Obtaining a USA visa

[RooFlyer]

Part vent, part hoping to be helpful for others.

Part 1.
For my sin of visiting Iran on a tour a few years back, I am ineligible for a USA ESTA and have to have a nonimmigrant B1/B2 visa sticker for tourist/business entry. I got one 7 years ago and it actually worked well on arrival, using the machines. It expired about 20 months ago and I didn't get around to renewing it. I have a Caribbean cruise coming up and to get to and from the ports I need to transit (enter the USA).

So off I go to the USA Travel Docs web site to begin the application process https://www.ustraveldocs.com/au/en/

I eventually got my head around the various steps, which basically means FIRST completing a DS-160 form (essentially what would be required for most on-line visa applications - photo, details, details, details, pay visa fee etc) - and having it approved. This took me a couple of days on-and off. Getting the photo just right specs to be accepted took a bit of time.

Then you enter another portal and for me this is where the drama started. Its so long ago now (began end of January) that I don't recall all the steps but you create an account and again start going through the pages and filing in details.

For me, the web site was very buggy. For instance, hit next and it might dump me out or just loop to the same page. Or it wouldn't accept a response where it should.

When this happens, you call the number provided and they usually answer in a short time. I suspect a call centre in Puerto Rico or similar. I ended up calling 4 times. Several admitted the web site was 'in transition' and had issues. The first 3 times, they would take the details, lodge a case and say that I'll get an e-mail when case resolved. On average, these came through after 2 weeks (log onto the portal and read the message - it usually just said 'resolved'). Go back to the saved application, progress a bit, problem, call, rinse, repeat. So there's nearly 2 months.

Along the way you pay $52 for 'Premium delivery of the passport back to you. This is a mob called VFS Global. I got a receipt.

A bit further they ask if you've has a B1B2 before and it's current or expired within 24 months; if yes, and certain other conditions, you get exempted from having to go for an interview, which may involve a long wait (weeks/months have been reported at various times). I qualified for an exemption, but it looped again at this stage.

I call again and this time I got a competent agent, willing to help. They intervened in the on-line process and got me through that; then the system wanted me to pay the delivery fee again, and gain the agent intervened and I got through that. So,,,, SUCCESS! . Application approved with an interview waiver - so I could just mail forms in. End of part 1.

 

[RooFlyer]

Part 2.

So I then gather up all the forms needed, another photo, passport and my previous passport with the old visa in it and post them to the address given, which was the US Consulate in Melbourne street address. Given several times - the street address. I used the suggested AusPost express parcel, tracked, signature required on delivery and paid for $600 insurance.

After three days Hobart CBD-Melbourne CBD AusPost tracking said it was delivered to PO Box. Huh? Not street address? And where's my signature? Call AusPost. they say probably reason is that US Consulate probably has standing directive that all their post goes to PO Box. OK, but where is my signature and how do I know it went to the correct PO Box - it happens. Told: no signature when its delivered to PO Box.

Promised an enquiry to the Post Office concerned. Oh, and I complain about the three business days delivery time, not the overnight guaranteed by the satchel and they refund me the cost of the satchel and the sig on delivery fees.

message comes back after 2 days saying that the delivery was made "as addressed to the PO Box of the consulate". No it wasn't addressed to any PO Box - call again.

Message back next day - Ooops, sorry, our bad, addressed to street address but absolutely assured it was delivered to correct PO Box.

Shambles by AusPost (not unexpected) and why the consulate doesn't give out its PO Box, I can only guess at. End of Part 2.

 

[RooFlyer]

Part 3.

Fortunately by this time I got a message from DHL that my delivery (I guessed, return of my passports) had entered their system. So I was reasonably assured that my mail had reached the Consulate. Just as well, because obviously the consulate or USA Travel Docs didn't reply to my e-mail asking "Did you get my passport?"

Just 2 days later, I got a message from some mob called GTS Premium saying that my consignment was with DHL, tracking # xx_XX. Good stuff!

DHL tracking then showed that it sat in Melbourne for the next 3 days. Really?

Next day, tracking said



So, DHL has dumped my passports with someone else, and I can't track them. That's a week ago. What could possibly go wrong.

End of Part 3

 

[RooFlyer]

Part 4.

Over the past week I've been travelling and v busy, so I made a few attempts to contact the three parties who seem to be involved, without any progress.

Today, I get a message from AusPost that I have a delivery for collection. That God, its my passports. So DHL had them for 3 days in Melbourne, then offloaded them to AusPost but didn't tell me who, and didn't provide me with any AusPost tracking and AusPost then took a week to get them from Melbourne to my place, an hour from the Hobart CBD.

So, today I go after a refund of the $52. HA!! . Google VFS Global and see what you get - but open and look at the results. GTS Premium is worse.

I call DHL to complain about their slowness at least, and the dumping of my consignment into an untracked hole. They weren't bad to deal with. Not going to give me any refund (I'm not their client) but are looking up the other 2 mobs to see if I can get a decent contact and an explanation as to why it sat in Melbourne for 3 days and why I couldn't be given the AusPost tracking number when they handed it over. The supervisor had never heard of GTS Premium who apparently delivered the consignment to DHL in the first place.

So, I have my visa so can enjoy the execrable experience of arriving internationally at Miami later this year.

But 2 1/2 months all up and none of the organisations involved behaved competently. Pi**es me off!!

/ rant

 

[RooFlyer]

So, today I go after a refund of the $52. HA!! . Google VFS Global and see what you get - but open and look at the results. GTS Premium is worse.

VFS Global in essence told me to just pi** off.

I complained, citing the delay in delivery by DHL (and that DHL had admitted they were at fault) and the fact that DHL simply offloaded my consignment to an un-named third party with no tracking (my passports inside).

VHS Global simply replied that 7-8 business days delivery from Melbourne 3004 to me, 1 hour out of Hobart was not too bad and "delivery times are not guaranteed". "We do not refund". They ignored the going off the air issue. When pressed, they again simply replied to the delay issue (non issue for them). Ignored me since.

Not so much as a sorry, or we regret the inconvenience or we promise to do better next time. Just bugger off.

Moral - if you can avoid using VFS Global for any business, do so if you can.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Ive been avoiding going to Cuba for the same reason. ESTA is just too easy. The alternate routes of getting a visa are utterly unacceptable.

 

[JohnM]

I had no trouble getting a B1/B2 visa back in 2018 at the US consulate in Perth (ESTA no good any more after travelling to Sudan, Iran, Cuba). It was ridiculously easy - fronted up, they did the check at the counter and said we'll ping you in the next day or two when it's approved.

Wander to the bus stop, get on the bus for the 20 minute ride home, only to get off to a ping saying it was ready to collect.

Have a bite for lunch, get back on the bus and go and collect it.

Used it once then covid insanity hit and it expired.

Despite that ease, I don't think I'll bother with LOTFAP again. Been there, done that. I'll skirt around it if I want to ever head in that general direction again. Just too nutty.

 

[kpc]

Would love to go to Iran one day (when Israel stops lobbing exploding objecrs at it) but will waIt till my days of going to US are over (nearly) so I can continue to get ESTAs......fortunately I went to Cuba before 12 January 2021 (thanks Donald) so that does not disqualify me from getting an ESTA!

 

[RooFlyer]

I had no trouble getting a B1/B2 visa back in 2018 at the US consulate in Perth (ESTA no good any more after travelling to Sudan, Iran, Cuba). It was ridiculously easy - fronted up, they did the check at the counter and said we'll ping you in the next day or two when it's approved.

That was my experience the first time I got a B1/B2 - except I had to go to their Melbourne consulate for interview; they took the passport and said they'd send it back. It was back with me 2 days later.

I thought this time, with an interview waiver (as I had the visa before) would be easier .... nope!

Despite that ease, I don't think I'll bother with LOTFAP again. Been there, done that. I'll skirt around it if I want to ever head in that general direction again. Just too nutty.

Same same, except my up-coming Caribbean cruise - beginning in Barbados and ending in Colombia - necessitated it. Believe me, my TA looked at every possible combination to avoid me having to go via the USA (coming in from Europe, exiting back to Oz)!! Was possible, but added a ridiculous amount on top of the Finnair RTW fare.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ive been avoiding going to Cuba for the same reason.

I guess that's now opened up to me as well .