Trouble with the Consulate in Naples, ITALY

[sean&gabi 1]

How it all began:

Nebraska processed everything faster than imagined. Then I get the NVC letter... yippeee!!

This is right where our situation ran into some issues:

November '05 I get the NVC letter. We wait 2 or three weeks and still hear nothing from the Consulate in Naples. I figure, hey, it's holiday season... everyone who works at the Consulate is on vacation... I tell myself I'll just contact them a few days after New Years.

I send emails. I send fax. I try to call. Nothing. I couldn't contact anyone in person. By now it's the end of January and no reply from the Consulate. Then, one of my last desperate emails to the Consulate produced results... but only just. My email, which contained 2 or three questions about the status of our packet, was answered with nothing but an attachment containing the interview .pdf files. Not one word was typed!!!

Well, this angered me to say the least. Then Gabi phones the Consulate and FINALLY got a breathing person... but only just. Gabi spoke with a Consulate operator and he didn't know anything and wouldn't put her through to anyone that did. He said, "...just keep sending emails, don't worry, keep trying." Now I was FURIOUS.

I then contacted my local state senator's office. Let me tell you all something.... after my senator's office contacted those lazy S.O.B.s in Naples, someone from the Consulate was calling Gabi's cell phone after ONE DAY. They said to her, "Gabi, when are you coming to the Consulate for your interview? We've been waiting for your reply!"

Those ****ers told Gabi that they had sent both Gabi and myself notices in the mail. Untrue. My senator's office also sent me a copy of the email they received from the Consulate. Whoever wrote the email at that Consulate lied and said they had sent numerous emails to me.

It just stands to show that you must consider human error into all of this... none of this is as cut and dried as it seems.

Gabi's interview was last week... she got the Visa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sean

ps-- when in doubt, CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR!!!

Edited March 26, 2006 by sean&gabi

[bubba1 0]

ps-- when in doubt, CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR!!!

How did you motivate your senator to get this done? Moscow has been giving me a ton of #######, even blew off the inquiry from the senator I contacted. The aide to whom I have been assigned just says "oh well, I'll email them again in two weeks".

[sean&gabi 1]

Sorry to hear that.

What I did was contact my senator's office. The woman there who handles these things told me to send a very professional, formal letter asking the senator for his help. That's what I did and then a day later the woman called me back asking for a few more details. After that it was smooth...

Hmmmm...... I would ask to speak with a different aide or maybe petition a different senetor if thing are not going well.

It's amazing that the American Consulate in Moscow blew off the senator, because in a way the people there could lose their jobs doing stuff like that... I guess it depends on who the senator is, how long they have been in the senate, etc. Mine has quite a bit of influence.

Edited March 27, 2006 by sean&gabi

[mrswooten4ever 0]

Gabi's interview was last week... she got the Visa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sean

ps-- when in doubt, CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR!!!

Congrats on the visa! Amazing what the right person and a bit of clout can do!

Good Luck

Adele

[shannon65 2]

Thanks....I guess I won't worry yet....would love to attend that interview...but costs $1300 to fly over there and just did that a few months ago!

[Mand 1]

Gabi's interview was last week... she got the Visa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sean

ps-- when in doubt, CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR!!!

Congrats! ...a little bit of political muscle goes a long way!

[sean&gabi 1]

Thanks....I guess I won't worry yet....would love to attend that interview...but costs $1300 to fly over there and just did that a few months ago!

Shannon, find a cheap flight to London (Gatwick airport), take an easyjet (www.easyjet.com) to Rome and hop on a train to Napoli.... sounds complicated by American standards but it's much easier than it sounds!

easyjet flights from London to Italy are anywhere from $40-$120 one way, depending on when you buy. Add this up and you can have a trip for less than $700-800.

Sean

[shannon65 2]

Thanks....I guess I won't worry yet....would love to attend that interview...but costs $1300 to fly over there and just did that a few months ago!

Shannon, find a cheap flight to London (Gatwick airport), take an easyjet (www.easyjet.com) to Rome and hop on a train to Napoli.... sounds complicated by American standards but it's much easier than it sounds!

easyjet flights from London to Italy are anywhere from $40-$120 one way, depending on when you buy. Add this up and you can have a trip for less than $700-800.

Sean

Thanks, but I meant to Korea - know of any good deals to there?

[sean&gabi 1]

Oops....oh gosh, should've been paying closer attention....

sorry......

Edited March 27, 2006 by sean&gabi