Embassy Rejected all Paperwork, Cancelled Interview

[2ndMessiah 184]

Can he petition you to live in ireland? Its fairly beautiful there! I would love to live there

He could petition his spouse to live in Northern Ireland. This is done through UK immigration. If he moves to the Republic of Ireland, I think his first port of call would be the Garda. (There is a loophole using the EEA family permit that is faster/less complicated to bring family into the UK than doing purely UK immigration.That might lead to more headaches)

Altho most Americans see Ireland as one country, it is actually two different nations. It really doesnt matter if you consider yourself Irish and carry an Irish passport or British and carry a UK passport. It comes down to where you live and who is responsible for processing your application. Its when some parts/People/Places of the application process amke allowances and other parts follow the rules strictly that we get these foul ups and its us that suffer.

Again YES, I would have loved to have been processed through Dublin. I would take a 2 hour car journey over several flights hotel stays etc but it is not to be.

I really hope they can get at least their medical examine used and at best get the interview back to Dublin. If you manage this yo would be setting a precident, which the Embassies really would not want.

Good luck and may your god go with you.

Edited February 3, 2011 by 2ndMessiah

[Barbara J 115]

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

Fitzy all I can say is I would be on NVC till their bloody ears burn off. You requested your case be in Dublin and they said ok so it is their responsibility on this. I just can't fathom your hubbie haveing to do another medical as the medicals are done through doctors recommended by USCIS. You can only use their list in your area so that I would be so questioning , I personally feel that is ####### about the medical. Just get on to the NVC and make your stand and don't give up till you get the answer you want. Also was suggested you ring London. I would too, ring both as there has to be an easier solutuon to this. I feel it is just so wrong to even ask you to fork out these expenses again. Good luck and keep us informed.

Edited February 3, 2011 by Barbara J

[NinoniAndBoosBoos 6]

oh my goodness, how frustrating...perhaps communication to the ombudsman is in order, if you go to the USCIS website there is section about expedite process with instructions on how to proceed, feel so bad for you, I hope this might give you an option...

[Fitzy 2]

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. The advice is very good, too--I have been ringing NVC ALL MORNING with no luck. When I call, I get the initial menu and press "2" for immigrant visas, then the phone just rings. I wonder if they are still closed because of the snow?! I'll keep trying.

[2ndMessiah 184]

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. The advice is very good, too--I have been ringing NVC ALL MORNING with no luck. When I call, I get the initial menu and press "2" for immigrant visas, then the phone just rings. I wonder if they are still closed because of the snow?! I'll keep trying.

Ohhh I saw on another thread about closed offices. I think on he USCIS website, they have a list.

[2ndMessiah 184]

Closed offices

My link

[Fitzy 2]

My husband called the London embassy today (the customer service line, I think?) and talked to a nice lady there. She gave him an email address and reference number to put in the subject line. When he emailed the London embassy, he received this automated message: "Your email was deleted without being read." We also tried another email address given to us by the customer service line (ivlondon@state.gov), but received a "Delivery Status Notification [Failure]" message.

Has anyone successfully emailed the London embassy? Have any advice?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

[Fitzy 2]

That is truly a sucky situation. Its yet another case of the left hand not having any idea of what the right hand is doing- alien arm syndrome.

However,, my experience with London is that they do show a touch of humainty and compassion, during my K-1 they lost, or as they put it "never received" my paper work, so after a phone call and a few emails they gave me an interview in time for me to be back in the states with my fiance on her birthday. Which made me more happy at that point that winning the lottery would have done.

Don't lose faith just yet for a speedy end, just try to explain the situation to London and cross your fingers for a nice person at the other end of the line.

Nick--Thanks for the very optimistic post! It's good to know that someone had a positive experience with the London embassy. How long ago did you deal with that embassy? Do you still have an email address for them? We've tried several addresses given to us--but our emails are all getting bounced back to us.

[2ndMessiah 184]

Keep calling both Dublin and London. You migh have to fight to get past the very nice but not so helpful people.

Where is yor paperwork at the moment? Is it in Dublin? Are they sending it to London for processing?

[misterbigtoe 45]

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. The advice is very good, too--I have been ringing NVC ALL MORNING with no luck. When I call, I get the initial menu and press "2" for immigrant visas, then the phone just rings. I wonder if they are still closed because of the snow?! I'll keep trying.

Keep calling, I got through to them this morning, NVC is working today. I Dialed 2 and then the unusual ringing commenced followed eventually by the main recorded message 1 for english and then 5 for a rep. Again, I did get through and spoke to a rep. Good Luck.

[Fitzy 2]

Keep calling both Dublin and London. You migh have to fight to get past the very nice but not so helpful people.

Where is yor paperwork at the moment? Is it in Dublin? Are they sending it to London for processing?

Well, I got through to a supervisor at NVC. She tried very hard to brush me off, but I wouldn't let her. She denied that NVC made any mistake. She stated that people at the NVC can't possibly keep up with ALL of the countries and where jurisdictions for processing lie. Essentially...she said the NVC is not at all responsible. I thought this was the funniest thing I'd heard all week. I laughed a little.

We were on the phone for about 30 minutes or so. She never acknowledged that anyone made a mistake, but she did say she would send a letter (yes, via snail mail) to both embassies in Dublin and London to explain the situation. She said she could not ask London to expedite our case, but she did say that the London embassy should schedule the interview relatively quickly. Who the hell knows if that is trustworthy information, though.

We've emailed the London embassy, too. We'll keep calling BOTH London and Dublin embassies until we find out where our paperwork is--Dublin was supposed to send it to London yesterday.

Again, thanks everybody for your advice and encouragement. I feel like I'm going completely crazy.

[Mrs O. 29]

Good thing you got someone to talk to, your persistence is paying off. Good luck.

[nickm 1]

Nick--Thanks for the very optimistic post! It's good to know that someone had a positive experience with the London embassy. How long ago did you deal with that embassy? Do you still have an email address for them? We've tried several addresses given to us--but our emails are all getting bounced back to us.

I was given a code to use in the email subject and within a day or so they replied. My K1 was issued in May last year, so not too long ago. I cant remember the email address but it is on the London website. I really have nothing but praise for the London embassy as they did everything possible to help me get back to the USA for my wife B-day. If i could have thanked them with flowers and choccies i would.

Good luck i am sure it will all work out in the end.

[Fitzy 2]

I was given a code to use in the email subject and within a day or so they replied. My K1 was issued in May last year, so not too long ago. I cant remember the email address but it is on the London website. I really have nothing but praise for the London embassy as they did everything possible to help me get back to the USA for my wife B-day. If i could have thanked them with flowers and choccies i would.

Good luck i am sure it will all work out in the end.

Cheers, NickM. We got a subject line code (finally) and emailed London. Your message gives us a bit of hope!

[Tero 105]

Well, I got through to a supervisor at NVC. She tried very hard to brush me off, but I wouldn't let her. She denied that NVC made any mistake. She stated that people at the NVC can't possibly keep up with ALL of the countries and where jurisdictions for processing lie. Essentially...she said the NVC is not at all responsible. I thought this was the funniest thing I'd heard all week. I laughed a little.

We were on the phone for about 30 minutes or so. She never acknowledged that anyone made a mistake, but she did say she would send a letter (yes, via snail mail) to both embassies in Dublin and London to explain the situation. She said she could not ask London to expedite our case, but she did say that the London embassy should schedule the interview relatively quickly. Who the hell knows if that is trustworthy information, though.

We've emailed the London embassy, too. We'll keep calling BOTH London and Dublin embassies until we find out where our paperwork is--Dublin was supposed to send it to London yesterday.

Again, thanks everybody for your advice and encouragement. I feel like I'm going completely crazy.

Wow! Talk about accountability ...None! I'm really surprised that was her position in this whole matter. Looks like you can't get anything from NVC. With the few good responses I've read about the London consulate, I think you should give them your best shot. Also, you should still try calling NVC. Hopefully, you get to speak to someone more considerate and helpful.