superjim

So, in case anyone following this thread is interested- we had our petition approved within 5 weeks of filing in London (still not a peep from Texas and RapidVisa arent willing to accept any responsibility).
 
I've posted a couple of questions on the DCF board here: 
 if anyone feels like giving us some more of your help (which was really appreciated on this thread, then we'd be really grateful!
 
Thanks everyone!

So, in case anyone following this thread is interested- we had our petition approved within 5 weeks of filing in London (still not a peep from Texas and RapidVisa arent willing to accept any responsibility).
 
I've posted a couple of questions on the DCF board here: 
 if anyone feels like giving us some more of your help (which was really appreciated on this thread, then we'd be really grateful!
 
Thanks everyone!

So, in case anyone following this thread is interested- we had our petition approved within 5 weeks of filing in London (still not a peep from Texas and RapidVisa arent willing to accept any responsibility).
 
I've posted a couple of questions on the DCF board here: 
 if anyone feels like giving us some more of your help (which was really appreciated on this thread, then we'd be really grateful!
 
Thanks everyone!

Oh, and we also have refiled the petition via DCF in London.  Posted it today!  Will update as we go.
 
Secondly, I'm compiling a list of all the places where RapidVisa has reviews.  I want to ensure that as many people are aware of their practices as possible (regardless of whether you think we are in the wrong or not, their response to our genuine concerns was appalling).   I know they are on Yelp, google reviews, facebook,  anywhere else worth posting a review on?
 
 

They (RapidVisa) replied to my second (more robust) email.
 
Predictably a total non-response.  Did not, in any way address the issues I had raised.  Only stated that I should read the guarantee and would see that I am therefore not eligible for a refund.
 
Its a bit like trying to buy some cheese and getting a banana instead , asking for your money back because you dont need a banana, you needed cheese and are told that refunds are only available for bad bananas.  The quality of the banana is irrelevent, they shouldnt have sold it to me.
 
Anyway.  I've fired off emails to the local district attornys office (Clark County) and to the Nevada Bar Association.  Explained the situation and the suspicion that they are unlawfully practicing law.
 
In all honesty, if theyd just held their hands up and said theyd given us bad advice and apologised and refunded, I'd likely have forgotten about them by now and just gotten on with it.  Their total lack of integrity in dealing with the complaint is whats driving me to ensure that other people arent fooled into making the mistake that we did and trusting them with their money and applications.
 

They (RapidVisa) replied to my second (more robust) email.
 
Predictably a total non-response.  Did not, in any way address the issues I had raised.  Only stated that I should read the guarantee and would see that I am therefore not eligible for a refund.
 
Its a bit like trying to buy some cheese and getting a banana instead , asking for your money back because you dont need a banana, you needed cheese and are told that refunds are only available for bad bananas.  The quality of the banana is irrelevent, they shouldnt have sold it to me.
 
Anyway.  I've fired off emails to the local district attornys office (Clark County) and to the Nevada Bar Association.  Explained the situation and the suspicion that they are unlawfully practicing law.
 
In all honesty, if theyd just held their hands up and said theyd given us bad advice and apologised and refunded, I'd likely have forgotten about them by now and just gotten on with it.  Their total lack of integrity in dealing with the complaint is whats driving me to ensure that other people arent fooled into making the mistake that we did and trusting them with their money and applications.
 

They (RapidVisa) replied to my second (more robust) email.
 
Predictably a total non-response.  Did not, in any way address the issues I had raised.  Only stated that I should read the guarantee and would see that I am therefore not eligible for a refund.
 
Its a bit like trying to buy some cheese and getting a banana instead , asking for your money back because you dont need a banana, you needed cheese and are told that refunds are only available for bad bananas.  The quality of the banana is irrelevent, they shouldnt have sold it to me.
 
Anyway.  I've fired off emails to the local district attornys office (Clark County) and to the Nevada Bar Association.  Explained the situation and the suspicion that they are unlawfully practicing law.
 
In all honesty, if theyd just held their hands up and said theyd given us bad advice and apologised and refunded, I'd likely have forgotten about them by now and just gotten on with it.  Their total lack of integrity in dealing with the complaint is whats driving me to ensure that other people arent fooled into making the mistake that we did and trusting them with their money and applications.
 

They (RapidVisa) replied to my second (more robust) email.
 
Predictably a total non-response.  Did not, in any way address the issues I had raised.  Only stated that I should read the guarantee and would see that I am therefore not eligible for a refund.
 
Its a bit like trying to buy some cheese and getting a banana instead , asking for your money back because you dont need a banana, you needed cheese and are told that refunds are only available for bad bananas.  The quality of the banana is irrelevent, they shouldnt have sold it to me.
 
Anyway.  I've fired off emails to the local district attornys office (Clark County) and to the Nevada Bar Association.  Explained the situation and the suspicion that they are unlawfully practicing law.
 
In all honesty, if theyd just held their hands up and said theyd given us bad advice and apologised and refunded, I'd likely have forgotten about them by now and just gotten on with it.  Their total lack of integrity in dealing with the complaint is whats driving me to ensure that other people arent fooled into making the mistake that we did and trusting them with their money and applications.
 

They (RapidVisa) replied to my second (more robust) email.
 
Predictably a total non-response.  Did not, in any way address the issues I had raised.  Only stated that I should read the guarantee and would see that I am therefore not eligible for a refund.
 
Its a bit like trying to buy some cheese and getting a banana instead , asking for your money back because you dont need a banana, you needed cheese and are told that refunds are only available for bad bananas.  The quality of the banana is irrelevent, they shouldnt have sold it to me.
 
Anyway.  I've fired off emails to the local district attornys office (Clark County) and to the Nevada Bar Association.  Explained the situation and the suspicion that they are unlawfully practicing law.
 
In all honesty, if theyd just held their hands up and said theyd given us bad advice and apologised and refunded, I'd likely have forgotten about them by now and just gotten on with it.  Their total lack of integrity in dealing with the complaint is whats driving me to ensure that other people arent fooled into making the mistake that we did and trusting them with their money and applications.
 

They (RapidVisa) replied to my second (more robust) email.
 
Predictably a total non-response.  Did not, in any way address the issues I had raised.  Only stated that I should read the guarantee and would see that I am therefore not eligible for a refund.
 
Its a bit like trying to buy some cheese and getting a banana instead , asking for your money back because you dont need a banana, you needed cheese and are told that refunds are only available for bad bananas.  The quality of the banana is irrelevent, they shouldnt have sold it to me.
 
Anyway.  I've fired off emails to the local district attornys office (Clark County) and to the Nevada Bar Association.  Explained the situation and the suspicion that they are unlawfully practicing law.
 
In all honesty, if theyd just held their hands up and said theyd given us bad advice and apologised and refunded, I'd likely have forgotten about them by now and just gotten on with it.  Their total lack of integrity in dealing with the complaint is whats driving me to ensure that other people arent fooled into making the mistake that we did and trusting them with their money and applications.
 

I paid with a debit card.  $1165 and I'll see precisely nothing for that money...

A hard lesson learned.  

Oh goodness what a mess Rapidvisa have caused! 
 
You absoluteky could have done fine the DCF route through London - it is there for couples in exactly your situation. Now you are facing a total processing time of around 12-14 months and it would be less than half that through DCF in London. 
 
I don't know if you have a case to get a refund from Rapidvisa on the basis of inaccurate advice. But I would certainly look into that and file with London instead.
 
Any reason you used Rapidvisa? I think the only time they are useful is for cases where neither the petitioner nor the beneficiary speaks sufficient English to understand the forms and needs someone to give the forms a once-over just to be sure. Kind of like the passport check and send service at the post office in the U.K. Totally unnecessary and doesn't make the process any quicker or increase the chances of success.