Visa Packet

[PKelly]

For the US Embassy in London, does anyone know the process for how to have one's visa packet resealed when it's been torn? I'm not sure if it can be done in person and only take a few hours or if the packet must be sent by the Embassy's preferred courier and thus take 5-7 business days?

[rayb]

I can't speak for the London U.S. Embassy, but this happens fairly frequently at the Manila, Philippines, Embassy. Normally at Manila the visa holder is allowed to reenter the Embassy and have the package resealed.

If you send your packet back by courier, you risk lengthy and probably unnecessary delays.

--Ray B

For the US Embassy in London, does anyone know the process for how to have one's visa packet resealed when it's been torn? I'm not sure if it can be done in person and only take a few hours or if the packet must be sent by the Embassy's preferred courier and thus take 5-7 business days?

[PKelly]

Thanks Ray. Unfortunately the Embassy in London doesn't seem to allow walk up appointments so I'm wary of making a wasted trip as we live hundreds of miles from the Embassy. And there doesn't seem to be a way to make an appointment for immigrant visas without going through the process from step 1, which of course isn't necessary as the visa has been issued, just need a new envelope.

[rayb]

Call the London Embassy and ask how you might avoid a lengthy resealing delay.

--Ray B

Thanks Ray. Unfortunately the Embassy in London doesn't seem to allow walk up appointments so I'm wary of making a wasted trip as we live hundreds of miles from the Embassy. And there doesn't seem to be a way to make an appointment for immigrant visas without going through the process from step 1, which of course isn't necessary as the visa has been issued, just need a new envelope.

[PKelly]

Call the London Embassy and ask how you might avoid a lengthy resealing delay.

--Ray B

I've been trying to do that this afternoon but unfortunately the switchboard is an automated system and there's no longer a premium phone line where you can speak to somebody. The system redirects you to the website and asks you to submit your question on their official online form, which I've done but they may not respond for 3-5 working days. It's really frustrating to not be able to speak to someone. We were supposed to fly to the US this Wednesday but I can't take the risk of being denied due to the tampered envelope.

[rayb]

If the U.S. citizen partner is with you, show up at the Embassy and they cannot refuse entry to her/him. The partner can then request the resealing inside.

--Ray B

I've been trying to do that this afternoon but unfortunately the switchboard is an automated system and there's no longer a premium phone line where you can speak to somebody. The system redirects you to the website and asks you to submit your question on their official online form, which I've done but they may not respond for 3-5 working days. It's really frustrating to not be able to speak to someone. We were supposed to fly to the US this Wednesday but I can't take the risk of being denied due to the tampered envelope.

[PKelly]

If the U.S. citizen partner is with you, show up at the Embassy and they cannot refuse entry to her/him. The partner can then request the resealing inside.

--Ray B

The Embassy responded to my email this morning and they've asked for photographs of the damage, they will then advise me what to do. Will let you know what they say.

[PKelly]

The Embassy responded to my email this morning and they've asked for photographs of the damage, they will then advise me what to do. Will let you know what they say.

This was resolved pretty quickly. After receiving photos of the damage the embassy booked an appointment for 8am the next day, where they resealed the envelope and we were able to fly the following day. You can't turn up at the embassy without an appointment but they were responsive on email.