Embassy said "no record" of fiance--Help!

[dana0402 0]

In dealing with my interview aftermath, I've procrastinated in writing about this, but I'd love to see if anyone else has had anything similar happen and how you got out of the situation.

We received our NOA2 in mid-January, I got a letter with the NVC case number at the end of the month. It was forwarded to the US embassy in Cameroon, and they then called Ben and gave him his packet. Ben went out of the country for a few weeks, but when he got back, he got all the paperwork together, did his medical exam, etc. He then went to the embassy to turn in some signed applican't statement that they have them do there, and he was told to come back a month later for his interview (April 13). Note: I guess the embassy in Cameroon doesn't have a separate packet 3 and 4 procedure because he was just told to do it all together.

Well, Ben showed up at 7:30 on Friday morning for his interview, where he was told THEY HAD NO RECORD OF HIM. He was told that they would have to contact the NVC and that they would call him "sometime" to come back for his interview. WHAT??!! I was then able to get in touch with the consulate. Even though I gave his case number, she said they didn't have his info. She said they would contact the NVC and that I should call too. By this time, it was nearing 7:30 am EST, meaning it was 12:30 and time for the embassy to close in Cameroon. I called the NVC, and the woman told me that there was nothing I could do and I just had to wait for the US embassy to contact them.

At that point, I was so frustrated! I sent emails to the general visa box, as well as to the consul and vice-consul at the embassy. While I was disappointed, all I really wanted was for things to be resolved quickly--I just didn't want them to tell us we had to wait another MONTH for an interview (particularly when every one else I know who has gone thorugh that embassy has gotten their interview within 2 weeks). So today, Monday, we got...no response. Nada. Now, I realize that they are extremely busy, but I don't want the case to get lost in the shuffle again. I'm just having a hard time believing that they got his information, gave it to him, and scheduled him for an appointment, all without ever notcing that there was "no record" of him in the system. And I don't understand why she told me to call the NVC when clearly they are the only ones who could do anything.

I realize this was a really long explanation--but has anyone heard of anything similar? How was it resolved? I didn't know if contacting my congressman would help because the problem seems to be on the part of the US embassy now. Suggestions please!!

[kitkat1 5]

Contact your state senator NOW by downloading their privacy form, filling it out and faxing it to them with the details you posted. Call to follow up to find out who is assigned to your case. Get their name, email and direct phone number and keep notes of the conversations so you can follow up. This is their job. Use them to resolve this - there is no reason whatsoever for you to try to manage this ####### alone and they are accustomed to dealing with US embassies and consulates. Good luck.

[ELW 5]

Thanks for the good advise kitkat1! I don’t have anything to offer but say it is utterly ridiculous what the Embassy said. That is unheard of. Praying you’ll get it resolved soon!

[a&o 4]

Did the embassy call him or send him a letter? I'm sure he asked how they could have known about him to call him if they hadn't received his packet? If he had a letter, it's proof that they did receive his case file packet.

Accra has been known to say they lost or don't have a case file but then turn out to have it but just hadn't really looked for it. I would definitely follow the contact your congressperson route on this.

Does the consulate have a US Citizen services office? You might try contacting them with the NVC case number and all the information and ask them to follow up as well.

Good luck!

[mmarlo 1]

I have found plenty of incompetence at the US Embassy in Nairobi, but this is beyond belief. I am curious to know about exactly what the Embassy told him about returning the Packet 3/4 materials. In Kenya, they require you to make an appointment over the phone to return these materials, so if you just went to the Embassy, you would be turned away no matter what, unless you had an appointment. I'm wondering if perhaps this is what happened, and they said they had no record of him having an appointment for that day--not that they have no record of him period.

Does Ben have any copies of the packet that the Embassy had given him. They may have given him a letter, which would have been specific to him and would be proof that they did have a record of him, so if there is a problem it's on their end. This really doesn't make any sense, but it should be fixable--but maybe not as quickly as you would like or as quickly as you and Ben deserve.

The NVC should also have a record of having sent his file, as well as access to the the DHL signature showing that the Embassy did receive the file. There should be enough of a paper trail to get it fixed.

The one concern that occured to me though is: when does your approved petition expire? This was a big concern for Jacinta and me, but eventually we got everything approved--and just in time.

[dana0402 0]

Just wanted to update...

Unfortunately, no big news. I absolutely cannot get in touch with anyone at the embassy--they are terrible about phone calls and emails. I have someone at my congressman's office working on the case now though, so I'm hoping that we'll get it resolved.

Ben was able to go to the embassy this morning. The woman said that she had contacted the NVC twice with no response yet, so she'd try again. I have no clue what's going on! They also never gave Ben a letter confirming his interview--just assigned him a date. The whole thing is just super convoluted and too long to even tell the whole story. I'm keeping really good records of everything that is going on and that people are saying--I hope it will push things through faster.

Thanks for your support everyone, I'll definitely keep you posted!

[ELW 5]

Thanks for the update. Did you guys give copies of all the correspondance with them (including interview letter)? And maybe a copy of origional I129F too? Certainly they have his case! They just LOST it! So I don't understand why they are contacting the NVC about it. They need to get off their %%&&!! and start searching around their office! At least your congressman is looking into it. Sure hope it is resolved soon, again, good luck!

[kitkat1 5]

Just wanted to update...

Unfortunately, no big news. I absolutely cannot get in touch with anyone at the embassy--they are terrible about phone calls and emails. I have someone at my congressman's office working on the case now though, so I'm hoping that we'll get it resolved.

Ben was able to go to the embassy this morning. The woman said that she had contacted the NVC twice with no response yet, so she'd try again. I have no clue what's going on! They also never gave Ben a letter confirming his interview--just assigned him a date. The whole thing is just super convoluted and too long to even tell the whole story. I'm keeping really good records of everything that is going on and that people are saying--I hope it will push things through faster.

Thanks for your support everyone, I'll definitely keep you posted!

Dana

Contact your state senator NOW. This is their job

[chispas 0]

Ask for a guy named Thierry. Thierry speaks both French and English and he was the one who helped me when I was in Cameroon. There is another woman named Gladys who had a prominent position in the Embassy who might still be there. If they can't find his paperwork, it might be that it is just sitting on someone's desk and they have not put it back where it is supposed to be. Lastly, check the last name. My husband used his own name not the family name first, so they kept addressing him as his name not the family name. One question, who took the paperwork at the Embassy? Was it the people outside or the person inside? When you turn in a pack, they normally give you a receipt which they use as a tracker there.

Good Luck

[MaRob 0]

Just wanted to update...

Unfortunately, no big news. I absolutely cannot get in touch with anyone at the embassy--they are terrible about phone calls and emails. I have someone at my congressman's office working on the case now though, so I'm hoping that we'll get it resolved.

Ben was able to go to the embassy this morning. The woman said that she had contacted the NVC twice with no response yet, so she'd try again. I have no clue what's going on! They also never gave Ben a letter confirming his interview--just assigned him a date. The whole thing is just super convoluted and too long to even tell the whole story. I'm keeping really good records of everything that is going on and that people are saying--I hope it will push things through faster.

Thanks for your support everyone, I'll definitely keep you posted!

I know this is not very helpful to you, but I am glad you are sharing your experience with everyone. I have been to Cameroon twice and the embassy once (you know they just got a new one, very nice building)... but that doesn't change the people working there.. No offense, but your post makes me glad that my fiance is in Germany... all the best luck to you, and I hope they find his papers, and give him the visa just for the trouble they have caused you guys...

[LovinLiberia 0]

Wow...sorry that I can't offer any specific help, but I do want to say that I am sorry for the frustration and inconveniences they are putting you through. I truly hope this gets resolved as soon as possible. Best of luck.

[dana0402 0]

Well, the woman I am working with at my Congressman's office apparently only works three days a week, so I'm trying to do a little legwork too. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, right? I've been having a ton of trouble getting through to the embassy to talk to anyone or get responses to emails, but I figured the more people working on it, the better, and it can't hurt to have a paper trail. So, last night I again emailed the embassy and the head of the consulate and I at least got a response. It's not great news, but at least I have an idea of what's going on. Here's what he said:

"In short, the problem is that the "transfer" of case information from the NVC to post is done electronically. Typically, this occurs without any delay or problem - which is why we had already begun working with your fiance.

My strong suspicion is that this normally uneventful transfer was disrupted by difficulties that our Embassy has been experiencing. Last week we lost our main satellite connection, and were relying on a much smaller dish to run the entire Embassy. This badly disrupted many other consular operations (visas) - which also made it hard for us to keep up with correspondence. We are hoping to stabilize our connection to the US - which I hope will allow NVC to retransmit the case - which I suspect is the problem.

Again, sorry for the delay. We are working on the problem and will update you ASAP."

So, we'll see how things go from here....

[ELW 5]

Yes, at least you have some idea of what is going on now. Sounds like they are having a nightmare down at that Consulate. Hopefully it can be resolved as soon as possible and your guy can get his visa! Praying for you!!

[LovinLiberia 0]

Well, at least that sounds much better than "we just misplaced it". Hope they fix their issues soon...

[mmarlo 1]

Good luck, and keep us posted!