foobaz123

sorry, that was for FooBaz, not you..

I have a sense solely on GUZ IV-headed casefiles, never for MTL IV-headed casefiles

Interview scheduled for me by 8March? That would be awesome, but is it really likely?

NVC teleoperator is wrong.

You can review the current 'process' here -> http://travel.state..../visa_5163.html

and

http://travel.state..../visa_5162.html

Why are you trying to send it again? You should be chasing down the ones you've already sent, instead. They were ATTACHED to yer OPT IN email, you really need to ask for a human trained in EP the next time you call; elsewise you'll get the wrong info.

Note to you - don't forget that nasty looking GUZ IV P3 Supplemental form. It's required with the DS-230. Available for d/l on the ep wiki page.

Thanks for reminding me as I had forgotten...

Don't send anything to NVCInquiry at this stage.

Chase down the ds-3032 via telephone, remind the teleoperater yer an EP casefile, give the GZO number. If the teleoperator is confused about EP (94 percent of them are, btw) then ask for a supervisor.

This is really easy stuff -the DS-3032 is detached from yer email and stored in the SAFEFILE version of yer casefile.

Huh? You've sent it twice already - you really need to chase down the DS-3032 with NVC via telephone - remind them it was in the OPT IN EMAIL, as per THEIR INSTRUCTIONS.

I'll give them a ring and see if they can find it. Though, I wonder if there is any chance they just dropped it on the floor during our snafu?

I put all those links together for a reason

True. Though, I was thinking more along the lines of FAQ in addition to the links. Of course, that presumes people will read it instead of just jumping to the end of the thread with questions..

That message is completely normal. It means they're inputting your case in the system!

I'm starting to think that the first post on these monthly threads ought to be a FAQ

Congrats on finally getting that invoice.

There is no separate DS-3032 acceptance email.

Thanks. Took long enough to sort out, no?

Notification of DS-3032 acceptance would be in the form of IV invoice generation, yes?

Also, are you aware of a China case whereby the DS-3032 was sent in separately from EP OPTIN?

LoL...

A new call.. a new answer....

The lady on the phone verified it should go to NVCElectronic and she asked a supervisor as well.

That being the case, and is hopefully correct, what is the general time frame for DS-3032 acceptance? Two days or so?

Well, China is the only case where the DS-3032 is sent with the optin email. In the other cases, it's two separate emails: one to Electronic for the optin, and then the DS-3032 is sent to Inquiry.

You have two options as I see it:

-Wait for a response from the Electronic address. Who knows, it might get accepted.

-Send another DS-3032 email now to the Inquiry address.

Good lord how much I'd pay to be able to talk to someone who has actual information of what they're going to do. In the end all we can do here is guess. Educated guesses based on experience to be sure, but still guesses.

Given it could take several days for an apparent error to come to light, since it isn't likely that anyone will even look at the email sent to NVCElectronic for a day or two, I may as well send one to NVCInquiry as well. I just hope it doesn't cause yet another delay while their poorly written system seizes up again.

I looked back at Ryan's "My EP Experience" thread and it appears he sent his DS-3032 along with the OPTIN bit to NVCElectronic@state.gov. That's what I did, minus the OPTIN part since we're already opted in. I'm afraid if I send it to NVCInquiry@state.gov it'll confuse them and cause more delays. Of course, unfortunately the operators can't tell me anything about whether they've received the DS-3032 or not. So we could end up losing a few days on the IV track simply for lack of information and transparency, which is a recurring theme throughout this process.

Huh... NVC said that the DS-3032 should go to NVCInquiry and that documents should go to NVCElectronic. (@state.gov). They suggested I send it to NVCInquiry, even though I already sent it to NVCElectronic.

For anyone who did EP, which one did you send your DS-3032 to?

Right. As Ryan suggested, I only sent it after AOS bill/DS3032 generation in the same optin email with attached DS3032.

Okay, good..

As to how long it would take, that is a good question as I'm (finally) at the same point as well. I would imagine a day or two or so.

How long would it take to trigger the IV bill after DS-3032 in the case of EP? I sent my OPTIN email with DS-3032 last Tuesday. So far no IV bill invoiced yet from payment portal. The EP acceptance email from NVC indicated the DS-3032 received. Is there a separate DS-3032 acceptance email?

You didn't OPTIN prior to DS-3032 generation, right?

Hmm, I'm not sure. For China cases, you're supposed to send the optin with the DS-3032 attached to the Electronic address. For regular cases, everyone sends the DS-3032 email to the Inquiry address. But you've already opted in and are just sending the DS-3032. I'm leaning towards the Inquiry address in this case but not sure. Ask Darnell as they should have more insight on this special case.

Hmmm... already sent it to NVCElectronic@state.gov. I'm calling NVC to ask which one and if they already got it. Sue already got the automated response back. Of course, knowing how clueless the operators can be who knows how reliable their information can be?

Oh, and we're sending it to NVCElectronic@state.gov instead of NVCInquiry@state.gov, yes?

Good lord I hope I don't mess this up...

We're sending in the DS-3032 as a PDF (which I had to convert from a JPEG because the wife is having trouble scanning to PDF at home) with the case number in the subject line, and the usual block of contact information, birthdays and such in the body. I've also put the text from the "Email DS-3032" in the body of the email in case they don't like the PDF. It contains the same information as in the DS-3032 PDF.

Am I forgetting anything?

AOS Invoice Received!!!!!!!

Payment sent... DS-3032 about to be sent!!!

Obviously, the supervisor was in a bad mood Usually they're quite helpful.

I've got a feeling you'll be getting your interview date scheduled this week

I think it was just a day or two.

Hopefully so. Given the delay in the payment clearing it seems likely we'll lose all of this week as well and won't really start processing for real until next week.

For those who got the message I'm at right now, do you recall how long it took to clear?

I could be quite patient during this process when I thought something was happening. I was frustrated with the tax office as they couldn't tell me what was going on. But hey we have 3 sets of documents now.

Just waiting for an interview date.

I know exactly what you mean... it was that way when we were languishing at CSC for nearly 6 months. 175 days of "keep waiting". We started way back in July and if all goes well we'll be at the end of the process 9 months after we began.

Of course, if all doesn't go well we'll likely be fighting the DoS and such for the next several years.

That's good news. My fingers were getting stiff keeping them crossed all weekend.

LoL

Thanks

Awesome, congrats....took you that long!! lol (told you in the PM I sent you that I'll be following you everywhere!!! )

True to the 2nd part, it did freak me out a little bit until a VJ member told me that it is normal. 12 hours later, I received the AOS invoice + DS-3032 paper work. I then resubmitted the DS-3032 on the 02/24/12. Still waiting for PAID status (In Process now) and for DS-3032 accepted message.

You should be faster now Foobaz in your EP...don't mess it up this time!!

Thanks

Hahah.. hopefully not. I spent last night doing the final assembly on the AOS package. Tonight I'll work on the IV package so they are both ready as soon as I can email them out.

w00t... NVC says I'm now fully EP converted (or in reality, they converted me Thursday/Friday and not for the whole of the last two weeks) and will be sending out the DS-3032/AOS invoice.

Addendum: It may be wise in the future for people to immediately call when the payment portal gives the false "This case is in the process of termination." message. If it is true that is the indication that manual data entry is complete, the AOS/DS-3032 could be immediately generated so why wait to call?

Like foobaz already said, they're two different tracks that run parallel to each other.

Everything's right EXCEPT, the DS-3032 is part of the IV track, not the AOS track. Acceptance of the DS-3032 triggers the IV bill being invoiced.

Wow, you're kidding me... Maybe you should put your packages into waterproof envelopes

Don't worry! It's more than likely this is just a false checklist! I'm betting they reviewed one of your packages and are now requesting for the other one! Even though it's in the building, they don't bother checking, and most of the time issue that AVR message automatically. Call an operator to confirm this.

I put zeros. Didn't want to get a checklist saying I hadn't filled everything out

That's my thought on the subject. Seems odd to zero out the spouse line when you're applying for your spouse, no?

For anyone who used the I-864EZ, in the section where you calculate the number of dependents did you zero out all the spots that didn't apply or did you leave them blank?

Saylin, a quick question. I was checking Ling Che's NVC shortcuts, and from what I understand, the order is as follows.

1. Petitioner pays the AOS fee.

2. Beneficiary sends in the DS-3032.

3. Petitioner sends in the AOS package.

4. Petitioner pays the IV fee.

4. Petitioner sends in the IV packet.

Is that how it works???

Another quick question. When my husband files his taxes this year, is it possible to include my name in there?

As to the tax question, yes. He'll have to apply for an ITIN for you and use that to file a paper return (instead of electronic one). The precise details are in this thread. The high level view is that a W-7 form will have to be filed in addition to the 1040EZ or 1040 that is normally used. A letter will have to be written saying that you two want you to be treated as a resident alien for tax purposes.

I happen to have the IRS link handy: Filing with a Non-Resident Alien

Saylin, a quick question. I was checking Ling Che's NVC shortcuts, and from what I understand, the order is as follows.

1. Petitioner pays the AOS fee.

2. Beneficiary sends in the DS-3032.

3. Petitioner sends in the AOS package.

4. Petitioner pays the IV fee.

4. Petitioner sends in the IV packet.

Is that how it works???

Mostly.. but it would be more like this:

AOS Track:

1. AOS Fee Invoice and DS-3032 are generated and sent out

2. AOS Fee paid, DS-3032 Returned

3. AOS Package sent once the website shows a PAID status

IV Track:

1. IV invoice is generated

2. IV Fee paid

3. IV Package sent once the website shows a PAID status

I'm leaving out the details over precisely what causes each invoice to be generated. The important thing to know is that they are two separate tracks and not a strict sequence. They can and often do happen in parallel.

I'm pondering whether to include my 2011 taxes with the AOS package or no. I already have the 2008 - 2010 transcripts scanned and ready to go. I haven't yet filed 2011 but will be doing so prior to the interview. Hell, I'm doing it for the interview. If it wasn't for that I'd just push it to post-arrival and file with SSN instead of dealing with all this ITIN #######.