Originally posted by silent
Antipod,
I understand and sympathise totally with your predicament, I was in almost the same situation as you in terms of cancelling vacation plans. But I hope you will employ the more tactful technique for now and respectfully write and make inquiries at this web site:
http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_visa.html
I hope you don't think I am patronising but I very well understand your frustration. I hope you will take time to calm yourself down before you write to the appropriate people, explaining all the hardhsip you are facing because of the, well, for lack of a better word, mighty cock-up!
I do not agree with some people on this forum who have even warned some of us who are anxiously calling the visa office to track our cases, not to irritate the 'visa specialists' with phone calls. Believe me, no one in their right mind wants to call the visa office (and hold for 40 mins or more), for pleasure. There are plenty of other alternatives we can think of, for a thrill!! It might be worth reminding ourselves that we are welcomed on an H1B visa into the US because we are good at what we do, not because the US is charitable!
Finally, but most importantly Antipod, I hope your passports gets to you soon and safe, whether it comes by land, water or air!
silent