Expat Community > Colombia

bickmed
Joined 2015
Posts: 201

Screwed over by the US Embassy

1 year ago

This wont affect most people, however maybe it will help someone who has a Colombian applying for a US Visa. This was my screw up and I should have realised that government employees are in-competant imbeciles, but anyway.....

I had to apply for a visa renewal ( I;ve travelled to countries the US does not like, so I am not eligible for an ESTA). Anyway, I was able to score a visa appointment for renewal (first time visas have a plus 800 day wait - how the %^%% does that happen).

You have to travel to Bogota for this, ok for me, bloody expensive for Colombians. All they did was check of the DS-160 PP number against my passport details - so a total waste of time going there, surely this could be done by sending the documents by DHL.

I had to travel in 4 weeks for work. I specifically asked the lady several times will I have the passport back in time. She said it often takes longer, but being a renewal, there was a good chance I could have it in two weeks. I asked specifically, if not, can I cancel the application and still receive my passport without visa to travel. Yes.

Ok great. She even gave me a specific email to contact, as they would not accept any mitigating documents as to why I needed it quickly.
I sent the emails to this address which turned out to be some stupid email from Yatri where they just give a standard response that they cannot influence the process.

A week ago, nothing heard and no address on the US Embassy website to contact - I, by chance, I met my countries diplomatic delegation and I needed my passport to travel Monday Past. They managed to get me the official contact at the US Embassy, but noted if it was any other country, they would be able to assist to get my PP back, but the US Embassy would very likely pay zero attention.

All good - I emailed this address and managed to cancel the Visa process so I could get my passport to travel. I thought that would be the end of the issue: how difficult could it be to hand may passport to the DH courier - I would not receive the visa, have lost the money thus far trying, but at least have my passport in time to travel for work.

No F^&^ way. They did not send the passport after cancelling the visa, I had to cancel my flights back to work Yesterday, and after numerous contacts between myself and them, and my Embassy and them ,I received another utterly useless email today that my passport would be sent (at an unknown time) by DHL.

I tried to appeal to their common decency as human beings, that it ain't that hard to pass my passport to the DHL team they already use, within a week, but no. That's far to %^%^ hard.

So, now I will miss my rebooked flights tomorrow, lost my work for the entire month, and if I dont exit the country by Saturday become a tax resident.

Anyway, besides this being entirely my fault for trusting anything that a ( any) government official can do, and feeling better for ranting and getting this off my chest - be aware, that if you submit your passport, it takes 10 weeks to process.

If a family member dies, or something urgent happens - the useless idiots at the Embassy will be too busy drinking lattes and working minimal hours to assist you in returning your passport as a normal, decent human being would!!

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Expat Community > Colombia

Screwed over by the US Embassy

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