Timing- getting the passport back

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Hi,

I vaguely remember a post here mentioning delays on getting their visa in the mail....went back about 6 pages and couldn't find through search etc.

Anyway my fiance had her interview 2 weeks ago and paid extra for the max 5 day courier fee...but no passport. We were pretty conservative and didn't book until she was approved and we've booked a flight about 30 days after the interview. Soooo...is this the normal thing that we've heard through the entire process? They say 5 bureaucratic days and that equals 15 normal days? She still has just over 2 weeks before the flight so we aren't panicking but we are scratching our heads about what is going on.

In addition, is it worth calling the extortion line to the embassy?

Thanks for your time and I humbly await your enlightened responses.

[SusieK 3]

Hi,

I vaguely remember a post here mentioning delays on getting their visa in the mail....went back about 6 pages and couldn't find through search etc.

Anyway my fiance had her interview 2 weeks ago and paid extra for the max 5 day courier fee...but no passport. We were pretty conservative and didn't book until she was approved and we've booked a flight about 30 days after the interview. Soooo...is this the normal thing that we've heard through the entire process? They say 5 bureaucratic days and that equals 15 normal days? She still has just over 2 weeks before the flight so we aren't panicking but we are scratching our heads about what is going on.

In addition, is it worth calling the extortion line to the embassy?

Thanks for your time and I humbly await your enlightened responses.

Hi mate,

from what i have read i have seen two to three days via SMS Courier - maybe a phone call is in order to the "extortion line" lol - sorry that one made me chuff somewhat.

But I think 2 weeks is sorta out of the norm.........

God Speed and scratches head also -

[Mags 112]

Phone DOS, not the extortion line. They can't tell you anything that is going on once the interview has occurred. DOS can, however.

[SusieK 3]

Yeah true, but if she was approved and paid fee, wouldnt that be done and dusted ?? And visa being sent via courier??

Always good to learn as not sure what happened at end of interivew - but it sounded like she paid the fee and see ya guys later.

Thanks for heads up on DOS

Cheers

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

actually I wouldn't call either, call the courier first. The embassy will almost certainly have finished with the passport by now. I had a similar problem, let me see if i can remember how it went.

Thursday, sent passport and extra docs to embassy (got blue slip for a tax return)

- expected it to be returned around tuesday

Wednesday called couriers, they said they knew nothing.

Thursday called extortion line, they said, 'Oh! You have an interview date!' I say, I know, I already had the interview, they say the interview is the last thing on their systems for me.

- Despair

Friday, call couriers again, they say they had attempted delivery, but had not called me or left a note to say that, was very mad but asked them to rearrange delivery (they were waiting for me to call, but I didn't know they'd been in the first place

Tuesday, got my passport back.

So.... the embassy might not be of much help, call the couriers.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Well she doesn't have a tracking number and she also hasn't gotten a call or a text saying its with the courier. Therefore we think its still in the embassy. She called and they gave her an email with a special code and instructed her to says its urgent due to travel. So I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

She did the same thing she did when she sent her packet 3 in, she didn't give them an exact date of travel and I know that added about a week and a half to her wait for an interview. I imagine because she only said October, they probably put it in a "slow" pile.

[Nicoxcx 1]

I also called London they gave me the code and replied telling me my Visa was sent out.

I paid for delivery before Noon, I had no text from them, no delivery before noon, the delivery man didnt even ask for ID lol.

What tracking number do you mean? You get your reference number when you pay at the embassy, it is on the piece of paper, no one leaves without it (atleast not that I saw).

Its strange , I told them my travel date was 'November' and look at when my interview date was.

Edited October 1, 2008 by Nicoxcx

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Oh I just figured you had to have a tracking number to be able to call the courier. My fiance didn't mention a reference number. I'll talk to her this afternoon and see if she has it.

I'm beginning to wonder if maybe they tried to deliver it and she wasn't there...and they left no note.

Also by your timing, she might still get it in the next 2 days........though she lives in the midlands so you'd think it would be faster.

Edited October 1, 2008 by lancer1655

[Mags 112]

I waited 4 weeks for my visa/passport, for various reasons. Emailed embassy - nothing. Called extortion line - nothing. Called courier - nothing. Called DOS and they told me exactly what was going on.

[Nicoxcx 1]

I have never had a reply to an email sent to London. EXCEPT for when they gave me a code, and I did not get the "your message has been deleted blahblah"/ I also called the courier to add my mobile number, although I couldn't find the proper number on the form they transferred me to the Couriers in the Embassy. All I can think of is that they changed policies on that or something?.

If London cant help you Lancer then I would certainly try calling the courier with the reference number,or even do both. Just for your information this is the email I recieved.

Embassy records show that your visa was issued on September 18. Have you contacted SMS couriers to find out when your passport and visa package are due to be delivered? SMS can be contacted on 08709 501 760.

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence.

Consular Information Unit

U.S. Embassy, London

CONS/CIU/SF

This informal method of responding enables us to respond to you within a shorter time. No record is being made of this correspondence. If you need to e-mail us again, please return this e-mail.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Yeah we're doing both. I've read alot of people had trouble with SMS

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Okay it is still at the embassy so along with the email my fiancee sent, the courier has sent a note saying urgent travel. SO we should get it next week.

[SusieK 3]

Okay it is still at the embassy so along with the email my fiancee sent, the courier has sent a note saying urgent travel. SO we should get it next week.

Good to hear Lance, good luck godspeed and wonder why it was still at embassy oh well - problem solved

Cheers

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

STILL no reply from the embassy...its been 3 weeks now. I guess I have no choice but to call up the US citizenship line and see if I fenagle my way to geting some answers. I doubt i'll get anywhere but its the only possible route to check. The embassy hasn't replied to my fiance and the courier sent a message that it was urgent last week.

[SusieK 3]

Cant she call and get that special code and put that in subject line for the email?

There is a thread here that is about that for the UK, and supposedly you get a code to put there and then they will answer.

Doh, tired but its here somewhere. If I find will post it later, but aparently you call up the Embassy and they give it to you/her and then they will answer the email. I think the first email you get says blah blah blah return to sender etc, but not really because that code gives you access to email with them. Think it was implicated after 911.

Good Luck