Expediters - just venting

I'm so pissed off right now. So my expediter says that they will contact me to let me know of any updates or of the status of my application that was sent in to the consulate this morning.

They said he would let me know by 4.30. It is now 6.00 and I've sent him an email plus the info address they give on the site for the whole company.

No answer form either of those.

I'm still navigating the 'rookie' waters, so forgive me for asking a question I've wondered as I've read around...........

Why do people use expeditors? 

You can use expediters when submitting an application to the British Consulates. For a bit of a fee, expediters hand deliver your application to the consulate and they can get application processed within 24-48 hours.

You can read more about it here:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=53694.0

Current waiting times for visa processing without an expediter (sending it directly to the consulate yourself) are somewhere around 30-45 working days. But waiting times with an expediter can be as little as 24-48 hours (or up to about 4-5 working days if the consulate is busy).

If you use an expediter (by locating one close to the consulate you are applying to and then sending your documents to them), then your application gets put right to the top of the processing pile and is processed almost right away, but if you don't use an expediter, then your application gets put to the bottom of the pile and you have to wait until they have processed all the expedited applications and all the mailed-in applications in front of yours first.

If you need your visa in a hurry, or you don't want to be waiting around for several weeks wondering if your visa will be approved or not, then an expediter is the way to go .

Ugh, now I'm really nervous. Really REALLY nervous... I didn't factor in that processing times probably meant 5 to 10 days after they OPENED it. And I couldn't afford an expediter. 

This is the worst part, I swear.

Well I feel worse for you then. As I know I will get my answer within 2-3 days. *Hopefully tomorrow.*

How long did you send your package?

Totally agree with you - I hate waiting.

I want to vent too! UGH! I'm so frustrated because my expediter said it would be 2-4 business days for an answer and today marks the 5th business day. Everytime I call to check if they have any news they sound annoyed as well. I'm paying them to do this! We just want our answer! I'm starting to get so nervous now.

Oh, I just sent it on the 2nd, and it got there at noon on the 3rd, according to FedEx, so not long ago. It's just that I need to leave by the end of the month, and didn't factor in how long my package would sit around.

I want to vent too! UGH! I'm so frustrated because my expediter said it would be 2-4 business days for an answer and today marks the 5th business day. Everytime I call to check if they have any news they sound annoyed as well. I'm paying them to do this! We just want our answer! I'm starting to get so nervous now.

I know! I didn't call today as it's only the first day. But they said they were able to process applications the same day. So now it makes me feel like maybe they don't want to deal with me because I was refused? Did they forget about me?

I'm going to wait to give them a chance to email me within 2 hours or so, and then I'm going to call tomorrow. There's no reason for this - they have already got the money...do what you are supposed to!

Oh, I just sent it on the 2nd, and it got there at noon on the 3rd, according to FedEx, so not long ago. It's just that I need to leave by the end of the month, and didn't factor in how long my package would sit around.

Is this NY you are talking about? They seem to be faster than the other consulates. Though they do say that during this time of the year (June-July to September) they are really busy. But they can take up to 12 weeks.

Hope you get yours soon.

No, LA.

But the processing times for the EEA Family Permits were really fast (89% by 5 days, 100% by 10 days)... and I just realized that probably doesn't include the time that it sits around unopened, huh?

I think I might cry.

Oh I'm not sure about that. I wish I could help you further but just don't have any answers. (I'm new at this too.)

Don't get too upset now - wait until someone can give you advice.   

I have been waiting 40 business days (without using an expediter) so you can all consider yourself lucky by comparison.

If it helps at all, the e'mail that I got from the LA consulate after my application had been opened said this:

"Please note that the total processing time for all applications (except settlement) is 5-15 working days of receipt of your package in this office (inclusive of mail waiting time)"

So looks like the time it spends sitting in the office unopened counts as part of the processing time....?

oh good, thanks! yeah, mine's not a settlement visa, but I haven't gotten the "your package has been opened" email... though I've heard that some people never get those.

okay. I feel slightly better.

Some people have been successful in hiring an expediter in the LA area to retrieve their apps for them after they were submitted and then expedite them.  I think once it's opened, they are unable to do so.  But some were successful in getting immediate approval by doing so.  If you do a search, you may find posts that talk about this.