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| Tokyo, Japan |  Review on April 16, 2009: |
ShokoySirena
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Tokyo embassy received our approval letter from NVC on January 5, 2009. We received our packet 3 (requested/sent original divorce decree, original birth certificate which is not late registered, and copy of current passport) from Tokyo embassy on January 9, 2009. Pretty straightforward so far huh? And so we wait......
January 29, we receive a preliminary interview letter/form requesting Baptismal certificate, previous passports, school records, all old/new ID cards, evidence of ongoing relationship.  WHY???? But without hesitation or complaints, all documents requested were sent back to Tokyo embassy on February 10. And we wait again...... FOR 1 MONTH!!!!!!
March 10, after weekly follow up E-mails via appointment request page on Tokyo embassy website, we are finally granted an interview for March 23. We receive 221g after the interview requesting for another NBI clearance with beneficiary's married name from the Philippines. We were "promised" by the interviewing consular officer, who was very nice and polite, that once the embassy receives the above requested document, we would receive our visa within 5 days. We scramble and we were able to send the requested document on April 3. And we wait again.........
April 8, we e-mail Tokyo embassy asking for the status of our visa. No reply!!!
April 14, we call to follow up with our prior e-mail inquiry. Received a call back from the embassy on April 15, embassy representative stated that our visa was sent out "today". We track our packet online, still not in the system.
April 16, online tracking of EXPack still not in the system. We call the embassy again to follow up. Again, embassy rep states "it was sent out yesterday." We've lost ALL patience at this point, and have become firm, assertive, persistent, and confrontational up to a point! Low and behold, one hour after our conversation with the embassy rep, our EXPack shows up in the online tracking system of Japan Post!!!
102 days to receive visa. FAIL! Y12,900 or $129 total cost of third party message service to follow up with our case, because Tokyo embassy does not allow direct incoming inquiry calls "for security reasons" FAIL! Misinformation from interviewing consular officer, "promising" our visa "within 5 days," of receiving requested documents. FAIL! Misinformation from embassy representative stating that our visa "was sent out today." FAIL!
Tokyo Embassy...FAIL!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #4237