I didn't get it!

The security guard says I have no appointment, and, of course, I brought the old appointment confirmation with me.  There is no getting through to the Consulate.  The phone number is a recording, the help line doesn't contact the Consulate, and you need an appointment to speak tp the security guard's supervisor.

I have to find a courier, book into a hotel, and change my flight.  I'll be in touch.

What happened to the new confirm you printed?   

Did you lose it or decide not to bring it?

I can't remember your specific circumstances, but sorry you've run into a glitch! Hope you're on your way soon...

Oh no!!!!  Please keep us updated!

I had 2 sets of everything from the visa site and printed the old appointment confirmation.  I didn't notice until I was at the Consulate.

I've been a busy lady.  I have a hotel room.  I called the first 1-800 number on the visa expediter list, A-1 Passport and Visa Service.   Dearest, sweetest Esther said to come on over with my application.  A student visa costs $150.  At this point, who cares.  Thank God I have the money.  I should have my visa tomorrow afternoon.

I've been trying to change my flight on Aer Lingus.  I tried and tried and kept getting an error when it came to purchasing the ticket.  I phoned them, but the nice man said the site is working fine.  Back to the Internet Cafe to try again.  I've tried Internet Explorer and AOL, and I still can't change the flight.  Back to the phone booth.

Just to wind up this whinge, the nearest phone booth is in an Irish bar a crosstown block away, it's hot in NYC today, I need a brew, the bartender ignores me.  It's not a gay bar.  There are families in there.  I guess this is just not my day.

 

I don't know how you are managing to stay rational at this stage, but I wish you the best and I hope you can get the flight changed- I wish there was some way to help you from this end

Best of luck
 

I don't know how you are managing to stay rational at this stage...

No kidding!!  A bartender in an Irish bar ignored you?!?!  I'd be SO stressed! 

No kidding!! A bartender in an Irish bar ignored you?!?! I'd be SO stressed!

  Yeah, put that under "You know you're having a bad day when....

I did change my flight.  Aer Lingus is great about changing.   Just @$30.  The last time I had to change a flight on British Airways, because my cat's paperwork didn't arrive in time, I lost the ticket.

 

I don't know how you are managing to stay rational at this stage, but I wish you the best and I hope you can get the flight changed- I wish there was some way to help you from this end

Best of luck
 

Rational?  You should have seen me screaming at the security guard and sobbing on the street.  A woman who was there for her own visa asked me if there was anything she could do to help me and let me cry on her shoulder.   I was going to say that I'm rational as can be during a crisis and fall apart later.  Hmmmm, a new me!

If you would, please light a candle to the visa fairies for me.  I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have all you guys to fall back on.

"Please light a candle to the visa fairies for me"
Will do!  Good luck.

Marybeth

Thanks, Marybeth.

And have a few brewskis for me to, anyone!

sorry, from reading this, I don't understand. Did you have an appt to begin with when you went? Or just an old appt? Sorry to hear it, but were you planning to leave right from nyc? Good luck, I got turned away for my student visa when i went to nyc in person and got it a few weeks later via post.

I made an appointment for August 17 on-line when I filed my student visa application.  I didn't get a letter from my nephew in time, so I changed the appointment on-line to August 25.  The site said my appointment was now 10 a.m. on August 25.  I copied the page and parked it in my documents folder.

The next day, I got a second e-mail from the Consulate saying my appointment was August 17.  Still, not to worry because I had the confirmation page.  I even went back into the site and tried to change the appointment again just to see what the site would say.  The site said that my appointment was for 10 a.m. August 25.

I printed out my application, the payment confirmation, and the appointment e-mail instead of the copy of the page saying my appointment was 8/25.  The guard said my appointment was for August 18 (WTF?) and wouldn't let me in.  Of course, there is no way to talk to anyone in the Consulate.  The guard gave me the info line phone number and the web site.  Fat lot of good that would do!  I already know what to do and I did it.  If there's a screw-up, you are screwed.

After a major meltdown, I went to an Internet Cafe and tried to print the copy of the 8/25 confirmation that I had saved and ever so smartly emailed to myself just in case I needed to access it.  I have an iBook.  The word processing package is ClarisWorks, I think.  Whatever, the document is in code, and the cafe can't translate it into Word or WordPerfect.  Even tried at Kinko's.

So now I'm killing time in the Internet Cafe.  I'm waiting for 3 o'clock to go back to the visa facilitator and, I hope, pick up my passport with the student visa in it.  I've changed my flight to Edinburgh to Sunday.  I'll be the one kissing the ground at Turnhouse Airport on Monday afternoon, if nothing else screws up, that is.

I'll be going back to Boston tonight.  When I get in, I'll post again to let y'all know how this day turns out.

I am so sorry - that is an absolute nightmare!!!    I really hope you get everything sorted and before you know it, you'll find new hurdles over here By the way, i have a powerbook, so I know what you mean with the difficulities. You're in my thoughts - let us know the outcome and I hope it's set straight for you soon.

I am thinking of you!  So sorry you have to go through this!  It should be an exciting time for you right now!

This is my latest e-mail.


"Your application has been approved and the visa has been issued. "

The number of homicidal thoughts I've been having just plummeted.  Thank you all for the good wishes and lighted candles!