a laugh at my expense

[K1researcher 0]

So i decided to call the Embassy to see if we had our interview date because i know a guy whose packet arrived there 3 days before mine that got his date and the embassy doesnt update their website. $12 is a hefty price i thought .. but why not .. here is my conversation

being the impatient ####### that I am i called today just hoping since u got your date ...

operator - "When was your case sent from the NVC?"

me - "January 20"

operator - "You need to call back after Feb 20th because it takes at least one month for a case to arrive" <----- DHL would be fired if they took that long

me - "No it doesnt, I know it is already there. Do we have a date?"

operator - "You fiancee will receive her date in the post in about 3 business weeks" <----- sure but then why would i bother calling you

me - "Yes, but I called to find out earlier"

operator - "You can call back in about 3 business weeks to know your date" <----- why would i do that if it was being mailed before that time????

me - "So there is no date yet?"

operator - "It takes 4 weeks to receive the file from the NVC and 3 business weeks to schedule a date" <---- really? that doesnt even jive with their own website

come on!!!!!! $12 hahahha

On a note you do NOT talk to the consular section only a call center operative! they can only look up in the computer with the same data that will be posted to the site when their webmaster isnt sleeping off a bender.

I am not bitter or angry , i expected this quality of service. but i did think you all might enjoy the absurdity of that conversation.

[payxibka 10,047]

pretty common experience... Kiev call center is located in Poland... I wonder if Moscow uses the same operation

[K1researcher 0]

Wow!!! you might be correct .. as it seemed her Russian was poor and didnt have a russian accent i had heard before when she spoke english hahaha

[mox 298]

Yeah, calling the consulate is a rip-off. The best thing to do is email the consulate instead. It goes to the same place, and you'll get the same answer. It might take an extra day or so for them to get back to you, but hey I figure the interview is going to happen on a certain day whether I know about it or not.

Look on the bright side though. In the grand scheme of things, $12 is a drop in the bucket compared to what you'll spend when all is said and done.

[dogspot 90]

My fiancee called and got the same response. She was upset so I sent an email, simply inquiring about receipt of our case. They emailed me back the following day with a date and time of the interview. This information is not yet posted on the interview site.

[1HappyGuy 45]

I have found that sending an email to the embassy visa section works pretty good. As long as you have the name and case number, they will respond within two or three days generally. Not counting weekends and holidays of course.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Gary & Alla has a number for the head of consular in Kiev. You might send him a PM and ask for it. Good Luck!

[Neonred 3,641]

Is it no wonder that USCIS information lines are of no use. They are flooded daily with thousands of unnecessary phone calls from people asking about the results of the interview they had a few days ago or when their interview will be since the NVC just sent out....etc, etc, etc. They probably should be charging even more.

If only people could be a little patient.

[mox 298]

Is it no wonder that USCIS information lines are of no use. They are flooded daily with thousands of unnecessary phone calls from people asking about the results of the interview they had a few days ago or when their interview will be since the NVC just sent out....etc, etc, etc. They probably should be charging even more.

If only people could be a little patient.

USCIS doesn't have anything to do with the consulate interview.

And people wouldn't be calling USCIS incessantly if USCIS provided better customer support and timely information.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Is it no wonder that USCIS information lines are of no use. They are flooded daily with thousands of unnecessary phone calls from people asking about the results of the interview they had a few days ago or when their interview will be since the NVC just sent out....etc, etc, etc. They probably should be charging even more.

If only people could be a little patient.

USCIS doesn't have anything to do with the consulate interview.

And people wouldn't be calling USCIS incessantly if USCIS provided better customer support and timely information.

True, and the tendency of USCIS to adjust estimates on the fly and transfer petitions from office to office as opposed to meeting some kind of mandatory time frame causes more confusion. IMO Congress should force a mandatory max (yes I know, they would then need to pay for more studies, staffing, training, etc).

All of that having absolutely nothing to do with the consular interview scheduling. K-1 should call consular in Kiev directly IMO.

[Neonred 3,641]

Is it no wonder that USCIS information lines are of no use. They are flooded daily with thousands of unnecessary phone calls from people asking about the results of the interview they had a few days ago or when their interview will be since the NVC just sent out....etc, etc, etc. They probably should be charging even more.

If only people could be a little patient.

USCIS doesn't have anything to do with the consulate interview.

And people wouldn't be calling USCIS incessantly if USCIS provided better customer support and timely information.

No question about the need for better customer support. But I think you missed my point. The OP (like SO many others) got a letter about his case being sent off from the NVC (didn't someone say that NVC was setting up dates for the embassy interview? or at least had that information) and just 3 or 4 days latter was calling to ask why he didn't have a date yet. That's totally unnecessary. Same with others having an AOS interview and calling a few days later to find out if they were successful.

Of course there are many times that a phone call (or e-mail to the embassy) are necessary, but these type of calls are not it.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Is it no wonder that USCIS information lines are of no use. They are flooded daily with thousands of unnecessary phone calls from people asking about the results of the interview they had a few days ago or when their interview will be since the NVC just sent out....etc, etc, etc. They probably should be charging even more.

If only people could be a little patient.

USCIS doesn't have anything to do with the consulate interview.

And people wouldn't be calling USCIS incessantly if USCIS provided better customer support and timely information.

No question about the need for better customer support. But I think you missed my point. The OP (like SO many others) got a letter about his case being sent off from the NVC (didn't someone say that NVC was setting up dates for the embassy interview? or at least had that information) and just 3 or 4 days latter was calling to ask why he didn't have a date yet. That's totally unnecessary. Same with others having an AOS interview and calling a few days later to find out if they were successful.

Of course there are many times that a phone call (or e-mail to the embassy) are necessary, but these type of calls are not it.

You are right that jumping the gun is never helpful. I had my KEV# and was calling the number to schedule a week or so before I got the first of my three identical notices that NVC had the file. Since the NVC stop only took two days or so I think (slightly below average), by the time you get the first letter with KEV#, the file might be in KIEV - ours was. Our problem was the holidays, and the fact that the @*%$#*& embassy gets American Christmas, New Year, and Orthodox Christmas WEEKS off. So I had to keep calling back until the week after Orthodox Christmas was available. Point being that the file was in the system days after I started calling, not three or four weeks. IMO the OP has enough ammunition to start escalating now, and calling frequently, if he doesn't mind the PIN costs.

[Neonred 3,641]

Is it no wonder that USCIS information lines are of no use. They are flooded daily with thousands of unnecessary phone calls from people asking about the results of the interview they had a few days ago or when their interview will be since the NVC just sent out....etc, etc, etc. They probably should be charging even more.

If only people could be a little patient.

USCIS doesn't have anything to do with the consulate interview.

And people wouldn't be calling USCIS incessantly if USCIS provided better customer support and timely information.

No question about the need for better customer support. But I think you missed my point. The OP (like SO many others) got a letter about his case being sent off from the NVC (didn't someone say that NVC was setting up dates for the embassy interview? or at least had that information) and just 3 or 4 days latter was calling to ask why he didn't have a date yet. That's totally unnecessary. Same with others having an AOS interview and calling a few days later to find out if they were successful.

Of course there are many times that a phone call (or e-mail to the embassy) are necessary, but these type of calls are not it.

You are right that jumping the gun is never helpful. I had my KEV# and was calling the number to schedule a week or so before I got the first of my three identical notices that NVC had the file. Since the NVC stop only took two days or so I think (slightly below average), by the time you get the first letter with KEV#, the file might be in KIEV - ours was. Our problem was the holidays, and the fact that the @*%$#*& embassy gets American Christmas, New Year, and Orthodox Christmas WEEKS off. So I had to keep calling back until the week after Orthodox Christmas was available. Point being that the file was in the system days after I started calling, not three or four weeks. IMO the OP has enough ammunition to start escalating now, and calling frequently, if he doesn't mind the PIN costs.

Since his first letter from NVC was received just last week, I think waiting another week would not be unreasonable. But if he wants to call, great. Just pay (and realize you might not get much for your money).

Edited February 1, 2009 by Neonred

[K1researcher 0]

If you guys are referring to me.. i am Moscow not Kiev (traitor state of glorious mother Russia :-)

I called because:

1. I knew the embassy had already had my packet for over a week

2. Others had found their dates via email that had receive dates around mine

3. the embassy website is NOT updated when they say it is.. it is supposed to update every Monday but hasn't been in 2 weeks.

that said that point was you dont get to even call the consular, its a lame call center. The email addy however appears to go to the consular and is FREE

[Brad and Vika 129]

If you guys are referring to me.. i am Moscow not Kiev (traitor state of glorious mother Russia :-)

I called because:

1. I knew the embassy had already had my packet for over a week

2. Others had found their dates via email that had receive dates around mine

3. the embassy website is NOT updated when they say it is.. it is supposed to update every Monday but hasn't been in 2 weeks.

that said that point was you dont get to even call the consular, its a lame call center. The email addy however appears to go to the consular and is FREE

Yes, we were talking about you I think you did/are doing the right thing. I was just giving the NVC example from our own experience.