URGENT: Need help preventing fradulent visa from proceeding

[CVincent901 22]

Thank you, everyone for the info and suggestions. Today I will be contacting the embassy to withdraw the application and the affidavit of support. One more question. Where do I find the A- number? I can't seem to find it.

[powerpuff 6,697]

6 minutes ago, CVincent901 said:

Thank you, everyone for the info and suggestions. Today I will be contacting the embassy to withdraw the application and the affidavit of support. One more question. Where do I find the A- number? I can't seem to find it.

You can find it on the notices of action you received

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

10 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Perhaps, but the two sides aren't always connected.  The OP should play the "American citizen" card if he's stonewalled:  "Are you a US Citizen?  No?  Well, I am, and I urgently need to be connected to a consul in the IV unit who is physically present to answer the phone."  If still blown off, the OP can ask for the employee's name and supervisor's name, and request the supervisor's transfer of the call to the IV unit.  (This in itself may enable the transfer.)

One would surely hope not, but the cavalier attitude of some of these local staff can prove to be a challenge.

Based on my memory of various queues at various US consulates 

us muggles waiting in line for however long 

someone comes to the front of the line, flashes a US passport and in inside in 5 seconds

[Boiler 45,499]

I only know London, but apart from US Citizens attending interviews with family members or working there why would a US Citizen go to the Consulate.

 

I thought Citizen Services are carried out in the Embassy?

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

8 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I only know London, but apart from US Citizens attending interviews with family members or working there why would a US Citizen go to the Consulate.

 

I thought Citizen Services are carried out in the Embassy?

Um, because they are in the city where the consulate is? Why would you think consulates don’t have services for citizens, especially countries where there is quite a distance between cities.  I’ve never been to the embassy in SA because they don’t do visas, only the consulates do. I attended visa interviews at all 3 consulates at different stages and the above scenario played out every. single. time. Can’t imagine the embassy making someone take a 2 hour flight + 45 minute drive to the embassy because the person lives in Cape Town and they would only help citizens in Pretoria.  Remember very many  countries are bigger than the UK. 

 

edit: actually, I remember I have been to the embassy in SA, but that was for some cocktail party to do with economic relations between the two countries so it doesn’t count for this discussion lol.

 

Edited November 1, 2022 by SusieQQQ

[Boiler 45,499]

UK has 3 Embassy type locations and 2 Consulates.

 

Not sure we know where the OP is but I assumed there would be more locations for US Citizens services in most Countries than Consulates.

 

There may be something specific to where the OP is.

 

 

[JeanneAdil 6,505]

why wait till Thrusday?

 

Go ASAP

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

48 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I only know London, but apart from US Citizens attending interviews with family members or working there why would a US Citizen go to the Consulate.

 

I thought Citizen Services are carried out in the Embassy?

Germany has one US embassy and I think 3 consulates. The Frankfurt consulate even had an extra line for US citizens.

The other way around services for German citizens ( like passports, name changes... ) in the US are carried out at the consulates.

[Mrs. DPK 66]

30 minutes ago, Boiler said:

UK has 3 Embassy type locations and 2 Consulates.

 

Not sure we know where the OP is but I assumed there would be more locations for US Citizens services in most Countries than Consulates.

 

There may be something specific to where the OP is.

 

 

In Peru the only facility Embassy/Consulate is located in Lima, the capital.

 

To the OP— Go there very early in the day when they open. Entry and queue management is done by the security personnel at the front. You may explain to them why you are there, and I think they’ll call someone from the appropriate unit inside.

[Boiler 45,499]

4 minutes ago, Letspaintcookies said:

Germany has one US embassy and I think 3 consulates. The Frankfurt consulate even had an extra line for US citizens.

The other way around services for German citizens ( like passports, name changes... ) in the US are carried out at the consulates.

Interesting, I wonder why they use different termonolgy. If a Consulate is providy US Citizen services then it is logical there would be a different line, different area compared to people going for visas.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

10 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Interesting, I wonder why they use different termonolgy. If a Consulate is providy US Citizen services then it is logical there would be a different line, different area compared to people going for visas.

Like I said ours didn’t even need lines for USCs, they just go to the front of the queue and show their passports. I guess if there are a lot of citizens somewhere it’s different. 
 

Embassy is where the ambassador is based. There is normally only one per country. The consulates are run by consuls and offer various consular services including both visas and various US citizen services (CRBAs, lost passport, etc). The embassy will have all the main ambassadorial business located there including trade and business ties to host country, spies going under diplomatic cover, etc. 

[Lemonslice 4,841]

Different diplomatic missions offer different services, but most/all will offer some level of services to their own citizens.  Even if it's only to refer them elsewhere.

 

[AfroKing 48]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

Like I said ours didn’t even need lines for USCs, they just go to the front of the queue and show their passports. I guess if there are a lot of citizens somewhere it’s different. 
 

Embassy is where the ambassador is based. There is normally only one per country. The consulates are run by consuls and offer various consular services including both visas and various US citizen services (CRBAs, lost passport, etc). The embassy will have all the main ambassadorial business located there including trade and business ties to host country, spies going under diplomatic cover, etc. 

You are 100 Percent correct! Anywhere in world, be it a Consulate or an Embassy(whichever term is used in that particular country), the welfare of the U.S Citizens is topmost priority. As a matter of fact, that's the primary reason they are there. Visa services are secondary to the U.S consulates/Embassies. They might stop visa services BUT will never stop citizens services.

 

Many U.S Foreign offices have different lines or days for citizen services but will never turn back a USC, no matter what. All a USC needs do is just show their passport and they will be granted audience, even with no appointment. So, all OP need do is get there and make his case. If it's something not handled at a particular centre, they will put a call through to the appropriate channel. 

 

Like my consulate, Thursdays are designated for USC appointments but people have seen it multiple times that USC comes around, show a US passport and they are granted entry in a blink

Edited November 1, 2022 by AfroKing

[pushbrk 12,883]

Visa issuance is done by Consular Services which may not even be in the same city as the Embassy.  US Citizen services are provided at Embassies AND Consulates.  For example Guangzhou and Cuidad Juarez have their country's  Immigrant Visa Units, far from the Embassies.  Cebu has Consular Services as does Manila.  In Guangzhou US Citizen Services and the IV unit were in the same regular office building.  I took the escalator up to their floor.  USC services to the left.  IV unit to the right.  If COVID related policies are still in effect, one might need to be a bit more assertive to go in without an appointment but I would not expect them to be denied entry.

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

9 hours ago, Boiler said:

UK has 3 Embassy type locations and 2 Consulates.

 

 

 

For completeness, the UK has one embassy as is usual. The other locations are all consulates (or a “virtual presence”) in one instance). 
 

https://uk.usembassy.gov

 

• U.S. EMBASSY LONDON
  • Embassy of the United States of America

  • 33 Nine Elms Lane

    London, SW11 7US

    United Kingdom

    Phone: [44] (0)20 7499-9000

• U.S. CONSULATES
  • U.S. Consulate General Belfast
  • U.S. Consulate General Edinburgh
  • U.S. Consulate General Hamilton (Island of Bermuda)
  • U.S. Virtual Presence Post Wales