How do I maintain correspondence?

[Pinball1921 4]

My wife's case has just been expedited and sent to the Panamanian embassy for completion. The problem is, who is supposed to contact me? And how? Will I get an email? A phone call? I see the Panamanian embassy's phone line hours are extremely limited (8am-11am on only Monday on Wednesday). I emailed them this morning and the automated response said I would get a reply in 1 or 2 business days. The NVC don't know anything and they tell me to conduct all further correspondence with the embassy. But how??? There's got to be an easier way. Am I doing something wrong? Please someone help that has experienced this. Thank you!

[Darnell 8,478]

I suggest this:

1. Call DoS Hotline every day or every two days, asking for casefile status. When DoS Hotline reports 'casefile opened' then the IV unit is ready for further processing.

2. When you learn of 'casefile opened' status, the IV unit has the casefile and can 'talk' coherently about what to do next, for whatever the rest of their doc intake process is going to be.

[Pinball1921 4]

Thanks. Do you know where I can find that hotline number?

[Darnell 8,478]

sure ! click the girls next to my name, it's listed at the bottom.

[Pinball1921 4]

Thanks again. I called that number and they didnt really help much. They said the embassy would contact my wife in Panama. But then, the email reply from the embassy, said that the embassy would contact me, the petitioner. So which one is it??

And neither agency said "how" either of us will be contacted. By mail? (Panama's mail system is lacking). By phone? By email? There's got to be something I'm missing. There's got to be an easier way than this. It's amazing anyone actually immigrates. Does anyone have any experience with how they got contacted by the embassy? how long did it take? What can we do to make this easier for ourselves? Thanks very much.

[Darnell 8,478]

casefile status changes over time,

so if yer not following step 1 of post #2 exactly, yer missing an important step.

[Darnell 8,478]

have you set up an account at http://ustraveldocs.com/pa

http://ustraveldocs.com/pa

?? maybe it's time, aye?

[Pinball1921 4]

The case status says, "Your case is ready for your interview when scheduled at the U.S. Consular section. If you have already scheduled an appointment for an interview, please prepare your documents as directed in your appointment letter and appear at the consulate on the appointed date and time. Otherwise, please wait until you have been notified of your interview appointment. Additional information about how Immigrant Visa interview appointments are scheduled can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3731.html"

I understand it can take time, but that still doesnt explain how we will get contacted, and who (me or my wife). Right now I just want to know how and who will be contacted so I understand the process better.

Edited June 28, 2013 by Pinball1921

[Darnell 8,478]

thats from ustraveldocs or ceac.state.gov ?

I'm missing the part where you won't call on the telephone daily or every other day, and ask about casefile status with the DoS Hotline.

When DoS Hotline reports 'casefile opened' as the casefile status, the IV Unit is ready to do something.

apparently Panama has shifted over to using the ustraveldocs website for immigrant visa scheduling.

I strongly suggest you set up an account there and learn what you can do for appointment scheduling.

Edited June 28, 2013 by Darnell

[Pinball1921 4]

that's from CEAC. What can I do on US travel docs exactly? I'll make an account today. I didn't know we could schedule interviews on our own. And that's part of the problem, how am I supposed to figure that out if you didnt tell me? The process seems broken or atleast hard as hell to understand. Thanks for everything you're helping me with.

[Darnell 8,478]

i barely got info about ustraveldocs from the IV section of the US Embassy/Panama website.

it's just a link with no real info on why to use it.

However - I know a lot about ustraveldocs from the manila IV stuff and more recently China IV stuff.

So it was a big surprise that the Panama IV website mentioned ustraveldocs ...

Basically - it's possible for you to schedule an appointment through ustraveldocs IF the embassy 'allows' (and i've no idea what that means, so take it with a grain of salt) .

in a pinch, DoS Hotline knows casefile status, is always useful to call them. don't ask them about process or procedures, only status.

[Pinball1921 4]

Ok I just talked to someone from US travel docs. I simply have to wait to be contacted by the embassy. Though, he said it would most likely be me, the petitioner, that would be contacted. The DOS hotline person said that my wife would be contacted. So I'm lost as to who is more correct :/

[Darnell 8,478]

'who to contact' does not matter until

The Panama IV Unit opens the casefile

When they do that? DoS Hotline has a casefile status of 'casefile opened'.

Only then will someone be 'contacted'. I would never rely on anyone being contacted via telephone or email, at all.

However, if you were successful in completely filling out an account over at ustraveldocs website (using a computer, keyboard and not a telephone, voice)

then

you should be able to self-schedule at the ustraveldocs website after DoS Hotline says 'casefile opened' when you call in to the DoS Hotline.

None of this 'contacting people' stuff at all.

----

doing what I've written above gives you a granular level of control that you probably haven't been exposed to, so far.

1. you telephone DoS, listen.

2. you self-schedule at ustraveldocs ..

note there are timeticks in play here - ustraveldocs isn't useful for scheduling until the IV Unit opens the casefile. If you are seeking immediacy, I suggest, instead, that you take it day by day until casefile status changes at the DoS Hotline.

---

hints inside of ustraveldocs website :

1. use your email account inside of the system until after an appointment is scheduled. switch to hers after

2. use HER telephone contact numbers

3. write her address ...

good luck !

Edited June 28, 2013 by Darnell

[Pinball1921 4]

I can't schedule an appoint on ustraveldocs for Panama. They only allow non-immigrant visa seekers to schedule their own appointment (that's what I see atleast). I got another reply from the embassy and they wrote, "Please note that the Embassy could use any mean (regular mail, telephone or email address) to contact you or your wife for further instructions." This sounds extremely random as hell. Is there no rhyme or reason to their work?

And I'm confused as to why you say the casefile hasn't been opened yet. According to the CEAC status site, my case was created on 19 June and updated on the 28th as being "ready". Also, I wasn't able to open an account on ustraveldocs due to a system error :/. I only talked to someone on the phone. How will creating an account on that help, if I can't schedule an appointment for immigrant visas anyway? Thanks!

[Darnell 8,478]

the casefile hasn't been opened at Panama IV.

Once it has been opened, it's safe to proceed.