Embassy faxes No Objection Stat. instead of mail on "embassy letterhead & stationery"

[matiasz]

Hi.

The embassy of my home country has sent the No Objection letter to the Department of State via FAX almost a month ago (instead of sending it "on embassy letterhead and stationery" as they request in the application package).

When I check the status of my case it doesn't show any reception of the No objection letter.

I have a copy of the fax that the embassy sent to me by mail. Should I send a copy myself to the Department of State?

What else could I do?

I appreciate your help.

 

[jk0274]

I actually have heard of the DOS accepting faxes from the embassy but only when:
1- The letter is also sent by mail but is delayed, and
2- The fax is sent directly to the attention of the DOS employee who is processing your case.

The embassy could not have known the person who is handling your case, so there is a good chance that the fax got dismissed. What you should do, immediately, is contact your embassy and ask them to resend the original document via Fedex. Offer to reimburse the consular section for the costs of the Fedex, and remind them to have the case number written on all the material. Good luck. You need to find a sympathetic ear at the embassy and explain that a Fax is unacceptable because it does not conform to the regulations as outlined on the bar code sheet which you sent them and which also should be enclosed with the letter.

 

[matiasz]

Thanks

Hi. Thank you for your prompt reply.

I talked with my embassy and that told me they did send a letter along with the fax, however, they didn't include the bar-code since this is the way they are used to do and have been doing for the last 10 years.

They say that they send out about a 100 Non-Objection Statements per year without bar-code and that they work.

They say also that it takes a while for the Waiver REview division to actually receive the letter because all letters directed to the Dep.Of.State go to a big distribution hub where they are checked for anthrax or explosives and then redistributted to the appropriate office. Is this true?

Thanks.

 

[jk0274]

Yes, if the letters are indeed sent via US mail instead of courier service, they take a while longer to reach the DOS like you said. It may be anywhere from 2-5 weeks. However, they are supposed to sent the bar code. If they don't, it may take a little bit longer, but as long as they wrote have the case number on the letter itself AND the envelope, I guess I wouldn't panic until maybe another week or two, at which point you will have to insist that they resend, and preferably via Fedex.

 

[NewReadyToHelp]

NoObj with no barcode page may work out but will delay things for sure.

Barcode are machine readable hence can and did speedr processing at DOS.

And if the person working your case out wishes he can simply throw away you NoObj letter.

As for the last part, yes DOS doesn't receive paer from us directly, but from central mail processing station where it gets screened for various things.

Hence the "several weeks" made by DOS with regard to updating cases.

Hi. Thank you for your prompt reply.

I talked with my embassy and that told me they did send a letter along with the fax, however, they didn't include the bar-code since this is the way they are used to do and have been doing for the last 10 years.

They say that they send out about a 100 Non-Objection Statements per year without bar-code and that they work.

They say also that it takes a while for the Waiver REview division to actually receive the letter because all letters directed to the Dep.Of.State go to a big distribution hub where they are checked for anthrax or explosives and then redistributted to the appropriate office. Is this true?

Thanks.