that they realized in the middle of the day that I did pay the IV fee.

I couldn't login anymore. This message is given out:

Sign In Failed

* Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time. Please click on the Contact the NVC hyperlink if you believe that you have received this message in error.

Does anybody know what this means? I logged in this morning just fine and the failure message is different from incorrect case number/IIN.

Thanks!

It's nice that you noticed that the invoice said "UNPAID". Somehow I thought I saw PAID for both invoice and receipt. Anyhow now the invoice page is UNPAID. I didn't know the payment wasn't connected until they received my parents DS-230 (in one big envelope) and the status in the voice system for both my parents are different. I guess we just have to patiently wait and see what they can do for us. BTW, what did operator tell you about this?

badspellor, I'm sorry for your experience and am glad that you finally got your money back after a long waiting. I'm currently in a similar situation.

I paid $400 on 6/30/2008 and the online system showed status PAID on 7/1/08 and the money came out from my bank that morning. Therefore I printed off the cover sheet and mailed the document in. Now NVC received the document but claimed the IV fee wasn't paid yet and sending document early will delay my process. I called operator and was told that he could see $400 payment received but somehow the payment wasn't applied to the case. He said he would request to look at this issue and will have something in 10 to 15 business days. I am curious two things:

1. Will the money I paid in the end connect to my case? I can provide the online payment receipt with trans ID and PAID status. Also I have bank statement.

2. Will that significantly delay my case? The reason I asked is that online system accepted my father's payment just fine and had problem with my mother's payment. I hope that their cases don't run out of sync.

Thank you very much for any hints or lights anybody can shed on.

Good Luck to you all!