2004/2005/2006 Priority Date Tracker

Hi, Manie and welcome to the forum and congrats on your I-140 approval.
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Packet 1 was your I-140 notice of receipt
Packet 2 was your I-140 notice of approval
Packet 3 would be the DS-230 forms (Immigrant Visa application)
Packet 4 would be your medicals and interview appointment
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Your next step is to wait for NVC to process your case.  What is your Priority Date (PD)?
NVC traditionally only start processing cases w/c has PDs that are at least within 9-12 months from the cut-off date indicated on the monthly Visa Bulletin.  
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They first send a visa fee bill either directly to you but mostly it gets sent to either to your lawyer or agency depending on what was previously indicated.
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What you can do now is to ask NVC for your NVC case # as any updates on your case would now be base on that number instead of your USCIS number.  The steps on how to contact NVC is on one of the stickies in our General Foreign Nurse Discussion forum category, pls. refer to the information posted there.
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**FYI:   The Dept. of State are already thinking of phasing out the paper-based DS-230 form in-lieu of an on-line form (DS-260) in the very near future.  See:  http://foreign-nurse.lefora.com/2009/02/22/proposed-on-line-immigration-visa-application-form/page1/
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My guess is your case might be included on the new on-line application form procedures if the proposal pushes through so I would just wait for further instructions from either your lawyer or agency. 

Thank you very much t-cell!
my PD is april 2008. Now that my case was approved, my lawyer is then asking me 450 dollars may I ask what is that fee for? is it for my visa screen certificate? I am really confused because I think my lawyer is asking too much money. I spent 6 thousand dollars already for my petition to be filed in uscis.

is visa screen certificate different from visa fee bill? probably how much would that be cost?

now that my case is approved, can i get now my nvc case number to my lawyer? are there any fees of getting it?

Thanks t- cell for answering my questions please help

Thank you very much t-cell!
my PD is april 2008. Now that my case was approved, my lawyer is then asking me 450 dollars may I ask what is that fee for? is it for my visa screen certificate? I am really confused because I think my lawyer is asking too much money. I spent 6 thousand dollars already for my petition to be filed in uscis.
is visa screen certificate different from visa fee bill? probably how much would that be cost?
now that my case is approved, can i get now my nvc case number to my lawyer? are there any fees of getting it?
Thanks t- cell for answering my questions please help [image]

-manie

You should ask your lawyer on what that $450 is for.  My guess is he or she is already asking for the visa fee bill. 
 
The actual total visa fee bill is $400 ($355 plus $45 security fee), so the extra $50 being asked maybe for courier fee and other misc. fees. 
 
You should ask your lawyer if why he or she is still asking for the visa fee bill, if that is what $450 is for that is why you should ask.
 
If you already paid $6k, most oftentimes, all immigration fees plus professional fee is already included in the whole package so should clarify that with your lawyer.  Unless, of course if that $6k is just his or her professional fee.  The fee you give to your lawyer and if it is already a package or just a prof. fee is entirely between you and your lawyer.
 
The Visa Screen certificate is totally different and w/c you, the applicant, needs to apply for personally and as well as pay for yourself as well, unless you have an agency but since you mentioned that you are paying for your own lawyer and immigration fees (which is actually the best thing to do, in my opinion, if the nurse can afford it) then I presume regardless if you have an agency or not is that you are the one who finances everything.
 
The Visa Screen Certification is also handled by CGFNS via their subsidiary ICHP.  Just go to their website: www.CGFNS.org and download the application packet for Visa Screen Certification.
 
Part of the Visa Screen Certification requirements is to pass either the IELTS or TOEFL in addition to requesting your school registrar to send a copy of your transcripts to ICHP/CGFNS and requesting your local licensure agency to send them certification of your local nurse licensure (if licensed).  For the full instructions, you can just read the application packet for the Visa Screen Certification.
 
Good luck. 

Thanks t-cell for clarifying such things I have mentioned. By the way, in getting the visa screen is that a requirement for the packet 3 to be released? or just a requirement in the embassy interview?
Thank you again for your precious times answering my queries 
more power!

Thanks t-cell for clarifying such things I have mentioned. By the way, in getting the visa screen is that a requirement for the packet 3 to be released? or just a requirement in the embassy interview?
Thank you again for your precious times answering my queries [image]
more power![image]

-manie

No, it's not a requirement for the packet 3 to be released but the applicant needs to submit it by the time of the interview.  So, you still have lots of time.  I would concentrate on passing the IELTS first.

Also, the visa screen application has a 1 year provision for you to submit all requirements or the applicant has to pay something to have that 1 year deadline to submit all requirements extended.

Note that with you having an April 2008 PD, unless something drastic happens in regards to lifting the retrogression for nurses soon your PD won't be current within this fiscal year.  Going within 9-12 months from the cut-off date maybe the farthest it can go for this fiscal year, unless of course something drastic happens w/ regards to improving the immigration process for nurses as mentioned.

 

Thanks!

by the way Iam a california passer but I had a hard time getting a US SSN(requirement for pemanent license to be released).  aside from obtaining a working visa inorder to get an SSN are there any possible ways of getting an SSN or atleast a temporary SSN?

THANK YOU  t- cell

Thanks!
by the way Iam a california passer but I had a hard time getting a US SSN(requirement for pemanent license to be released).  aside from obtaining a working visa inorder to get an SSN are there any possible ways of getting an SSN or atleast a temporary SSN?
THANK YOU  t- cell

-manie

Hi, manie.  First of all, there is no such thing as a temporary SSN.  Once a SSN is issued to someone it is their number forever.  Not even death can take away that number from you unless someone unscrupulous steals that number and presumes your identity after your death w/c is what is happening in the US.
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Second, it is only issued by the the US SSA and that it is only given if you present them proof of being able to legally work in the US and is in the country legally.  So, in most cases a US SSN can only be given once one has enterred US legally and present the SSA proof of legal status and proof of a job. 
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There was also some talks about being able to get one while still in the home country where there is a satellite office of SSA (like in the US Embassy in Manila) but if only and only presented proof that one is already bound to the US very soon and with complete papers and proof of a job waiting there.  But it also entails that the applicant is a 100% sure that he is already bound to the US and so even if this were true then the applicant would have to wait until the very last stages of the immigration process such as already having their visa with them.  In my opinion, it doesn't make a big difference even if this were true.  Getting a US SSN once duly qualified for it is very easy whether applied in their home country where there is a SSA satellite office or applied in the US.  Just doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things.
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Last but not least, a "CA NCLEX passer" do not have to get their actual license from CA BRN to be able to find an employer willing to petition them or start the immigration process.  It is a common misconception that one has to absolutely have the copy of the licensure to get petitioned and w/c leads people scrambling to find ways to get a US SSN ASAP.  The only requirement to start the whole petitioning-immigration process is that "NCLEX pass" letter from CA BRN (proof of passing the CGFNS exam is also an accepted proof).  That letter is enough to get everything started and the applicants just need to apply for the US SSN once one has successfully arrived in the US already or the very least have their visas already with them (presuming talks of getting one in a local SSA office were even true).
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So, it's much ado about nothing.   To learn more about the topic pls. go to the General Foreign Nurses Discussion category and look for a sticky thread there about applying to CA.  It discusses everything about CA and other related topics such as US SSN, endorsing, applying for extension before the 3 years is up, etc...
 

hello t-cell, i do agree with you that SSN is really permanent however i got this from Social Security Administration that there are three types of SSN cards:

Are there different types of cards?

We issue three types of Social Security cards. All cards show your name and Social Security number.

• The first type of card shows your name and Social Security number and lets you work without restriction. We issue it to:
  
  • U.S. citizens; and
    
  • People lawfully admitted to the United States on a permanent basis.
    
• The second type of card shows your name and number and notes, “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.” We issue this type of card to people lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis who have DHS authorization to work.
  
• The third type of card shows your name and number and notes, “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.” We issue it to people from other countries:
  
  • Who are lawfully admitted to the United States without work authorization from DHS, but with a valid nonwork reason for needing a Social Security number; or
    
  • Who need a number because of a federal law requiring a Social Security number to get a benefit or service.

go to: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html for further reading
kindly explain this, thanks:)

hello t-cell, i do agree with you that SSN is really permanent however i got this from Social Security Administration that there are three types of SSN cards:
Are there different types of cards? We issue three types of Social Security cards. All cards show your name and Social Security number.
The first type of card shows your name and Social Security number and lets you work without restriction. We issue it to:
U.S. citizens; and
People lawfully admitted to the United States on a permanent basis.
The second type of card shows your name and number and notes, “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.” We issue this type of card to people lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis who have DHS authorization to work.
The third type of card shows your name and number and notes, “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.” We issue it to people from other countries:
Who are lawfully admitted to the United States without work authorization from DHS, but with a valid nonwork reason for needing a Social Security number; or
Who need a number because of a federal law requiring a Social Security number to get a benefit or service. go to: [url] for further reading
kindly explain this, thanks:)

-ddlr72

If you would read my previous posts regarding the topic from this thread and the sticky thread about applying in CA BRN where I have discussed it extensively as well I am basically saying that in the grand scheme of things, applicants who chose CA BRN should not be making the lack of US SSN and the subsequent non-issuance of a licensure card while still in their home country a big deal. 
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They should not be making it a big deal, at least not a big deal enough for them to look for whatever way to get one while still not in the US.  And to be honest still not having the licesure granted by CA BRN and able to extend it yearly via a simple e-mail request and no renewal fees needed is actually an advantage in my books. 
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If you want more details pls just refer to all my pervious posts about the topic.  Mostly it is in this sticky thread located in our General Foreign Nurses Discussion category: http://foreign-nurse.lefora.com/2008/08/15/how-to-apply-to-california-board-of-registered-nur/page1/
And more recently, my recent posts on this thread. 

However, if you still insists of getting a US SSN one way or another and for whatever reason, you can contact local offices of SSA's Office of International Operations (OIO):  http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign/

And if you were able to get one, pls share it here.

thank you t-cell, actually i brought this up thinking that it would help my friend since she passed nclex with california as her board of nursing. but still not possible anyway, thank you:)

thank you t-cell, actually i brought this up thinking that it would help my friend since she passed nclex with california as her board of nursing. but still not possible anyway, thank you:)

-ddlr72

Tell her not to worry about it.  It doesn't matter if he or she doesn't have the actual licensure card or not.  Actual licensure only matter when already actually in the US. 
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And I have been advising all those who went thru CA BRN to just stretch or milk that 3 years deadline on their NCLEX pass letter and then just request annual extensions. 
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If you or your friend find time, you can go to this sticky thread I have been poiting about: http://foreign-nurse.lefora.com/2008/08/15/how-to-apply-to-california-board-of-registered-nur/page1/
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It explains why I say to just milk the 3 yrs deadline and the free annual extensions via e-mail and to only do endorsement to another State if and only one is actually going to practice there as a nurse.  If not, then just stick w/ CA BRN and contiue to milk it.  Anyway, that is where one is planning to practice anyway.
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The discussions from the link above explains it extensively.

Yang just delivered a very goodnews today that our colleague CUTIENURSE have just got an information from her lawyer that the PACKET 4  is already with them. The PD of Cutienurse to account is September 2005.  We are still to confirm this second hand info. from Cutienurse herself.  In any way, my warmest congratulations.
 
I am eager to hear more updates from nurses with PDs of middle to late 2005 including early months of 2006.
 
Keep us posted with any developments please.
 
 
God Bless
 
 
 
 
 

This is great news if confirmed, I am still awiting news from my agency but last time i spoke to them they were very confident PD would be current come April VB

We hope cutienurse can visit this site soon and confirm the news regarding her packet 4 and share her interview schedule.

hello t-cell, thanks for your reply. i have a question regarding the visa quota of EB3 and those with AOS status. Do we have the same source of visa or different? what i mean is that, if you try to look at visa bulletin under EB3 are alloted with 28.6% visa, so that includes those who are on AOS - employment based? I hope you understand what Im trying to ask since I am bit confused. I know that there are 400,000 pending cases and if its included then we have to compete with them? thank you and GOd bless

hello t-cell, thanks for your reply. i have a question regarding the visa quota of EB3 and those with AOS status. Do we have the same source of visa or different? what i mean is that, if you try to look at visa bulletin under EB3 are alloted with 28.6% visa, so that includes those who are on AOS - employment based? I hope you understand what Im trying to ask since I am bit confused. I know that there are 400,000 pending cases and if its included then we have to compete with them? thank you and GOd bless[image]

-ddlr72

Yes, visa allotment comes from the same source (The Dept. of State's Visa Office) and yes, those under CP 'competes' w/ those under AOS.  Supposedly, in the ideal world everything should be processed equally and at the same rate, etc... and accordingly with the priority dates. 

However, in reality there will always be cases where much newer PDs will have their cases processed first than those w/ earlier or older PDs.

I recommend reading Atty. Ron Gotcher's last two Newsletters.  You will get an idea how visas are allocated for AOS and CP and what he thinks of USCIS. 

Jan. 2009: http://foreign-nurse.lefora.com/2009/02/01/jan-2009-imminfo-newsletter-the-gotcher-law-group--2/page1/
Feb. 2009: http://foreign-nurse.lefora.com/2009/02/28/feb-2009-imminfo-newsletter-the-gotcher-law-group-/page1/

EDIT: "much newer PDs will have their cases processed first than those w/ earlier or older PDs."  

thanks again t-cell for this clear and concise explanation, now im relieved and know where i stand and most importantly i can make a specific prayer to GOd.

Hi t-cell, & nurseidol!

Any updates on cutienurse case...hope it's true  and congrats to cutienurse!
God bless!

Hi t-cell, & nurseidol!
Any updates on cutienurse case...hope it's true  and congrats to cutienurse!God bless!

-katkris

Hi.

We are still on a waiting mode for the official statement of Cutienurse.

Stay tuned!