Packet 3 back in the post

[TimsDaisy 0]

Thanks to some quick thinking and the magic of forwarding mail, my fiance picked up his packet 3 at the campground where he's staying (oh the devotion! such a good man to pack all the important docs along with his camping gear for his holiday weekend).

Thanks to AlienUKGirl's uploads of packet 3, he had all the copies of the forms filled out and printed out and with him. So he ticked all the checklist boxes and mailed the forms, checklist, and a cover letter explaining our desired dates back to the London Embassy.

He has everything in hand on the checklist except for the police certificate. It was ordered long enough ago, however, that we are fairly confident (knock on wood) that everything will be sorted by the interview date. He received that letter of receipt from the powers-that-be and I think he'll probably give 'em a ring prior to the tolling of the full 40 days. Worst they can say is "no news yet," kinda like USCIS, right?

He called this morning to schedule his medical appointment and is booked up for next Wednesday (week from tomorrow), so that seems like a pretty good turn-around time.

It should take just a few days for everything to get back to the Embassy. I'll probably give them (State Dept, stateside) a call on Friday (a few times, just to check) to see if it has been received yet. Then daily until I hear about an interview date!

Still trying not to think about expected interview dates or guess when it might happen. Or worry about how long the visa will take to get back to him. Seems like things are scheduled about 4-5 weeks out right now. But I can't even think that without checking myself - "or it could take longer. months! you never know!"

Must be a surreal experience to actually see the light at the end of the tunnel in the form of an interview date. I hope to find out soon!

[MaydayDas 1]

Cross my fingers for a soon interview for you ...did you check the mail maybe you got packet 4

[psho 0]

Congratulations! We may get an interview date the same day (or very close to it)!

I really want to know the date so I can book my horribly expensive airfare.

[rebeccajo 14]

Daisy, why would you phone the State Department about his Packet 3? They don't have a clue about it.

[TimsDaisy 0]

Daisy, why would you phone the State Department about his Packet 3? They don't have a clue about it.

Someone should tell them that because when I called (it's the visa unit whatever - the number that i've posted here and got from here before - "202 663 1225 then press 1,0,0 to talk to someone") they keyed in my LND number and said "well, we received it on X date and they mailed out some documents that he will have to fill out on 5/20." They did not call it "packet 3," but they seemed to know what was going on. And since a packet of said documents arrived, it seems to have worked just fine . . . .

Calling the 202 area code, US based number doesn't cost 1.20GBP/min and it seems to get actual answers rather than "uh, nothing there yet." This was confirmed when my fiance spent a lot of money for them to say "not received," then I called later for free (long distance included in my cell plan, anyway) and they said "ah yes, just got here now." Neither the 1.20/min line nor the 202 line are IN London. But the 202 number worked for me. I'll stick with it.

edit: the number calls the US State Department Visa Office.

Edited May 29, 2007 by TimsDaisy

[rebeccajo 14]

LOL. That's a riot.

Everybody dial now. That number won't work much longer.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Yup, the DoS is definitely the way to go! When we were waiting for Packet 4, they were very patient and helpful, giving me info on where Packet 3 was at the Embassy and what was happening to it (in the system, being processed, getting final administrative processing, etc). And they even referred to it as "Packet 3" on one occasion! The Extortion Line were nice but clueless, which seems to be the current consensus.

And calling 202 from work...literally priceless!

[TimsDaisy 0]

LOL. That's a riot.

Everybody dial now. That number won't work much longer.

I'm confused at why this number thing surprises you. I got the information and instructions from VJ. Didn't think it was a secret. It's a hotline. With all the main menu and automated fun that entails. I think its purpose is to answer questions about status/the process/etc.

"Visa Information Officers can answer your questions between hours of x and x, yadda yadda" - it's all there in the main menu. Again, I got the number here on VJ - and I jotted it down on my notepad here, so I can't even remember where I got it anymore (forum, etc), but I'm guessing I could find it online too.

Seriously - you've never seen this route to gettting information discussed before? Didn't BuxtonBabe mention it?

[rebeccajo 14]

LOL. That's a riot.

Everybody dial now. That number won't work much longer.

I'm confused at why this number thing surprises you. I got the information and instructions from VJ. Didn't think it was a secret. It's a hotline. With all the main menu and automated fun that entails. I think its purpose is to answer questions about status/the process/etc.

"Visa Information Officers can answer your questions between hours of x and x, yadda yadda" - it's all there in the main menu. Again, I got the number here on VJ - and I jotted it down on my notepad here, so I can't even remember where I got it anymore (forum, etc), but I'm guessing I could find it online too.

Seriously - you've never seen this route to gettting information discussed before? Didn't BuxtonBabe mention it?

All I know is this wasn't available two years ago.

I also know that from time to time, there's a leaked phone number. It's a different number each time there's a leak. It always dispenses information for a short while, and before long the fun stops.

Edited May 29, 2007 by rebeccajo

[TimsDaisy 0]

All I know is this wasn't available two years ago.

Then I am grateful that is is available now.

[no name 1]

I agree RJ. And I find it ridiculous that they know about the day to day of the UK embassy, seeing as it's in America.

Most UKers have had no problems using the email address to get info, if it is used properly & not abused.

Edited May 29, 2007 by devilette

[TimsDaisy 0]

I agree RJ. And I find it ridiculous that they know about the day to day of the UK embassy, seeing as it's in America.

Most UKers have had no problems using the email address to get info, if it is used properly & not abused.

You can find it however you want. But you may wish to call to tell them that they should not know what they do, in fact, know and gladly, helpfully, and kindly give out to callers.

Do you think I just fabricated and posted the contents of conversations I've had with the Visa Office? Just trying to get VJers to make random phone calls? Is ECM making it up too?

The availability of information might have something to do with the magic of computer systems being networked world-wide these days. It's crazy, but true.

You and rebeccajo are on to the AOS process and beyond now. And as rebeccajo points out, things change over time.

Edited May 29, 2007 by TimsDaisy

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I don't really understand what the objection to using this number is. It is freely and easily available on the DoS website as the number for the public to call about visa information. It's not hidden and I seriously doubt they're going to shut it down as it is not just for immigrant visas but also for work and other visas.

I don't know why the DoS knows more about our files than "London" (Scotland in reality) knows -- that's just how it is right now. You pay through the nose to get next to no info. If you know that you can call a number that is not a premium rate and you're going to get info that actually reflects the true state of your petition, aren't you going to call it? Email is not an answer -- you have to call the premium number to get the weekly authorisation code to (theoretically) ensure you'll get a reply. I know that some people are getting replies without this code, but who can be sure if you'll be one of the chosen ones? And when you do email, you're unlikely to get a swift response. The first email I sent to the Embassy as to where our NOA1 might be (our post was being stolen and I had NO idea if anything had been sent) was never answered and it had the appropriate code.

This is just the current state of play in London. It could change again. I don't think asking about your case is abuse if you make the occasional phone call, especially if you think there's a delay.

[TimsDaisy 0]

You're right - the number is there and open for the public.

This is just a case where the noobs have some insider information since we're at this stage of the process now, rather than a few years ago. Things change for the better and for the worse over time in different areas. I'll take the phone number as an iddybiddy victory in a larger war that never gets simple for filers.

Anyone who cares not to use the number or to belive factual accounts from those who have used it is free to do so! I just wish people wouldn't cast doubt on the validity of an available resource if the person has no firsthand knowledge of it or reason for doing so. That helps NO ONE and can only hurt the whole point of VJ.

Edited May 29, 2007 by TimsDaisy

[rebeccajo 14]

Oh, hey, don't misunderstand. If it works for you, great. I do think however that it's a fluke they may, on a given day, be giving out the information they shouldn't.

If this were some new service offered by DOS, it'd be all over this board and everybody from London to HoChiMinh City to Manilla would be dialing it. It wouldn't be something just you two know about. No offense really - I just think you got lucky.

PS - Daisy, I like you but please don't patronize me as being 'out'. It's kind of condescending.