What is the Brown Envelope

[mollyreyna 0]

Hi, I posted this in the Moving to America forum, but maybe it's better here since it is country-specific...

What is the brown envelope and when do you get it?

I wanted to buy (refundable) plane tickets already, and I need to know how long it takes to get this mysterious envelope. With an interview date of July 24, I was hoping to buy a July 28 ticket. Is this completely out of the question?

Thanks!

[Eveline 9]

I had my medical the day before the interview (I saw that you did it just like that) and my visa and the envelope were there two weeks later. I wouldn't buy a ticket too close to the interview date.

Good luck.

[AnnaF 0]

Our interview is on September 11th, and we bought a non-refundable ticket for September 13th!

Are we in trouble?

[mollyreyna 0]

Our interview is on September 11th, and we bought a non-refundable ticket for September 13th!

Are we in trouble?

Are you going through the American Consulate in Italy? Are you flying out of Italy?

We bought a ticket for a couple of days after the interview but we were missing something so my husband ended up missing his flight. We had to pay a 150 euro penalty to change his flight date.

Usually even with a non-refundable flight you can change the date for a penalty. You should look into that with your carrier to see if that's their policy.

I think that if you're very confident that you have everything, you'll be fine. We knew that we were missing something since my husband lost his original birth certificate right before the interview.

[AnnaF 0]

Thank you, mollyreyna! Yes, we are interviewing in Naples, Italy and flying out of Italy.

I was surprised to read about this brown envelope, as even in our Packet 3 it said that if visa is granted, it is usually granted that same day. We will triple-check to make sure we have everything.

Our interview is on September 11th, and we bought a non-refundable ticket for September 13th!

Are we in trouble?

Are you going through the American Consulate in Italy? Are you flying out of Italy?

We bought a ticket for a couple of days after the interview but we were missing something so my husband ended up missing his flight. We had to pay a 150 euro penalty to change his flight date.

Usually even with a non-refundable flight you can change the date for a penalty. You should look into that with your carrier to see if that's their policy.

I think that if you're very confident that you have everything, you'll be fine. We knew that we were missing something since my husband lost his original birth certificate right before the interview.

[mollyreyna 0]

Thank you, mollyreyna! Yes, we are interviewing in Naples, Italy and flying out of Italy.

I was surprised to read about this brown envelope, as even in our Packet 3 it said that if visa is granted, it is usually granted that same day. We will triple-check to make sure we have everything.

Our interview is on September 11th, and we bought a non-refundable ticket for September 13th!

Are we in trouble?

Are you going through the American Consulate in Italy? Are you flying out of Italy?

We bought a ticket for a couple of days after the interview but we were missing something so my husband ended up missing his flight. We had to pay a 150 euro penalty to change his flight date.

Usually even with a non-refundable flight you can change the date for a penalty. You should look into that with your carrier to see if that's their policy.

I think that if you're very confident that you have everything, you'll be fine. We knew that we were missing something since my husband lost his original birth certificate right before the interview.

No problem! At the Naples Consulate they usually give you the visa the same day as the interview, if you are approved. The brown envelope is handed to you at the same time as the visa. Make sure you and your spouse don't open the envelope! It has to be sealed when you present it at Immigration at the airport.