Has someone tampered with my MBE?

[RaTBoX 1]

Hi there,

I've just received my K1 Visa and envelope with immigration papers in it for the Immigration Officer.

I'm a bit concerned about the envelope itself. There is a ink stamped seal over the flap of the envelope, with a signature over the seal, but what worries me is that there is also a piece of scotch tape over the flap of the envelope and the seal, so it looks like the envelope has been opened and scotch taped shut. I don't know if the envelope is sealed properly under the scotch tape, and the tape is only there to remove the ink seal if the envelope is open.

Is this supposed to be the case? I am worried that an immigration officer will assume (incorrectly) that I have opened the envelope and resealed it with tape myself.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Bruce's looked EXACTLY like that and as he's now over here with me in America (well, I'm in the UK this week, but you get my drift!) I assume yours will be just fine.

Deep breaths!

[RaTBoX 1]

Well that's somewhat of a relief!

Thanks

[Lou Lou 1]

Am I the only one who thought of the other MBE? I've been out of the visa loop too long.

[Lansbury 19]

That's ok mine was just the same. It also protects the ink seal from being rubbed off in your bag etc.

[featherB 1]

Am I the only one who thought of the other MBE? I've been out of the visa loop too long.

Nope, I thought of the other kind of MBE (have only seen the envelope abbreviated like that on here very recently!) too, and it took me a while to go 'oh yeah!'.... but anyway, mine also had the scotch tape thing going on (definitely that cloudy-looking scotch tape, not sellotape!) as well, so I think it must be the Embassy's special high-tech way of sealing all that paperwork into its envelope!

Congrats on the visa, RaTBoX!

[RaTBoX 1]

Just for anyone who may be interested, I got the following response from the State Department about my query re: scotch tape on my visa envelope:

The Immigrant Visa Unit seal the envelope with an ink stamp and sign it. As a matter of routine, the envelope is then sealed with sellotape. In the unlikely event that you do experience problems at the port of entry, please request the Customs and Border Protection officer to contact the Embassy.

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence.

Consular Information Unit

U.S. Embassy, London

CONS/CIU/SF

[Mags 112]

Just for anyone who may be interested, I got the following response from the State Department about my query re: scotch tape on my visa envelope:

The Immigrant Visa Unit seal the envelope with an ink stamp and sign it. As a matter of routine, the envelope is then sealed with sellotape. In the unlikely event that you do experience problems at the port of entry, please request the Customs and Border Protection officer to contact the Embassy.

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence.

Consular Information Unit

U.S. Embassy, London

CONS/CIU/SF

Mine also had the cellotape across it. I did freak for a split second because the seal on my envelope was misaligned. It DID actually look like it had been sealed and then re-opened. I had so much other stuff to worry about though I put it to the back of my mind and forgot about it. Turns out the IO at POE didn't even bat an eyelid.

I actually think it had been sealed and then slipped slightly but, hey, who knows!

[Lansbury 19]

The guys at the POE must see these envelopes all the time from all different Embassies, I bet unless it is open when they get it they wouldn't really know if it had been opend or not. If everything else is anything to go by the Embassies do not all do things the same way you can bet the sealing of the envelopes is different as well.