Currently, how long would it take from NVC to Guangzhou?

[gougou]

My case is an E3 following-to-join case, received notice from NVC 2 weeks ago saying "The National Visa Center has completed its processing of your case and forwarded your file to the designated American Embassy/Consulate.", just wondering, currently, how long would it take for Guangzhou to receive the the case file and send out the P4 interview packet?

In Chinese: 目前从 NVC 发广到广州领事馆收到文件、发出体检面签通知书，大概需要多长时间？我的案子不是电子化处理的，全部是是传统纸质申请文件。

[dnoblett]

If did not opt into e process, it can take 3 months to transfer case to to customs delay od diplomatic packages in China.

[gougou]

Thanks. I wish I could be able to opt into the electronic process, unfortunately, the E category visa is not eligible for electronic process at this time.

 

If did not opt into e process, it can take 3 months to transfer case to to customs delay od diplomatic packages in China.

[Randy W]

H1B cases are typically handled much faster than family visas, but subject to numerical constraints.

 

We don't have any knowledge relating to E3-visas, however, unless someone has seen that information on VisaJourney.com.

 

The process to obtain an E3 visa to work in the USA is the same as to obtain an H1B visa (you must first find a job with a sponsor company). This means that many H1B employers and sponsors also recruit and hire people on E3 visas. An E3 visa job must be found and secured with a E3 sponsor company in the US before the visa application can be submitted and issued.

 

. . .

 

Qualified Australians wishing to live and work in the USA now find themselves in a privileged position. They have access to a dedicated visa that is easier and less costly to obtain than the traditional H1B work visa.

 

Of course, the follow-to-join aspect puts you in a different category, but I think family members are processed fairly efficiently for H1B categories.

 

The company I used to work for had to put someone in a hotel in Beijing while his H1B was being processed so he could come to the US. If I remember correctly, that was for around a month. His family came later, but I don't remember how long that took, or why she didn't come with him.

Edited November 14, 2011 by Randy W (see edit history)

[gougou]

Thanks Randy!

The E3 visa might be a little bit confusing here: Actually I'm a green card holder applying the following-to-join visa for my son who is currently living in China, as my green card was approved based on EB3 - employment based 3rd preference, when I filed the following-to-join application for my son, USCIS/NVC also put my son's case under E3 visa category, even though the case is more like a family based case, and even simpler: there is no sponsorship nor document like I-864 affidavit of support needed.

Because the case was put under E visa category, we're unable to request electronic processing and have to play the waiting game...NVC noticed me that the case was transferred to Guangzhou on Oct.26, 2011.

 

H1B cases are typically handled much faster than family visas, but subject to numerical constraints.

 

We don't have any knowledge relating to E3-visas, however, unless someone has seen that information on VisaJourney.com.

 

The process to obtain an E3 visa to work in the USA is the same as to obtain an H1B visa (you must first find a job with a sponsor company). This means that many H1B employers and sponsors also recruit and hire people on E3 visas. An E3 visa job must be found and secured with a E3 sponsor company in the US before the visa application can be submitted and issued.

 

. . .

 

Qualified Australians wishing to live and work in the USA now find themselves in a privileged position. They have access to a dedicated visa that is easier and less costly to obtain than the traditional H1B work visa.

 

Of course, the follow-to-join aspect puts you in a different category, but I think family members are processed fairly efficiently for H1B categories.

 

The company I used to work for had to put someone in a hotel in Beijing while his H1B was being processed so he could come to the US. If I remember correctly, that was for around a month. His family came later, but I don't remember how long that took, or why she didn't come with him.

[Randy W]

Thanks Randy!

The E3 visa might be a little bit confusing here: Actually I'm a green card holder applying the following-to-join visa for my son who is currently living in China, as my green card was approved based on EB3 - employment based 3rd preference, when I filed the following-to-join application for my son, USCIS/NVC also put my son's case under E3 visa category, even though the case is more like a family based case, and even simpler: there is no sponsorship nor document like I-864 affidavit of support needed.

Because the case was put under E visa category, we're unable to request electronic processing and have to play the waiting game...NVC noticed me that the case was transferred to Guangzhou on Oct.26, 2011.

 

Yes, that's the way I understood it, except that what I read was that the E3 category is a work visa ONLY for Australians - google E3 Visa and you'll see what I mean.

 

Regardless, I understand you're on a work visa and trying to bring your son on a follow-to-join. This is entirely different from the family visas that we usually deal with. I wish I had information other than what I've already posted.

 

You might try www.visajourney.com, though. They deal with a much broader range of immigration issues. Good luck to you.

[gougou]

Not sure how the USCIS/NVC use the visa categories, but this is what printed on my case: "Preference Category: E3 - SKILLED WORKERS", I guess that E3 category is different from the E3 visa.

 

As a green card holder, I myself am not under any work visa, for my son's following-to-join case, except for the visa category, it's esentially a F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents case.

 

 

Yes, that's the way I understood it, except that what I read was that the E3 category is a work visa ONLY for Australians - google E3 Visa and you'll see what I mean.

 

Regardless, I understand you're on a work visa and trying to bring your son on a follow-to-join. This is entirely different from the family visas that we usually deal with. I wish I had information other than what I've already posted.

 

You might try www.visajourney.com, though. They deal with a much broader range of immigration issues. Good luck to you.

[Randy W]

Not sure how the USCIS/NVC use the visa categories, but this is what printed on my case: "Preference Category: E3 - SKILLED WORKERS", I guess that E3 category is different from the E3 visa.

 

As a green card holder, I myself am not under any work visa, for my son's following-to-join case, except for the visa category, it's esentially a F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents case.

 

 

Yes, that's the way I understood it, except that what I read was that the E3 category is a work visa ONLY for Australians - google E3 Visa and you'll see what I mean.

 

Regardless, I understand you're on a work visa and trying to bring your son on a follow-to-join. This is entirely different from the family visas that we usually deal with. I wish I had information other than what I've already posted.

 

You might try www.visajourney.com, though. They deal with a much broader range of immigration issues. Good luck to you.

 

OK - the E3 is a preference category, which tells you how long he will have to wait for an available visa #. F2A is ALSO a preference category - it can't be both. You would need to file an I-130 for a family member of a green card holder for it to fall in the F2A category.

 

The visa bulletin, though, says that the current priority date is 22AUG04 for E3 - meaning that your visa application should have been filed that long ago for it to be processed as current. But I think (just guessing from what I'm reading) that he uses the same priority date as you had, so he should be current and it should be processed fairly quickly.

 

It might be best, though, to show your paperwork (both yours and your son's) to an immigration attorney to get a clear picture of the situation.

[dnoblett]

One more note, too late now, but if this was a F2A priority case for an IR visa this would have qualified for eProcceing would have emailed an optin email when NVC indicated a visa number assigned.

[Randy W]

One more note, too late now, but if this was a F2A priority case for an IR visa this would have qualified for eProcceing would have emailed an optin email when NVC indicated a visa number assigned.

 

F2A's are current in 2½ years (current priority date is Feb 2009), since a new I-130 would need to be submitted AFTER the OP's green card was awarded.

 

If I'm understanding his situation, his son's priority date with the follow-to-join is current NOW.

Edited November 14, 2011 by Randy W (see edit history)

[gougou]

Yes Randy you're right, my son's following-to-join case follows the priority date on my EB3 green card application which was Dec 2003, and it's current at this time (Sept 2004)¡£

 

Following-to-join case might not be popular, instead of filing an I-130, I filed an I-824 for my son's following-to-join case, and I'm not required to submit I-864 (Affidavit of Support), sure I can file an I-130 application if the F2A priority date is current or very closed to current like it was in late last year.

 

I fully understand how my son's following-to-join case works, and the case processing is reaching its final step: waiting for P4 / interview date. The only thing I don't know is what I asked in my original question: After I got notice from NVC saying that they had forwarded the case to Guangzhou, how long would it usually take for Guangzhou to receive the file and set an interview date?, for this E3 following-to-join case, I was required and have submitted ALL original documents£¨except the medical exam£©to NVC, including all original civil documents and the DS-230 application.

 

 

F2A's are current in 2½ years (current priority date is Feb 2009), since a new I-130 would need to be submitted AFTER the OP's green card was awarded.

 

If I'm understanding his situation, his son's priority date with the follow-to-join is current NOW.

[Randy W]

Yeah, sorry for the confusion! Can't help! I have been aware of follow-to-join (employment or student) cases, but not in enough detail to help out.

[dnoblett]

Yes Randy you're right, my son's following-to-join case follows the priority date on my EB3 green card application which was Dec 2003, and it's current at this time (Sept 2004)¡£

 

Following-to-join case might not be popular, instead of filing an I-130, I filed an I-824 for my son's following-to-join case, and I'm not required to submit I-864 (Affidavit of Support), sure I can file an I-130 application if the F2A priority date is current or very closed to current like it was in late last year.

 

I fully understand how my son's following-to-join case works, and the case processing is reaching its final step: waiting for P4 / interview date. The only thing I don't know is what I asked in my original question: After I got notice from NVC saying that they had forwarded the case to Guangzhou, how long would it usually take for Guangzhou to receive the file and set an interview date?, for this E3 following-to-join case, I was required and have submitted ALL original documents£¨except the medical exam£©to NVC, including all original civil documents and the DS-230 application.

 

F2A's are current in 2½ years (current priority date is Feb 2009), since a new I-130 would need to be submitted AFTER the OP's green card was awarded.

 

If I'm understanding his situation, his son's priority date with the follow-to-join is current NOW.

To answer the original question, historically case transfer from NVC to Consulate takes up to 3 months due to the diplomatic file getting hung up in Chinese customs that long, the consulate cannot proceed until they have the physical file in hand so that they can return the original docs at the interview.

 

Plan on P4 sometime around the 90 day mark.

 

Give it 2-3 months, then start calling DOS visa services for case status, they will let you know when P4 has been mailed, as well as what date the interview has been set for.

 

(202) 663-1225 http://travel.state.gov/visa/about/how/how_1463.html

[gougou]

Thanks dnoblett, that's the information I'm looking for. Ideally, I was expecting answers from those who went over this non-electronic NVC-to-Guangzhou file transfer(via DHL) process recently.

 

I called the DOD hotline twice, the 1st time I was told that Guangzhou had already received the physical files for my case (it was only one week after they sent me the "case forwarded" notice), then one week later when I called again, the status went back to "In transit"...

 

To answer the original question, historically case transfer from NVC to Consulate takes up to 3 months due to the diplomatic file getting hung up in Chinese customs that long, the consulate cannot proceed until they have the physical file in hand so that they can return the original docs at the interview.

 

Plan on P4 sometime around the 90 day mark.

 

Give it 2-3 months, then start calling DOS visa services for case status, they will let you know when P4 has been mailed, as well as what date the interview has been set for.

 

(202) 663-1225 http://travel.state.gov/visa/about/how/how_1463.html

[dnoblett]

Thanks dnoblett, that's the information I'm looking for. Ideally, I was expecting answers from those who went over this non-electronic NVC-to-Guangzhou file transfer(via DHL) process recently.

 

I called the DOD hotline twice, the 1st time I was told that Guangzhou had already received the physical files for my case (it was only one week after they sent me the "case forwarded" notice), then one week later when I called again, the status went back to "In transit"...

 

To answer the original question, historically case transfer from NVC to Consulate takes up to 3 months due to the diplomatic file getting hung up in Chinese customs that long, the consulate cannot proceed until they have the physical file in hand so that they can return the original docs at the interview.

 

Plan on P4 sometime around the 90 day mark.

 

Give it 2-3 months, then start calling DOS visa services for case status, they will let you know when P4 has been mailed, as well as what date the interview has been set for.

 

(202) 663-1225 http://travel.state....w/how_1463.html

Yep, typically they say "Received" when they receive the electronic file, then back to In Transit due to the customs delay.

 

What I did back when my wife was waiting for visa packets, was to wait about 2 months or so after NVC sent, then started calling Visa services about once a week for status.