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- Nov 12, 2012
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I'm having a bad run with visas!!
Because I've visited Iran, I have to get a B1/B2 visa (sticker) in my passport for the USA - no ESTA for me.
I got one some years ago, lasts 5 years, but it expired 18 months ago.
Long story short, after 5 hours and 4 calls to a help call centre that would do an airline proud, they finally told me that there is a 'new system' being implemented and they have been inundated with calls for assistance.
In my case, besides asking for an extraordinary amount of information (employer's address, supervisor, countries visited in past 5 years ...) - its now about the length and detail of a Russian visa application - the web site is incredibly buggy. Chrome (one of their recommended browsers) kept kicking me out during the application and then wouldn't let me log in; wouldn't advance when a page completed etc.
Assistance line said to use Edge - and this worked OK, notwithstanding the web site says:
I completed the application in Edge, then I had to call a couple more times to find out where I pay and get an interview waiver (as I've had the same visa < 2 years before). Discovered that there is a completely different 'account' to set up for this*. This also buggy - ie not going back to form after card payment(s) etc etc.
I now have a case number for an issue - its 16 digits.
* This is evident if you enter the application from a certain site, but not evident if you start from Nonimmigrant Visa - Instructions Page
Because I've visited Iran, I have to get a B1/B2 visa (sticker) in my passport for the USA - no ESTA for me.
I got one some years ago, lasts 5 years, but it expired 18 months ago.
Long story short, after 5 hours and 4 calls to a help call centre that would do an airline proud, they finally told me that there is a 'new system' being implemented and they have been inundated with calls for assistance.
In my case, besides asking for an extraordinary amount of information (employer's address, supervisor, countries visited in past 5 years ...) - its now about the length and detail of a Russian visa application - the web site is incredibly buggy. Chrome (one of their recommended browsers) kept kicking me out during the application and then wouldn't let me log in; wouldn't advance when a page completed etc.
Assistance line said to use Edge - and this worked OK, notwithstanding the web site says:
I completed the application in Edge, then I had to call a couple more times to find out where I pay and get an interview waiver (as I've had the same visa < 2 years before). Discovered that there is a completely different 'account' to set up for this*. This also buggy - ie not going back to form after card payment(s) etc etc.
I now have a case number for an issue - its 16 digits.
* This is evident if you enter the application from a certain site, but not evident if you start from Nonimmigrant Visa - Instructions Page
