Email response from Embassy-Cairo, Egypt

[mandyu1 5]

Hello everyone,

As some of you know my fiance had his interview on 1/12/11 in Cairo and was approved, but was told he had AP and should receive his visa in 4 weeks. Well with everything that is going on in Egypt we were unsure what was happening with his case. On 1/27 I emailed the embassy (before they closed) with a question about our case, and finally this morning I received the following reply:

The Embassy regrets the inconvenience caused to the Egyptian public by our current inability to provide visa services. In light of current situation, please note the following:

The U.S. Embassy is currently providing only emergency American Citizens Services in the Consular Section. Americans needing emergency services can come to the Embassy’s West Entrance (Consular Entrance) from 9:00 am-12:00 noon Sunday-Thursday.

Due to the security situation and reduced staffing at the Embassy, no visa interviews are being conducted until further notice. The Embassy will inform Vodafone and the public when we are able to begin visa interviews again.

Any visa applicant who was interviewed on January 27, 2011 or earlier and whose passport is currently at the Embassy for visa issuance will have his/her case processed to completion. All issued visas will be returned by DHL. DHL will contact applicants regarding the delivery of their passports.·

Visa applicants should not come to the Embassy to inquire about the status of their cases.

Information about all consular services is posted on the Embassy’s website at http://cairo.usembassy.gov

Regards,

Consular Section

US Embassy Cairo

ES

Not sure if I'm interpreting this right, but it sounds like since his interview was prior to 1/28 and they have his passport, then they are still processing his visa, even though the visa department is currently closed. What do you guys think?

[tru_loves_journey 117]

That's a positive statement, which is good.....Sounds like you will get good news soon.

[George & Gina 29]

DHL will contact him when his visa is ready for delivery is what it says. Whether of not that's affected by him being in AP, I couldn't tell you.

Hello everyone,

As some of you know my fiance had his interview on 1/12/11 in Cairo and was approved, but was told he had AP and should receive his visa in 4 weeks. Well with everything that is going on in Egypt we were unsure what was happening with his case. On 1/27 I emailed the embassy (before they closed) with a question about our case, and finally this morning I received the following reply:

The Embassy regrets the inconvenience caused to the Egyptian public by our current inability to provide visa services. In light of current situation, please note the following:

The U.S. Embassy is currently providing only emergency American Citizens Services in the Consular Section. Americans needing emergency services can come to the Embassy's West Entrance (Consular Entrance) from 9:00 am-12:00 noon Sunday-Thursday.

Due to the security situation and reduced staffing at the Embassy, no visa interviews are being conducted until further notice. The Embassy will inform Vodafone and the public when we are able to begin visa interviews again.

Any visa applicant who was interviewed on January 27, 2011 or earlier and whose passport is currently at the Embassy for visa issuance will have his/her case processed to completion. All issued visas will be returned by DHL. DHL will contact applicants regarding the delivery of their passports.·

Visa applicants should not come to the Embassy to inquire about the status of their cases.

Information about all consular services is posted on the Embassy's website at http://cairo.usembassy.gov

Regards,

Consular Section

US Embassy Cairo

ES

Not sure if I'm interpreting this right, but it sounds like since his interview was prior to 1/28 and they have his passport, then they are still processing his visa, even though the visa department is currently closed. What do you guys think?

[Ning 619]

Hello everyone,

As some of you know my fiance had his interview on 1/12/11 in Cairo and was approved, but was told he had AP and should receive his visa in 4 weeks. Well with everything that is going on in Egypt we were unsure what was happening with his case. On 1/27 I emailed the embassy (before they closed) with a question about our case, and finally this morning I received the following reply:

The Embassy regrets the inconvenience caused to the Egyptian public by our current inability to provide visa services. In light of current situation, please note the following:

The U.S. Embassy is currently providing only emergency American Citizens Services in the Consular Section. Americans needing emergency services can come to the Embassys West Entrance (Consular Entrance) from 9:00 am-12:00 noon Sunday-Thursday.

Due to the security situation and reduced staffing at the Embassy, no visa interviews are being conducted until further notice. The Embassy will inform Vodafone and the public when we are able to begin visa interviews again.

Any visa applicant who was interviewed on January 27, 2011 or earlier and whose passport is currently at the Embassy for visa issuance will have his/her case processed to completion. All issued visas will be returned by DHL. DHL will contact applicants regarding the delivery of their passports.·

Visa applicants should not come to the Embassy to inquire about the status of their cases.

Information about all consular services is posted on the Embassys website at http://cairo.usembassy.gov

Regards,

Consular Section

US Embassy Cairo

ES

Not sure if I'm interpreting this right, but it sounds like since his interview was prior to 1/28 and they have his passport, then they are still processing his visa, even though the visa department is currently closed. What do you guys think?

"Any visa applicant who was interviewed on January 27, 2011 or earlier and whose passport is currently at the Embassy for visa issuance will have his/her case processed to completion. All issued visas will be returned by DHL. DHL will contact applicants regarding the delivery of their passports".·

What other interpertation could there be from this message? I think you are lucky to get a reply in light of what is going on. The fact that they replyed at all shows they are doing the best they can to complete the work in a difficult situation. He was lucky to have gotten the interview before the insanity began.

It will be interesting to see how long it actualy takes for him to have the visa in hand. If he was put in the infamous black hole of A P it could be a long wait under the cicumstances. Hopefully that wont be the case so he can leave soon.

Edited February 9, 2011 by Ning

[mandyu1 5]

DHL will contact him when his visa is ready for delivery is what it says. Whether of not that's affected by him being in AP, I couldn't tell you.

I know that, but that wasn't my question. I was told last week from the DOS that all visa's from there are on hold and would not be issued until the embassy reopened, however if I'm interpreting this reply correctly, then all applicants with an interview date prior to 1/28 and gave their passports to the embassy, will have their visas processed and issued even if the visa dept for the embassy is closed, which contradicts what the DOS told me (and we all know the DOS says things just because they don't know what else to say and they don't want to sound stupid).

[Samoray 165]

This is a good news

It is as simple as it sounds, if you have a case and they got your passport then they will complete the visa processing, issue the visa and deliver it to you

Good Luck to Everyone

[mandyu1 5]

"Any visa applicant who was interviewed on January 27, 2011 or earlier and whose passport is currently at the Embassy for visa issuance will have his/her case processed to completion. All issued visas will be returned by DHL. DHL will contact applicants regarding the delivery of their passports".·

What other interpertation could there be from this message? I think you are lucky to get a reply in light of what is going on. The fact that they replyed at all shows they are doing the best they can to complete the work in a difficult situation. He was lucky to have gotten the interview before the insanity began.

It will be interesting to see how long it actualy takes for him to have the visa in hand. If he was put in the infamous black hole of A P it could be a long wait under the cicumstances. Hopefully that wont be the case so he can leave soon.

I was surprised when I woke this morning to fine that email. I was just confused because on one hand they are saying, they're only there for emergency american services, and on the other they're saying they will complete visas for applicates that meet that criteria. Anyway, I know they're short staffed and there will be a delay, but this gives me some hope. Thanks for the response

[And_Sam 44]

I think that it's their way to let you know that even though they are technically closed, they are still working on the visa's that all ready had their interviews before the protesting started. I think this is good news!!

Specially since they have your SO passport! Basically they have a skeleton crew there at the Embassy (which we ALL know!), and even though they are not processing new applications or scheduling new appointments, those who all ready had their interview are still being worked on. Got to give them SOMETHING to do! Can't watch tv all day!!

I'd take this as a good sign Mandy! Whoo hoo~ let's all celebrate by going to Disney World!!!! I REALLY want to go!!!

[mandyu1 5]

I think that it's their way to let you know that even though they are technically closed, they are still working on the visa's that all ready had their interviews before the protesting started. I think this is good news!!

Specially since they have your SO passport! Basically they have a skeleton crew there at the Embassy (which we ALL know!), and even though they are not processing new applications or scheduling new appointments, those who all ready had their interview are still being worked on. Got to give them SOMETHING to do! Can't watch tv all day!!

I'd take this as a good sign Mandy! Whoo hoo~ let's all celebrate by going to Disney World!!!! I REALLY want to go!!!

I agree, and we already have plans for Disney (2 more weeks!!), but this just gives us more reason to go!!

I called DOS this morning and asked them what this meant, and said that it contradicts what I was told last week by them, that all visa's are on hold until the embassy reopens. The woman didn't really know what to say to me except that they're not on the grounds of Cairo so they don't know what they're doing...really!!

[And_Sam 44]

I agree, and we already have plans for Disney (2 more weeks!!), but this just gives us more reason to go!!

I called DOS this morning and asked them what this meant, and said that it contradicts what I was told last week by them, that all visa's are on hold until the embassy reopens. The woman didn't really know what to say to me except that they're not on the grounds of Cairo so they don't know what they're doing...really!!

Heh heh when are you going to learn not to call the DOS for information for another country? LOL next time call them and tell them you want to give them an update on the embassy in Cairo! Then they can pass it on when somebody else calls asking about what's happening there!!

I thought you said we had to wait until March for Disney? When do you come home?

[mandyu1 5]

Heh heh when are you going to learn not to call the DOS for information for another country? LOL next time call them and tell them you want to give them an update on the embassy in Cairo! Then they can pass it on when somebody else calls asking about what's happening there!!

I thought you said we had to wait until March for Disney? When do you come home?

haha good point. I just looked at the email from the embassy too, it gives a personal email address from the embassy for "sent from" along with her name, not the typical IVConsular section at the embassy...maybe I can email her personaly from now on? lol I'll be patient for a while

I'll be back the 19th, I thought we were going Feb 26 or 27?

[And_Sam 44]

haha good point. I just looked at the email from the embassy too, it gives a personal email address from the embassy for "sent from" along with her name, not the typical IVConsular section at the embassy...maybe I can email her personaly from now on? lol I'll be patient for a while

I'll be back the 19th, I thought we were going Feb 26 or 27?

Ok~~ I got confused on the weekend you were coming home. I have CRS...

Yeah 26 or 27. I'm hoping to convince my son to go with me. Let's plan on the 26th, it's closer!! Whoo hoo Disney!!

That'll make your daughter happy. Sounds like your son might REALLY get along with my son...

[wendy&tamer 10]

I hope its good news for you. Will keep you in my prayers. We try to keep constant contact with my husbands family and things are ok for the moment. I wish I could go back to Disney, we havent been in about 4 yrs. I think its time to plan another trip.

Keep me posted on your status and Im praying your news will be good.

[mandyu1 5]

I hope its good news for you. Will keep you in my prayers. We try to keep constant contact with my husbands family and things are ok for the moment. I wish I could go back to Disney, we havent been in about 4 yrs. I think its time to plan another trip.

Keep me posted on your status and Im praying your news will be good.

Thanks Wendy

I know things are ok for now, but Mohamed told me there is a big protest planned for tomorrow, I wonder what that will bring

And_Sam & I are Disney fanatics!!! Looking forward to going back!

Edited February 10, 2011 by mandyu1

[Aly174 9]

Thanks Wendy

I know things are ok for now, but Mohamed told me there is a big protest planned for tomorrow, I wonder what that will bring

And_Sam & I are Disney fanatics!!! Looking forward to going back!

Me too! I wanna go, I could use the distraction