Visa issued, still waiting

[M+B 1]

On November 21st I had my successful interview at the Embassy in Madrid, where I was approved with no trouble at all and the consular officer said it should arrive in one to two weeks. I returned home elated, but by the next week was beginning to get anxious again after hearing about people receiving their visas in about 3 days.

My fiancee called the DoS last Friday, where she was told the status was "Visa issued". The operator said this meant that it "should" be in the mail and that the embassy's "done" with it.

It's now Tuesday and we're beginning to panic, especially as we just received an email from the Embassy. I had been sending emails frantically trying to get updated on progress or any problems (calling was completely useless, they just say they're general visa information) and all were ignored until today, where they responded to the first one (sent last Wednesday) with the following:

Dear [name]:

The Consular Officer has your case and we will send your passport with the visa to your address in [hometown] this week or at the beginning of next.

Regards.

IV Unit Madrid.

To us that suggests that they still aren't "done" with it and it's not in the mail yet, which completely floods us with fear - flights are getting expensive and if it takes much longer we're going to have to wait until January before I can come. I really wanted to have Christmas and New Years with my fiancee, and don't know why we're taking so long. I planned to be able to be there by the 7th at the latest, and of course that's completely blown out of the window because of this. We've already leased a place at the start of this month in anticipation for me coming some time this month, which is a months worth of rent we really could have used.

This whole process has been an emotional rollercoaster and I just hate that there's absolutely no way of tracking this final step. I was hoping we'd be able to celebrate and that the visa coming would be issue at all, but it's boggling to think that they can't/won't give you any tracking or information about it given that they've got your passport.

I'm really just confused as to what could be going on, and why it's taking so long. If the embassy still has my passport, I feel like the chances of receiving the visa by the end of the week are close to nil, and by extension having to wait until next year to be with my fiancee. I guess it's not such a bad place to be compared to some people here, but it's still somewhat depressing.

I'm unfamiliar with embassy processes and don't know if Madrid's any different - the DoS says "visa issued", so surely that means the Embassy is done looking at it, so why would the Embassy still be saying that? Should we be panicking?

[amber_eddy 1]

On November 21st I had my successful interview at the Embassy in Madrid, where I was approved with no trouble at all and the consular officer said it should arrive in one to two weeks. I returned home elated, but by the next week was beginning to get anxious again after hearing about people receiving their visas in about 3 days.

My fiancee called the DoS last Friday, where she was told the status was "Visa issued". The operator said this meant that it "should" be in the mail and that the embassy's "done" with it.

It's now Tuesday and we're beginning to panic, especially as we just received an email from the Embassy. I had been sending emails frantically trying to get updated on progress or any problems (calling was completely useless, they just say they're general visa information) and all were ignored until today, where they responded to the first one (sent last Wednesday) with the following:

To us that suggests that they still aren't "done" with it and it's not in the mail yet, which completely floods us with fear - flights are getting expensive and if it takes much longer we're going to have to wait until January before I can come. I really wanted to have Christmas and New Years with my fiancee, and don't know why we're taking so long. I planned to be able to be there by the 7th at the latest, and of course that's completely blown out of the window because of this. We've already leased a place at the start of this month in anticipation for me coming some time this month, which is a months worth of rent we really could have used.

This whole process has been an emotional rollercoaster and I just hate that there's absolutely no way of tracking this final step. I was hoping we'd be able to celebrate and that the visa coming would be issue at all, but it's boggling to think that they can't/won't give you any tracking or information about it given that they've got your passport.

I'm really just confused as to what could be going on, and why it's taking so long. If the embassy still has my passport, I feel like the chances of receiving the visa by the end of the week are close to nil, and by extension having to wait until next year to be with my fiancee. I guess it's not such a bad place to be compared to some people here, but it's still somewhat depressing.

I'm unfamiliar with embassy processes and don't know if Madrid's any different - the DoS says "visa issued", so surely that means the Embassy is done looking at it, so why would the Embassy still be saying that? Should we be panicking?

Ahhhh we are still waiting for my fiance's passport too!!!!! And also feeling really nervous. I came on here today to see if anyone else was in the same situation. I feel like this is almost the worst part because we are soo close to the "end" but have no idea when it will come! I am trying to stay optimistic, they always say the darkest part of the tunnel is right before you see the light. I'm just nervous because I have seen all these horror stories on here about consulates losing visas, putting it into AP after being approved, taking a month to mail it back, etc.

My fiance had his interview on the 27th and they gave him a paper with the information for MRW to call for express shipping. Supposedly once the consulate gives the passport to MRW, they can then ship it express (to be paid by fiance at pickup). He has been calling MRW every day and they said the consulate has not given them the passport yet and it's been over a week (but the consulate told him at the interview that it would take 5-10 days to mail out). Do you have the # for MRW? If not I can get it for you. I want to email the consulate about ours but I don't want to be annoying, I am sure they have a lot going on with the holiday season right around the corner. Plus it's a "puente" this week, right?! That means no mail

We just feel disappointed I guess bc a lot of people on here said that it only took a week to have the passport in their hands and we were planning to buy a flight for the following day when he gets his passport. Estamos desesperados ya!! This is a good lesson to never expect anything or you will be disappointed After all of these months waiting, we can wait another few weeks... right??

[M+B 1]

Ahhhh we are still waiting for my fiance's passport too!!!!! And also feeling really nervous. I came on here today to see if anyone else was in the same situation. I feel like this is almost the worst part because we are soo close to the "end" but have no idea when it will come! I am trying to stay optimistic, they always say the darkest part of the tunnel is right before you see the light. I'm just nervous because I have seen all these horror stories on here about consulates losing visas, putting it into AP after being approved, taking a month to mail it back, etc.

My fiance had his interview on the 27th and they gave him a paper with the information for MRW to call for express shipping. Supposedly once the consulate gives the passport to MRW, they can then ship it express (to be paid by fiance at pickup). He has been calling MRW every day and they said the consulate has not given them the passport yet and it's been over a week (but the consulate told him at the interview that it would take 5-10 days to mail out). Do you have the # for MRW? If not I can get it for you. I want to email the consulate about ours but I don't want to be annoying, I am sure they have a lot going on with the holiday season right around the corner. Plus it's a "puente" this week, right?! That means no mail

We just feel disappointed I guess bc a lot of people on here said that it only took a week to have the passport in their hands and we were planning to buy a flight for the following day when he gets his passport. Estamos desesperados ya!! This is a good lesson to never expect anything or you will be disappointed After all of these months waiting, we can wait another few weeks... right??

It's relieving to know that someone else is in the same situation - what confuses me is that they didn't give me any papers at all. They took my passport, and the woman asked me where I'd like it sent to. I asked if it was possible to send it to a different address, and she gave me a post-it note to write the new address on and give back to her. I asked how it'd be mailed, and she said it'd be mailed with MRW couriers, but didn't say anything about a paper, even when I asked about tracking - she said to call or email. (edit: What was on the MRW paper they gave him? I assumed without tracking information or anything it'd be pointless calling them)

Even though they took my passport and said I was approved I wasn't given any paper at all from them, which kind of worries me even though the DoS say the visa's been issued :S

We were planning the exact same as you, we thought from all the reviews that the visa being mailed would be easy and assumed we'd be able to book flights on the 1st or 7th at the latest. Really glad we didn't book them ahead, in a way. I can definitely relate to how you feel about the last part being the worst. The not knowing and sparse contact from the embassy just has us both totally demoralised and dejected at the possibility of not being able to spend christmas together because of this.

Edited December 5, 2012 by M+B

[amber_eddy 1]

It's relieving to know that someone else is in the same situation - what confuses me is that they didn't give me any papers at all. They took my passport, and the woman asked me where I'd like it sent to. I asked if it was possible to send it to a different address, and she gave me a post-it note to write the new address on and give back to her. I asked how it'd be mailed, and she said it'd be mailed with MRW couriers, but didn't say anything about a paper, even when I asked about tracking - she said to call or email. Even though they took my passport and said I was approved I wasn't given any paper at all from them, which kind of worries me even though the DoS say the visa's been issued :S

We were planning the exact same as you, we thought from all the reviews that the visa being mailed would be easy and assumed we'd be able to book flights on the 1st or 7th at the latest. Really glad we didn't book them ahead, in a way. I can definitely relate to how you feel about the last part being the worst. The not knowing and sparse contact from the embassy just has us both totally demoralised and dejected at the possibility of not being able to spend christmas together because of this.

Thanks for the fast reply! We will wait this out together

Don't worry about the paper, it wasn't a paper saying we were approved, I think it was just a paper that had the phone # to MRW. Do you have that?

I am also glad we did not book the flight right after the interview. It's just soooooooo frustrating because you think... ok the interview, this is it, we will be together soon!! And then each day we have to wait when we thought we were almost there.. feels like it's taking FOREVER!!! I really hope (and do believe) that we will be able to spend Christmas with our fiances. Hay que tener fe y esperanza! The flights are just going to be a lot more expensive

[M+B 1]

Thanks for the fast reply! We will wait this out together

Don't worry about the paper, it wasn't a paper saying we were approved, I think it was just a paper that had the phone # to MRW. Do you have that?

I am also glad we did not book the flight right after the interview. It's just soooooooo frustrating because you think... ok the interview, this is it, we will be together soon!! And then each day we have to wait when we thought we were almost there.. feels like it's taking FOREVER!!! I really hope (and do believe) that we will be able to spend Christmas with our fiances. Hay que tener fe y esperanza! The flights are just going to be a lot more expensive

Unless the number on the paper's different from the one on their website (902 300 400), no...So do you just call and ask if they've gotten your package yet? What information do you need to give them? And do you have to call them to schedule the delivery or is that done by the embassy? I wish I was told this by the consular officer

Starting tomorrow I'm going to start calling every business day. Hopefully this is all because of the puente and we both receive our visas next week.

Edited December 7, 2012 by M+B

[amber_eddy 1]

Unless the number on the paper's different from the one on their website (902 300 400), no...So do you just call and ask if they've gotten your package yet? What information do you need to give them? And do you have to call them to schedule the delivery or is that done by the embassy? I wish I was told this by the consular officer

Starting tomorrow I'm going to start calling every business day. Hopefully this is all because of the puente and we both receive our visas next week.

It's 917 823 440 (the 902 # is for international). You have to call and say that the La Embajada Americana de Madrid is sending you a passport, they will ask you for the postal code of where you live and your name. They are used to people calling (according to my fiance) and so they will know what to do. The embassy gives the passport to them and they just mail it to you automatically. You can call them and ask if the embassy gave it to them, and if so you can ask about express shipping to have it arrive in 48 hours from when the embassy gives it to them.

My fiance called yesterday and they told him they just sent out a bunch (not his ) but hopefully yours was in there!! You've been waiting long enough! Keep me updated if you get it soon! Best wishes!

[M+B 1]

THE VISA CAME!!!

Can't describe how relieved we are, this means we can book flights for Monday and I can be there for Christmas! Thank you so much for your help and support, if I hadn't known we could call MRW I wouldn't have been able to know anything. I called at 4pm and they said it was out for delivery, and after worrying some more it finally came at 6.

The whole time I was pessimistic thinking "there's no chance it can come Friday, everything's taken longer than I thought", etc etc, but this goes to show, never give up! It's never as bad as you think.

My thoughts are with you and Eddy, I'm certain your visa will come soon too and you'll be with eachother before you know it. You're only a week behind me, so maybe a week from now you'll be saying the exact same thing

[amber_eddy 1]

THE VISA CAME!!!

Can't describe how relieved we are, this means we can book flights for Monday and I can be there for Christmas! Thank you so much for your help and support, if I hadn't known we could call MRW I wouldn't have been able to know anything. I called at 4pm and they said it was out for delivery, and after worrying some more it finally came at 6.

The whole time I was pessimistic thinking "there's no chance it can come Friday, everything's taken longer than I thought", etc etc, but this goes to show, never give up! It's never as bad as you think.

My thoughts are with you and Eddy, I'm certain your visa will come soon too and you'll be with eachother before you know it. You're only a week behind me, so maybe a week from now you'll be saying the exact same thing

YAAAAYYYY I am so happy for you guys!!!! and I have some good news, we just got ours today too!!!! AHHHHH so relieved! We bought him a flight for Thursday :D Are you in the USA already? Where is your new home, and where are you from by the way? My fiance is from Sevilla (lives in Castellon) and I'm from Philadelphia.