ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - April 2014

Is it reasonable to have anxiety about handing over your civil documents to the United States postal service? Some of those documents are 30- nearly 40 years old and I am going to be uneasy until I know that they are received at the NVC. :unsure:


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-01 16:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - April 2014

Hey guys just a quick question... When uscis shipped the case to NVC .. Does the status changed in the uscis website or not?

 

It will say "shipped to DOS" but that will not include a date as to when they actually ship it. Just keep tracking it from USCIS to NVC.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-01 15:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - April 2014

So I just got off of the phone with the NVC, they have recieved and reviewed all the civil documents that we have sent (AOS packet, IV packet) the rep said all looks good. They have accepted the DS 261 (Agent of choice application), they are now just waiting to review the DS260 (Immigration Visa Application) so that can be added to the case. She said to wait for 30 business days. :crying: Do y'all really think it will take 30business days, since all other civil documents are in order and all the fees have been paid?

 

I also asked what month they are scheduling interviews, and the lady said that they are still scheduling for April interviews. I also asked what month the London embassy is still scheduling interviews, and the lady said still for April.... :clock:  :clock: so does my husband have any hope for getting an interview this month, or is the NVC rep lady just lying?

 

I think they will all quote the standard 30 business days but honestly looking at the trend of the way that they have been cranking out approvals for documents submitted, I think that you will hear something before then. Its good news if London is still scheduling interviews too for this month.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-01 09:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - April 2014

 

You can always get on the phone with tier 2 at USCIS and ask them if your case has physically left the service center yet if you're getting worried. I hope they'll get it to NVC for you soon!

I echo Bos_Lhr. You should definitely call USCIS and ask if it has physically left the building then track that sucker until you know it has arrived at the NVC just to make sure it doesn't get shipped to the national records center by mistake. I have seen that happen on here.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-01 08:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - April 2014

whoo hoo lets go April! Just paid my Dad's IV fee last night and hoping for the magic words of "case complete" this month. Sending away the civil documents today! Lets see some real action this month NVC!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-01 07:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsUpdated Processing times

The times are definitely faster than last year but the numbers are certainly not a true reflection on the actual processing times.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-02 12:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAn Answer From Our Congressman

This is utter BS that they are feeding you. Don't be quiet about it - fax and email USCIS every single day demanding immediate action. It is the only way that you are going to get approved. Look up the FOIA document that was on VJ a little while back and get the head honcho names from that and their fax numbers. You will need to make noise or they are just going to keep prolonging this. Make sure that you state that you have involved your congress/senate.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-13 11:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports22 months later I-130 APPROVED !!!! 652 days of waiting

Good Lord that is a ridiculous time to wait! Congratulations!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-14 08:07:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

throwing a little party for myself because....

 

June 10 is the day!!!!!!! :joy:  :joy:  :joy:  :joy:  :joy:  :joy:  :joy: 

 

Thank you everyone at VJ for keeping me sane..I'm so happy and thankful I could scream  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

 

Congrats!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-15 08:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

Every little step forward is worth celebrating!  :yes:

I-130_CrazyJourney.jpg

 

 

I love this! Very original :)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-14 07:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

 

Even if you do everything correctly you still might get a checklist (or three) like I did.  :cry:

 

*debbie downer out*

 

So true - they didn't bother to look properly at my documents that I sent for the civil packet and I was livid when I received checklists for unnecessary police certificates and documents that were certified that they stated were photocopies. I had been nice for long enough and I got better results when I demanded immediate action from the DR. It took less than 24 hours to get a case complete from the time that I emailed.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-13 11:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

 

Thanks a lot! I appreciate it. :)

 

I'll be on the lookout for a checklist. How do they usually come? In the email or snail mail? The NVC has sent me an automated message at every step so far. Jw.

 

Checklists can come both via email and via mail. My false, and inaccurate ones have come both by mail and by email.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-12 13:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

 

In my previous post that is what I was referencing about additional data with Waybill #

Visit the link below and plug in your Waybill # and you will get the extra Shipping Details :)

 

http://www.dhl-usa.c...?nav=TrackByRef

 

tracwb.png
 

 

Only 2.8lbs for mine - surprising given the size of the AOS packet that I submitted lol!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-07 09:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

Once you get Case Complete and Interview date they will ship your packet to the Embassy.

You can track it with DHL.................Wow it weights 6.7 pounds

 

DHLship.png

 

How did you get to see the weight details? I can find mine on the DHL website but don't see any other details except for where it states where its going/departed from. Curious minds want to know :)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-07 09:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

I had to post my parent's medical experience written by my very witty mother- they had a heck of a time in London but its too funny the way that it is written not to share ;)

 

 

Got the 6.20 flight from Aldergrove which was to get into Gatwick at 7.30 but as we reached Gatwick to land ,the plane was up and down like a dogs hind leg trying to land in very dense fog so he announced he was going to Luton instead. We sat on the runway for over an hour waiting for security clearance to leave the plane then the bus ticket we had for London was no good because it was from Gatwick not Luton so eventually we got another one and got into the centre of London around 12.00.

We had planed to meet Tod for lunch but he was held up on the bus from his place so we told him to meet us after the medical and we went to China town for a well earned bit to eat.

The clinic was easy enough to find and they took us promptly  chest X ray first then in to see another Doctor for the main medical weight, height, eye test, blood, ears, mouth, boobies, and a check to confirm your female or male in Dads case really lovely guy he was we had a great chat. Oh and a blood test also.

It was a bad day to travel through London traffic was bad with the tubes off and getting back to the airport took some time but it's done now so the final bit is getting closer.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-02 16:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

So p***ed with NVC right now. I've just received a checklist for two police certificates - one UK and one Australian. And now they have introduced a fingerprint certificate for Australia which cost $170. I sent the UK police certificate with my IV package and a statement from the Australian Consulate website saying that the Australian Certificate has been applied for and will be sent direct to the Consulate upon interview. So they know this, so why the checklist? I have never seen or heard of instructions that I have to get a fingerprint certificate - has anyone else?? I'm going to call to see if I can get a case complete and then take the fingerprints with me when I go for my interview. I am so fed up with this process. ARGHHHHHHH!! 

 

When I got a checklist asking for documents that they said were not certified copies, I emailed the NVC and put it to the attention of the DR, which is where the mailed checklists go. My case was completed within 24 hours, instead of the BS 30 business days BS, so that may be worth a try for you to do. I demanded that they pull the files immediately and that I would not sit back and wait because someone did not bother to take the time and see that clearly there was an embossed seal on the documents.

 

A monkey could do a better job than the buck eejits reviewing the files.


at this very moment, my husband is at the civil registry getting a certified copy of his birth  certificate.  They have the original.   What more could they want??? So the wasted time, the extra money and all this anxiety for a certificate that is already in front of their face

 

 

Police certificate is not required at NVC for Costa Ricans. They get special instructions from the embassy and it is to be brought to the interview. 3 agents at NVC read that to me, a supervisor at NVC is confused why they asked for it and the embassy told my husband not to go get it until he gets the instructions.  SO why did I get checklisted for it. And now we have to wait 30 days for them to correct THEIR mistake..

 

 

Agent Kendall told me that these mistakes happen more than we would ever know... It could be that the agent over looked it  but my guess is that since the chimp agent who reviewed my documents didn't read the instructions on Costa Rican requirements, I can also assume they have NO CLUE what an original birth cert looks like.  THe original is 34 years old and its from Costa Rica.. not exactly up with the times. but it is the true original.   

 

Lucybelle is having the same problem with her certified marriage certificate.    NVC is saying it isn't a certified copy....   It says it right on the marriage certificate.  She already got 2 checklists.  Its a nightmare

 

Same advice as to what I advised for Donkey81. Try emailing and put it to the attention of the DR to get them to rectify their mistake and complete the case.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-02 09:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

Its wonderful to see the new case completes! Congrats to everyone who has got a case complete in the last few days!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-01 16:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - May 2014

Wow, it's almost May now. Please start acting like it, weather!  :protest:

 

Ha no kidding! My 4 yr old daughter went out this morning and said " aww why is it winter agaiiin?!" It was 38F in Texas. Shes a true Texan ;)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-01 08:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

For some reason, I'm really not feeling the urge to call today at all!

Something inside me is really calm today! Stange, very strange! So not like me at all! What the heck happened to me??????????????? 

 

 

I was the exact same, once I got to case complete and even more so after the interview date was scheduled. I am now not even anxious and I think it has been about a week at least since I was last on VJ. A strange calmness comes over you (or maybe sheer exhaustion) after submitting all those packets and anxiously waiting for the case complete.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-27 14:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

Hey Collie,

 

Do you think there's still a chance for us to have a June interview in London?  I know last month they did two rounds and we're going crazy!!!

 

I would definitely keep calling - it looks like there has been a steady stream of continual scheduling this month. You could get lucky ;)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-14 10:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

I called last night at 11pm, and was told that they are done with interviews for June :( Already so early in May?

 

It depends on your embassy. Some embassies are busier than others and will cap out much faster, especially if there is a few month backlog of folks waiting , like Egypt for example.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-14 07:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

yay so glad to see another round of interview dates!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-12 08:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

 

There are people with PDs after mine who have interviews before mine. Maybe it's not supposed to work that way, but I'm sure it's an imperfect process.

 

I agree - PD means nothing when it comes to scheduling an interview!


My post won't post correctly :(  This is the UK link https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/iv

 

 

Thank you! Just passed it on to my Dad to register himself and my Mum. These are the things that I wouldn't ever know if I didn't have y'all at VJ :)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-09 08:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

 

Hi Collie,

 

Now that is a very good question!! I have had a quick look at Ryanair's policy - as I was actually checking in on-line for a flight to Spain as I got your reply and their policy is Passport or National ID only!! As per this from their T&C's of Carriage below:

 

THE ONLY FORMS OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ACCEPTED ON RYANAIR FLIGHTS ARE:

  •  A valid passport
  •  A valid National Identity Card issued by the government of a European Economic Area (EEA) country. (Only the following EEA countries currentlyissue National Identity Cards acceptable for carriage on Ryanair flights: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France*, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden (not accepted on non Schengen flights), Switzerland). *The validity of French National ID cards (issued for adults) has been extended from 10 years to 15 years.

Who are they planning to fly with? It may be that they may have a case to ask for issue the same day!! There was a couple recently that were asked to come back later that day to collect their passports as they needed to get their dog on a flight to the US that month!! 

Maybe there are others on this site that have been through the same senario who may have a solution.

I'll keep looking too.

Chris & Silvia

 

I believe that they are flying with Easyjet but I will check and confirm, thanks :)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-09 08:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

 

 

 

Hi Collie,

 

As far as I'm aware you cannot go to the embassy to collect the Passports, so they definitely do not need to fly back to the UK! In fact you need to make sure they have registered on the web site, Link here: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/iv , and choose your return method - as BOS_LHR stated you can collect from the nearest DX Secure depot (They have one at Belfast Airport) or have it delivered to a private or business address! They need to print out the confirmation form and add it to the package they take to the embassy as it is required when your parents are called to the window for the first time - which is ID and Document checking phase.

 

Hope this clarifies the process a little.

 

Best of Luck to them,

 

Chris & Silvia

 

I just had a thought: can they fly back home to N.I using another form of ID? Not sure if rules or whatever have changed since I was there.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-08 15:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

 

You can do home delivery or depot pickup, no need to go back to London thank goodness!

 

Thank heavens for that! Thank you :)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-08 11:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

For the London folks: is there an option for the passport to be mailed rather than have to pick it up in London?

 

I think that another flight to London would give my poor parents financial heart failure!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-08 09:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

whoo hoo, CEAC site shows ready and DHL tracker shows that the packets arrived in London this morning :D


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-08 09:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

Hurray! Ceac status is showing as "READY" Whee!

 Whoo hoo nice!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-06 21:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

For the DHL tracking: I found out that my parents file was shipped out yesterday but when I put that date into the search by trackers reference, I don't get any results pop up. Does it perhaps take a day or so before it shows up?


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-06 11:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

 

Am I missing anything for the interview?

 

My husband will have:

 

P4 Letter

DS-260 Confirmation

Original Police Certificate

Copy of I-864 packet

Copy of IV supporting documents (His BC, Our Marriage License, Police Certificate)

Copy of I-130 Packet

Original NOA1 for I-130

Original NOA2 for I-130

Two US size Photos

 

Hoping that this below is enough for what they need on taxes.  I sent in I-864 with 2012 as most recent. :

Copy of 2014 Tax forms 1040 showing stamped by IRS as filed (Transcript is still not available)

Copy of 2014 W2 for me

 

 

Should I send more pictures?  Proof that I went to visit and that he came to visit since we filed the I-130?

 

Our interview was scheduled on June 13th...which is a Friday.  I'm Superstitious and I am trying really hard to take this as a good sign that I need to not be so negative on the date.


 

 


 

Are you just bringing all those documents in case one gets lost or did your interview letter request those?


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-06 11:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

Mine also has this. 

 

Mine had this also - I wonder what it means..?


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-06 07:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

I'm so excited to see that my parents cases on the ceac website are in transit to the embassy :D

 

I also think this is the last time that I will ever call the NVC, so I'm interested to see who picks up - hope its someone nice so I can say thank you!


Edited by Collie, 06 May 2014 - 07:47 AM.

CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-06 07:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

Collie,

Here is the tracking link https://ceac.state.g...peAKjMWCuebHqOw==

 

Still at the NVC but scheduled to be shipped out on Monday. I called anyway as I had sent another copy of my marriage certificate so I wanted to make sure it was received and not floating around somewhere ;)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-02 11:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

I guess it's here on this thread:

http://www.visajourn...-to-us-embassy/

 

Thank you! I am debating on whether or not to call the NVC to see if the file has been shipped yet so I can obsessively stalk it until it reaches London ;)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-02 10:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

Hi Everyone - well here is the news some of you have been waiting for (but not as much as the wife and I) - We were APPROVED this morning at the London Embassy!!

 

It went so smoothly and efficiently I don't know why I was so anxious!!  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  Happy Dance Time!!! I was in and out within 45 minutes!

 

Here's a quick write up of what I remember and advise others to do!

 

Firstly - Ignore the time on your letter!! Mine was set for 08:30 but I got there at 7:05 and there was already 20 - 25 people in line. By 7:35 ish they were all set up and starting to check people in and let them through the security gate 4 at a time. I was through to the next reception area at 7:45 (that's the time on my ticket they attached to my interview letter) - I was I902 - the 2nd immigrate visa number issued that day!

I 901 was called at around 7:50 then a couple of N numbers then my number at 7:55 - I was called to window 13!! And to my relief I had the nice Afro-Caribbean lady that is regularly mentioned on these pages. She was wonderful and so helpful and calming!! She had me all sorted and sitting back down in the waiting area by 8:10 I guess! I then sat there and waited, maybe 15 minutes, and was then called to window 15 and A 40 ish year old male Vice-Consel introduced himself as the person that would be conducting my interview. He confirmed a few things and asked me easy straightforward questions:

 

Where we met and when? Which when I told him it was 28 years ago he was surprised and really interested!!  

About our marriage and where and when?

When I hoped to fly out to the states and what I did in UK and what I was intending to do in the USA! 

What does my Wife do and where/ how long has she worked there?

Do we have any Children?

Have I lived anywhere else - to which I told him I lived in Germany while serving in the RAF - we then proceeded to talk about my time in the Falklands (something he was really interested in as he spent time studying politics in Argentina a few years ago!!) 

There may have been a couple more questions but that was the gist of it - to which he said your visa is approved. WHOO HOO!!!

 

I did ask at both windows how long it would take to get my passport back as due to them bringing my interview date forward and my step-son and I had a trip to Spain booked on the 15th - both of them told me it should be back well in time to leave on that trip!! Which is a relief!! I asked them both for their names so I could quote them on that and they both laughed!!! So hopefully it will be back in plenty of time!!

 

I them thanked him and had left the building by 8:50 and promptly called my wonderful wifey and woke her up with the great news!!

I will also say that there were approximately 180 - 200 people in the hall when I came back after the first window and when I got out of the embassy there were still about 80 people in the queue - so I can not re-iterate enough to get there as early as you can and hopefully like me you should be out of there by 8:50!!!

 

Hopefully this will help others - just hang in there - it will happen.

 

Best Wishes,

Chris & Silvia

 

PS - they are a lot more relaxed about what you can take into the embassy these days - I can confirm that phones are allowed but they must just be off while you are at the interview windows. And the guys who manage the process outside the building also stated that Ipads, tablets and the like are OK now as long as they do not have a keyboard attached to them they will be allowed through security.

 

 

 

 

Whooo hooo congrats!!!!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-02 09:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

Where is the little link that explains how to track your case to the embassy :)?


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-01 16:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

Hi Everyone and congrats to all getting their interview dates for June!!

 

I have just got on the train to London ready for my interview first thing tomorrow!! We are so happy - 14 1/2 months of patiently waiting nearly over at last!!

 

Anyone else at the London Embassy tomorrow??

 

Best Wishes,

CB&RB

 

My parents were in London yesterday for their medical and said that the traffic was horrendous due to the tube strikes. Allow yourself extra time to get to your interview and good luck :)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-01 08:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

Nope not yet.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-30 21:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJune 2014 Interviews

My parents had their medical today and had a horrible travel time with the tubes being on strike. Their plane had two attempted aborted landings at London too! I haven't any other details right now but they are finally home after nearly 24 hours of being awake.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-30 19:49:00