Today I called DOS to check the status of my AP case and instead of usual "still under review" all of a sudden I was told about new activity in the embassy with my case. I was so carried away with that information so even forgot to ask if the case is still in AP. So I called back and another operator not only did not confirm the information which I received earlier but actually said that they don't such information. I called again and another operator said same thing that there was no any information in the database that I was referring to.

What's the hell is going on over there??? I've read here before that one operator tells you "Congrats! you got approved" and at the same time the other one would say "no, you are not approved. the case is still under AP".

Isn't it bizarre?

Tell me about it.

DOS is NOT RELIABLE. So it's not our problem if we call 5X a day and get told conflicting information. I haven't been told off yet for calling DOS often, but if they ever dare tell me off, I will have an answer!!!

It's NOT bizarre. I called every day during July 2008 and got wildly varying answers. In fact, on my BIRTHDAY, I had the "pleasure" of reaching the worst one (a woman named B.J. or V.J.), who told me that we were in full-blown AP and not to call back for months! This was 100% false. I will never forgive or forget her for that. As several experienced immigration attorneys told me during that time, you need to call your consulate for the truth, and not rely on DOS. As a footnote, I did have a chance to call the consulate in early August 2008, and I managed to speak with the Immigrant Visa Unit's Section Chief himself, and my case finally got off the dime and out of that incompetent hellhole.

It's nice that you called the consulate and solved the issue. London makes it nearly impossible to contact them, and it is only through email if you do manage to get a hold of the special code to email them, and even then, it is up to them to respond...

What a bummer about London, si man. Well, I had to play the "U.S. citizen" card constantly: "Are you a U.S. citizen? No? Then you cannot POSSIBLY understand the gravity of this situation. Put me through to an AMERICAN in the Immigrant Visa Unit immediately."

Wow this all amazes me, I had nothing but good experiences with DOS. Jessica and Sarah are the ABSOLUTE best over there, if you can ever speak with them, they will be VERY helpful. Then again also had great experience with the Dakar embassy, emails typically returned within 24 hours. I never did call them but never really felt the need to. Anyways, I am so sorry that y'all are struggling so with DOS, I pray you receive nothing but true and acurate information from this point forward - and that you always get Sarah or Jessica on the line when you call.

I'm wondering why did DOS set up this call center if they don't provide any information or if they do it's a conflicting information. What a waste of taxpayers money!

They've extend pre-recorded information from 2 minutes to 4 minutes.

You can bypass that, after dialing the DOS #, press 1 then 0 consecutively as soon as you hear the first words of the recordings.

Oh, good to know. Thanks.