Immigrant Visa Unit
National Visa
Center Receives Immigrant Visa Cases from U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo
BACKGROUND
In March 2007, the National Visa Center (NVC) assumed
responsibility for the collection of documents for immigrant visa cases assigned
to the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo. In an effort to reduce backlogs, Embassy
Santo Domingo will return cases for preprocessing at the National Visa Center.
Effective immediately, NVC will begin receiving the bulk of
the immigrant visa cases currently on the U.S. Embassy’s waitlist in order to
pre-screen these applications and thus ensure they are documentarily complete
before the interview date. After NVC obtains these immigrant visa files, the
petitioner and beneficiary will receive correspondence confirming that the case
is at NVC and requesting that the petitioner and/or beneficiary submit the
required documents. Once NVC receives all of these documents, NVC will work
with the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo to schedule the case for an interview,
based on available capacity at the Embassy.
Please note that all nonimmigrant visa
applications (including K-1 and K-3 visas) currently in Santo Domingo will
remain there for processing and will not be shipped back to NVC.
Cases currently scheduled for December 2007 and
January-February 2008 will be handled directly by the U.S. Embassy in Santo
Domingo. Beginning in March 2008, NVC – coordinating closely with the Santo
Domingo Immigrant Visa (IV) Unit – will handle all immigrant visa appointment
scheduling. Any new nonimmigrant K visa cases at NVC will be expeditiously sent
to Santo Domingo for the IV Unit to schedule the appointment.
All inquiries about this new procedure should be directed
to NVC by e-mail at
NVCinquiry@state.gov or by phone at (603) 334-0700.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Why is the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo sending
cases currently on the waitlist back to NVC?
A: A critical issue limiting productivity in Santo
Domingo’s IV Unit is the large number of refusals caused by applicants who are
missing documents on the date of their interview. These unprepared applicants
must then be refused and must subsequently return to the Consular Section for a
second interview. This reduces the number of cases that can be processed.
Having NVC ensure that the file is complete will significantly reduce these
types of refusals and allow the consular officers to devote more time to new
applicants and interview more cases daily.
Q: My relative’s case has been on Santo Domingo’s
waitlist for over a year. Will the transfer to NVC cause any additional delays
in the processing?
A: The transfer of files to NVC will ultimately
lead to greater efficiency and faster movement of all cases. Ensuring that the
files are complete before the applicants are interviewed will allow consular
officers to focus on other aspects of the case, reduce refusals for missing
documents, and thus result in a greater number of cases processed overall. Your
relative’s case will advance most efficiently if all their documents are
submitted to NVC as soon as NVC requests them.
Q: Why not keep the cases on the waitlist in Santo
Domingo, and collect and pre-screen the needed documents there?
A: Shifting document collection to NVC will allow
the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo to focus its resources on interviewing greater
numbers of people. NVC has more resources to focus on document collection, and
will deal directly with the petitioners in the United States.
Q: My relative already received an Appointment Package
for her interview. What do I do next? Is the case still in Santo Domingo?
A: If you already received an appointment letter
from the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, the case will remain at the Embassy.
You need to ensure that the applicant has all the required documents and appears
for the interview on the scheduled date.
Q: My relative was on the waitlist for an immigrant
visa interview, but the case did not make the cut-off for February 2008
appointments. Where is the case?
A: Any immigrant visa case not scheduled by
February 2008 was sent back to NVC. NVC will contact you to proceed with the
case.
Q: My case was refused and is still pending at your
office. Where is the file?
A: Any cases that have already had interviews and are
still pending will remain in Santo Domingo. We are only shipping back files
that are currently on the waitlist. Follow the directions on the refusal sheet
in order to proceed with your case.
Q: My fiancé(e)’s K-1 visa application was on the
waitlist. Where is the case?
A: The case is still in Santo Domingo. All
nonimmigrant (K-1 and K-3 visa petitions) on the Santo Domingo waitlist were
retained at the Embassy. Santo Domingo’s IV Unit will contact the applicant as
soon as possible to schedule an interview.
Q: My relative’s case is being sent back to NVC. What
do I need to do now?
A: You don’t need to do anything. NVC will send
you a letter to confirm they have the file and to request the required
documents. You may, however, contact NVC by e-mail at
NVCinquiry@state.gov or by telephone at (603) 334-0700 to find out the
status of your case. If you, as the petitioner, have moved to a different
address from the one that was registered in the original I-130 petition, you
should notify NVC. Please be sure that NVC has correct contact addresses for
you and your relative.
Q: What can I do to speed up the process?
A: NVC and the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo are
focusing their efforts to ensure speedier resolution of cases. You can do your
part by promptly supplying all requested documents. The faster you fulfill all
requirements for documents, the sooner your case will be scheduled for an
interview. |
