Is there anyway to speak to someone at the Embassy (LND)

[ianf77 9]

Hi All,

Like the title suggests...Is there any possible way to speak with a person at the London Embassy.

My interview was 5th December and was refused, not denied, pending further medical evidence. This was resolved and the medical paperwork was delivered to the embassy on 11th Dec.

Now during the interview my passport was retained, I was given some AOS guidance, and told to get the medical evidence and documentation sorted, then processing will resume.

I have used the "contact us' method and as usual a reply saying we anticipate to answer your query within 5 days!.

I work internationally and require my passport at all times pending short notice.

Surely the embassy cannot retain such an important document for a long period, I mean we do work as well.

So as title suggests is there any way to speak with someone physically at the embassy??? wether it be through the appointment service pressing all the zero's........

Advice appreciated.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

These numbers are posted, but I don't know if you can talk/beg your way to somebody in the Immigrant Visa Unit to get the answers you want

Callers within the United Kingdom should dial 020 3608 6998

Callers from the United States should dial 703-439-2367.

Have you checked the online status. It should change to issued. I think with delivery of your medical last Wednesday, it is probably a little soon to expect the visa and passport on it's way back to you. The medical info may not have made it to the correct person yet. Hopefully somebody has read your email contact and is working on it.

Let us know what kind of experience you have with those phone numbers.

[ianf77 9]

What a completely frustrating experience........

So on calling the UK number numerous times, an automated call asking for my application number followed by a pound sign......."Do any phones have a pound sign on them????"...mmmm

I eventually got through to some lady at the Embassy...asked about my case and she couldn't tell me my medical documents had been received..and my case was still showing the creation date as of December 9th...I was refused for additional evidence which was re submitted "apparently" on the 11th from Knightbridge via the DX courier.

She told me to contact the payments/courier people to confirm this.......so,

Spoke with Knightbridge, they confirmed the documents went with the courier on 11th...I asked what information is provided on my documents, they confirmed case number etc.....but all individual envelopes are placed in one envelope and given to the courier.

Emailed courier service....response in 3-4 working days...tried calling DX direct.....put on a holding phone loop for 20 mins with now answer.

I work international and require my passport for travel and work visas.......I mentioned this to the call centre lady at the Embassy...she replied contact the courier........courier engaged, on hold for an age..

So as it stands i have no way of knowing my documents are in the system and its going to take 3-4 days for an answer as to when I will receive my passport back for work.......

Absolutely the worst logistics and information experience I have had.....

For the sake of "doing things right by the letter" I potentially will not see my Fiance's family over Christmas and my job is put at risk!!!!! Playing with lives is an understatement.

Apologies for the rant....just my experience to date..

[nobbie 105]

pound sign ,means the hash sign to us, # like that and its on all phones. The yanks call it a pound sign.

[ianf77 9]

Well I am now educated...thankyou

I was on IM with my American Fiance just now and I asked here to type what she thinks is the pound sign...low and behold she typed "#"

So there you go!!!

Anyhow, after at least 3 hours or so of calling Embassy, Courier, Knightsbridge.....i finally got an email confirming from Knightsbridge that my medical documents are with the US Embassy..........

So its now down to the medical officer there and processing of my visa.....its been since 11th december now..

Im just hoping there is no more issues here and its just down to processing..

Is it true that if you have applied for a Visa then you become ineligible to travel on an ESTA...?

[Kiwinyc 62]

Well I am now educated...thankyou

I was on IM with my American Fiance just now and I asked here to type what she thinks is the pound sign...low and behold she typed "#"

So there you go!!!

Anyhow, after at least 3 hours or so of calling Embassy, Courier, Knightsbridge.....i finally got an email confirming from Knightsbridge that my medical documents are with the US Embassy..........

So its now down to the medical officer there and processing of my visa.....its been since 11th december now..

Im just hoping there is no more issues here and its just down to processing..

Is it true that if you have applied for a Visa then you become ineligible to travel on an ESTA...?

No you can still enter the USA via ESTA. I did it 4 times while my i-129F was being prcoessed, my kids (included in the application) came with me twice. I also flew to the US and waited for my interview date to be issued and flew back for that, but you're well beyond all that.

You would have had an opportunity to say when what date you intended to use the visa and to say that you needed it for work travel etc? I would have my company aware that I was in this process and would not be able to travel during this finite time.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

.

Is it true that if you have applied for a Visa then you become ineligible to travel on an ESTA...?

Maybe you are thinking if you are denied a visa, you won't be able to use ESTA.

Also, are you aware that when you enter the US with your K1, you won't be flying off to any international business trips. You will need to apply for Advance Parole with your adjustment of status or have a greencard before you leave the US. You can leave...you just can't get back in without starting over unless you first have an AP card or a greencard. It will be several months.

[Anna Grant 169]

Is it true that if you have applied for a Visa then you become ineligible to travel on an ESTA...?

No, you can travel on an ESTA after you've applied for the K1 visa. I did several times.

However. Once that K1 visa is stuck inside your passport, you must enter the US on the next occasion using that visa. No more ESTA.

Just to reiterate what Nich-Nick said. Once you enter on the K1 visa, you will not be able to travel out of the US and be able to get back in until you have received Advanced Parole. That will be around 90 days after you have submitted your AOS paperwork, which can't happen until you have got married and have your marriage certificate. I managed to get my marriage certificate on the same day we got married by walking the paperwork over to the county clerk's office. And I managed to expedite my EAD/AP due to a job offer. Even so, it was roughly 3 months between my POE and receiving my EAD/AP card.

[nobbie 105]

Well I am now educated...thankyou

I was on IM with my American Fiance just now and I asked here to type what she thinks is the pound sign...low and behold she typed "#"

So there you go!!!

Anyhow, after at least 3 hours or so of calling Embassy, Courier, Knightsbridge.....i finally got an email confirming from Knightsbridge that my medical documents are with the US Embassy..........

So its now down to the medical officer there and processing of my visa.....its been since 11th december now..

Im just hoping there is no more issues here and its just down to processing..

Is it true that if you have applied for a Visa then you become ineligible to travel on an ESTA...?

I know the feeling, I am here in the US and could travel back to the UK or Europe for work no problem, BUT then they will not let me back in here without AP so once you get here and file for AoS make sure you file for EAD and AP at the same time.