British Consulate General New York — Local services in New York

This is the worst experience I have ever had getting a visa, and I've applied for and received two Russian visas. I've seen others post here about their great experiences with getting a Tier 4 Student visa, but they seem to be the minority.

I couldn't send my documents in to them until the beginning of August, because my boyfriend and I went to Canada for a few days and I needed my passport. Standard turnaround time being 10-15 days, I figured it was fine, since I wasn't planning on leaving until the 30th.

My first problem was that they received my documents and emailed me to say that they couldn't send my documents back until I purchased their $34 return courier service. Nowhere, on any of the instructions or documents, did it say you MUST buy this service, only that you needed to provide return packaging and a shipping label. USPS cost $6. So I had to wait until the following Wednesday to pay 6x that for their stupid courier service.

Sent an email to the complaints address on August 12. Never heard back.

Got an email saying they'd received the shipping label, then silence. I called and emailed everyone I could think of trying to find out where my visa was in the process because my roommate in Glasgow would be away for the first week of September, so if I didn't get my visa and flight before then, I would have to arrive only 3 days before the start of classes.

There is no number you can call to speak to a live person, unless you want to pay an exorbitant amount per minute. No email you can write to that will actually get a reply in a timely fashion. When they FINALLY wrote back about the status, it was only one day before the official decision email. That was Tuesday.

Then silence again. I checked the UPS site constantly to see if it had shipped. Waited until 3 PM Wednesday and then emailed them again because it hadn't shipped yet and it was supposed to ship Tuesday or Wednesday. Didn't hear back.

Finally they shipped it around 5 PM Wednesday, but I only knew that because of UPS. UKVI DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO EMAIL ME ABOUT MY VISA SHIPPING. It has now been delivered and they STILL haven't emailed me.

The worst part of all of this is that, when I finally got my visa, I looked at the letter included that I have to give to the immigration officer when I get to the UK, and it was dated August 19, TWO DAYS after I sent them my shipping label. This means my visa was actually decided and printed nearly a week before I received it, and their email about the decision was four days late (three business days, since they've been staying open Saturdays). FOUR DAYS and they couldn't email me. I have anxiety and have been going absolutely insane for almost a month now, feeling sick and sleeping too much or too little every night. This process has caused me so much grief that could have been avoided just by having ONE person I could call to check on the status. It also means I had to buy a ticket that was more expensive with a worse baggage policy.

Here is my timeline:

16 July - finished application 25 July - biometric appointment 8 August - sent documents via priority mail (3 business days) 12 August - documents received at the consulate, got an email about needing to buy courier service 12 August - wrote complaint to UKVI 17 August - bought and sent in return shipping label, emailed to ask about status of my visa 22 August - went on an emailing spree of university contacts, heard back from all of them within a day but they couldn't really help 22 August - received email responding to my status question, included survey regarding customer service, which I obviously laughed at and completed 23 August - received email saying my visa was printed and would be shipped that day or the next 24 August - UPS updated the tracking 25 August - received visa. Still have not heard from the UKVI.

Overall, it took 17 days to get my visa, which isn't bad, but the service is absolutely horrific. I'm relieved to have my visa in time to book a flight, but I will never use this consulate again if I...

Background: My family is travelling to France for a wedding June 3, 2014.  Our family unit consists of my husband and baby girl, both US citizens and myself, a greencard holder African from a former British colony (name starts with Z). Please note: I have received my schengen visa from the France Consulate in LA in 2 weeks.  And then started my application for the British visa.  Also note: I have been to Britain twice in the last 5 years.

I applied for my visa the last week of April, because of technical difficulties on the new British visa website, the UK Home Office locked my account and I was unable to log back in and complete my application. I was prompted to email the tech people to reset my password and still no response 2 days later. I called the 1888 umber which connects to Britain and charges 1.30pounds/min to be told I need to start all over again.  At this point 3 days have been lost as I had been waiting for my password to be reset.  I reapply with a new email address.

MAY 2, 2014 I complete application and pay $141.00 fee.  As it is a Friday, I get an appointment for my biometrics for Monday MAY 5, 2014.  Biometrics complete, I hightail it to FEDEX and send my package with a self addressed airbill return envelope.

MAY 9, 2014 I receive notification that application package is received and processing and will take 10 business days, and there is no unforeseen delay.  No communication in 2 weeks.

MAY 23, 2014 I receive notification that my application is now under "further review" and will take an additional 15 business days.  Panic sets in.  We are scheduled to leave JUNE 3, 2014 - in 6 business day from received email.  There is no further indication of what is under review.

MAY 26, 2014 is Memorial Day - Consulates closed

MAY 27, 2014 - I email the Home Office via their email, relaying my situation.  I get a response MAY 28, 2014 - my application is in the final stages and under review.  No further detail.  This does not assuage my panic.

MAY 28, 2014 - I venture to Century Park Plaza where the LA Consulate is housed.  Security in lobby call the Consulate and hand me the phone to speak with Hector.  Hector advises that this is out of his control and contact New York,  He refuses to give me a number and says I should try my luck with extensions from the prompting I get from the number on the internet.  I express my disdain to the voice on the other end of the line, reminding him that the LA Consulate is meant to represent the Western region of the United States on all issues consular related to Britain.  He cant help me.

MAY 29, 2014 - I call the NY Consulate - get someone by going through the British Nationals extension option.  She gives me the 1888#.  I call the number again and the gentleman in London looks up my GWF number and states not to worry.  I reiterate that I am meant to leave on Tuesday JUNE 3, 2014...3 business days from now.  He advises me to cancel my flight or change my ticket; chances are slim that I will have a decision by the time I am meant to leave. I inform him that it was because of the technical issues that I am even in this predicament - that they have all my original documents including my travel documents (which I have used in the past to apply for a British visa and gotten it), my marriage certificate and my green card and more. "Sorry ma'am!" I hang up before I  lose my dignity and start crying.

So here I am.  I am half encouraged by other posters who got their visas in the knick of time...but I am also very concerned.  No entity should emotionally humiliate other humans and treat them as second class world citizens.  I did not procrastinate, and I have tried to communicate with the Consulates.  It is a travesty that I have to write this review at all. I hope to hear from the Consulate. I am missing a dear friend's wedding.  Had I known, I would have just extended our time in France - flown Air France; instead of booking with...

I was supposed to travel to Nigeria from Houston 26th November 2015, right there at the airport I was told I can't board because I needed a Transit visa to continue to my destination via London, UK. The British Airways on duty rescheduled my flight by a week and advised to start processing the Direct Airside Transit Visa and even stamped my ticket and signed it (Needed DATV, no cost) to make sure the UK consulate will help hasten the process. After paying online for the UK Visa, completed online form, went for Biometrics and packaged all my travel documents to UK Consulate office New York. Below is a summary timeline.

26th November traveling rescheduled at IAH airport since I needed a transit visa 27th applied and paid for DATV on their website get got Biometric appointment for 30th Nov 30th Completed Biometrics and Shipped documents via UPS Next Day Air 1st December UPS delivered to New York office around 4pm 3rd December I got a confirmation that my application has been put on queue and would take about 15 working days to complete since I didn't purchase priority 7th December, called British Airways since I am yet to receive any update from UKVI New York, I was rescheduled free of charge for 10th December again 10th December I went to the IAH Airport to inform British Airways for another reschedule since I have not heard from UKVI concerning the decision of my application. I was rescheduled again for 21st December

11th December I got a mail that my application was unsuccessful and reason will be stated when my documents are returned via the UPS next Day Air i purchased during my online application My travel plans now already shattered, I had to cancel the reservation with a cancellation fee of $425

14th December I got my documents back and the refusal letter stated I was applying for a transit visa to enter UK en route to Pakistan... I was confused! All my application documents, travel tickets/insurance and supporting documents clearly stated Houston to London to Abuja (Nigeria) where did the clearance officer who decided my case see Pakistan?

15th December started making alternative travel plans to Nigeria via a route that requires no transit visa

16th December I checked online to see how to seek a redress on the error applied to my case. Found an info on Request for an Administrative Review. I downloaded the forms, filled and sent them along with original copies of all the same documents I used for the application indicating the error/assumptions made by the officer who (I think was drunk as at the time he/she) attended to my case and mistook Nigeria for Pakistan.

I don't need their transit visa anymore as I already made alternative travel plans to Nigeria

17th sent series of email to their help contact to notify them of the same error and telling them I will pursue every available means to seek redress and compensation for wasting my time, money and resources.

17th I got a mail response stating they are sorry for the inconveniences and requested for some information related to my application/refusal another email notifying me they have escalated my case to a department that will handle it and I should be expectiing a response soon

I don't know if they have received the physical copies of the original documents (aside my international passport) that I mailed, but the email I sent has already sparked up a case for me.

I need the UK consulate New York to pay for their mistakes and inconveniences on me and also to let others know how unprofessional some of their decision making...