Computer Glitch in Montreal

[decocker 7,198]

senator mark warners office called back with some interesting information:

montreal has a 'glitch' in their internal 'system' and they are showing visa's printed that have not, etc..she said this isn't specific to our case, but when montreal checks electronically on any case processes are shown as completed that are not. currently - there is a 'task team' from the department of state at the montreal consulate trying to fix the problem. they are scheduled to be there today and tomorrow working on it.

i would think that a problem such as this is only ADDING to the backlog at montreal. i'm not sure, specifically, what processes a glitch like this would hold up, but if its system wide then, who's to say??

she told me that she told them they needed to contact her the minute they figured out what was going on with our case. she told me to call her back monday morning after 11 if i hadn't heard back from her at that point. she was really nice, and seemed really concerned. she asked me when the wedding date was..i told her it was all tentative because orfee has to give two weeks notice at two jobs and pack all of this belongings from two locations, hence my 'annoyingness' she said she totally understood.

anyway - i don't know if this info is good or bad but, something to think about as we continue to curse montreal (not that cursing them isn't justified - computer glitch or not - they should definitely respond to their emails. how hard is it to set up an automatic reply stating they're having technical difficulties???) jeez.

[mtlgato 2]

senator mark warners office called back with some interesting information:

montreal has a 'glitch' in their internal 'system' and they are showing visa's printed that have not, etc..she said this isn't specific to our case, but when montreal checks electronically on any case processes are shown as completed that are not. currently - there is a 'task team' from the department of state at the montreal consulate trying to fix the problem. they are scheduled to be there today and tomorrow working on it.

i would think that a problem such as this is only ADDING to the backlog at montreal. i'm not sure, specifically, what processes a glitch like this would hold up, but if its system wide then, who's to say??

she told me that she told them they needed to contact her the minute they figured out what was going on with our case. she told me to call her back monday morning after 11 if i hadn't heard back from her at that point. she was really nice, and seemed really concerned. she asked me when the wedding date was..i told her it was all tentative because orfee has to give two weeks notice at two jobs and pack all of this belongings from two locations, hence my 'annoyingness' she said she totally understood.

anyway - i don't know if this info is good or bad but, something to think about as we continue to curse montreal (not that cursing them isn't justified - computer glitch or not - they should definitely respond to their emails. how hard is it to set up an automatic reply stating they're having technical difficulties???) jeez.

My bet is that this glitch has to do with the big transition to the new system for visa interview scheduling and communication, which I believe involves a subcontractor. My husband is in a similar line of business (nothing to do with this particular project, but similar kinds of computer systems) and he says that these transitions tend not to go smoothly.

I totally agree with you, though, that they are not handling communication well at *all.* The good news is (I think) that once they're through the transitional period, things will go much better than in the past. This is just a guess, but I have a hunch that they hired a subcontractor because they realized that they were NOT coping with the visa scheduling and communication. Of course, they could have hired more government employees...but a subcontractor is likely much cheaper.

C.

Edited September 15, 2010 by mtlgato

[decocker 7,198]

My bet is that this glitch has to do with the big transition to the new system for visa scheduling and communication, which I believe involves a subcontractor. My husband is in a similar line of business (nothing to do with this particular project, but similar kinds of computer systems) and he says that these transitions tend not to go smoothly.

I totally agree with you, though, that they are not handling communication well at *all.* The good news is (I think) that once they're through the transitional period, things will go much better than in the past. This is just a guess, but I have a hunch that they hired a subcontractor because they realized that they were NOT coping with the visa scheduling and communication. Of course, they could have hired more government employees...but a subcontractor is likely much cheaper.

C.

hopefully, they can get it all together quick - for all the people who have the unfortunate timing as the lab rats for the new experiment..

of course, my mind is still going a mile a minute.. if they thought they printed his visa, where's the file? where's his visa? do they send the file on for the next step? would it still be in montreal? en route to dos? i have no clue and i should probably not think about it or i'll go crazy..

[mtlgato 2]

hopefully, they can get it all together quick - for all the people who have the unfortunate timing as the lab rats for the new experiment..

of course, my mind is still going a mile a minute.. if they thought they printed his visa, where's the file? where's his visa? do they send the file on for the next step? would it still be in montreal? en route to dos? i have no clue and i should probably not think about it or i'll go crazy..

I sympathize! I'm glad, at least, that your senator's office is listening!

Btw, the consulate's website does say something along the lines of "we are anxious that the transition to the new system not disadvantage applicants who were part-way through the process at the time of the change"...obviously, we ARE inconvenienced--but I appreciate them at least expressing concern. It's RARE from them!

Good luck to you!

C.

[Musi 0]

Thank you so much for the information Valerie78! I guess the glitch explained why the NVC operator said that they 'found out' about my interview date today and why I still haven't received the email...

[decocker 7,198]

Thank you so much for the information Valerie78! I guess the glitch explained why the NVC operator said that they 'found out' about my interview date today and why I still haven't received the email...

yeah, that seems totally possible!

congrats on the interview date

[Musi 0]

yeah, that seems totally possible!

congrats on the interview date

Thank you! And I hope your fiancé will receive his VISA really really soon...!!

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

Well I am happy for you Valerie, at least you have some idea on what the fark is going on and the senators' liaison will definitely be a big help for you.

Hopefully you get good news VERY soon.

[decocker 7,198]

thanks guys..hopefully we'll know something definite soon