This is the waiting for packet 4 thread.

[Dan&Tiffany 0]

OK -- full disclosure, for anyone else who finds themselves in my shoes....

Turns out that the DoS operator who I thought was the least helpful was actually the most helpful!

I told my fiance about the phone call I had:

"Yeah, weird that they're waiting on the checklist...."

"The what?"

"The checklist! When you sent the forms in, you... did... send... in... the... checkli....."

"Oh, #@!*%!!!"

So they ARE waiting on our checklist! AAAARGH!!!

Here's where I wish I were over there, checking things over three times. Oh well.

Checklist was sent with a note explaining. Man, I hope he remembered to put the case number on it....

:hairpull:

Hahaha! Oh geez - gotta love these boys. Wanna pinch them sometimes, but gotta love 'em!

[Dan&Tiffany 0]

So I've sent the same email to the LondonConsular address about 3 or 4 times. I kept getting the "this message has been deleted without being read" thing. I was thinking that maybe once they entered our case in that it would stop deleting it, so I kept sending it. Yeah...got an email today from them that our case has been rec'd and he will be getting P3 shortly. They LIED it wasn't deleted after all. I'm guessing they send a response so I'd stop resending the silly thing! Haha!

[Rubycon 0]

I kept getting the "this message has been deleted without being read" thing.

What a stupid message to give as a reply. They could at least put "you're mail has been received and will be dealt with soon".

The future is with the DOS line, folks. Polite and helpful both times I called (will call again this afternoon - really musn't become obsessed with this though!)

[Dan&Tiffany 0]

I kept getting the "this message has been deleted without being read" thing.

What a stupid message to give as a reply. They could at least put "you're mail has been received and will be dealt with soon".

The future is with the DOS line, folks. Polite and helpful both times I called (will call again this afternoon - really musn't become obsessed with this though!)

True! There are a few embassy-specific things they can't answer, but for the most part, it's the ONLY way to go. The guy at DOS I talked to the other day even wished us good luck. I don't know why, but I was just taken aback by that. All have been very friendly, though.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I the DoS! Hopefully, they'll have an answer for me this afternoon when I call them -- never thought I'd have to contact them again, but there is a very odd entry on the biographical details form stapled to the MBE. It says the boy's occupation is "Student/Children Under 16", and whilst I read this as a combined category, Bruce is worried that it means that when we're at the POE and they read it, they'll see he's not under 16 and turn him away. What a fruitcake! But I'm calling just so he'll STFU...

[TimsDaisy 0]

D&T - you know you're in the system in London now, right? Anymore thought to sending them P3 while they twiddle their thumbs about getting the mail out or while the Royal Post takes its sweet ####### time delivering?

[no name 1]

So I've sent the same email to the LondonConsular address about 3 or 4 times. I kept getting the "this message has been deleted without being read" thing. I was thinking that maybe once they entered our case in that it would stop deleting it, so I kept sending it. Yeah...got an email today from them that our case has been rec'd and he will be getting P3 shortly. They LIED it wasn't deleted after all. I'm guessing they send a response so I'd stop resending the silly thing! Haha!

They started using that reply after last August's Gatwick terror acts...

[TimsDaisy 0]

Good news: more people getting their interview dates today. Bummer news: August dates. I mean, this is a good thing, duh, but I was hoping for us to get a July date and since we've yet to hear anything - I'm having a strong inkling that mid-August is the best to hope for now So much of this process is bittersweet. ANY interview date is preferable to no interview date, but I had a tiny hope for July . . . Oh well!

[featherB 1]

Good news: more people getting their interview dates today. Bummer news: August dates. I mean, this is a good thing, duh, but I was hoping for us to get a July date and since we've yet to hear anything - I'm having a strong inkling that mid-August is the best to hope for now So much of this process is bittersweet. ANY interview date is preferable to no interview date, but I had a tiny hope for July . . . Oh well!

You might still get a July date... y'know, what with them apparently having a tendency to give the dates out at random, and all! I'm trying to remember my dates... my Packet 4 arrived on Feb 24th (I think), with an interview date of March 15th. Other people at the time had been getting interview dates in late March, April, probably even May, if I remember right... there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to this stuff!!

Got my fingers crossed for you.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

It might still be July - some people get more notice than others, we got exactly one week notice before our date.

[TimsDaisy 0]

Just trying to get used to expecting August and that way July is icing! Of course, again, ANY indication they'd feel like chatting with him at the Embassy sometime would be awesome. Oy! Really, any sign of life would be cool, London Embassy!

[Dan&Tiffany 0]

They started using that reply after last August's Gatwick terror acts...

Hmm...Didn't know that. So, ok, possibly I'm just being dense, but how does an auto-response to emails stop terrorism?

Just trying to get used to expecting August and that way July is icing! Of course, again, ANY indication they'd feel like chatting with him at the Embassy sometime would be awesome. Oy! Really, any sign of life would be cool, London Embassy!

Tell me about it!

[no name 1]

They started using that reply after last August's Gatwick terror acts...

Hmm...Didn't know that. So, ok, possibly I'm just being dense, but how does an auto-response to emails stop terrorism?

They used to say, 'if this message is legitmate, we will respond to you soon.' Or someting like that. I figure after the attacks, they got a million emails!

[Dan&Tiffany 0]

Ahhh... gotcha!

[psho 0]

I called the DoS line again this morning, not expecting anything (they just received the forgotten checklist on Thursday). I was hoping that I may have a birthday surprise for my guy in the form of an interview date (his birthday is tomorrow), but no soap.

Now that August interviews are being scheduled, it makes me wonder -- our NOA2 expires August 11. If the embassy achedules the interview for after that date, will it all be for naught? Is there some wiggle room? Do I need to think about filing an extension?