new Visa Call Center

[Carl]

I called 202-663-1255 at least twice a week.?One time the visa specialist asked my why I didn't e-mail the consulate with my questions.?I explained to her the consulate was no longer taking e-mail questions and that they had a new imformation service system that you had to pay for.?She said to not bother calling the consulate, but to call them instead.?She said they were much nicer there, and that if I wanted to call them every day.?I did just that week before last (called every day) and learned that my dear Ying's interview was scheduled for December 5th.?

 

So don't be afraid to call, you get the same information the consulate can give you at the cost of a long distance call.

168195[/snapback]

Thanks for this, I will try this #. Anything would be better than the Visa call center. And just to correct a typo.....the # is 202 663 1225 (not 1255)

168199[/snapback]

OOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[esun41]

I used the visa info line to schedule the appointment for my SO's overcome. It is really set up for the beneficiary, not the USC.

 

It seemed to be an outside company sub contracted to answer and set up communication with the consulate. The person I talked to had limited knowledge but was very polite.

 

There are other threads about this call center on CFL, just don't remember where.

 

Eric

[castaway109]

There are a few threads in the Guangzhou section. My wife could use the call center but every time I tried I got the message "There are no English speaking CSR's available. Please call back later."

 

So I took the other member's advice and called DOS. Worked fine.

[kaigaorui]

There are a few threads in the Guangzhou section. My wife could use the call center but every time I tried I got the message "There are no English speaking CSR's available. Please call back later."

 

So I took the other member's advice and called DOS.  Worked fine.

168228[/snapback]

Good thread.

 

I called the visa center stateside once a week just to see what has been entered. Once entered into the computer you are good to go. Recall they had blundered twice with us, and I thought they had their act together and did not conduct due dilligence.

 

Shawn was a caseworker who was always very helpful, and I even left voicemail messages for him when I found something had been done on the GUZ side. He was alao instrumnental in filing an inquiry why the paperwork was not recieved even though we had a confirmation of reciept.

 

Yes the number 1-202-663-1225, with 1-0-0 is labeled right on my computer monitor.

 

Faxing letters of inquiry to GUZ from this end i think is also effective, as they responded quickly. I also had Jin email from the China side till docs were entered.

 

Let them know you care.

[ameriken]

There are a few threads in the Guangzhou section.   My wife could use the call center but every time I tried I got the message "There are no English speaking CSR's available. Please call back later."

 

So I took the other member's advice and called DOS.  Worked fine.

168228[/snapback]

Good thread.

 

I called the visa center stateside once a week just to see what has been entered. Once entered into the computer you are good to go. Recall they had blundered twice with us, and I thought they had their act together and did not conduct due dilligence.

 

Shawn was a caseworker who was always very helpful, and I even left voicemail messages for him when I found something had been done on the GUZ side. He was alao instrumnental in filing an inquiry why the paperwork was not recieved even though we had a confirmation of reciept.

 

Yes the number 1-202-663-1225, with 1-0-0 is labeled right on my computer monitor.

 

Faxing letters of inquiry to GUZ from this end i think is also effective, as they responded quickly. I also had Jin email from the China side till docs were entered.

 

Let them know you care.

168291[/snapback]

Very good information, thanks for the post !

[ameriken]

Thanks to everyone here for the help and encouragement.

 

I would like to post an update here about the Visa Call Center vs DOS, and I have placed this post in one or two other threads. I hope it helps save someone some time and money.

 

For about a month we have been calling the pay service Visa Call center (which is connected to GZ) about our P3. Everytime we call, they have no information, and every single time they give us the canned response "wait 60 to 120 days". We would call twice each week.

 

Yesterday, my SO called them again. My SO asked....."is the information on your computer as up-to-date as the GZ computer?" The response..."Yes, as soon as GZ puts it in their computer, we have the information in our computer".

 

Ok. That's that. The Visa call center has the current information that GZ has. (so we think!)

 

Today, after reading some advice here on CFL, I called DOS at 202 663 1225 Options 1-1-0. He tells us the package (p3) was sent yesterday (Tuesday in GZ). He was very friendly, professional, and helpful and I can tell by what he was saying that he had the most current information. So......we are getting P3 soon !

 

But, here is the kicker: just a little while ago.......(Weds in China), my SO calls the Visa Call center (curious to see if they have the same info) and speaks to another operator. She tells my SO: "still no information in computer."

 

My SO says "DOS has GZ info that say we are getting P3". This time, the operator says "GZ updates our computer EVERY MONDAY". My SO says, "We were told by one of your co-workers that your computer is current current with the GZ computer. If it is every monday, why doesnt anyone tell us this, so we can avoid calling on Tuesday and Friday?"

 

The operator said "Call us in 60 to 120 days about your P3".

 

Cheez. Can you believe this?

 

My suggestion? Until this visa call center can figure out what is what, call DOS.

[IluvmyLi]

Call us in 60-120 days? lmao Typical robot mentality. That's the same as what NVC told me today. She said it could take 90 days for NSC to send our case to NVC.

[shentaro]

I just got off the horn with the DOS to see if GUZ has physically received our petition yet, and the lady said "I see you've called on this before" and then she said it usually takes 3 weeks to get there. So I said ok I'll call back in 1 week, and then she said "well it takes longer than that..." then she said they have to enter into their system and do security checks until the interview is scheduled..

 

I felt she was implying for me to not call back for a few months... not even for the status of our name checks...

 

What I wanted to know was if they received our petition physically yet, because she said they do not do any further processing until they get the actual papers from the NVC, even though she said our case was transferred there electronically on Nov 2 (whatever that means). Looking at DHL it appeared maybe it was delived to GUZ on the 14th.

 

Isn't calling the DOS how we find out if the consulate received it and status of name checks? I did not get the feeling she wanted me calling every few days, or even every few weeks

Edited November 16, 2005 by shentaro (see edit history)

[Guest ShaQuaNew]

I just got off the horn with the DOS to see if GUZ has physically received our petition yet, and the lady said "I see you've called on this before" and then she said it usually takes 3 weeks to get there

169342[/snapback]

Please post your timeline. It provides readers a quick peek as to what's been going on in your case and from there will be better able to respond....

 

....welcome to Candle....

[shentaro]

I just got off the horn with the DOS to see if GUZ has physically received our petition yet, and the lady said "I see you've called on this before" and then she said it usually takes 3 weeks to get there

169342[/snapback]

Please post your timeline. It provides readers a quick peek as to what's been going on in your case and from there will be better able to respond....

 

....welcome to Candle....

169344[/snapback]

hehe done... thanks...

[LiandLarry]

I just got off the horn with the DOS to see if GUZ has physically received our petition yet, and the lady said "I see you've called on this before" and then she said it usually takes 3 weeks to get there

169342[/snapback]

Please post your timeline. It provides readers a quick peek as to what's been going on in your case and from there will be better able to respond....

 

....welcome to Candle....

169344[/snapback]

hehe done... thanks...

169346[/snapback]

Can you get the DHL tracking number so you can track where the package is? I know others had their number.

 

Larry

[david_dawei]

I would only add that it's best to know the average wait times and call as your close to it.

 

Let's say your K1 and get notice of petition going to GUZ:

 

To see if P3 is received wait a month to call.

 

If they don't have name check info by then, wait two weeks and call again. A call in two more more weeks would be close to the sending of the P3.

 

I personally think that calling alot stimulates worry. Try to let the paperwork run it's course.

 

My first call to DOS was about 10 weeks after leaving NVC. I was told the papers was already in GUZ computer, etc...

[ameriken]

Can you get the DHL tracking number so you can track where the package is?  I know others had their number.

 

Larry    

169348[/snapback]

I could not get NVC to give me a number, they said the computer did not have it. So, I just guessed DHL got our package the day after the NVC date in the computer. Our date was Fri 9/23, so we tracked the Mon 9/26 package. It arrived 11/7, and yesterday DOS told us our p3 was sent. Since almost all the packages after ours are still in gateway, I believe the speculations were accurate.

 

 

But again, they are just speculations. Who knows what is real and what is not with this process?

 

Good luck to you and your SO, keep us up to date !

Edited November 16, 2005 by ameriken (see edit history)

[shentaro]

I would only add that it's best to know the average wait times and call as your close to it.  

 

Let's say your K1 and get notice of petition going to GUZ:

 

To see if P3 is received wait a month to call.  

 

If they don't have name check info by then, wait two weeks and call again.    A call in two more more weeks would be close to the sending of the P3.

 

I personally think that calling alot stimulates worry.   Try to let the paperwork run it's course.  

 

My first call to DOS was about 10 weeks after leaving NVC.  I was told the papers was already in GUZ computer, etc...

169349[/snapback]

yes Larry, I believe I found the tracking number and it appeared it was delivered on the 14th... but it's only an educated guess (I found it using the EXPEDITE IV SECTION search, and it left NVC on the 4th, 2 days after NVC said it was sent). There was also an I-730 one I found that went out on the 2nd, that also showed delivered on the 14th, so I'm pretty confident it's there now... at least in the building somewhere

 

hehe yes David, I guess the saying about "a watched pot never boils" comes into play here...

Edited November 16, 2005 by shentaro (see edit history)

[LiandLarry]

It might be in a holding area somewhere. I believe when you see "Signed for by STAMP (rubber stamp signature)" then it is actually in the Consulate.

 

Good Luck

Edited November 16, 2005 by LiandLarry (see edit history)