Hello all,
We were wondering if anyone is dealing with trying to get an appointment at the U.S. embassy in Arminian, or any embassy for that matter. My fiancée received her invitation packet, we completed our DS - 160, and signed up to pay for and schedule an embassy appointment. For the last two weeks we have been checking the site every 30 minutes to an hour, day and night (me, in the United States, during my waking hours, and my fiancée, in Iran, during her waking hours), and the site does not let us pay the MVR fee and states that there are currently no appointments and to check back in a few days because the consulate will add more appointments. We have tried emailing the embassy and calling the pay and scheduling help line and we keep getting the same unhelpful response, "keep checking the site every few days."
We are wondering if anyone here can help with any information on the following questions, which the embassy either cannot, could care not to, or will not answer:
1.) When does the consulate open up new appointments? After the complete a case, once they have completed a case, once a week, once a month?
2.) How many appointments do they typically offer? One, five, fifteen?
3.) Is there a general optimal time to check for open appointments? When they open for business, midday, before they close for the day? (Obviously on Yerevan, Arminian time.)
4.) Is the inability to not pay the MRV fee causing us not to be able to see the appointment schedule? (I believe this one is a no, but I cannot get anyone to answer the question.)
5.) When interview appointments open up how far out are they? Are they for that week, one week away, one month away, six months away?
6.) Does anyone know how I can get ahold of the consulate beyond email? Maybe a direct phone number? (I have called the embassy, during Arminian business hours, through the Arminian number, but could not get anywhere.)
The Marine in me knows that the government loves "hurry up and wait," but the lack of any clear information is maddening.
Any help would be much appreciated. And if you are going through this pain, know you are not alone.
Steven
