Question-paranoid or re-seal outside envelope?

[bakphx1 789]

We're having a panic attack, and I think we may be worrying about nothing.  My husband received his visa.  It all came in a gray envelope.  On one side it said "do not open" but it wasn't anything else.  The gray plastic envelope was opened later and it may have been to retrieve the passport, but it was set aside a few months (the first thought was someone in the house had gone into the envelope at some point).    But the regular manilla envelope with all the warnings is inside, pristine, though with an empty blue folder (possibly to carry the manila envelope?).  

 

Calling and emailing the embassy is not helpful. Email got more of a response, while phone calls get me people who have no idea what I'm talking about.  They said that a corner is open intentionally.  This is true of the manila envelope, though my question in the email referred to the gray envelope.  I think they missed that.  They said bring it in ASAP for resealing, which we are about ready to do, but now I think it may be a wasted trip.  If the yellow envelope is pristine, all warnings to hand carry on it, are we good to leave things as is?

[TNJ17 1,329]

Worrying over nothing. It says right there you have to open the plastic envelope to retrieve the passport. How else do you think the airline company, way before you arrive at immigration for checkpoint, is gonna check your passport?

[bakphx1 789]

1 minute ago, TNJ17 said:

Worrying over nothing. It says right there you have to open the plastic envelope to retrieve the passport. How else do you think the airline company, way before you arrive at immigration for checkpoint, is gonna check your passport?

That is the question...he said it came in a bigger white envelope and since it was 3 months ago, can't remember for sure (unfortunately, someone tried to hold him up going to pick it up, but nearby police noticed and saved him from that--but his memory of the more mundane details from that time aren't clear).

[Andrea&Henry 311]

ok! let's see:

 

When I received my visa, I got a gray envelope as well from DHL....of course you have to open it because it contains not only the 'do not open" envelope but also contains the envelope with the passport inside...so you do have to open the plastic package in the 1st place to retrieve your passport.

 

Usually the passport envelope is way smaller than the Do NOT open package to avoid confusion.

 

If the DO NOT open envelope is intact, you HAVE NOTHING to worry about.... You are literally panicking over nothing.

 

Remember he needs to have his passport in hand so he can go through immigration in both countries....ALSO!! the DO NOT OPEN package not only must remain sealed and intact but also needs to be with him at all time... that means it has to be in his carry on luggage. As soon as he checks in customs, an immigration officer will request his passport and the package.

Edited December 7, 2017 by Andrea&Henry

[bakphx1 789]

1 minute ago, Andrea&Henry said:

ok! let's see:

 

When I received my visa, I got a gray envelope as well from DHL....of course you have to open it because it contains not only the 'do not open" envelope but also contains the envelope with the passport inside...so you do have to open the plastic package in the 1st place to retrieve your passport.

 

Usually the passport envelope is way smaller than the Do NOT open package to avoid confusion.

 

If the DO NOT open envelope is intact, you HAVE NOTHING to worry about....

Thanks.  I am thinking so as well, but the gray envelope says "Do Not Open" as well, which is the confusing part.   But from what I read, people only hand over the yellow envelope.  

[bakphx1 789]

8 minutes ago, Andrea&Henry said:

ok! let's see:

 

When I received my visa, I got a gray envelope as well from DHL....of course you have to open it because it contains not only the 'do not open" envelope but also contains the envelope with the passport inside...so you do have to open the plastic package in the 1st place to retrieve your passport.

 

Usually the passport envelope is way smaller than the Do NOT open package to avoid confusion.

 

If the DO NOT open envelope is intact, you HAVE NOTHING to worry about....

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but when reference is made to the "Do Not Open" envelope, that's where the confusion starts as there are two.  One that says do not open, then one that says only to be opened by immigration, hand carry.  Is only the yellow envelope turned over?  That's the question.  I specified it was the gray envelope to the embassy and they said yes to come ASAP, but I think they missed the point of it being the gray envelope.  They talked about a corner being cut, which seems to apply only to the yellow envelope.  It's just confusing because I was specific to the gray envelope, and I think they just were not attentive, but calling just gets me passed around to people who are clueless and give me the number to voice prompts.

 

It's just irritating if I asked the embassy specifically about the gray envelope and they missed that was whole point of the question.  

Edited December 7, 2017 by bakphx1@aol.com

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Just now, bakphx1@aol.com said:

Thanks.  I am thinking so as well, but the gray envelope says "Do Not Open" as well, which is the confusing part.   But from what I read, people only hand over the yellow envelope.  

I edited my original post so read it please....

 

Probably that do not open in the big package (the one that contains both envelopes) was an instructions for the handlers/Currier maybe? Latin america is a crazy thing for sure...

 

As long as he only opened the envelope with his passport and the other one (is wayyyyy bigger) is still sealed and intact, he is good to go...so breathhhhhhhhh!

 

I know this process can be extremely nerve wrenching for sure but you guys are almost there. Once I got my package I was extremely paranoid too, to the point I moved to the States 4 days after I got my package. I lived in one of the most dangerous cities in latin america, so in order to go to the ONLY international airport you have in 200 miles, you have to go through not so loving hoods...I was so scared of being robbed on my way there hahahahaha I hide the package beneath my seat...once I got to the airport I asked my friend to left me at the main entrance and I checked in like right away...I was that paranoid

[bakphx1 789]

2 minutes ago, Andrea&Henry said:

I edited my original post so read it please....

 

Probably that do not open in the big package (the one that contains both envelopes) was an instructions for the handlers/Currier maybe? Latin america is a crazy thing for sure...

 

As long as he only opened the envelope with his passport and the other one (is wayyyyy bigger) is still sealed and intact, he is good to go...so breathhhhhhhhh!

 

I know this process can be extremely nerve wrenching for sure but you guys are almost there. Once I got my package I was extremely paranoid too, to the point I moved to the States 4 days after I got my package. I lived in one of the most dangerous cities in latin america, so in order to go to the ONLY international airport you have in 200 miles, you have to go through not so loving hoods...I was so scared of being robbed on my way there hahahahaha I hide the package beneath my seat...once I got to the airport I asked my friend to left me at the main entrance and I checked in like right away...I was that paranoid

So to ask again, I am not dense I hope, but are you saying the yellow folder is all that is needed?  I haven't seen the whole thing as it comes brand new.  I am hearing only the yellow envelope is all that is needed.  When you talk about multiple envelopes and sizes, I start to get lost as to which is which, if you only refer to sizes and one inside another.  I know there is a yellow envelope, instructions to hand carry, only to be opened by immigration...is that the only thing he needs to bring out of all of this?

[Andrea&Henry 311]

OK....

 

did the grey envelope contained both packages ? the other one that say do not open and the passport?

[bakphx1 789]

Just now, Andrea&Henry said:

OK....

 

did the grey envelope contained both packages ? the other one that say do not open and the passport?

I don't know.  I think the passport came in a separate one, part of the hazy memory on this point.  I think it did, and he remembered incorrectly.  But at POE, do people hand over the just the yellow envelope?

[Andrea&Henry 311]

You have oneeeee big envelope that contains 2 packages:

 

1. small envelope with the passport inside
2. a yellow envelope big and thick that say do not open.

• The "mother envelope" that contains both, must be opened because you must retrieve your passport 
• The yellow thick and heavy one must remained sealed and handed to immigration

better?

Just now, bakphx1@aol.com said:

I don't know.  I think the passport came in a separate one, part of the hazy memory on this point.  I think it did, and he remembered incorrectly.  But at POE, do people hand over the just the yellow envelope?

yes! just the yellow one... and of course the passport...

 

 

[bakphx1 789]

Just now, Andrea&Henry said:

You have oneeeee big envelope that contains 2 packages:

 

1. small envelope with the passport inside
2. a yellow envelope big and thick that say do not open.

• The "mother envelope" that contains both, must be opened because you must retrieve your passport 
• The yellow thick and heavy one must remained sealed and handed to immigration

better?

Yes, what is handed to POE is my concern.  I don't mean to be dense, but he has his passport and his yellow envelope is fine, I thought that was it.  If the embassy gave me some bad info by not carefully reading my question, it gave me a lot more concern than if I hadn't had that detail.  Since there are envelopes within envelopes that I didn't see, any other description throws me off, especially since he can't recall clearly as he retrieved his passport and put the rest away (presumably to avoid all of this confusion).  

[Andrea&Henry 311]

My suggetion is reach out someone from the same country here in Visa journey just to double check that it might not be an extra envelope people from his country receives. Because honestly, from my own experience you just receive 2: 1 small with the psssport and one big with you case...that's it...

[NikLR 13,227]

Manila aka yellow envelope is given to cbp.  He had to get his passport.  He is fine. 

[bakphx1 789]

2 hours ago, NikLR said:

Manila aka yellow envelope is given to cbp.  He had to get his passport.  He is fine. 

We're realizing that now that we've calmed down.  Just as well, he went to the embassy on instructions from the email.  The woman at the entrance was not particularly helpful, we'll put it that way.