Embassy Rejected all Paperwork, Cancelled Interview

[Fitzy 2]

My husband and I are completely gutted. I don't know what to do. His interview was scheduled for February 15 (in less than two weeks), and the Dublin embassy JUST called him (this morning) to tell him that they are 'rejecting' our paperwork, and they cannot proceed with his interview. Their reason? He does not live within their jurisdiction.

We are so frustrated and angry right now. I don't even know where to start.

My husband lives in Northern Ireland and is an Irish passport holder. The NVC originally told us he would be processed at the London embassy, but they later switched us to the Dublin embassy. He just completed his medical in Dublin yesterday (they had no issues completing his medical there).

The Dublin embassy is telling us the following:

1.) They are cancelling his interview date

2.) He will have to WAIT for another interview to be scheduled in London (God knows how long that will take)

3.) The medical he had in Dublin is now null and void...he will have to schedule another medical in London. This means he just lost upwards of 300 Euro. He'll have to pay the medical fee again.

I am so angry that I can't think straight. I don't know if we have any options at this point. We proceeded through this whole immigration process like good little sheep...only to get TWO WEEKS away from the interview date and be told, essentially, that somebody f'd up (due to no fault of our own). My husband said that there were two other guys at the Dublin medical facility who also lived in Northern Ireland...ostensibly they are having no problem being processed through the Dublin embassy. What the hell is going on here??!!!

Flying to London for another medical and the interview will be very, very expensive for us--not to mention the extra time we will have to wait for an interview in London. Do we have any recourse here? Any suggestions about how to proceed?

My apologies for such a long post. I'm really, really upset and will be grateful for ANY advice or words of encouragement at this point.

My sincere thanks,

Fitzy

[Nigel&Meggie 40]

I think that I've read it all and then another horror story appears on VJ which completely gobsmacks me. It ceases to amaze me how often they screw things up. I too would be crazy right now if I was in your shoes.

I'm really sorry, I have no advice to offer, only a small worthless piece of encouragement, which is hang in there as bad as it seems right now, you will get to the end of this process one day and never have to deal with these people again!

[SisJ 13]

Sorry about your ordeal....I can't even begin to imagine your fustration...I have no advice for you...just wanted to say sorry. Only God knows why this happened...there's always a reason for everything.

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

yes i agree.. they (NVC) has caused a bump in your journey and at your expense - I know this it will be frustrated - I would be too.

[Neonred 3,564]

What about calling the NVC? I think I have seen a number on here before for them. Ask them what the HELL is going on.....

[Mrs O. 29]

Oh, so sorry to hear that! I doubt there's anything you can do though...Was it NVC's idea to switch you to Dublin or you requested it? In any case NVC shouldnt have switched you knowing your husband is not resident in the republic.

I may have seen your husband yesterday when I went for my medical. I heard a guy telling the staff at the clinic that his interview is on the 15th...

Sorry about this glitch, hope things start moving along again soon enough.

[Fitzy 2]

I think that I've read it all and then another horror story appears on VJ which completely gobsmacks me. It ceases to amaze me how often they screw things up. I too would be crazy right now if I was in your shoes.

I'm really sorry, I have no advice to offer, only a small worthless piece of encouragement, which is hang in there as bad as it seems right now, you will get to the end of this process one day and never have to deal with these people again!

Nigel&Meggie--Thanks for the kind words. It's really amazing, isn't it, that there are so many ways this system can screw you? Thanks for the encouragement (which is quite helpful, actually). We'll try to stay sane for the next bout of waiting that's coming up. I wonder how backlogged the London embassy is????

[Fitzy 2]

Oh, so sorry to hear that! I doubt there's anything you can do though...Was it NVC's idea to switch you to Dublin or you requested it? In any case NVC shouldnt have switched you knowing your husband is not resident in the republic.

I may have seen your husband yesterday when I went for my medical. I heard a guy telling the staff at the clinic that his interview is on the 15th...

Sorry about this glitch, hope things start moving along again soon enough.

Hi there, Mrs. O. Thank you for the kind words. I think you are right--there probably isn't much we can do but wait...again. To answer your question--I requested the embassy change. We were told by the NVC that Dublin could process his case because he is an Irish passport holder and he lives within a 40 minute drive of the Dublin embassy.

Now, he'll have to buy two plane tickets (one for the medical, one for the interview) to FLY OVER THE IRISH SEA to London. There are absolutely no words to describe how illogical this decision is. I'd like to know why the Belfast embassy is not processing immigrant visas?! Looks like we'll be spending a good chunk of our savings on plane tickets to London now.

I bet you DID see my husband at the medical yesterday. What a small world! Too bad his interview will no longer be on the 15th. If I remember, yours is on the 14th, right? The best of luck to you.

[jolady 0]

yes i agree.. they (NVC) has caused a bump in your journey and at your expense - I know this it will be frustrated - I would be too.

Hi Ricardo4eva, can I ask how long it took to receive the passport stamp after interview approval...Congrats!!

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

Hi Ricardo4eva, can I ask how long it took to receive the passport stamp after interview approval...Congrats!!

Well they did not get a passport stamp as it was not requested That is often times requested if the applicant is in the USA and requested it so they can travel/have temp. evidence.

They did however receive their passport/visa back after 6 days after the second interview in Kingston, Jamaica.

Edited February 2, 2011 by RICARDO4EVA2

[NikiY 0]

My husband and I are completely gutted. I don't know what to do. His interview was scheduled for February 15 (in less than two weeks), and the Dublin embassy JUST called him (this morning) to tell him that they are 'rejecting' our paperwork, and they cannot proceed with his interview. Their reason? He does not live within their jurisdiction.

We are so frustrated and angry right now. I don't even know where to start.

My sincere thanks,

Fitzy

How AWFUL! I believe someone here suggested you call the NVC. That's a great place to start. I'm not sure they can be of any help, but THEY are the agency who sent your file to the embassy, so perhaps they can provide SOMETHING.

As for London......rules have now changed and they will not schedule the interview until the medical has been processed and received. So, unfortunately, you'll have to wait for the case to be moved to London, then schedule the medical, and THEN when they receive the medical, they will schedule your interview. My husband and I found this out the hard way and it too, took two trips to London, but we were much closer than you and after hearing your story I think we had it fairly easy.

I'm hoping that they make exceptions for you based on the situation. Remember....it WILL be over soon so stay strong.

[Fitzy 2]

What about calling the NVC? I think I have seen a number on here before for them. Ask them what the HELL is going on.....

Thanks, Neonred. That's good advice. I'll give NVC a ring tomorrow and just see who, exactly, screwed up and what (if anything) can be done. At this point I think we're looking at another long wait for an interview date, though.

[Fitzy 2]

How AWFUL! I believe someone here suggested you call the NVC. That's a great place to start. I'm not sure they can be of any help, but THEY are the agency who sent your file to the embassy, so perhaps they can provide SOMETHING.

As for London......rules have now changed and they will not schedule the interview until the medical has been processed and received. So, unfortunately, you'll have to wait for the case to be moved to London, then schedule the medical, and THEN when they receive the medical, they will schedule your interview. My husband and I found this out the hard way and it too, took two trips to London, but we were much closer than you and after hearing your story I think we had it fairly easy.

I'm hoping that they make exceptions for you based on the situation. Remember....it WILL be over soon so stay strong.

Niki-Thanks very much for the reply. I had NO IDEA that London required the medical before the interview--I'm glad you told us. Thanks for the kind words...trying to stay strong!

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

Ouch, that really bites. One point that stood out to me is you stated that the Dublin embassy said the Irish medical was null and void. I don't believe that one embassy has the juresdiction to say what is or is not accepted at another embassy. It may just be possible that London accepts it considering the circumstances. I know I must be in a very optimistic mood today, lol. Secondly, I would be burning the phone line up to the london embassy and plead your entire case. You might just hit a sympathetic nerve with someone and they move you to the front of the line. Whatever happens keep your heads up and smile.

[Angelheart1962 6]

Niki-Thanks very much for the reply. I had NO IDEA that London required the medical before the interview--I'm glad you told us. Thanks for the kind words...trying to stay strong!

I didnt know that either until I was looking on this site some time ago. Isnt it amazing how no-one involved in the process tells you that vital factor?? Thankfully I found out while my case was at NVC and I had the medical a week or so later. Good luck x