This website is super helpful as it breaks down the steps you must take to begin NVC processing and what docs to submit where etc: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/after-petition-approved/begin-nat-visa-center.html
The good thing is that NVC processing for London applicants is done online (yay!). In your welcome email from the NVC containing the case number and invoice number, you will also get instructions on how to log on to the CEAC system, which will be used to facilitate NVC processing. The system looks dated but it is quite straightforward to use, in my view. Action: Pay fees - the first thing we had to do was to pay processing fees. Without those, we were not able to move on with the process. TIP: The fees have to be paid from a US bank account and cannot be made using UK bank account or credit card. You will need a bank routing number and a checking or savings account number from a US bank. Once the payment is submitted, we had to allow 3-5 working days for the payment to clear. We were not be able to move on until the fees were paid and payment was cleared. Action: US citizen - T had to complete an affidavit of support + provide financial docs. For spousal visas like CR1 and IR1, the US citizen will have to complete an affidavit of support (for us, it was the I-864EZ form) and submit supporting financial documents to prove that they earn enough to support their spouse. The US citizen will likely have to obtain their W2s and a transcript from the IRS. This website is useful: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/collect-and-submit-forms-and-documents-to-the-nvc/step-4-collect-financial-documents.html TIP: Even if you find a pdf version of the I-864 form which allows you to type in your answers directly to the pdf document, do make sure that you print the form out, sign by hand and scan and upload. Electronic signatures WILL NOT be accepted. Immigrant spouse - I had to complete an online visa application form (DS260) and scan and upload all the relevant supporting documents. This website shows which documents are necessary: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/collect-and-submit-forms-and-documents-to-the-nvc/step-5-collect-supporting-documents.html Hopefully you would have had enough time to collect them beforehand so you do not have to wait any longer now. TIP: When you scan the docs into the CEAC system do make sure that all scans are VERTICAL! Your documents will be rejected if the scans are horizontal. All text/ photos must be vertical. NVC will not rotate the scans for you - save yourself time and hassle by double checking all the scans before you upload them. TIP: Once submitted, make sure you print the DS260 submission confirmation page (DO NOT print screen). It has to be printed out on paper as the print-out will have a couple of barcodes that will be essential later down the line when you attend your interview. Wait NVC takes 6-8 weeks to review the documents. This website shows the processing times and indicates when you're likely to hear back. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/collect-and-submit-forms-and-documents-to-the-nvc/step-6-submit-documents-to-the-nvc.html TIP: It is not uncommon for NVC to send you a message via the CEAC system to ask for further evidence or for you to correct documents if you have not submitted them correctly, or if anything is missing. It really does pay off to make sure submissions are correct and full! We had one request for correction (vertical vs horizontal scan issue I referred to above). Our experience is that, even though the correction was minor, the review of documents went back into the long queue, and we had to wait a good few weeks to hear back from NVC. It took just over 4.5 weeks for us. In total, NVC had our case for nearly three months. Once NVC is happy that they have received all the necessary documents and forms, they will complete your case and then pass it over to the Embassy (for the UK it is the US Embassy in London). You will get an email from NVC confirming your case is Documentarily Qualified (DQ). That same email will inform you that NVC will liaise with the embassy to schedule an interview date for you. TIP: The visa journey (VJ) page (www.visajourney.com) has monthly threads for CR1/IR1 visa applicants where you can keep track of any news that other VJ community members report. They also run a spreadsheet that can show you how long, historically, things have taken. Look for Case Complete to Interview [Month] [Year] - for example: Case Complete to Interview August 2019.
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About this Blog...I decided to write this blog to capture memories of my immigration journey and perhaps to give other Brits an insight into what they might expect if they find themselves in a similar position. ArchivesCategories |