JaKa

Yep yep yep! That sweet feeling and the thrill of "i can't believe I m done with all this"!!!! I can't believe I don't need to check CEAC status anymore or ustraveldoc! I can close those tabs!!!! We are soo happy and it's solid. Such a relief! Funny my passport status hasn't changed a bit! Booked our tickets for next month. As soon as hubby finishes his contract, we are outta here the next day! Ha!

Update: My husband just got a call from Citic Bank!!! I get to go and pick up my passport this PM!!!! Yay!!!!! But my passport status online has not changed at all...hmmm... Anyways, I am happy! Hope I don't have a ripped package or anything like that! I'm DONE with all the drama!!!!!!

Good news, soon you'll be taking a long plane ride. tsap seui Can't wait for that! BTWNothing has changed since yesterday.

Update: Finally, after 6 days since "ISSUED" (including a 3-day weekend) my passport status changed to "Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery". I m hoping for a "Origination Scan" this pm. Ah...the more you want it, the harder it seems!

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you! Even tho my CEAC has been "Issued", my ustraveldoc dashboard still says "your passport is still at the consulate" for 3 days. I might have to wait a little longer considering the 4 day weekend this week. Argh... why can't they just send it out?!!!

Are you saying here that one option now is to pick up the passport with visa the same or next day at the consulate? Excellent work, and thank you very much for the VERY detailed write-up - and Congratulations! Well deserved! Oh, I'm sorry! I thought there was such an option. On my CEAC status, below "ISSUED", it reads "Your visa has been printed. Depending on local procedures at the location where you were interviewed, your visa will be mailed or available for pickup soon. If there are further questions, or if we need updated contact information, you will be contacted." So I assumed we could have picked it up if we had chosen it on ustraveldoc. I ll edit it then!

First, some of the info about our story: -Married for 5 years -One Child and a second one is on the way -Hubby has lived with me in China and Japan over the course of our marriage -We are not DCF cuz we were residing in Japan at the time, then we returned to China to get all the necessary documents for the interview. Documents we prepared: -Passport -The Updated AOS package(with 2013 tax returns) we sent to NVC: including Sponsor and Joint Sponsor's I864 and required ID proofs and other evidence(Like w2s, bank statements, etc.) -IV package: All notarized copies of my birth certificate, marriage certificate, and non criminal record, plus my Japanese Police clearance. -2 Visa photos -Sealed yellow envelope of medical report The following docs have NOT been accepted or even looked at( Just to give you an idea): -Hubby's Domicile proof: Job offers, school application and acceptance letter, possible health care for application once we land, research of maternity hospital/OBGYN near where we are going to stay, etc.. -More relationship evidence: A copy of my ITIN from IRS, matching visa stamps, First-born's CBRA, Japanese residence cards, pics over these years, plane tickets travelled together, etc.. -Resumes both in English and Chinese On the day of Interview, 5/27/2014: Appointment was at 8:15am, we got to the consulate at 7:40 and there were A LOT of people there already! After pass the guards in the front, I lined up in the line for immigration visa. Wait, then went thru security check. Then into the next building. Step one: Get a number This was the longest wait actually. You only line up and wait for your turn to the window. Nothing difficult. Then wait in the A Zone. The big screen will show the number and which window to go to. Very straightforward, no mystery here. Step Two: Documents hand-in When my number showed, I went to the window. The staff behind the window was polite, patient, and thorough. I submitted each document as he asked. And he asked if I have brought money to pay for the IV. I answered him I ve paid all the fees when at NVC, and I have brought both payment receipts ( AOS and DS260). He said in his system it doesn't show, but later on, he said it cleared. He asked me two questions: who is petitioning for you? Have you lived in another country than Japan? Then I was sent to B Zone to wait again. Step Three: Interview Just after I sat down, for like not even 2 minutes, my number showed up on the big screen again. I walked to the window, having no idea this was the actual interview. I thought they must have some other questions about the docs, because it was so quick. And For this whole time, I was picturing a room with tables and stuff like that. Till the American Consular Officer took my fingerprints and asked me to swear all these documents and answers are true, I then realized "Crap, this is it!" So he was just looking thru all my documents, with a stern face. Didn't say a word. He literally had NO facial expression whatsoever. He DIDNOT ask me wether I wanted to conduct the interview in English or Chinese, but spoke Chinese the whole time. His Chinese was very good. So I switched to Chinese too. He asked questions: 1. Where are you from? Which city? 3. How many children do you guys have? 4. Have you been to the US? 5. Have you joined the Party? Then he said, your visa has been approved! He gave me a white A4 paper with instructions on it. I COULDN'T believe that was it! I was like"So what do I do now? Do I just leave?" He was like "Yeah!" So I thanked him with gratitude and left! Then I read on the white A4 paper, the first line was "Congratulation! Your visa has been approved!" Then I believed it! So, don't expect a pink slip! The white one does it too as long as it says "your visa has been approved!" That was a short and pleasant experience. I was nervously calm. I had confidence when I went in. So I think if your marriage is legit, and you have the correct documents and they are not expired, you have nothing to worry about. Tips: 1. Organize all your papers into different folders with description penned on the covers. They don't take your folders, so they won't read it. Organize them by yourself, so you clearly know where what paper is! And even if you are freaked out a bit at the window, you can still find your papers by reading the covers. 2. Don't panic! I heard people ask the most stupid and brain dead questions! It's not necessary that you let the nerves get the best of you! You are not committing a crime here, but you just want to reunite with your spouse or family! Nothing shameful! 3. The CGI Stanley staff in red tshirts don't have the greatest manner or attitude when it comes to overly nervous people asking stupid questions. One staff kept telling people to sit down, like preschool teachers, seriously, and "look up at the screen"! To me, she was pretty rude. But it might be the best way to get thru to those nervous folks. They can tell you where the bathroom is, but beyond that, they won't be helpful about any specific documents. 4. Get fully prepared, don't forget anything! You are not allowed to go outside if you have come in to the building. Someone left some paper outside and wanted to go out and get it, but was told by CGI Stanley staff that once she gets out that door, she will have to make another appointment to have the interview. There is no coming in and going out once you are in. A day after the interview, on 5/28, our CEAC status changed from "Administrative Processing" to "ISSUED"!!! Now waiting for CITI bank to call me for picking up my passport!

I think the "Case Creation Date" is the date your case was processed at NVC. Mine is "12-Mar-2014" which matches the date when we were given our first case number (We were calling NVC about the case number). Tim's expedited experience is much different from mine. For us, both times, at USCIS or NVC, we waited and waited, to the point we couldn't, then we tried apply for expedite service. For NVC, we were done with our parts (sending documents, paying fees, and filling online forms) within 2 weeks without being expedited. Then we waited for a month for the ENROLL acceptance email and our packages to be processed. Unfortunately, at the time, EP was going very slowly, finally we had to apply expedite service. Then about another 3 weeks, our expedited request was approved. NVC immediately sent my case to the consulate without getting a case complete. But we were at the May Holiday, so the consulate received my case 3 days after our case was sent from NVC. My CEAC changed from " In Transit" to "Ready". Then 4 days later, i got the email. When NVC sent our case file, we made sure that they were sending it electronically so we don't need to wait on the stupid customs wait times. Because before we expedited it, NVC had accepted our EP ENROLL and had all our scanned documents. That's our experience, don't know if this could help us your friend Tim in any shape or form. While I was in line, I did notice other American Citizens trying to go in accompanying their spouses, but failed or denied the entry before they went thru the security check. But considering Tim's son is a minor, he might get a different answer. I had not noticed anything like that happening that morning, so I can't give you an answer. Hope all goes well for Tim and his son!

I wasn't aware that my visa would be changed to "issued" that quickly. So I didn't even think about staying in GUZ to pick up my passport! I know, how dumb!! I was playing it safe, otherwise I would have my passport in hand already! But now just a few extra days.

Thank you!

It just DOESNT end!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok! CGI Stanley says my passport is still at the consulate.

News flash! It changed to "issued" today!!!! Woo hoot!!!! Just one day! I'm happy! That was a nice little surprise for me after a day travel!!! Do you think now is a good time to buy tickets? I would not expect too much delay on the delivery, or would there be?! Hmmmm...

First of all, thank you! My case stayed "ReADY" for like 4-5 days! Then it changed into "Adminitrative Processing" until today, it changed to " issued"!!! Only 24 hours after the interview! This was a sweet surprise! Pls do kindly remind your friend Tim to check his spam! As far as I know, I am not the only person who received their P4 email in Their spam! Once I received the p4 email, I was able to schedule an interview. But I don't know if that is open to everyone or not...or the consulate will schedule a date for you and inform you in the P4 email. Someone else might be able to answer that.

Thank you, Randy! Thank you for always answering my questions!