Customs Envelope

[jsmolinski 0]

Hello,

I'm new to these forums, I found them doing a Google search today. I tried search, but I haven't found any topics on this subject.

My fiance had her interview on the 15th and she just received her visa and documents today. Here is the problem, in her zeal to check out everything in the package from the embassy she opened a envelope, I'm guessing documents for customs, that was marked do not open.

Does anybody know if this is a serious issue? If so what we can do to go about correcting it? We weren't planning on her traveling until April 25th, because as luck would have it her brother is getting married in April so neither of us wants her to miss that.

[Rob and Melinda 0]

You must take the envelope back to the Embassy and have them re-seal it. If the seal is broken at the point of entry they will deny entry!

don't worry, this happens all of the time, just explain it was an accident.

Rob and Melinda

[Ashleigh-Au 0]

It happens often....have no idea why when they specifically tell you to not open it,

All that is in there is the paperwork you have sent/provided up until that point.

[featherB 1]

Oh dear.... why do people open the 'do not open' envelope?! Your fiancee is not the first to do this! I had my interview in London last week, and was told very clearly that I was not to open the envelope that would be sent with my visa - it also has something like 'do not open - to be opened only by United States immigration' or similar, stamped all over it. And it's sealed.

ANYWAY... yes, it is a problem - the envelope is supposed to be delivered unopened to an immigration officer at the POE. Get her to call the consulate in her country - when this has happened to other people, they have had to take the envelope back and get it re-sealed.

[featherB 1]

(... and was going to say - if you haven't booked her flights yet, maybe hold off booking them until she has the re-sealed envelope safely back in her possession. Hopefully it shouldn't cause too much of a delay though, if she can explain to someone at the consulate and get the envelope back to them quickly... good luck!)

[flutter95 4]

It was burning away at me when I had mine, I WANTED to open but obviously didn't and knew I couldn't.

She can't enter with it in that state, like the others said,time to re-visit the embassy!

[featherB 1]

It was burning away at me when I had mine, I WANTED to open but obviously didn't and knew I couldn't.

She can't enter with it in that state, like the others said,time to re-visit the embassy!

Haha... I was (and still am!) vaguely worried that I might accidentally open mine, even though I know you're not supposed to, and have no intention of doing so. I have been handling it very carefully in case I should somehow inadvertently rip that strip of tape off or something.

Yeah, I know that makes no sense at all, but I know what I mean!

I'm kind of amazed it was still properly sealed when I got it - I have no idea what the couriers did with it, but both the envelope and my passport were a bit mangled-looking when I opened the package from the Embassy.

[DA BOMB 1]

It was burning away at me when I had mine, I WANTED to open but obviously didn't and knew I couldn't.

She can't enter with it in that state, like the others said,time to re-visit the embassy!

Haha... I was (and still am!) vaguely worried that I might accidentally open mine, even though I know you're not supposed to, and have no intention of doing so. I have been handling it very carefully in case I should somehow inadvertently rip that strip of tape off or something.

Yeah, I know that makes no sense at all, but I know what I mean!

I'm kind of amazed it was still properly sealed when I got it - I have no idea what the couriers did with it, but both the envelope and my passport were a bit mangled-looking when I opened the package from the Embassy.

accidentally - like you might sleepwalk and one morning find it opened next to the coffee maker?? lol Serious...we are all like little kids when told not to do something...maybe even more so after this journey ends and you're left with a myserious envelope! DO NOT OPEN!!

[jsmolinski 0]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't know WHY she, or her friend and her, decided to open the "do not open" envelope. I suspect being a little overzealous at finally having our visa. I'm sure most of you are aware. It's a long process.

Like I said, we have time to resolve this, we didn't plan for her to travel until at least a week after her brothers wedding on the 14th. We were holding off on plane tickets until we had the visa in hand. So fortunately we don't have plane tickets to worry about.

Thanks Again

[Bobbie 1]

It was burning away at me when I had mine, I WANTED to open but obviously didn't and knew I couldn't.

She can't enter with it in that state, like the others said,time to re-visit the embassy!

Haha... I was (and still am!) vaguely worried that I might accidentally open mine, even though I know you're not supposed to, and have no intention of doing so. I have been handling it very carefully in case I should somehow inadvertently rip that strip of tape off or something.

Yeah, I know that makes no sense at all, but I know what I mean!

I'm kind of amazed it was still properly sealed when I got it - I have no idea what the couriers did with it, but both the envelope and my passport were a bit mangled-looking when I opened the package from the Embassy.

accidentally - like you might sleepwalk and one morning find it opened next to the coffee maker?? lol Serious...we are all like little kids when told not to do something...maybe even more so after this journey ends and you're left with a myserious envelope! DO NOT OPEN!!

Im laughing so hard I think I can't breathe

[meauxna 15]

My fiance had her interview on the 15th and she just received her visa and documents today. Here is the problem, in her zeal to check out everything in the package from the embassy she opened a envelope, I'm guessing documents for customs, that was marked do not open.

Just to clarify... there are often two big manila envelopes. Are you certain that she opened the one with all her visa paperwork + your petition in it? If you are sure she opened *that* one, yes it was bad. She must go back to her Embassy to have it re-done. This is usually a drop-in procedure, but could take a couple of days, depending on the post.

[Tinker 0]

laughing so hard I have tears in my eyes!!!!

We all need a good laugh through this process!

[Yodrak 7]

jsmolinski,

Point of clarification: That envelope is given to Immigration, not Customs.

Yodrak

Hello,

I'm new to these forums, I found them doing a Google search today. I tried search, but I haven't found any topics on this subject.

My fiance had her interview on the 15th and she just received her visa and documents today. Here is the problem, in her zeal to check out everything in the package from the embassy she opened a envelope, I'm guessing documents for customs, that was marked do not open.

Does anybody know if this is a serious issue? If so what we can do to go about correcting it? We weren't planning on her traveling until April 25th, because as luck would have it her brother is getting married in April so neither of us wants her to miss that.