adamas

I have just collected my immigrant visa package from the courier depot. When I took out the envelope from the plastic bag, I found with shock a big tear on the bottom edge of the envelope, see picture attached. The tear is about 70% long and I can see papers inside.
I am really panicking, since I am due to travel in 8 days. I have already contacted the Embassy through the online form, but they say that they can take up to 5 days to reply!!!

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What should I do?

Rete

You need to get to the Embassy and have the package re-packaged. You cannot take that through the POE. Is there any other way to contact the US Embassy other than the method you tried, i.e. phone number, etc.?

adamas

No, unfortunately I have not found any other way to contact them. They sent a paper with instructions together with the passport, and they specifically say to contact them only through the online form if the package is damaged.
I live 4 hours away from London, but I'd rather go there in person and have them give me back the package than sending it back and forth again by courier.

It looks like it has been cut on purpose!!! It is not ripped or anything, but neatly cut along the edge! How is that even possible?

Rete

I found this thread from last year about a wife who was curious and opened it herself ... guess she couldn't read English.

Unfortunately, it doesn't really say how they contacted the US Embassy but only they can solve your problem

Immigrant visa issued - US London Embassy contact needed

Looks like it was cut by accident. It is not a neat slit.

adamas

I phoned the Embassy, but I was told that the visa team does not take direct calls and the only way is the online form...I just hope they get back quickly...

I don't understand who and how cut the envelope, certainly it wasn't me, and the plastic bag from the courier was absolutely intact.

Rete

It happened somewhere between the Consulate office and the courier's office who then placed it in their sealed pouch and delivered it. Mystery will never be solved as to how it happened. We are only concerned that you can have it resealed in time for your flight in 8 days. I hope your tickets are exchangeable.

adamas

What if the Embassy questions that I have tampered myself with the envelope and deny me the visa? I am really freaking out...and the wait to have an answer from them is unbearable.

Rete

As my link to you shows, people have been known to open the envelope themselves. If you did or you didn't, doesn't matter. It still needs to be resealed and the visa is still valid.

adamas

Any clue of how long it could take? On other forums I found posts by people saying that it can take several weeks or months, or they could even refuse to reseal it.

Noorah101

I've not heard of any case where they refused to reseal it. You will send it back in or drop it off, they will have to recheck the documents to verify everything is there and not tampered with, seal it again, and send it out via courier again. Don't know how long it might take, depends on their workload, but plan a worst case scenario of 6 to 8 weeks, just in case, and be pleasantly surprised if it's quicker.

Rene

Noorah101

My guess is that they probably won't do this while you wait. But just a guess.

Rene

adamas

Well, 6 to 8 weeks is actually a terrible news...My job starts in a month time and I have already made arrangements such as the flight and a rental apartment. This whole process has been really killing me...

Is your timeframe and the way this process works based on actual experiences you heard of?

Noorah101

Just reports I've read on here over the years. There is a search function, maybe you can find the posts. Doesn't happen to often so I only know of a couple of cases, they were a long time ago, timelines can change. Is this an employment based immigrant visa? If so, I'm sure your company will understand the delay.

Our advice is typically to NOT get your ticket until you have the visa safely in hand.

Rene

adamas

Yes, it is employment based, even though I have to pay for the relocation expenses on my own, including the flight. This is actually the reason why I have already booked the flight.
Once I saw on the CEAC website that the visa was issued, I booked the flight since I found a good deal with a discount expiring soon. It seems that, at least, the ticket is exchangeable for a fee.

Rather than my employer, I am myself fed up with this wait and cannot bear it any longer.

kateinbrooklyn

Are you sure that it needs to be sealed? Does it contain a medical report?