interview in 6 days...still no packet 4!

[danielleNJ 1]

Hello my VJ friends!

So I'm in a bit of a panic over this mysterious missing Packet 4. Here's what happened, and I'll try to keep it brief!

Sent off Packet 3 to the consulate in Sydney on the 17th of February. Delivery confirmation says they received it on the 21st of February. Fast forward to this past Friday, March 2nd and we still hadn't heard anything back from the consulate or received Packet 4 via email or post. I decided to call up the Department of State to see if an interview date had been set. The lady I spoke with said the interview had been set for Tuesday, March 13th at 11am. Of course, this was great news and I was so excited to hear that we finally had a date set. I then inquired as to why Shannon had not received Packet 4. She had me confirm his email address and mailing address. She said the mailing address I gave her was "not the one they had on file". Instant panic set in. We had put the same mailing address on every form since day 1 and have never had a problem. The woman at DOS then advised I have Shannon contact the embassy to confirm that they had a proper address and to confirm the interview day and time. That same night Shannon emailed the embassy about this issue. We still haven't gotten a reply from them. So then yesterday I called up the Department of State again. The woman I spoke with this time confirmed the interview but when I mentioned the lady I had previously spoken with said something about an incorrect address being on file she sort of laughed and said "I'm sorry about that" but then confirmed that they had the correct address. She also confirmed that Packet 4 was sent out to him on March 1st. I asked why he hadn't received it yet. Seeing as yesterday was March 6th in Australia, shouldn't he have received it by now? The lady just kept telling me not to worry and that "it takes some time" and didn't seem to understand that the interview was less than a week away and we have no confirmation or paperwork from the embassy. Monday DOS it was sent to the proper mailing address, why did the DOS woman on Friday say the address was incorrect? We emailed the embassy again last night. No response.

What should we do? I'm panicking because I know we have to have Packet 4 when Shannon attends the interview. Any advice, consulate specific or not would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much!

Danielle

[VanessaTony 3,567]

It's not mailed, it's emailed... same as P3 was. If he filled in the form changing the email address (I changed it to mine from Tony's) check that email account. Check junk mail. Check your email. Check your junk mail.

I'm not sure what email he used to email the embassy (double check the address) then send them an email with "URGENT - INTERVIEW BOOKED BUT INTERVIEW NOTICE NOT RECEIVED" as the subject line. Mark it urgent. Then in the body state you have called DOS who say your interview is for X day and yet P4 has not been received.

DOS has nothing to do with it at this stage (Sydney does, they know what's going on) so I'm not sure why you keep calling them. Email Sydney and they WILL get back to you ASAP... if you email the correct address and in a manner that suggests urgent (and within a day or so if you don't mark it urgent). I got a reply within an hour on the day of my interview (BIG drama :S)

Edited March 6, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony

[danielleNJ 1]

It's not mailed, it's emailed... same as P3 was. If he filled in the form changing the email address (I changed it to mine from Tony's) check that email account. Check junk mail. Check your email. Check your junk mail.

I'm not sure what email he used to email the embassy (double check the address) then send them an email with "URGENT - INTERVIEW BOOKED BUT INTERVIEW NOTICE NOT RECEIVED" as the subject line. Mark it urgent. Then in the body state you have called DOS who say your interview is for X day and yet P4 has not been received.

DOS has nothing to do with it at this stage (Sydney does, they know what's going on) so I'm not sure why you keep calling them. Email Sydney and they WILL get back to you ASAP... if you email the correct address and in a manner that suggests urgent (and within a day or so if you don't mark it urgent). I got a reply within an hour on the day of my interview (BIG drama :S)

I've dobule and triple checked mine and Shannon's email. We did send the form back with both of our email addresses on it. And the lady at DOS confirmed both of our email addresses. Why would she tell me it was mailed and not emailed?

Shannon emailed sydneyiv@state.gov. That's the correct address, right? We've sent two emails now. One on Saturday (Aus. time) and one yesterday evening (Aus. time) with similar subject lines and haven't heard back.

What am I doing wrong?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I've dobule and triple checked mine and Shannon's email. We did send the form back with both of our email addresses on it. And the lady at DOS confirmed both of our email addresses. Why would she tell me it was mailed and not emailed?

Shannon emailed sydneyiv@state.gov. That's the correct address, right? We've sent two emails now. One on Saturday (Aus. time) and one yesterday evening (Aus. time) with similar subject lines and haven't heard back.

What am I doing wrong?

Because she's a moron DOS doesn't know what each different country does. Some countries mail, most email though.

That email address is correct. Saturday they're closed of course and Tuesday is still early in the week. I would assume that their w/ends are pretty email intensive so another day or so should do it.

[danielleNJ 1]

Because she's a moron DOS doesn't know what each different country does. Some countries mail, most email though.

That email address is correct. Saturday they're closed of course and Tuesday is still early in the week. I would assume that their w/ends are pretty email intensive so another day or so should do it.

That would make sense. And also explain why I got such different and inconsistent responses from the two different people I spoke with. I hope we hear back today!

Thanks for all your help! You're the best!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

That would make sense. And also explain why I got such different and inconsistent responses from the two different people I spoke with. I hope we hear back today!

Thanks for all your help! You're the best!

i've got all my fingers and toes crossed for you to hear soon!

[danielleNJ 1]

i've got all my fingers and toes crossed for you to hear soon!

Thanks so much. Still no response and I am so panicky.

[danielleNJ 1]

i've got all my fingers and toes crossed for you to hear soon!

Vanessa, Shannon and I still haven't heard anything or received Pkt 4. What can we do now? Can he/should he still attend the interview without the appointment letter?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Vanessa, Shannon and I still haven't heard anything or received Pkt 4. What can we do now? Can he/should he still attend the interview without the appointment letter?

No he can't. They won't let him up without a print of the interview letter (it's emailed so it won't be original). Have they replied to your emails at all? It's very odd that they haven't... Did you mark them urgent and with the heading I suggested?

Here is the consulate info: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Australia&cty=Sydney it has a phone number on it. Try calling the phone number and see what happens.

Edited March 8, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony

[danielleNJ 1]

No he can't. They won't let him up without a print of the interview letter (it's emailed so it won't be original). Have they replied to your emails at all? It's very odd that they haven't... Did you mark them urgent and with the heading I suggested?

Here is the consulate info: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Australia&cty=Sydney it has a phone number on it. Try calling the phone number and see what happens.

We've emailed once every day this week so far. 5 emails. Marked with the heading you suggested. And no responses.

However, Shannon posted on the Consulates Facebook page last night and someone responded to the Facebook comment saying they would have someone contact him as soon as possible.

Still no idea what to do.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

We've emailed once every day this week so far. 5 emails. Marked with the heading you suggested. And no responses.

However, Shannon posted on the Consulates Facebook page last night and someone responded to the Facebook comment saying they would have someone contact him as soon as possible.

Still no idea what to do.

Geeeez. Good idea on the FB page!! Did you call? Anything come of that?

[danielleNJ 1]

Geeeez. Good idea on the FB page!! Did you call? Anything come of that?

The consulate information says that visa inquiries can be made via phone on Fridays from 8am to 12am only. So he's going to try today.

But whoever responded from the consulate on FB said that they are required to document every bit of communication on the case so that email is really the only contact.

I don't understand how someone is sitting in the consulate on Facebook and no one has time to answer FIVE urgent emails.

So frustrating.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Makes me wonder whether you were told about the interview wrong... On the up-side if he did or does miss his interview you have lots and lots of proof that it was due to no fault of your own so it would be easily fixed. It's weird 'cause I've never heard of this issue.

[danielleNJ 1]

Makes me wonder whether you were told about the interview wrong... On the up-side if he did or does miss his interview you have lots and lots of proof that it was due to no fault of your own so it would be easily fixed. It's weird 'cause I've never heard of this issue.

What would happen if he missed it? Is it possible they sent it to the wrong email address even though DOS confirmed they had the correct one on file? I have no idea what to do. Should I call DOS one last time to confirm? And then try calling the consulate?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

What would happen if he missed it? Is it possible they sent it to the wrong email address even though DOS confirmed they had the correct one on file? I have no idea what to do. Should I call DOS one last time to confirm? And then try calling the consulate?

I wouldn't waste time with DOS. I WOULD call the consulate as soon as it opens. Something is going wrong. They normally reply within a day or so. I've never heard of someone waiting this long for a reply (let alone a reply to so many emails even with a "we are reviewing the situation" or something).