stuck on Amsterdam consulate website

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

To not clog up the July 2018 NOA2 > NVC thread any further and maybe get some new insights I decided to make a new thread with my problem. Bear with me, it's a long story.

 

Background:

I'm going through the K1 visa process as the beneficiary. NOA-2 was on July 10th and NVC sent the documents on to the embassy quite quickly. I got the P3 on Friday 27th through email and was able to send all the requested documents back within the hour.

 

Got my P4 on Friday 7-27 through email.

Quote

This office is ready to begin final processing of the fiancé visa  K1/ immigrant visa applicant(s) named below in this case.

You may now schedule a visa interview appointment via https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-nl/iv/information/k_visa  at the Immigrant Visa section, U.S. Consulate General in Amsterdam.

I went to the link and created an account. I went through all the steps and came to the schedule appointment page. I was unable to make an appointment as everything was grey. I emailed the consulate asking if I did anything wrong or if there were just no dates available. Consulate mailed me back saying there was an available timeslot on the 14th of august. I replied with a screenshot I had no such availability on my screen. They replied that they had booked the interview for me on the 14th at 2pm. I was ecstatic!

Went back though the website to finish registering. Paid for express delivery so the visa would be delivered sooner. And then there were no more steps. I had not yet paid my fee and I knew from others that you need to pay the fee beforehand or you cant go on interview. So I emailed the consulate again that I had not gotten a chance to pay the fee. It was late on Friday so I figured it'd have to wait till Monday.

 

On Monday I was worried, but busy at work so I wasn't able to do much. I tried calling the consulate but they have a very elaborate menu that will take you through a million different things and eventually break the connection or bring you back to the startmenu.

 

On Tuesday I called the websites helpdesk. They were on the phone with me a long time, asking all sorts of questions as the didn't understand why I had passed by the pay the fee part. After half an hour we started going through the registration parts and they said I was logged in as a IV in stead of an NIV? He told me I needed to delete my account and re-register and do it all again. He asked me if I needed help and I told him I'd try to sort it out myself first. So I tried, and couldn't get it done. So on Wednesday I called back and he helped me delete my account and help me make a new one. He couldn't. My email was already registered. So I made a new email on the spot and I was able to re-register. Then it asked to add the applicant and we got stuck again as it kept telling me I was already in the system. He told me I needed to send another email to the email address I used yesterday to 'escalate' the problem and to find out what is going on. So I did that.

 

On Thursday I send them an email telling them I was eagerly waiting their reply. I got an email back stating I needed to make sure I was on the IV part of the website (that was not what your phone operator told me before!!!) create an account and follow the steps.

I replied to them with screenshots that I was unable to do so and asked the case to be escalated like their phone operator told me.

 

By this time I hadn't heard anything from the consulate anymore so I decided to send them a new email, explaining I was getting very unhelpful answers from the helpdesk and asking them if I could just come in on the 14th and pay my fee there on the spot.

 

On Friday the consulate replied instructing me to click on the continue button, adding a screenshot of a button I do not have. I emailed them back that I do not have such button.

 

On Monday the consulate replied again asking me to click on the continue button and proceed to enter the delivery address. The underlined text gives me the impression they are a bit tired of dealing with me. Understandably as I am getting a bit fed up with this fiasco too.

 

Meanwhile I emailed the websites helpdesk asking after the status of my request. I did not get a reply so I called and got the same helpful guy again. He said the case was probably escalated by now (no ...) and he couldn't get to it anymore, but he would make a call and see if he could get me some information. I didn't hear back from him.

 

On Tuesday, which is today, 11 days after my initial email to the consulate asking for help on paying the fee, I still got nothing.

I emailed the websites helpdesk that I am still waiting for a reply to my initial request for help that I filed on July 27th. I received another email from them 2 hours later with the same 'create an account' drivel and I am suspecting those are automated answering scripts. I called the helpdesk again and spoke to the same guy. He sighed, and told me he'd go see if someone was available. I was on hold for a minute and he aid no one was, but He'd email his supervisor and asked me to call back in an hour.

 

I don't know what to do anymore.

I have no steps available in the website cause my old account was 'deleted'. I can't create a new one cause my old information is still floating somewhere stopping me from re-entering my data. I'm unable to speak to a human being at the consulate. The helpdesk is sending me scripted auto replies. And the only human person I am able to speak to has no freaking clue what I need to do.

 

My initial interview date of the 14th is coming up fast. I intend to just go and see what happens.

 

 

[TNJ17 1,329]

Keep trying the website every day until the date of your interview. Then just go your interview and talk to people there. If all you’re missing is the fee (some embassies make you pay the fee at the embassy) there might be something you can do. If not you’ll at least be in the embassy where they can help you out. 

[HoosierEh 21]

Hi,

 

I won't make any jokes about trying to turn it on and off again  ... perhaps you need to make sure your browser is updated and allow the site to set cookies. 

 

Good luck 

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

2 minutes ago, HoosierEh said:

Hi,

 

I won't make any jokes about trying to turn it on and off again  ... perhaps you need to make sure your browser is updated and allow the site to set cookies. 

 

Good luck 

Lol. Make jokes all you want. I'd rather laugh than cry about it.

But seriously. Cookies are accepted. I've worked on this from my home computer, my work computer, my phone and my moms computer. Even used different browsers. Nothing has helped so far.

[SerbCA 86]

As my fellow december 22 noa1-er, I'm so sad to see you going through this at the very end of our journey, and really hope that if nothing else, you go on the 14th and they let you through.

 

I'm having little issues of my own, just today I learned that the certificate I got was a wrong one (need a specific police one), which I am getting on thursday thankfully, and I also found out that the Belgrade embassy schedules k1 interviews themselves, and they emailed me today saying they scheduled mine for next monday (august 13th). I got a bit freaked out because I was hoping to schedule it around the begining of september, since my fiance would like to attend (and he is also bringing all the supporting documents with him), so waiting to hear back from them about my date change.

 

All I can tell you is what you've told so many others in the months past, hang in there, we're so freaking close that you can almost taste the finish line 😋, and I know we'll sbe with our loved ones soon enough ❤️

[Kiolas 103]

@Little_Vixen  Wow, your situation is so frustrating!😓

 

Ask your husband to contact a Congressman or a Senator, it may help.

 

 

3 hours ago, TNJ17 said:

Keep trying the website every day until the date of your interview. Then just go your interview and talk to people there. If all you’re missing is the fee (some embassies make you pay the fee at the embassy) there might be something you can do. If not you’ll at least be in the embassy where they can help you out. 

TNJ17 gave you a great advice! As a final option, you may be able to pay fee at the embassy.

 

Is there any chance to go to the embassy in person prior to your appointment? I'm not sure if they let you in without appointment, but maybe you can try.

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

19 minutes ago, Kiolas said:

Is there any chance to go to the embassy in person prior to your appointment? I'm not sure if they let you in without appointment, but maybe you can try.

I actually did. I was in Amsterdam for the medical last week, but they wouldn't let me in. 

[Kiolas 103]

@Little_Vixen Great job! 👍

 

Well, then ask your husband to try Congressman or Senator option. You need to act quickly, only 1 week left.

[TNJ17 1,329]

1 hour ago, Kiolas said:

@Little_Vixen  Wow, your situation is so frustrating!😓

 

Ask your husband to contact a Congressman or a Senator, it may help.

 

 

TNJ17 gave you a great advice! As a final option, you may be able to pay fee at the embassy.

 

Is there any chance to go to the embassy in person prior to your appointment? I'm not sure if they let you in without appointment, but maybe you can try.

Unfortunately no. You always need an appointment. 

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

Small update. There's movement!

Got an email this morning from a tech manager at the consulate asking for my DS number so he could enter it in the system himself. Hopefully he will be able to figure out what the problem is soon.

 

 

The email at the bottom cracked me up though:

Quote

Jennifer,

please ask Marc if we should request some help from John on this case. *

*names altered

[vaksurik 106]

Hey Little Vixen, I'm so sorry to hear about this craziness!!! I can't believe hard it is get one little thing fixed. We haven't been able to make our appointment at the consulate yet...unfortunately my fiancé had a death in the family and everything had to go on hold for awhile. I hope this all clears up for you soon, and I hope we won't have similar issues when making the appoinment. Maybe my fiancé will see you at the Consulate when it's all ironed out! Best of luck and keep us updated ❤️ 

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

2 hours ago, vaksurik said:

Hey Little Vixen, I'm so sorry to hear about this craziness!!! I can't believe hard it is get one little thing fixed. We haven't been able to make our appointment at the consulate yet...unfortunately my fiancé had a death in the family and everything had to go on hold for awhile. I hope this all clears up for you soon, and I hope we won't have similar issues when making the appoinment. Maybe my fiancé will see you at the Consulate when it's all ironed out! Best of luck and keep us updated ❤️ 

I am so sorry to hear this. My condolences. 😢

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

I never heard back from the embassy after the email this morning. So at around closing time I called the helpdesk again. The guy checked the system and said the account was completely deleted this time and was ready to add a new account. I told him Id appreciate it if he'd walk me through the steps, which he did. And it worked! He made an account on the IMMIGRANT VISA part of the website, and then continued with a Kvisa twice. I'm pretty sure thats what i did the first time, but whatever. We got it fixed! I was directed to the pay your fee page, which I did promptly, and now I am waiting for that to clear before I can move on and re schedule my interview. That will probably be the 21st in stead of the 14th but so be it. 

[naomieliza 35]

2 hours ago, Little_Vixen said:

I never heard back from the embassy after the email this morning. So at around closing time I called the helpdesk again. The guy checked the system and said the account was completely deleted this time and was ready to add a new account. I told him Id appreciate it if he'd walk me through the steps, which he did. And it worked! He made an account on the IMMIGRANT VISA part of the website, and then continued with a Kvisa twice. I'm pretty sure thats what i did the first time, but whatever. We got it fixed! I was directed to the pay your fee page, which I did promptly, and now I am waiting for that to clear before I can move on and re schedule my interview. That will probably be the 21st in stead of the 14th but so be it. 

That’s so good for you!! 

But I’m really confused now. Not sure if I have to do non immigrant or immigrant.

Does package 3 or 4 say where you need to go on the site or not?

Edited August 8, 2018 by naomieliza

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

12 hours ago, naomieliza said:

That’s so good for you!! 

But I’m really confused now. Not sure if I have to do non immigrant or immigrant.

Does package 3 or 4 say where you need to go on the site or not?

To be honest. I cant tell you. My process was so confusing I don't dare to give you any clear advice.

Your P4 gives you a link to a website with clear instructions which I am sure I followed but it still got messed up.

Don't be too shy to call the websites helpdesk at 020 2410364 (option 2 for dutch, 3 for immigrant visa, 6 for k visa, 1 to speak to someone). You will most likely talk to Dae. tell him I told you he is the best help ever and ask him for guidance. He is brilliant.