To say that you've bought tickets - how bad is it?

[TBoneTX 45,324]

One post, all apparently in Portuguese, has been removed from the thread. It's English-only outside the regional forums, please. This is so that everyone who reads the thread can understand what's being said.

If one must post in a foreign language, at least include the English translation with it in the same post. The person who has posted the removed Portuguese text is welcome to repost a translation.

VJ Moderation

[Lauren and Kevin 55]

I fly United an awful lot, and they have told me again and again that I can change the dates on my tickets, and it's $120 to do so. They also have a policy on 'awful circumstances' like a death in the family - and they will refund the $120 (you still have to pay it when you change the dates) on sending them the death certificate - I imagine you could send details of the Visa and interview if they needed it instead.

So...I would ring up united (sooner rather than later) and change the dates before you explode from worry !

(edit: um...I think that's $120 per ticket sorry)

Edited November 21, 2014 by Lauren and Kevin

[hir0 49]

I really hope you will have it on time ..

many manyyy prayers to you and your fiance

[Mariana M. 18]

Thanks everyone!
Turns out they did have misplaced my medical or something.

My fiance called and, after a lot of waiting, they told him that they didn't have it. When he told them it had gotten there on the 6th, they said they were going to look for it.

A few minutes later they e-mailed him saying that "the documents have been received and were forwarded for review".

If it's not issued in a few hours, we'll call again.

Feeling hopeful!

I fly United an awful lot, and they have told me again and again that I can change the dates on my tickets, and it's $120 to do so. They also have a policy on 'awful circumstances' like a death in the family - and they will refund the $120 (you still have to pay it when you change the dates) on sending them the death certificate - I imagine you could send details of the Visa and interview if they needed it instead.

So...I would ring up united (sooner rather than later) and change the dates before you explode from worry !

(edit: um...I think that's $120 per ticket sorry)

Thank you!

I found this: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/reservations/samedaychange.aspx

Not sure it would apply, but I'll check it out if it turns out to be necessary by the end of today.

Edited November 21, 2014 by Mariana M.

[samlog 25]

My fiancé had to change his flight and the 24hour thing works, but they make it really confusing he had to talk to few people before talk with a good employee who explained everything and helped him with that. So good luck! And I hope everything goes well and you don't need to deal with airlines companies.

[rtor1 52]

Thanks everyone!

Turns out they did have misplaced my medical or something.

My fiance called and, after a lot of waiting, they told him that they didn't have it. When he told them it had gotten there on the 6th, they said they were going to look for it.

A few minutes later they e-mailed him saying that "the documents have been received and were forwarded for review".

If it's not issued in a few hours, we'll call again.

Feeling hopeful!

Thank you!

I found this: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/reservations/samedaychange.aspx

Not sure it would apply, but I'll check it out if it turns out to be necessary by the end of today.

Woow, what a mess! Hopefully they will review it asap but unfortunately I think you would be getting probably by the day of your trip! The good thing is everything clear now and maybe you will have to postpone the trip only for a few days if so!! Keeping our prays!!!

[Mariana M. 18]

Woow, what a mess! Hopefully they will review it asap but unfortunately I think you would be getting probably by the day of your trip! The good thing is everything clear now and maybe you will have to postpone the trip only for a few days if so!! Keeping our prays!!!

Thank you!!!

But now it says "Ready" as in for the interview again I'm going nuts!

I'm looking up similar cases and it seems that after this happens it always takes a couple of days to be issued...

[rtor1 52]

Thank you!!!

But now it says "Ready" as in for the interview again I'm going nuts!

I'm looking up similar cases and it seems that after this happens it always takes a couple of days to be issued...

Well, I believe that maybe it's just a standard status and it will turn into issued as soon as they touch your medical records! Try to have your fiancé calling again (But I guess they work from 8am to 2pm, right)? Anyways if he doesn't make to call today I believe they will issue by monday and I don't know if you could request 1 day shipping to make sure it will be there on time! Keeping our hopes up! I wish I could go by and pick it up it for you, lol! It takes me 5 minutes walking to the Embassy!

[samlog 25]

Sedex 10 would be perfect.

[rtor1 52]

Sedex 10 would be perfect.

R they working with Correios now? Way back in time when I had my J1 and B2 Visas they had TNT as their carrier, maybe they changed. I hope so!

[dwheels76 5,468]

Sorry about the long post, I wanted to make the situation clear.

Before anything, please don't patronize me, I'm already beating myself up enough!

So I had my medical on the 3rd and my interview on the 4th. I was approved, and the consul said that when my medical got there the visa would be issued (if everything was ok, of course). He said that it should be in my hands in 2 weeks.

I looked at Brazil K-1 VJ timelines and it seemed that everyone got theirs in 1 week.

For personal and complicated reasons, my family and I decided to buy the tickets already - for the 26th, Wednesday. No refunds, no rescheduling. For my mother, my brother and I.

Well, my visa status had an update on the 12th and one yesterday, the 19th. Still on AP. Two days ago I got an e-mail from the consulate (because I had asked) saying that the visa is still pending approval because it is waiting on my medical.

The doctor provided me a tracking number. Everything was delivered to the consulate on the 6th.

If my visa is not issued tomorrow, I don't have a chance of getting it in time. Tomorrow is already risky.

Today is a Brazilian holiday and out of all the US consulates, only the Rio one is closed.

They don't take phone calls about immigrant visas. Only e-mails, and that's 3 days to respond.

Tomorrow morning my fiance will try to call and see if they talk to him.

Lesson learned - if you're thinking of doing that, DON'T.

Now my question is: I know they advise you not to make any trip arrangements before you have your visa. But if we told them so, could that do any harm? Could they purposefully delay my visa or something like that, or the worst I can get is a "we told you so"?

I doubt that anyone possibly has an accurate answer, but I'd appreciate opinions.

I know people personally who had mentioned at interview they want to leave immediately with their spouse, fiance' or soon as possible and had their Visa done faster.

Why would you think they would delay you because you have tickets. Also many airlines are kind to the fact that things changed. You may have to pay a fee but look into that.

Someone for Canada had their Visa done right there at the embassy (The embassy messed up and they had to come back after interview for fingerprinting again) but it shows things can be done. I had my passport made sealed and handed to me in Lagos Nigeria while I wait. You have to ask, make some noise got to embassy beg and beg again.

[samlog 25]

R they working with Correios now? Way back in time when I had my J1 and B2 Visas they had TNT as their carrier, maybe they changed. I hope so!

Actually idk, because I never went to Rio consulate but every review that I read they say "correios" so I suppose yes? The last review they gave the address for "correios" maybe you know where is it because looks like is outside of the consulate.

Yeah, my b2 was delivered by dhl back when they stop charging for shipping.

Well one thing we have sure about this process: Murphy's law truly exists.

Edited November 21, 2014 by samlog

[Mariana M. 18]

Ok, almost solved now.

My fiance called again, talked to the same woman. She said that she doesn't know why it's "Ready" again, but it shows on her system that it will be issued and mailed on Monday. She then said that she could e-mail me the Correios contact to see if I could get a faster service. She did right away.

I tried to call them 5 times, was put on hold for a long time (NVC feelings) and they told me the system is not accepting faster deliveries to my city, which I didn't completely trust. I might call and ask again soon. He said it takes 2-3 days, but sometimes it's faster

So I asked if I could go pick it up and he said yes, I could e-mail him my information and the number the consulate gave me, and he would contact me when they had it available.

So I think that will be my best bet, going to Rio to pick it up Tuesday (Renata you're so lucky to work nearby).

Thanks everyone, you nice people!

Oh, and it is Correios, while my mother's tourist visa was DHL, which worked flawlessly. Go figure.

Edited November 21, 2014 by Mariana M.

[rtor1 52]

Ok, almost solved now.

My fiance called again, talked to the same woman. She said that she doesn't know why it's "Ready" again, but it shows on her system that it will be issued and mailed on Monday. She then said that she could e-mail me the Correios contact to see if I could get a faster service. She did right away.

I tried to call them 5 times, was put on hold for a long time (NVC feelings) and they told me the system is not accepting faster deliveries to my city, which I didn't completely trust. I might call and ask again soon. He said it takes 2-3 days, but sometimes it's faster

So I asked if I could go pick it up and he said yes, I could e-mail him my information and the number the consulate gave me, and he would contact me when they had it available.

So I think that will be my best bet, going to Rio to pick it up Tuesday (Renata you're so lucky to work nearby).

Thanks everyone, you nice people!

Oh, and it is Correios, while my mother's tourist visa was DHL, which worked flawlessly. Go figure.

Ohh, that's great to hear! Please check www.melhoresdestinos.com.br Lately they been having great deals for national flights..Or maybe you have some miles. Glad everything worked out!!!

One advice: Make sure they will hold your passport there and tell them you're flying to pick it up. Call on monday and before your flight to make sure they didn't ship it, ok?

[Mariana M. 18]

Ohh, that's great to hear! Please check www.melhoresdestinos.com.br Lately they been having great deals for national flights..Or maybe you have some miles. Glad everything worked out!!!

One advice: Make sure they will hold your passport there and tell them you're flying to pick it up. Call on monday and before your flight to make sure they didn't ship it, ok?

Change of plans! Dear god, what a crazy situation.

My mother, who is a very persuasive lawyer, called the Correios and talked to the same man. Turns out he also had a daughter Mariana and felt sympathetic. He will be making an exception and changing it to Sedex 10. So if the consulate sends it on Monday before 4pm, it will get to me Tuesday at 10am. If they send it Monday after 4pm or Tuesday, it will get to me Wednesday 10am (ugh!)

And he also told her that I can't pick it up at the post offices, I would have to pick it up at the consulate. Although I'm sure he told me otherwise. And I'm pretty sure you can't pick it up at the consulate even if you live in the same city.