The Road to CR-1 (Spouse) Visa
It had been such torture to be left in limbo about our case. Our case was approved on July 1st, 2016 but we were still clueless about the result because the USCIS has transferred the case to the NVC. Every day, we checked the progress on their website in case there was an update but the result remained the same, "At NVC". Our lawyer said it usually takes 2 months but it had been 3 months and still hadn't received any news.
Ayu read any thread and article she could find on Google and even made an account on VisaJourney to talk about our case with people who were going through the same process. We learned people would call the NVC in order to get an update on their case and they did so every day, so we thought it was a good idea as well. Surely, it wouldn't hurt to try.
In the beginning of November, Joe made his first phone call to the NVC, and as people had mentioned on their blogs, he had to wait for at least 40 minutes until he got a chance to talk with an officer. The officer informed him that they were still working on our case and told him to call again in two days if we did not get an email. We were ecstatic to know our case was not stagnant. We probably should have called them a long time before then!
Two days passed and we received no email. Joe called again and experienced the same process, he was on hold for at another 40 minutes. This time, however, we got better news: OUR CASE WAS COMPLETED. We were extremely happy because that meant we were gonna get an interview schedule soon. The officer also said that they were going to send us email about it.
On November 11th, we finally received the interview date confirmation email. They scheduled the interview on December 29th, 2016, which means we had to wait for almost 2 months (56 days) from the day we found out our case was completed until the interview. Though, we have never received case complete confirmation email like many other people did. Calling the NVC about your status is highly recommended.
We were not sure for the reason why they scheduled it so far out but at least we would have more time to prepare our documents. Joe had to give the lawyer some updated forms, and the lawyer sent the documents packet to Indonesia using FedEx. In only a few days, Ayu received the package and we were very appreciative that we got the help from the lawyer so we found it far easier to organize the documents. Ayu made an appointment with the doctor at Premier Bintaro Hospital for the medical checkup with Dr. Natalia Wusis on November 21st, 2016. The results came after a week but Ayu could not open it and she had to bring it on the interview day.
The status on the NVC website did not change until few days after we received the confirmation email. We continued checking on it and after 5 days, our case status was "in transit".
On the next day, our status was finally changed to "ready".
Double check all of your documents before you go to the interview, and even though they probably will not ask for all of those documents, bring them with you just in case. You can check about how Ayu organized her documents here. And how her interview visa went here.
One day after the interview, this was what appeared on CEAC website.
Keep checking their website to track your passport here. It only works for Indonesian passports. For another passport, you can use these keywords "track US visa after approval" on Google that will lead you to the US Travel Docs website.
As we have explained in our other post, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta is using the RPX courier service. If your visa application is approved, RPX will return your passport and visa to you at the address or pick-up location you selected when you scheduled your interview. Your passport will be delivered only to the address you specified when you scheduled your visa interview. There are no extra fees associated with this service.
Before the interview, Ayu filled out the form based on the instructions that were sent to email and chose to pick it up at the RPX in her home town, Cirebon. The officer did not ask anything of it, so she changed it to home delivery after the interview as it was more convenient. FYI, there is no cost to change your delivery preferences.
It was on January 4th, 2017 (almost a week after the visa interview), we finally got this result when we tried to track Ayu's passport.
And after a few hours...
Ayu finally got her passport back on January 5th, 2017 around midday along with the other immigration documents packet in sealed envelope. You can't open it until you arrive in the USA.
We're so excited for what's to come and can't wait for our journey to continue.
We were not sure for the reason why they scheduled it so far out but at least we would have more time to prepare our documents. Joe had to give the lawyer some updated forms, and the lawyer sent the documents packet to Indonesia using FedEx. In only a few days, Ayu received the package and we were very appreciative that we got the help from the lawyer so we found it far easier to organize the documents. Ayu made an appointment with the doctor at Premier Bintaro Hospital for the medical checkup with Dr. Natalia Wusis on November 21st, 2016. The results came after a week but Ayu could not open it and she had to bring it on the interview day.
The status on the NVC website did not change until few days after we received the confirmation email. We continued checking on it and after 5 days, our case status was "in transit".
On the next day, our status was finally changed to "ready".
Double check all of your documents before you go to the interview, and even though they probably will not ask for all of those documents, bring them with you just in case. You can check about how Ayu organized her documents here. And how her interview visa went here.
One day after the interview, this was what appeared on CEAC website.
As we have explained in our other post, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta is using the RPX courier service. If your visa application is approved, RPX will return your passport and visa to you at the address or pick-up location you selected when you scheduled your interview. Your passport will be delivered only to the address you specified when you scheduled your visa interview. There are no extra fees associated with this service.
Before the interview, Ayu filled out the form based on the instructions that were sent to email and chose to pick it up at the RPX in her home town, Cirebon. The officer did not ask anything of it, so she changed it to home delivery after the interview as it was more convenient. FYI, there is no cost to change your delivery preferences.
It was on January 4th, 2017 (almost a week after the visa interview), we finally got this result when we tried to track Ayu's passport.
And after a few hours...
Ayu finally got her passport back on January 5th, 2017 around midday along with the other immigration documents packet in sealed envelope. You can't open it until you arrive in the USA.
 |
| U.S. Immigrant Visa sample |
We're so excited for what's to come and can't wait for our journey to continue.
This is soooo helpful.. I just called and was informed that my case was completed as of 10/31, haven’t received the CC email yet. This is really helpful, to thank you so much!
ReplyDelete