Calling DOS

[CDN2US 10]

DOS is the only source for any information on our case.

The Montreal consulate does not accept phone calls or faxes, and they'll answer your email in about a month and only if they feel like it. You are instructed, "DO NOT send inquires about the status of the case" nor are you to send the same question more than once.

The DOS operators go from zero to RUDE in about sixty seconds. I'm calm and I feel like I'm asking reasonable questions. I only call weekly to check on status.

Today after she told me the case was still pending AP, I asked her a question I already knew the answer to, but I was hoping to engage with her more and see if she say anything but "your case is pending." Before I even finished my question, she huffed a big sigh, and raising her voice, said, "I do not know that!!" As if I was so stupid to think she could answer any questions. I guess it is stupid to expect anything from my government at this point...

But, how am I to know, if I didn't have VJ? I would think DOS could answer some simple questions. We have nowhere to ask these questions if we didn't know the answers already. The consulate is a big blank wall. And this "customer service" at DOS is joke.

My fear is that I get a black mark on the file for being rude, when it is them who are so quick to raise their voices and seem so put out by my mere existence.

Anyway, you don't need to tell me this is all a big waiting game and that DOS is useless. I just needed to vent. I freaking hate this...

[MSR 6]

DOS is the only source for any information on our case.

The Montreal consulate does not accept phone calls or faxes, and they'll answer your email in about a month and only if they feel like it. You are instructed, "DO NOT send inquires about the status of the case" nor are you to send the same question more than once.

The DOS operators go from zero to RUDE in about sixty seconds. I'm calm and I feel like I'm asking reasonable questions. I only call weekly to check on status.

Today after she told me the case was still pending AP, I asked her a question I already knew the answer to, but I was hoping to engage with her more and see if she say anything but "your case is pending." Before I even finished my question, she huffed a big sigh, and raising her voice, said, "I do not know that!!" As if I was so stupid to think she could answer any questions. I guess it is stupid to expect anything from my government at this point...

But, how am I to know, if I didn't have VJ? I would think DOS could answer some simple questions. We have nowhere to ask these questions if we didn't know the answers already. The consulate is a big blank wall. And this "customer service" at DOS is joke.

My fear is that I get a black mark on the file for being rude, when it is them who are so quick to raise their voices and seem so put out by my mere existence.

Anyway, you don't need to tell me this is all a big waiting game and that DOS is useless. I just needed to vent. I freaking hate this...

There's got to be a complaint number somewhere for them.. Some of them are horrendously rude and useless... I found a webmail form but no phone number as of yet. Most of them behave like you are interrupting their day.. Isn't it their job to answer our questions? If they are so hard pressed to do so, perhaps they should give those jobs to people who actually want to help....

I hated calling there....

I hope you hear something soon ...

[CDN2US 10]

Most of them behave like you are interrupting their day.. Isn't it their job to answer our questions?

Exactly the sensation I got! I felt like I needed to apologize for calling. Thanks for the encouragement

[salraf86 0]

Whenever I call DOS, I feel like beating the ####### outta them. They treat us all like S#!T. It's not like they are processing our cases for free. This whole AP is a total BS!!!

Edited December 30, 2011 by salraf86

[EAbbas 213]

We've been calling DOS since June 15th or so..(6 1/2 months) that was his interview date and to be very honest most of the time all we get is pending/processing/in review etc.. they don't give much more information than that unless you luck up and get the one person who has a little compassion and will talk you thru as much as they can without jeopardizing their job.

Just track the name of the person you spoke with and the date and time you called along with every thing they said word for word.

You won't be stuck like us forever.. good luck!

Edited December 31, 2011 by EAbbas

[Used to be broken 147]

DOS is the only source for any information on our case.

The Montreal consulate does not accept phone calls or faxes, and they'll answer your email in about a month and only if they feel like it. You are instructed, "DO NOT send inquires about the status of the case" nor are you to send the same question more than once.

The DOS operators go from zero to RUDE in about sixty seconds. I'm calm and I feel like I'm asking reasonable questions. I only call weekly to check on status.

Today after she told me the case was still pending AP, I asked her a question I already knew the answer to, but I was hoping to engage with her more and see if she say anything but "your case is pending." Before I even finished my question, she huffed a big sigh, and raising her voice, said, "I do not know that!!" As if I was so stupid to think she could answer any questions. I guess it is stupid to expect anything from my government at this point...

But, how am I to know, if I didn't have VJ? I would think DOS could answer some simple questions. We have nowhere to ask these questions if we didn't know the answers already. The consulate is a big blank wall. And this "customer service" at DOS is joke.

My fear is that I get a black mark on the file for being rude, when it is them who are so quick to raise their voices and seem so put out by my mere existence.

Anyway, you don't need to tell me this is all a big waiting game and that DOS is useless. I just needed to vent. I freaking hate this...

This is no help other than to give you some insight. The department within DOS/DHS that does the security checks to clear AP does not provide updates, its either an Up/Down yes/no answer. Between the time DOS requests the security check and the time they give the answer there is no

update info to get or give. The operator on the phone has no more information than you do other than its "pending". When the case is clear they

will notify you. No consolation or hope in this answer but that is how it works. The Embassy itself does not conduct the security checks for AP

they just request them.

Good luck and Happy New Year.

[CDN2US 10]

Today, I had the nicest operator yet. She told me we were still pending AP, but she was also reassuring and patient. I guess they're not all bad!

[Noah Lot 391]

Today, I had the nicest operator yet. She told me we were still pending AP, but she was also reassuring and patient. I guess they're not all bad!

Anyone home??? The DOS does NOT adjudicate AP nor any other specific security checks...those are farmed out to other agencies, whose willingness to share information is minimal...there is no point in badgering DoS folks...they are not in control of these situations. DHS/USCIS/FBI and other agencies do various security checks (and probably others that no on knows about)...and for those of you who firmly believe you could do a better job, well, why not attempt to take and pass the exams required to be a foreign service officer??? I doubt that one in a hundred of you could do it.

[TBoneTX 45,090]

for those of you who firmly believe you could do a better job, well, why not attempt to take and pass the exams required to be a foreign service officer??? I doubt that one in a hundred of you could do it.

Why don't YOU do it before you lecture everybody? And where's your own timeline?

[EAbbas 213]

Anyone home??? The DOS does NOT adjudicate AP nor any other specific security checks...those are farmed out to other agencies, whose willingness to share information is minimal...there is no point in badgering DoS folks...they are not in control of these situations. DHS/USCIS/FBI and other agencies do various security checks (and probably others that no on knows about)...and for those of you who firmly believe you could do a better job, well, why not attempt to take and pass the exams required to be a foreign service officer??? I doubt that one in a hundred of you could do it.

HAve you ever been in AP? Been here almost 7 months... my baby cries at night to have her papa read her a story with her sitting on his lap not on cam... its heartbreaking ... and that doesnt include how i feel.. i cry myself to sleep at night .. its a terrible feeling to be a family and love someone and not be with them..

The only way to get information is thru DOS because some embassies dont answer emails or phone calls and like Islamabad they might answer that day and hvae you hold for 45 minutes until its lunch time then cut you off or they may respond to emails... so the closest source we have is DOS...and YES DOS does give out information it just depends on who you speak with. Nobody wants them to tell what they are not supposed to tell but its the only thing we have between the embassy and us. We are told to call them... we are told to check our cases with them... Most of us just want some reassurance that everything is going along the way it should be because AP is a black abyss...

Just have a little compassion for those that are dealing and struggling with this...

Today, I had the nicest operator yet. She told me we were still pending AP, but she was also reassuring and patient. I guess they're not all bad!

It is def reassuring when someone is understanding of the situation... good luck...

[CDN2US 10]

Jeez, that's some hostility. Please read my OP, Noah, and you'll see I'm aware of many of your points; I was just put off by the terrible "customer service," and I wanted to praise the one nice operator I've had so far. I'm not badgering anyone: I call weekly, I'm polite, and say, "please" and " thank you," then hang up and feel sad for a while. Being yelled at by the operator is quite the opposite than I would expect from anyone else.

They warn that they record for "quality assurance," and I'd love to know whose quality they're assuring

Thank you to the other folks for your support, it means so much when we have so little upon which to rely.

[2 N 1 for life 3]

:thumbs:

Why don't YOU do it before you lecture everybody? And where's your own timeline?

[Noah Lot 391]

HAve you ever been in AP? Been here almost 7 months... my baby cries at night to have her papa read her a story with her sitting on his lap not on cam... its heartbreaking ... and that doesnt include how i feel.. i cry myself to sleep at night .. its a terrible feeling to be a family and love someone and not be with them..

The only way to get information is thru DOS because some embassies dont answer emails or phone calls and like Islamabad they might answer that day and hvae you hold for 45 minutes until its lunch time then cut you off or they may respond to emails... so the closest source we have is DOS...and YES DOS does give out information it just depends on who you speak with. Nobody wants them to tell what they are not supposed to tell but its the only thing we have between the embassy and us. We are told to call them... we are told to check our cases with them... Most of us just want some reassurance that everything is going along the way it should be because AP is a black abyss...

Just have a little compassion for those that are dealing and struggling with this...

No, I have not and will never be....but frankly I grow tired of reading postings in which our officials, who have been doing their jobs far longer than any poster to this site, being castigated because Mr. X'x case or Miss Y's case hasn't been resolve in eight nanoseconds since these individuals are sooooo important...and gosh, without them being satisfied, the entire planet would cease revolving around the sun....

when somebody marries a person from some our of 'favorite' countries, one can expect a lot of scrutiny...that's just the way it goes.

But everyone on this site seems to know so much more about all the processes that they have absolutely no experience doing....a real puzzler....and if all of those self appointed experts truly are same, why hasn't the DoS sent a chaffeured limo to your doorstep and offered to pay you beaucoup bucks to run their entire bureaucracy?

It is def reassuring when someone is understanding of the situation... good luck...

[EAbbas 213]

7 months is eight nanoseconds? I never once said i expected the visa fast..we;re patiently waiting like most of those in the MENA countries.. we knew it would take time and frankly i grow tired of ppl condemning my choice or others for the choice of spouse from one of these countries. There are a lot of good ppl from these countries. Never said i was an expert but i do know what the embassy told us to do and what i can do to follow up.

Now back on topic....Tercerero... how are you holding up? hoping you hear something good soon!

Edited January 8, 2012 by EAbbas

[Darnell 8,478]

I think should be new pattern to call the Dos Hotline Human, 'Honey Chile Boo Boo' when next addressing them over the phone.

Something like this..

'Now Look Here, Honey Chile Boo Boo, I know you don't know anything about my casefile - you can only see what's in the computer in front of you. Although, Boo Boo Chile, I'm asking for casefile status on my spouse's casefile - you really should have some indication of which department, which entity was last contacted for status on the namecheck. Ya, I know, It's on page 2 of your screen please to go page 2, Boo Boo Chile, and take another look'.

Whew.