trying to email Embassy

[Lani 0]

Hi guys,

needing some advice. We've received an interview/medical date for my setpson. We need to postpone it for about a month. I've read through all the messages I could find on this topic and came accross this email address LondonConsular@state.gov. I sent an email tonight requesting a new date and recieved this response almost immediately:

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED REPLY. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL.

Your e-mail was deleted without being read.

This e-mail address is solely for individuals who have been authorized

to contact the Consular Information Unit about a specific matter. This

address is not for general inquiries from the public, attorneys or

agents of record. Please understand our workload does not allow us to

read unauthorized inquiries, but the Embassy has set up several

mechanisms to provide general and personalized guidance.

Highly detailed visa information is available from the Embassy's

website

at http://london.usembassy.gov. Due to our heavy workload, we cannot

respond to email inquiries when the subject matter is addressed on the

website.

We also cannot respond to requests for expedited processing, or

nonimmigrant visa "case status" inquiries which are still within the

estimated time frame given on the website, or by the interviewing

Consular Officer, whichever is longer.

If you still have questions after reading all of the content on the

website, please call the Embassy's Operator Assisted Information

Service

for personalized service. Contact information for the operator service

can be found on this page:

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/index.html.

Is our only option calling the Embassy and spending an arm and a leg on our phone bill? Though what's a few more bucks after all the buckets of money we've already spent on this process! Sheesh!

Has anyone else been able to get an email through to the London Embassy recently? I'm wondering if this is just something they send to everyone and then actually respond to the ones deemed appropriate. From what I've read this is a valid request that should be answerable through email...or maybe that isn't the case anymore.

Thanks in advance for your help, guys. I appreciate it.

~Lani

[mmb 0]

Did you put the case number in the subject line?

Hi guys,

needing some advice. We've received an interview/medical date for my setpson. We need to postpone it for about a month. I've read through all the messages I could find on this topic and came accross this email address LondonConsular@state.gov. I sent an email tonight requesting a new date and recieved this response almost immediately:

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED REPLY. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL.

Your e-mail was deleted without being read.

This e-mail address is solely for individuals who have been authorized

to contact the Consular Information Unit about a specific matter. This

address is not for general inquiries from the public, attorneys or

agents of record. Please understand our workload does not allow us to

read unauthorized inquiries, but the Embassy has set up several

mechanisms to provide general and personalized guidance.

Highly detailed visa information is available from the Embassy's

website

at http://london.usembassy.gov. Due to our heavy workload, we cannot

respond to email inquiries when the subject matter is addressed on the

website.

We also cannot respond to requests for expedited processing, or

nonimmigrant visa "case status" inquiries which are still within the

estimated time frame given on the website, or by the interviewing

Consular Officer, whichever is longer.

If you still have questions after reading all of the content on the

website, please call the Embassy's Operator Assisted Information

Service

for personalized service. Contact information for the operator service

can be found on this page:

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/index.html.

Is our only option calling the Embassy and spending an arm and a leg on our phone bill? Though what's a few more bucks after all the buckets of money we've already spent on this process! Sheesh!

Has anyone else been able to get an email through to the London Embassy recently? I'm wondering if this is just something they send to everyone and then actually respond to the ones deemed appropriate. From what I've read this is a valid request that should be answerable through email...or maybe that isn't the case anymore.

Thanks in advance for your help, guys. I appreciate it.

~Lani

[spiritee 0]

I had the same message when I wanted to re schedule my appointment and despite putting my case number in the subject line I still did not receive a response. Eventually I mailed the request to the Embassy and within 2 weeks I received a new interview date in the post.

Hi guys,

needing some advice. We've received an interview/medical date for my setpson. We need to postpone it for about a month. I've read through all the messages I could find on this topic and came accross this email address LondonConsular@state.gov. I sent an email tonight requesting a new date and recieved this response almost immediately:

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED REPLY. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL.

Your e-mail was deleted without being read.

This e-mail address is solely for individuals who have been authorized

to contact the Consular Information Unit about a specific matter. This

address is not for general inquiries from the public, attorneys or

agents of record. Please understand our workload does not allow us to

read unauthorized inquiries, but the Embassy has set up several

mechanisms to provide general and personalized guidance.

Highly detailed visa information is available from the Embassy's

website

at http://london.usembassy.gov. Due to our heavy workload, we cannot

respond to email inquiries when the subject matter is addressed on the

website.

We also cannot respond to requests for expedited processing, or

nonimmigrant visa "case status" inquiries which are still within the

estimated time frame given on the website, or by the interviewing

Consular Officer, whichever is longer.

If you still have questions after reading all of the content on the

website, please call the Embassy's Operator Assisted Information

Service

for personalized service. Contact information for the operator service

can be found on this page:

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/index.html.

Is our only option calling the Embassy and spending an arm and a leg on our phone bill? Though what's a few more bucks after all the buckets of money we've already spent on this process! Sheesh!

Has anyone else been able to get an email through to the London Embassy recently? I'm wondering if this is just something they send to everyone and then actually respond to the ones deemed appropriate. From what I've read this is a valid request that should be answerable through email...or maybe that isn't the case anymore.

Thanks in advance for your help, guys. I appreciate it.

~Lani

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I had some success -- our post was being stolen and I was getting frantic that I had missed something. (Turns out I had -- a postcard saying the I-130 had been received.) I called the £1.20/min line to find out what I should do, and they recommended I email the same email address you did, i.e. londonconsular@state.gov -- BUT they told me that there is a special code to put in the subject line. This code changes weekly, and your email will almost certainly NOT be answered unless this code is in the subject line. This is to show that you have gotten the go-ahead from the Visa Enquiry Unit to contact them -- probably what is meant in your email by the phrase: "This address is not for general inquiries from the public, attorneys or agents of record. Please understand our workload does not allow us to read unauthorized inquiries, but the Embassy has set up several mechanisms to provide general and personalized guidance." I guess talking to the premium rate line makes you "authorized"!

As this code changes every week, you will need to call to find out what it is in advance of writing. When you do email them, make sure this code is the ONLY thing in the subject line or you won't get a reply. You will get an automatic response back from londonconsular saying to expect a reply in 3-4 working days. (I got mine in 3.)

Hope this helps!!!

[Mags 112]

I know that many people here have emailed them without this code AND gotten replies. I'm one of them.

[John & Annie 0]

When I was in the UK dealing with Annie's stuff. I as the US Citizen called a different line and managed to get a different interview date. It took some calling, but we made it happen. They don't make the US Citizens call the premium number.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

When I was in the UK dealing with Annie's stuff. I as the US Citizen called a different line and managed to get a different interview date. It took some calling, but we made it happen. They don't make the US Citizens call the premium number.

I'm intrigued that you say USC's aren't made to call the premium number. When I called the general number for the Embassy (the 0207 one) they directed me straight to the premium line, even after I identified myself as a USC. Curiouser and curiouser...

If you still have this other number, please do post!

[garyandkris 0]

As this code changes every week, you will need to call to find out what it is in advance of writing. When you do email them, make sure this code is the ONLY thing in the subject line or you won't get a reply. You will get an automatic response back from londonconsular saying to expect a reply in 3-4 working days. (I got mine in 3.)

Hope this helps!!!

The code isn't a guarantee that they will respond to your email, though. A month ago, My husband called the premium rate line with a question they couldn't answer. They gave him the code so he could email his question. He did, and beyond the confirmation that they had received his email, he's received no reply in nearly four weeks.

Granted, he didn't have the State Department issued case number then, so perhaps they didn't deem his question worthy of a response. I had a consultation with a lawyer about a seperate matter, and she managed to answered the question my husband posed to the London Embassy.

To the OP, I would both email with this week's code in the subject line and send in a request via snail mail. They're bound to respond to one of them. If I knew what this week's code was, I'd PM it to you, but I don't, so you'll have to call the misinformation line.

[John & Annie 0]

When I was in the UK dealing with Annie's stuff. I as the US Citizen called a different line and managed to get a different interview date. It took some calling, but we made it happen. They don't make the US Citizens call the premium number.

I'm intrigued that you say USC's aren't made to call the premium number. When I called the general number for the Embassy (the 0207 one) they directed me straight to the premium line, even after I identified myself as a USC. Curiouser and curiouser...

If you still have this other number, please do post!

Sorry, i did not keep it. I was very persistent. They tried to get me to call the premium number, but I got around that.

You may want to call the counsel general at the Embassy and ask for help. You know that this is a simple matter.... not getting the help you need from YOUR embassy.... blah blah blah.

That is the road I took and got what we needed.

[truffles 2]

Hi - I once emailed the london emabssy - received the same kind of response however a few days later someone emailed me back with the appropriate advice - so you may actually get a reply - i used the case number in the title - dont know if that helped but worth a try