Any tips on communicating with NVC by phone?

[Blake and Jeanie 4]

Ok, this might sound stupid but I need some advice on how to talk to NVC reps to get ANY information out of them. From reading VJ members' posts, I get the feeling that they are way more informed regarding their cases than I am. When my husband calls, he gets either some rude, uninformed b**** or somebody, whose vocabulary is limited to a couple of words... short ones. What do you guys do? Is there like a case manager for each particular case, and you can talk to them? Is there some supervising entity? Are there certain questions that you need to ask in order to get some info? Gosh, is there some secret dial tone handshake? OMG, totally loosing it...

[Rushton50 10]

Ok, this might sound stupid but I need some advice on how to talk to NVC reps to get ANY information out of them. From reading VJ members' posts, I get the feeling that they are way more informed regarding their cases than I am. When my husband calls, he gets either some rude, uninformed b**** or somebody, whose vocabulary is limited to a couple of words... short ones. What do you guys do? Is there like a case manager for each particular case, and you can talk to them? Is there some supervising entity? Are there certain questions that you need to ask in order to get some info? Gosh, is there some secret dial tone handshake? OMG, totally loosing it...

The secret hand shake is put your hand under your leg and offer your hand to thiers for the shake and tickle thier palm with your pinky!

Im just guessing....lol

Seriously though, we seem to be at thier mercy and only know that with out case numbers etc, they wont speak to anyone even by email, but I will watch with intrest on this one!

[CanadaLove 16]

What kind of information are you looking for?

[Blake and Jeanie 4]

I want to know what they are waiting on in regards to our case, i.e. why won't they schedule the damn interview. Also, if they see that the interview is not something that will happen soon, why can't they say something like 'there's no way you'll get an interview in June, the embassy is too busy', or 'we bet money on how long you can live apart before you get a divorce', or 'you better try yourself at gardening'.... i don't know, I'm so frustrated. Thanks for responding to this post. I realize it might seem trivial.

[adriana152115 0]

I've called the nvc several times also. It's very frustrating because there answers to my questions are short and sweet. I've asked them what the average time is to review a AOS packet. They said "We take as long as we need." then I asked them if they've received my packet their answer " it's not in our system yet." I say "we sent it 21 days ago " it's probably sitting in our mail room." me: how the hell is it sitting in your mail room if I didn't mail it???? Then they hung up. I don't think there's any way we can get information out of them

[CanadaLove 16]

I want to know what they are waiting on in regards to our case, i.e. why won't they schedule the damn interview. Also, if they see that the interview is not something that will happen soon, why can't they say something like 'there's no way you'll get an interview in June, the embassy is too busy', or 'we bet money on how long you can live apart before you get a divorce', or 'you better try yourself at gardening'.... i don't know, I'm so frustrated. Thanks for responding to this post. I realize it might seem trivial.

Hmmr. Perhaps you could ask if you're in additional processing. Or it may just be that they're a bit backlogged, and have yet to get to your embassy for scheduling purposes. I'm sorry, I really don't have a good answer for you.

[Rushton50 10]

I say "we sent it 21 days ago " it's probably sitting in our mail room." me: how the hell is it sitting in your mail room if I didn't mail it???? Then they hung up. I don't think there's any way we can get information out of them

I know how frustrated people can be with this process, but letting off steam at them is not going to make it go any faster and certainly if people are abrupt,rude and angry with them.

I may be wrong and may be speaking out of turn, but why would you phone them to ask about your application if you hadnt sent it, they must get thousands of calls trivial and otherwise and it must be a mamoth task.

No one wants this to go any faster than I, we are all in the same lane and all have to endure the days and weeks of waiting

Just my opinion

[giamimigio 21]

I know how frustrated people can be with this process, but letting off steam at them is not going to make it go any faster and certainly if people are abrupt,rude and angry with them.

I may be wrong and may be speaking out of turn, but why would you phone them to ask about your application if you hadnt sent it, they must get thousands of calls trivial and otherwise and it must be a mamoth task.

No one wants this to go any faster than I, we are all in the same lane and all have to endure the days and weeks of waiting

Just my opinion

yeah i didn't get this one either. the "rude" answers were basically the truth.

[Neonred 3,575]

Wait a minute. It took you 5 months to submit the AOS packet but you are pissed that they cannot give you the interview date 2 weeks after they finished processing it?

[George & Gina 29]

Wait a minute. It took you 5 months to submit the AOS packet but you are pissed that they cannot give you the interview date 2 weeks after they finished processing it?

[Blake and Jeanie 4]

Wait a minute. It took you 5 months to submit the AOS packet but you are pissed that they cannot give you the interview date 2 weeks after they finished processing it?

We had to wait for the 2 year HRR to be fulfilled. And I am not expecting something unrealistic. My expectations are based on what I know about other cases here.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I've called the nvc several times also. It's very frustrating because there answers to my questions are short and sweet. I've asked them what the average time is to review a AOS packet. They said "We take as long as we need." then I asked them if they've received my packet their answer " it's not in our system yet." I say "we sent it 21 days ago " it's probably sitting in our mail room." me: how the hell is it sitting in your mail room if I didn't mail it???? Then they hung up. I don't think there's any way we can get information out of them

I'd give a try to your Congressman. Look it up by zip code. The can do an inquiry for you (in fact, mine states in his web site that that is his most important function (to be a communication conduit between you and government agencies). He/she will then forward their answer. I did for a NOA2. Don't expect a terribly detailed answer, but make sure you ask specific questions instead of general ones. I got my NOA2 couple of days after I had the response from my inquiry.

Best of luck

[Nattychic 1]

It's hard to get a straight answer form them but keep calling them and be pleasant with them. I await my interview date just like you.

[Blake and Jeanie 4]

Thank you guys so much for your advice and support, really, thank you.

[hellraiser 42]

Hmmm, I think "Gosia and Tito" gave some good suggestions. Most wanted to extend their sympathy, and there were few jerks as usual. If you don't have a suggestion or you think this question is not relevant, don't waste your time reading the thread. Some big idiot seemed surprised that it took 5 months to prepare the AOS without even asking why??? Basic common sense to those who has rocks for brain, when it comes to individual choice, personal level, you can do many things that don't impact others, but when it comes to an official work, there has to be a process. May be you are not familiar with the term accountability. When it comes to NVC, they are not beyond the law and there are some rules and process in place, which could be out of your understanding. And for those wise mutts, the people that answer your phone do not start working on your papers after hanging up. If you ever worked, you would probably know that different people are responsible for different tasks.

So if anyone thinks that the operators are rude, this is my suggestions; once the operator picked up the phone, tell the first "if you don't mind, I am going to record our conversation" and then politely ask their name, which they usually give. Let me know if this doesn’t work? By the way, do actually record the conversation. And if you feel you were insulted, embarrassed or humiliated, or the operator sounded derogatory, please pass this to any newspaper with the name, or talk to a lawyer.