Wait for visa approval... (competences et talents)

[tinpanalley]

Hello,
For those of you have waited the normal amount or longer for your visa approval, I need your advice on something...

The facts:
1. I was told when I had my appointment here in NY, that it usually takes 3 weeks for the committee to reach a decision but that it was peak season and could be longer. How much longer? They didn't say.
2. I was asked when I was planning on moving. I said first week of July.
3. This is now the 6th week since my appointment, 4th since my wife's.
4. I called to see if they needed a 3rd copy they had mentioned during my appointment. I was told it wasn't important at the moment but that I would need to present it when approved. I used that copy as a reason to call and see if I could get any info. I was given the direct email address of the Head of the Visa Section to ask any questions to. I emailed her with the question about presenting the copy last week. Still no reply. I was informed she was very busy and may take a while.

Questions for you...
1. Would you email again, or am I pestering?
2. If you emailed/called, is there really a way to ask about an update on the status without sounding annoying, impatient, and bothersome?

Here's the thing.. I know they're gonna take as long as they're gonna take. I'm cool with French bureaucracy. Our appointments went really well. They seemed happy with how well I presented. But at a certain point, I will have to give my current landlady sufficient notice of my leaving my apartment and we've already pushed our move date to August. That notice date is middle of July. Can't really go beyond that.

I'm flexible and understanding, just want some opinions. Anyone know how bad peak season delays can get?

Thank you all! Everyone here is always so helpful.

Signed: relaxed but trying to stay organised.

[audreyc]

Hi Tinpanalley,

Sorry, the wait must be awful. My husband and I waited 6 weeks to get our passports back-and we had been approved at the appointment. The reason ours took so long was because the person who needed to sign it had gone on holiday. It's prime holiday season now. You may be stuck in that cycle.

Is it your lease that is up in August or are you month to month? I know the timing of things can get quite tricky (and potentially expensive.) Could you have a sublet type of arrangement if you needed to?

Hang in there! I know it seems like an eternity, but I'm sure you'll hear back soon. I imagine the NY consulate is the most hectic of them all.

[tinpanalley]

Originally Posted by audreyc

Is it your lease that is up in August or are you month to month? I know the timing of things can get quite tricky (and potentially expensive.) Could you have a sublet type of arrangement if you needed to?

It's a lease, there's not really such a thing as month to month in regular apartments in New York. It's not up in August, but August 15th is when we wanna leave which means that in order to give 30 days notice, we need to know by mid-July. Even then, we'll probably lose the security deposit for leaving before the end of the lease... oh well. We can't really sublet, no.

Originally Posted by audreyc

Hang in there! I know it seems like an eternity, but I'm sure you'll hear back soon. I imagine the NY consulate is the most hectic of them all.

I'm sure. Thanks for the well wishes. Just wish I could legitimately ask someone on the inside whether they need anything further.

[tinpanalley]

Hmm... someone I know told me the other day that it's common in French visa-related bureaucracy to simply not reply to people who have been rejected. So, the idea is that if you are granted a visa they'll reply and if you're not granted the visa they simply don't call you back. Does anyone have any knowledge of this or was my friend just trying to freak me out. I know, I'm being impatient but it's been 4 and a half weeks since my wife's appointment and 6 since mine.