So basically, it's "Don't call us, we'll call you....maybe"

[JenandJerry 0]

I really can't believe this. When we call the DOS in America, they tell us that because our case is now with the London Embassy, they cannot help us and we have to contact the embassy. When we call the Visa Helpline, they tell us that they cannot say why we have had to wait so long and that we should email the embassy. When we email the embassy, we hear nothing for 8 days, so send a reminder and this is the response we get -

"Your message has been received by the Consular Information Unit. We are

currently averaging three to four days to answer email correspondence.

There is no mechanism for "status checks" while a nonimmigrant visa

application is being processed. Inquiries concerning cases which

require administrative processing or background checks, and which have

been pending less than 60 days, will not be answered.

Please do not, under any circumstances, send a duplicate or follow-on

e-mail. Repeat messages slow down our response time, and we reserve

the right to permanently delete all e-mails from senders who transmit

repeat messages or status checks.

Sincerely,

Consular Information Unit"

In effect, they are telling us to shut up and they'll get round to us when they're good and ready. Absolutely outrageous. It's not as if we've been bombarding them with mail or been abusive. We've sent two polite mails during this whole process.

I really don't understand why they, seemingly at random, treat some applicants with remarkable promptness and efficiency and others, like us, so shoddily.

Thank God for Visa Journey for providing us with a place to let off steam!!

We're seriously considering writing to Jen's Senator or Congressman. Does anyone know if that makes a blind bit of difference?

[no name 1]

I really can't believe this. When we call the DOS in America, they tell us that because our case is now with the London Embassy, they cannot help us and we have to contact the embassy. When we call the Visa Helpline, they tell us that they cannot say why we have had to wait so long and that we should email the embassy. When we email the embassy, we hear nothing for 8 days, so send a reminder and this is the response we get -

"Your message has been received by the Consular Information Unit. We are

currently averaging three to four days to answer email correspondence.

There is no mechanism for "status checks" while a nonimmigrant visa

application is being processed. Inquiries concerning cases which

require administrative processing or background checks, and which have

been pending less than 60 days, will not be answered.

Please do not, under any circumstances, send a duplicate or follow-on

e-mail. Repeat messages slow down our response time, and we reserve

the right to permanently delete all e-mails from senders who transmit

repeat messages or status checks.

Sincerely,

Consular Information Unit"

In effect, they are telling us to shut up and they'll get round to us when they're good and ready. Absolutely outrageous. It's not as if we've been bombarding them with mail or been abusive. We've sent two polite mails during this whole process.

I really don't understand why they, seemingly at random, treat some applicants with remarkable promptness and efficiency and others, like us, so shoddily.

Thank God for Visa Journey for providing us with a place to let off steam!!

We're seriously considering writing to Jen's Senator or Congressman. Does anyone know if that makes a blind bit of difference?

####### Journey had similar problems. Maybe PM her?

[Mags 112]

That is their pretty standard email receipt response. They have a couple of them, each differs slightly from the other. I've had both sent to me for the same query. Don't take it personally, they send it to everyone who sends them an email.

I waited 10 days for a response to my email. That was back in October. Things have slowed down even more now.

Hope you hear something soon.

Edited December 5, 2006 by mags

[Fatty 0]

I've had that e-mail too, I think it's automated. And then the actual response came a few days later.

Hopefully you'll hear soemthing soon. It is so difficult to get a hold of them to get the information you need.