What's it like at YOUR Embassy?

[Ling Ling 22]

Wow, just had my first phone encounter with the US Embassy in Japan.

They sent an e-mail requesting some docs...I faxed them...wanted to make sure they were received.

The person answered the phone within the first ring (who does that? very good)

As soon as I said the word Visa, it was "hold on, I'll transfer you"

and I was transferred to the GENERIC message that tells you "If you have any general Visa questions,

call blah blah blah for a paid service, $18.35 per call".

Well I don't have any "general" questions. They wouldn't know ISH about my case.

Is it this difficult getting service at other Embassies?

I mean, I'm not calling about some form or process, I'm calling in response to a communication they initiated.

Reminds me of our visit to the Japanese Embassy in D.C.

Not exactly the kind of service I would consider customer friendly.

BAKA

[u2rsobad 0]

Wow, just had my first phone encounter with the US Embassy in Japan.

They sent an e-mail requesting some docs...I faxed them...wanted to make sure they were received.

The person answered the phone within the first ring (who does that? very good)

As soon as I said the word Visa, it was "hold on, I'll transfer you"

and I was transferred to the GENERIC message that tells you "If you have any general Visa questions,

call blah blah blah for a paid service, $18.35 per call".

Well I don't have any "general" questions. They wouldn't know ISH about my case.

Is it this difficult getting service at other Embassies?

I mean, I'm not calling about some form or process, I'm calling in response to a communication they initiated.

Reminds me of our visit to the Japanese Embassy in D.C.

Not exactly the kind of service I would consider customer friendly.

BAKA

That's how they are in Japan. Try calling back and instead of mentioning the word "visa", just tell them that you were asked to fax information and are checking to make sure it was received and tell them the person's name who sent the fax to you/requested the info.

Edited September 10, 2008 by u2rsobad

[Ling Ling 22]

Wow, just had my first phone encounter with the US Embassy in Japan.

They sent an e-mail requesting some docs...I faxed them...wanted to make sure they were received.

The person answered the phone within the first ring (who does that? very good)

As soon as I said the word Visa, it was "hold on, I'll transfer you"

and I was transferred to the GENERIC message that tells you "If you have any general Visa questions,

call blah blah blah for a paid service, $18.35 per call".

Well I don't have any "general" questions. They wouldn't know ISH about my case.

Is it this difficult getting service at other Embassies?

I mean, I'm not calling about some form or process, I'm calling in response to a communication they initiated.

Reminds me of our visit to the Japanese Embassy in D.C.

Not exactly the kind of service I would consider customer friendly.

BAKA

That's how they are in Japan. Try calling back and instead of mentioning the word "visa", just tell them that you were asked to fax information and are checking to make sure it was received and tell them the person's name who sent the fax to you/requested the info.

Thanks for the response. Fortunately my Nihongo was good enough to slow them down and get through to the Visa section.

Like pulling teeth.