biggish data

Delay due to AOS

Thank you Saylin! you have a nice hair by d way in your picture
I have a sister who lives in your country i mean Canada!

-Melga

You're welcome!

And my hair was only pink for about 2 weeks

It all washed out and turned to blonde. Now I'm black

And what part of Canada? I no longer live there as of May

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-07-30 13:01:00

Delay due to AOS

We are having delays because of the AOS. I really dont know that goes cause my husband is the only one to fill out that document and its taking care of.
We have sent it in the first week of July , July 07 in exact. and sent it on regular mail because he is a busy man he just drop it off the mail box . THey said its gonna 2-3 days to mail a letter from state to state,
So i keep emailing and calling them and they said to wait for 20 business days. It has been 20 business days, im worried if they are asking for more evidence or the documents we sent are still incomplete.

What happens with in the 20 business days? are they gonna send me an email approving our AOS? or will i keep on signing in to the NVC site if i get an SIF after the 20 days?
Guys help me out here. Me and husband cannot wait to be in eachothers arms anymore.

GOd bless us and God bless you all.

Sometimes packages are reviewed quicker than their 20 business days time frame, sometimes longer. It fluctuates depending on how busy NVC is. And it hasn't been 20 BUSINESS days for your AOS yet. Only about 15, depending when your package arrived at NVC.

And you will NOT get an email saying it was accepted. The only way you can find out is if you call an operator and ask.

Once both packages are reviewed with no RFEs, then your case will close. You can find out either through the AVR (which will probably only update a few days after the fact) or through an operator.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-07-30 12:48:00

i can use the normal mail (local post) but i don' t think it will reach USA before 1 month hahahaha

Probably not a good idea then Posted Image

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-10-28 23:32:00

i'm using DHL , it cost around 60$ , it's a little bit expensive dont' u think?

Wow, expensive.

So glad I was able to do EP. Free to send packages

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-10-28 23:28:00

Here's how I look at it:

Pro of sending them separately: NVC will get one package faster and might have a chance to start reviewing it before your second package is sent out
Pro of sending them together: save money on an envelope and postage

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-10-28 14:39:00

can i send the AOS and IV in 1 package? or is it better to send them separately ?

You can send them either together or separately, it's up to you.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-10-28 11:47:00

Packet IV time question

Just got confirmation from USPS that the NVC received packet IV, how much time "realistically" does it take (I know it doesn't take the 20 business days they say when you call)

Lately, it's been taking just a week or two to review packages.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-10-31 22:24:00

havent received case number from nvc??

thanks...but how do i start working on the AOS and IV packages before recieving a case number..also i thought my husbnd just had to pay those fees online..

Even though you don't have a case number, you can still start preparing the forms and documents needed for both packages.

As for paying the fees, you have to wait until you get your case number and IIN to be able to log in. And even then, it'll still take a few days for the AOS to be invoiced. And the IV is invoiced only after the acceptance of the DS-3032.

Once both fees are appearing as PAID, then you send in your packages, which should be ready as you have plenty of time to put them together.

You should read the following guides to acquaint yourself with the NVC process:

http://www.visajourn..._live_in_the_US
http://www.visajourn...p/EZGuideSpouse
http://www.visajourn...he_NVC_ShortCut

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-01 09:37:00

A few questions about NVC stage!

Okay, just a couple of points I need clarified!

Am I right in thinking that the payment of AOS and IV bills must be paid from America. ie, I have a joint bank with Nick, but im in England. Can I pay it from here?

I believe the police certificate expires. Is it a year from when you received it?

I send IV packet from here, and Nick sends AOS packet from USA, right?

Its amazing how much of this ive forgotten!

Thanks so much for your help!

For the bill payments, it has to be from a US bank account. So, if you have a joint US bank account, then you should be able to pay it from England. All that matters is that the money is coming from a US bank.

The police certificate validity varies by country. I know for Canada it's a year. It might be the same for you, it might not.

And the packages can come from anywhere, as long as they're received, I don't think NVC cares. So you can send the IV package, if you want, to Nick, then he sends it to NVC. Or you can send it directly to NVC. Doesn't matter.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-02 10:08:00

About to send IV packet

Couple of quick questions before I send off!

Ive got:

Bar-coded cover sheet
Complete and signed DS-230, part 1 (with FIVE attached sheets!!
Complete and unsigned DS2-30, part 2
Photocopy of biographic page of passport
Certified birth certificate (full)
Original marriage certificate
Original Police cert (which I got in April 2011, and I understand is valid for 1 year?)

I know im missing 2 passport photos. Question is, will they accept English sized ones or does it have to be American?

Also, does it have to be two of the same or can they be two different ones (ive got a lot of odds!)

Am I forgetting anything else?

Thanks guys!!

They have to be two similar, American sizes. So 2" x 2". I'd suggest if you want to save a lot of money, use this site: http://www.epassportphoto.com/ I used this for my IV package, medical, and interview for the photos I needed, and all were accepted.

Besides the 2 photos, not missing anything!

2 similar passport size. Don't forget to write in the back the name and case #. Good luck

also you need a cover letter besides the bar cover. They will know what you sent. Make copies of all documents

The cover letter is OPTIONAL. You don't need to include it. But I always recommend it. Whether the officer actually looks at it is another story.

payment receipt page?

The payment receipt page is optional. I never sent it, and neither have lots of people here on VJ, and received case completes. Have you ever seen anyone get a RFE for not sending it in?

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-05 11:24:00

DS 230

THANKS FOR THE REPLY
OKAY SO AFTER FILLING IT AND SIGNING IT SHOULD I SEND IT BACK THROUGH EMAIL SINCE ALL CORRESPONDENCES WILL BE TRU EMAIL IF I GIVE DEM MY EMAIL ADDRESS

No, correspondence FROM NVC will be by email. But if you're from Nigeria, you're not eligible for electronic processing or online forms, so you have to snail mail all correspondence TO NVC.

And please, stop typing all in caps. In forums, when you write all in caps, it means you're yelling. Plus, it's harder to read.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-09 10:48:00

DS 230

HEY VJ AM NEW HERE AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK

1- HOW DOES NVC SEND THE DS 230 TO THE BENEFICIARY (ME)BY MAIL OR EMAIL... IF ITS BY EMAIL AFTER FILLING AND SIGNING IT SHOULD I EMAIL IT BACK TO THEM OR SHOULD I SEND IT TO MY HUSBAND AS MY AGENT THEN HE WILL SEND IT TO THEM.

2- FROM THE CHECKLIST THAT THE NVC SENDS, POLICE REPORT IS INCLUDED..... DO GET IT DONE AND KEEP IT FOR MY INTERVIEW OR SHOULD I SEND IT BACK WITH THE FILLED AND SIGNED DS 230.

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY

If you give the email addresses of both the petitioner and beneficiary to a NVC operator once you have your case number, then ALL correspondence is sent by EMAIL. Nothing by snail mail. So both you and your spouse will get the DS-230 instructions. Please not, they don't include a copy of the DS-230 in the email (as far as I know, they haven't changed this). You will have to download it yourself and fill it out.

You can either send the IV package to your husband and he sends it, or you can send it directly to NVC. It does NOT matter.

For the PCC, you have to send the original with the IV package.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-09 08:38:00

DS-230 and civil docs??

hello there,,

after submitting Ds-230 & civil docs. to the NVC how many days or weeks before they email my interview date??..excited much:)

It usually takes about a week or two after submitting all documents to get a case complete. That's the first step you should be looking towards. After that, then time varies on getting an interview date. It could be a couple of days, it could be a couple of weeks. It will always depend on how many people are in front of you in the interview queue and how busy your embassy/consulate is.

Right now, just continue to call NVC and asking if there's any update on your case. Once you have your case complete, then continue to call but this time asking if an interview date has been scheduled.

Good luck!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-12 09:21:00

I wish all my stuff would fit in a car

Yeah, I just had clothes, books, movies, etc. No furniture or anything huge, so it all fit into a car. But just barely. I had a bunch of stuff on my lap while my dad drove to Vermont. Posted Image

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-15 15:25:00

I AM ADORABLE! hahhaha

I am not too concerned about getting the visa in a hurry - this illness has kinda screwed my plans for December departure... so... waiting to see how that all pans out. But I will be driving. Just trying to find out the least expensive way to get my stuff there. The joys of living on an island - adds a lot of $$ and headaches.

Tercerero you are close too!!!! Can you believe it!??? Damn.

Hate that I am going to be in Montreal ALONE and can't really celebrate.. oh well. Lots of time for that.

Driving, just like I did! The cheapest way I found was to get my dad to drive with me and all my stuff across the border to Burlington, Vermont where I had a rental car waiting for me. I then dropped it off in a city about 2 hours from my final destination.

And I celebrated alone too since my husband was in the US.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-15 14:12:00

god I hate these bastards... honestly

6 more sleeps and NO MORE!

You're almost done! Hopefully you get the visa back in reasonable amount of time, then you can do your POE! How are you planning on moving to the US? Driving, flying?

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-15 10:17:00

thank you - ya I am in that situation - i have no idea.. my dad lives there and I was going 3x a year.. since I was 12. So I will do like you. They never questioned you on that?

I have already started printing it out..

and sorry - in part one they ask for my info.. then for my spouse - then it says Father's name - that is MY family correct? Not my husbands?

Nope, never questioned it. They know that Canadians frequently cross the border, sometimes just for a few hours to do shopping. They understand that you won't possibly have all those dates, and even if you did, for some people, it might go on for PAGES.

Yes, it's the beneficiary's family. Otherwise they would have said "spouse's father's name" or "petitioner's father's name". The DS-230/DS-260 is ALL about the beneficiary.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-15 01:01:00

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DS230 IT'S ASKING FOR ALL THE TIMES i HAVE VISITED THE UNITED STATES. DO THEY REALLY WANT EVERY VISIT???? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE..

There's an easy solution for Canadians that I wrote about in my wiki:

Also remember, for the interview, you'll need to bring a copy of the DS-230 since Montreal as of now, still isn't used to the new online system. Now, on the DS-260, for the question, about previous visits to the US, they only ask for the last FIVE. On the DS-230, it asks for ALL of them. As Canadians, you might have visited the US a lot and don't remember all the dates. I was in the same situation, so what I did was on a separate sheet, I listed the last seven which I knew of the exact dates then added a paragraph underneath. On the question itself on the DS-230, I wrote: (see the attached supplemental sheet) in the location box. If you want to see a copy of my supplement sheet, I uploaded it here on Google Docs [https://docs.google....s/edit?hl=en_US] If you need to use it, just change the information in the header (petitioner and beneficiary's name and date of birth) and then put as many visits as you can remember the exact dates. Then just keep the last paragraph as long as everything relates to you!!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-15 00:50:00

So I filed electronically - and have my interview in Montreal November 21 (YAY)... I see that some people are being asked to fill out the DS230 at the consulate even though DS260 was filed online - I printed off my DS260 can I not just provide that? or do they still want the 230? Seems ridiculous

For whatever reason, Montreal still isn't used to the online system with the DS-260. As far as I know, they will NOT accept your printed DS-260, as they can do this themselves. They want the DS-230 because that's the format they want. Just fill it out before the interview and you'll save yourself a LOT of time at the interview.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-01 23:25:00

I-864ez and NVC Case Reciept Timing

Hello all,

We filed our paperwork and recieved a NOA1 dated July, 12, 2011. Most of the July filers are still waiting for a NOA2 and a subsequent submission to the NVC. I plan on filing an I-864ez and using my last three years tax transcripts as proof of income. If we don't get the NOA2 and our paperwork from the NVC by the end of the year I'm worried that it will push our submission of the I-864ez out at least another 1-2 months. My employer doesn't send out W-2's until the end of January. My question is, does the NVC use January 1st as a start of the tax year or do they use April 15th as the start of the tax year?

Thanks for any help in advance.

NVC won't issue RFEs for the 2011 tax year until the due date for taxes which is April 17th, so you'd be fine still sending in the last 3 years.

That's what we had to do in our case. We got to NVC in February and my husband still hadn't filed his 2010 taxes. So we sent in 2007, 2008, and 2009 instead. No problems whatsoever. And for my interview in May, I brought a 2010 tax transcript since my husband filed in March.

Edited by Saylin, 16 November 2011 - 08:42 AM.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-16 08:41:00

I have called and spoke with the supervisor today. I got the same answer, they don't know when the DS 260 will be available for Syria, so I called the state department main number to complaint; they gave me the number for the inspector general, which I will call tomorrow. I am frustrated.

I hope you get somewhere. You can try emailing Supervisor Sue, and asking that your DS-230 be accepted as the DS-260 isn't available to your country yet.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-10 20:53:00

Frustrating and weird, they don't care. Eventually, they will eliminate DS 230 and replace it with DS 260 for every country, but what I don't understand, if they are not ready, why the lunch it ?? that's irresponsible.

Yes, they eventually want it for every country. That's why they started out with some test countries. And every couple of months, they open it to another country. In a few years, I'm sure it will be available for everyone.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-09 23:37:00

Yes, I called them many times, They said Syria is on the DS 260 now, it is new and the supervisor said to wait, they have no time for the solution. I finished things quickly and they are delaying me. Lawyer could not help.

Hmm, weird. The only thing you can really do is continue to call everyday.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-09 23:08:00

I did DS 230, but now they are asking for DS 260. The icon is there, but I cannot click it, they admitted an internal error that they are trying to fix, but they cannot so far. Any idea to help??

Why would they ask for you to complete the DS-260 when you completed the DS-230? Like I said above, Syria is not an eligible country for online forms. Have you talked to an operator about this? Better yet, a supervisor might yield better results.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-09 22:38:00

Hi everyone:

I suppose to do DS 260 for US embassy in Syria, but it is unavailable online due to technical difficulty, almost 20 days past since they asked and still not available. They have no time for resolution of the problem. Any comments or similar experience???

Thanks

Unless this page hasn't updated on NVC (http://travel.state..../info_5165.html), Syria isn't an eligible country for online forms. You have to file the DS-230 and send it by snail mail.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-09 22:32:00

POE, I-551 & Green Card

Once our CR-1 is approved and my spouse enters the US, we would like to know how soon she can travel into Canada.
After searching through the forum archives, I see two answers:
1. You can get a I-551 stamp in your passport before the Green Card arrives and travel in and out as much as desired.
2. No, better two wait until the Green Card comes and then travel.

Which answer, or other, is correct?

Also curious how soon the Green Card will arrive after entry. I see numbers ranging from as little as 8 or 9 days to 2 months.
Did I miss something on the Processing Times statistics pages? I would expect to see this reported there but see no mention of it.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

When you go through POE, your passport gets the I-551 stamp without you asking. It acts as a temporary green card while the plastic card is being processed. So, if you want, she can go through POE, get her stamp in the passport, and head to Canada the very same day.

Receiving the green card in the mail varies. Some receive it within a few days, but mostly it's a few weeks. I believe it's due to which POE you go through and USCIS's case load.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-17 22:30:00

DS-230 - Dont have any space to fill the complete address

Hi friends,

while I am filling DS-230, there are some fiels where I dont have much space to fill the address.

Like, for parents present address, it only gives one line, and I am unable to write the full address. What should I do?
Do you suggest me to use photoshop where I can use smaller font to type it there?

When I am trying to fill employer company name, but it also has space limit, so not able to put Pvt Ltd

Should I skip to write Pvt Ltd or use photoshop to take care of this part in smaller font?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you!

I too couldn't fit my parents' addresses into the line, so I just printed out the form and filled that part in by hand.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-18 11:19:00

how do i print my chat records of yahoo messenger and skype?

how about facebook chat, how do we print it out? do we copy and paste in MS word?

That's probably the only way, so yes.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-21 09:17:00

how do i print my chat records of yahoo messenger and skype?

guys can anyone please direct me how to print my chat records from yahoo messenger and also skype pc to pc calls? my interview is next week and i really need to get them to send with me to proof an ongoing relationship. thank you

For Skype, there's two very handy programs you can use. Read posts # 3 and 8: http://www.visajourn...kype-chat-logs/ These are the two programs I used for my Skype logs. Worked perfectly

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-10-23 13:51:00

ya that's a good idea too i'll figure it out he comes back from the boat next month but then he's gone again in a couple months he does a couple months at sea then a couple on land i'm trying to get this done as fast as possible so we can spend what little time he will be back together

Well, good luck!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-22 17:21:00

that's such a good idea to bad my son broke my camera cord i guess you can just get the paper at future shop or soemthing like that maybe a friend will help me out if i give them a couple bucks to do it that way i can get the one picture and just print it out but my printer is older so i'm not sure if it's cable of that hmmm ya it is i miss my husband everyday right now he's on deployment so we don't even get to hear eachothers voice

You can always put the picture on a thumb drive or something and bring it to a pharmacy or somewhere else that prints pictures for just a couple of cents. Cheaper than going to a professional photographer and forking over $15 per picture.

When's your husband finished his deployment?

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-22 08:36:00

ya they do it's dumb we had send in pics in the beginning of both of us then they got sent back bc my husband wrote on them in pen now i have to have 7 for the end of this but i just have to suck it up and do it so i can be with my husband and my kid can be with his dad do you know if i can re use the photo's that i scan at the interview or medical were pretty tight for cash having to buy diapers and baby food all the time

Yeah, it's crazy how many pictures they need. Plus we're gonna need to send more I'm sure for RoC and citizenship Posted Image

But once I got to NVC, I found this site and used it: http://www.epassportphoto.com/ Free pictures!

But it's worth it in the end to be with our loved ones! And we should never forget that.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-22 01:06:00

thanks i knew what i needed to send i just think it's kinda stupid to send scanned copies of passport photos

*shrug* It's what they want. Then they want another 2 passport pictures at the interview. They get a LOT of pictures of the beneficiary Posted Image

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-22 00:49:00

just wondering if i do have to send in the passport photo's for the ds 260 documents it seems kinda silly to scan and email the pics to them. i read somewhere that if you didn't submit pics to nvc then you bring them to the interview is this true

You submit the DS-260 online, but you still need to send the IV package (minus the DS-230) to NVC. So you need to send: copy of passport bio page, 2 passport pictures, original/certified copy of birth certificate, original/certified marriage certificate, and original police certificate.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-21 22:44:00

If I get an RFE, do I have to pay the fee again? (split topic)

Hi everyone,

I want to know if I get RFE after filing I-130, do I have to pay the filing fee again? Thanks.

No, you won't.

And think positively. Focus on getting an approval instead of worrying about an RFE.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-23 23:11:00

IT'S FINALLY OVER

Had my interview on Monday in Montreal - was first in line at 6am... met some really fun people from VJ.. now just awaiting my DHL package. Thank you so much to everyone on here for all your support - especially Saylin!!! <3 Couldn't have made it through all this and remained sane without you.

Best of luck to everyone else still on the journey!

Congrats!

So happy for you!

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-23 08:34:00

Is this cases strong enough to be expedited?

Ok but i thought they could liaise with each other to investigate....I wife requested the expedite and we receive an email from USCIS november 14th related to that request. Isn t it gonna be too late if we send the papers at the end of this week or next week, just to have time to get the 2 papers you suggest me to include in the documentation?

I don't know. I don't know much about expedites. Is there a deadline you have to meet that's written in the email?

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-23 09:41:00

Is this cases strong enough to be expedited?

Thank you Saylin, i have another problem. the house monthly payment she was about to send contents all the people living in like : Her brother, her son, 2 sisters and her mother. WOuldn t NVC consider them as depend and increase her household size? this would complicate the case when we will be sending the I-864 affidavit support form. What u think?>

NVC won't even see this letter as you're sending your expedite to USCIS.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-23 09:34:00

Is this cases strong enough to be expedited?

Greetings all,
My US citizen wife is about to fax some documents related to the expedite request she made to USCIS . Here is the situation and plz tell me if you find it strong enough to get expedite approved:

1- My wife is currently pregnant of one month and she keep being sick due to the pregnancy. Somedays she call out which is not good for her as she may got fired which would make the situation worse.
2- Her monthly bills represent 80% or 85% of her pay check which made a not comfortable to take care of some other stuffs every month. Her car currently has a mechanic problem which is 500 dollars, she can not have it fixed. this problem been for 2 months.
3- She has a child who is 6 years old now and that she is taking care of. Bills are killing her and in the next months, she will not be able to go to work. If i am not here to help her with bills and stuffs she may lose the house.
From that, what do you think? we are going to send her pay check,the house monthly bills, her child birth certificate to prove that the kid is really hers. what else you think we can provide? your advices would be appreciated. Thanks a lot guys!

Two things you also need to send: some kind of medical note or records saying she's been sick due to pregnancy and if she continues to be by herself, it can harm her chance of keeping her job. You're also going to need proof that her car is damaged and that it would cost $500 to fix. Get a quote from a mechanic detailing the problem with the car and how much it would cost to fix.

Good luck on your expedite.

Saylin

Female

Canada

2011-11-23 09:13:00