emailing the embassy

[Toshtishtash 1]

Hi all,

I just tried to call the embassy regarding a change of address and was informed VERY RUDELY (Why do people have to be so goddam rude???) that I had called the wrong number and the one I should call costs £1.20 per minute. I can't call that number from where I live.

Is there anyway of contacting them by email instead?

Thanks.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

It is possible to email the Embassy at londonconsular@state.gov BUT there are no guarantees that you will either get a response or that your email will be read. There is one way of getting a pretty good chance of a reply, but I don't think this is going to work either. If you call the 1.20/min line and tell them you need to email the Embassy, they will give you a code to put in the subject line of your email. Unfortunately, this code changes weekly so you would need to call to ask for it.

Now, some people have received replies from the Embassy without this code, but on the other hand, others who have tried without it have also not heard back. It's a bit of a ####### shoot, I'm afraid. I had to call up for the code once because I wanted to change my address; I used it, and got confirmation of the change about three days later. (This was before I had heard of VJ!) It's worth a shot emailing without the code, but if it were me...

Is there any way you can use a family member or friend's phone that can dial premium rate numbers, and then reimburse them for the call?

[Toshtishtash 1]

Thanks very much for the info

I could ask my boss if I could call from work I suppose, I don't see why they have to charge such a ridiculous amount of money to call them though

[*julez* 124]

Tash,

Not sure if this will help, but you could try calling the US State Department: (202) 663-1225 - press 1, 0. Just the long distance charges for that #. They can tell you if Packet 3 has been sent, interview date, etc, so they might be able to change the address for you, or give you the secret code to London's email. Again, I'm not positive on this, but they might be able to point you in the right direction. I've called them twice and both times found them to be pleasant and helpful! Good luck!

[Toshtishtash 1]

Thank you Ju I will try that!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

It's scandalous how much they charge! Absolutely ridiculous, and in my mind yet another example of Rip-off Britain. You might, as julez says, give the DOS a call, but I seem to recall somewhere in the tapioca pudding that is my brain that the DOS can't update that info on the system but this may have changed.

I know for a fact they won't give you the secret code -- I tried once, when I had a question about our MBE after it had been delivered and they said I'd have to call the guys in Scotland for that code. As it turned out, the DOS had the answer for me anyway.

Edited to add: And yes, the DOS people are really quite nice and you'll find them a refreshing change from the lady on the London switchboard!

Edited December 12, 2007 by elmcitymaven

[Lansbury 19]

You could do it the old fashion way and write them a letter giving details of the change of address and send it by post recorded delivery. Sometimes the old ways are still the best.

[ddkm 0]

Yeah the lady on the london switchboard is probably the worse person i have ever spoken to! And there she is supposedly providing us with a "service"! Must be 24/7 grumpy!

[Lansbury 19]

Yeah the lady on the london switchboard is probably the worse person i have ever spoken to! And there she is supposedly providing us with a "service"! Must be 24/7 grumpy!

She isn't there to provide you with a service she is there to run the EMBASSY switchboard. There is an entirely separate way to contact the Consulate section and she does indeed get feed up with the number of calls she gets which should have gone elsewhere.

In fact I've knew her for some time, first met her at one the Embassy Christmas parties, she really is quite nice. You should try phoning out of hours when the US Marine Guard answers the phone if you want polite.

[Toshtishtash 1]

Then in all fairness, they should make that clear on the website! A switchboard usually means that they transfer you to the right place doesn't it?

There is still no need to be rude in my opinion, no matter how many times you have to say the same thing! That's the job that you have chosen to do! I work in a hotel on reception and that would be like me being extremely rude to the 10th person who rang asking if we had any rooms even though I had told everyone else that the hotel was full! That 10th person wasn't to know were they!

Thank you for the suggestions though! I will call DOS and see what they have to say

[Lansbury 19]

Then in all fairness, they should make that clear on the website! A switchboard usually means that they transfer you to the right place doesn't it?

That would be the paragraph on the contact information page that starts "Operator Assisted Visa Information: 09042-450100 " I guess