CanAmBride

Yes, but with the NVC and Medical Exam Fees, it's over $1,000 in TOTAL fees

Before finding VJ, I was completely dependant on our attorney to give us all of the information related to our CR-1 petition. I figured, "hey, he's the expert, he should know this stuff", so we followed his every word to the letter. It wasn't until I found this amazing forum that I realized all of the false information he had been feeding us. Needless to say, I have removed him from our case. I thought I'd start compiling a small list. Feel free to add your own!

1. Total fees for petition would be between $300-$400

2. His total attorney fees would be between $2,000 and $2,500 for the entire petition (by the time we received our NOA2, he had already billed us $3,000)

3. My husband absolutly cannot enter the US while his visa is in petition or else it will cancel his petition and we will have to start again

4. After we received our NOA2, the whole process will only take 1 more month until we receive our Green Card

5. After you pay your NVC fees, we have to wait for a package to come in the mail that tells you what documents to send in for the DS-230 and I-864 (I waited 3 weeks before I realized that I could have sent everything the day the fees registered as PAID)

6. Once we are approved, we should get an interview at the Montreal consulate within 1 week (my husband and I informed our employers that we were going to have to jump in a car and take off to Montreal with very little notice)

I'm sure I could find more if I look back at my email correspondance with him.

Does anyone else have any "misinformation" that they received from their "expert" attorney??

Hello-

Once you are approved at your interview, is there anything you need to wait for before making your POE? My husband and I would LOVE to drive directly from Montreal to the US, but does he have to stay in Canada and wait for any paperwork to be mailed to him before making his POE?

If he needs to wait, how long does it usually take to receive everything he needs?

Thanks!

I checked our case every day using the USCIS web site, and every day it said "initial review". The day we were approved, it skipped all of the other steps and went straight to "Post Decision Activity", so no need to worry

Thanks everyone!!! We had been planning a Reception in the US with our family and friends for September 25, so it looks like we should make it!!

Thank you for all of your help and support so far throughout this process. I honestly don't know what I would have done without VJ!!!

Hello-

My case was completed today at the NVC? Are there any Canadians from the Montreal consulate who can give me a good idea of when we might expect to have our interview? I know it's usually 4 months, but has anyone received notice of an interview recently who can give me a more up-to-date timing expectation?

Thanks!!!

We live in a border town and my husband crossed several times a week for business, shopping, events...etc for the last 20 years.

Our attorney told us to put "frequent crossing for business and recreation".

Same thing happened to me.

I received the checklist via email on 5/20 and submitted supporting documents the same day.

On 5/25, the AVR said that a checklist had been created and sent on 5/24. Operator told me that my file had just been reviewed on 5/24 and that no checklist had been sent yet, but I should expect it in the next few days.

On 5/26, AVR said that all document have been received.

I think there's a lapse between the mailroom, operators, and the AVR. I would wait a few days and check again.

I sent my I-864 on May 3 and it was signed for on May 4. The same day, I signed up for electronic processing and once I received confirmation, sent my husbands D-230 electronically.

Today, I received an email saying:

Dear Sir/Madam:

We have received the Affidavit of Support form and supporting documents submitted through the postal service. We would like you to confirm how you prefer us to process your case. If you choose to move forward with processing your case electronically, then a new Affidavit of Support form should be completed, scanned and emailed to us along with all supporting documentation. All future correspondence regarding this case must be done electronically. We regret to inform you that in order to protect your personal information, we cannot return the submitted forms and documents to you.

If you choose to continue with the traditional paper process, all correspondence regarding this case will be done through the postal service. If you choose this option we will review your hard copy documents provided to us. All future documents will need to be sent to us through the postal system.

Please let us know what your intention is for processing.

That means it took them 3 weeks to receive and process my I-864 paperwork. I re-sent it electronically immediatly, so hopefully I won't be delayed too long.

Just wanted to give some input on current NVC timing

My AVR just changed from "packet downloaded 4/29" to "waiting on biographical information". I guess that means that they must have received my AOS (which I sent by mail) and are still waiting on our IV (which we sent through electronic processing but have not received confirmation of receipt).

Getting anxious, though!!!

JasonE-

Was your wife allowed to visit you in Georgia while her petition was in process? If so, did she encounter any issues with customs?

Thanks,

Tracy

Is there a specific "Subject Line" format and "File Name" format that the NVC prefers for electronic submission? I'm preparing to email in our DS-230 and supporting documents, and I want to make sure they are submitted as smoothly as possible.

Thanks!!!

Yup.

are you using the portal ? at some point, after paying the IV Fee Bill, you won't be able to log in.

Once that happens, you are very close to 'case complete at NVC', usually within 5 days, if no RFEs

Hi Darnell-

Sorry for asking so many questions, but you seem to have all of the answers!!

We received and paid the IV bill before we received instructions about sending in the DS-230. We are now pulling together all of the necessary documentation (Police Report, Birth Certificate...etc) to accompany the DS-230 form. Once that is sent in, are we all set with the NVC?

you can 'glean' status if you are using the online payment portal, as well.

USUALLY, when the IV bill shows 'available to be paid' then that's a good sign the DS-3032 was accepted.

Is the IV Bill the "Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee Bill"? If it is, then we have already paid that.

Hello-

Is there any way to check the status of your case while it is at the NVC besides calling? The USCIS web site has a page where you could enter your case number and see your status. I can't find anything like that on the NVC web site.

Thanks!!

Hi Darnell-

I reviewed the link you posted, and your response said the following:

The cycle then goes like this:

1. pay online.

2. wait 2 days (but keep checking online payment portal status) .

3. get the payment receipt from the online payment portal.

4. PRINT the payment receipt.

5. send off the form, the supporting docs, and the coversheet and payment notice to NVC.

I am between step "4" and "5" and my question is "WHAT FORM???" All I received was a cover letter. I have not received any forms. I downloaded the online forms, but my lawyer said I cannot send off anything until I receive further instruction from the NVC. My question is: What is this further instruction and when/how do I receive it?

Hello-

I paid our AOS and IV fees to the NVC and they showed as "Paid" on 4/29. I downloaded my Cover Sheet and I haven't received anything after that. It appears that many other people received their packets a day or two later.

How are these packets received? Are they through the mail or electronically? Are they sent to the petitioner and beneficiaries or to your lawyer?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

I would like to enroll in electronic processing, but I have not received any instruction on how to do so. Is that something the NVC sends you once you have paid, or can you do it right away?

Hello-

I paid our AOS and IV fees to the NVC and they showed as "Paid" on 4/29. I downloaded my Cover Sheet and I haven't received anything after that. It appears that many other people received their packets a day or two later.

How are these packets received? Are they through the mail or electronically? Are they sent to the petitioner and beneficiaries or to your lawyer?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!