Consulate Lied About Courier Service? Expensive!

[Adam and Marcela 0]

I just found this site today... after *almost* completing the k-1 process. I had no idea what i was doing when i submitted the original I-129F and have had no problems at all until now. My application received date was March 31, 2007. My fiance just had her interview today, Sept 20, 2007, and was approved. Finally! I have only seen her twice since January! Thats a long time to be away from your fiance (as everyone here knows!).

I have had no problems with the process, the wait was long, but they never rejected us, or asked for more information.

My soon to be wife wanted to fly to Prague, have the interview, wait a day for the visa, then fly to London to see her sister who are currently there. She planned to stay in London for about a week then fly here (Boston).

I sent an e-mail to the Consulate in Prague, where her interview was scheduled, and asked if she could just stay there a day or two and pick up the visa, or if it could be sent to London, and asked how long it would take to get there. They replied to me that she could not pick it up, as the processing time was 24 hours, and they did not have time to hand them out. They said it was not a good idea to have it sent to London, and it would be mailed to Presov, Slovakia (Where she is from).

Based on the information we purchased a airfare from Slovakia to Prague on for the 19th (She had her physical on the 19th) and the return airfare for the 20th at 5 pm. Her interview was scheduled for the 20th at 9 am. The interview went fine, although it was moved to 12pm. When the interview was finished they told her she had to pick up the visa between 9 and 11 on the next day! She asked about the courier service, that they already made her pay about $100 for and they told her that the document was "too important for the service" and she had to come back.

We lost the fare on the plane, had to pay for another night at a hotel, pay for a train ticket (no more plane tickets left for the next day), paid a courier for nothing, and canceled the trip to London. My fiance did not bring sufficient funds for all of this, and ran out of money on her cell phone in the process of making arrangements. We had a lot of trouble finding a hotel, as most were sold out. It was a horrible day for both of us.

Has anyone had similar experiences? I feel that I was lied to by the consulate, and they put my fiance in a bad situation.

I am excited that the time is finally here, and she is coming! I just want to get this story out there, and warn others about the consulate in Prague.

She will finally get here on Sunday Sept 30th!!!!!!!!

[polarbear 0]

I just found this site today... after *almost* completing the k-1 process. I had no idea what i was doing when i submitted the original I-129F and have had no problems at all until now. My application received date was March 31, 2007. My fiance just had her interview today, Sept 20, 2007, and was approved. Finally! I have only seen her twice since January! Thats a long time to be away from your fiance (as everyone here knows!).

I have had no problems with the process, the wait was long, but they never rejected us, or asked for more information.

My soon to be wife wanted to fly to Prague, have the interview, wait a day for the visa, then fly to London to see her sister who are currently there. She planned to stay in London for about a week then fly here (Boston).

I sent an e-mail to the Consulate in Prague, where her interview was scheduled, and asked if she could just stay there a day or two and pick up the visa, or if it could be sent to London, and asked how long it would take to get there. They replied to me that she could not pick it up, as the processing time was 24 hours, and they did not have time to hand them out. They said it was not a good idea to have it sent to London, and it would be mailed to Presov, Slovakia (Where she is from).

Based on the information we purchased a airfare from Slovakia to Prague on for the 19th (She had her physical on the 19th) and the return airfare for the 20th at 5 pm. Her interview was scheduled for the 20th at 9 am. The interview went fine, although it was moved to 12pm. When the interview was finished they told her she had to pick up the visa between 9 and 11 on the next day! She asked about the courier service, that they already made her pay about $100 for and they told her that the document was "too important for the service" and she had to come back.

We lost the fare on the plane, had to pay for another night at a hotel, pay for a train ticket (no more plane tickets left for the next day), paid a courier for nothing, and canceled the trip to London. My fiance did not bring sufficient funds for all of this, and ran out of money on her cell phone in the process of making arrangements. We had a lot of trouble finding a hotel, as most were sold out. It was a horrible day for both of us.

Has anyone had similar experiences? I feel that I was lied to by the consulate, and they put my fiance in a bad situation.

I am excited that the time is finally here, and she is coming! I just want to get this story out there, and warn others about the consulate in Prague.

She will finally get here on Sunday Sept 30th!!!!!!!!

On a more happy note, congratulations on receiving the visa and that you will finally be reunited with your love!!!

Unfortunately, most people on this site have learned that you can't really trust the dates and times completely from the consulates, always kinda expect a few delays... buying airfare based on that information is a bad idea

Don't want to sound bitter, but I think you were lucky your fiancee comes from a country where they receive the visa right after the interview and approval instead of sending it for more checks and such. I would just put it behind you and concentrate on your fiance's arrival

[Jaseball 0]

First the important thing...Congrats!

Next, man that story is insane. It would stink to go through that and it is pretty stupid for them to have you waste money, but at least your process was smooth and you will be reunited soon. Make sure she keeps her papers safe and make sure she doesn't open any packet she needs to turn in at the POE.

[charlie_brown 0]

Maybe she needed a little extra cash.

[Jaseball 0]

Maybe she needed a little extra cash.

Guess they didn't ban the account yet.

[Adam and Marcela 0]

I do feel lucky that everything went smoothly. It just seems wrong that when you have a fiance that you really do want to marry that you need to wait so long, and go through so much. It is getting easier for illegal immigrants that for people that want to be legit. It also is much different that when my fiance's aunt and uncle came and were given citizenship automatically because the country was communist then.

I am very excited! I cant wait for her to come!