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R. S. Refugee
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Shangra La, ROK
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 Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:20 am Post subject: Anyone know how to contact US Apostille for an update? |
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The apostille office in my home state is so nice and helpful and accessible. The one for the US State Dept. is everything you might expect from such an org. It is completely inaccessible as far as I can tell. It's been over 3 weeks since they received my CRC to get the apostille stamp. I included payment and a return FEDEX envelop and pre-paid label.
But nothing yet. So, I tried calling their customer disservice number and got what you'd probably expect. One, we're too busy to take any calls. Two, leave your phone number and we'll call you back. Three, the voice mailbox for leaving your number is full. Four, sorry SUCKER. Five, And have a nice day.
Anyone know of any less published phone numbers that might work or any other method for achieving a status update? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated if you do.
As I understood it, they were supposed to be able to achieve this apostille task within 2 week before shipping it to you, but it's been 3+ weeks now with no way to check up on them. |
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Riddy44
Joined: 03 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:29 am Post subject: |
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| The process took 5 weeks for myself and most other people I have talked with waited the same amount of time. Good luck |
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DaHu
Joined: 09 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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| 5 weeks for me as well. |
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R. S. Refugee
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Shangra La, ROK
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the feedback about your experiences with them. I expect they were probably just as bad at customer disservice before La Clinton became the political overlord of the State Department.
I went through the process six months ago and it only took 3 weeks from the time I Fedex'd it to them until the time it was Fedex'd back. But then I decided to take some time off from teaching to pursue other interests and so the old CRC expired (6 months validity) and I started the process again a couple of months ago. The FBI folks are much more helpful. They actually do have a customer service department that you can call and talk to and who can track your application as needed. I Fedex'd these docs to State on June 30th so I guess, based on your experiences I can expect to get them back sometime next week.
Cheers. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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| DaHu wrote: |
| 5 weeks for me as well. |
I sent mine in, and my potential employers would freak if they had to wait for five weeks. I sent mine in. I wish I had flown in instead. Talking to the state department is useless because I can't get updates. I keep getting a woman (operator number 5) who really would love to help, but she is kept in the dark.
I have asked a company to go and try to retrieve my document and to get it apostilled. It may take them 5 to 10 business days. Do not mail it to the state department. You're better off dealing with that company. You can PM me if you want to know. I paid $125 dollars for them to see if they can help me push the DOS to find it and get it to me. The company shows up every day in front of the DOS. . I am not trying to advertise for them. They make no guarantees for quick deliver. This might be ideal for people who just sent their stuff or are about to and would rather have someone go there for them. You could look them up on line. You have to mail them a money order. I did, and I am prayin' for the best.
According to a lady who works for that company, the Department of State is in a mess, and it appears they are really backed up. |
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R. S. Refugee
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Shangra La, ROK
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| DaHu wrote: |
| 5 weeks for me as well. |
I sent mine in, and my potential employers would freak if they had to wait for five weeks. I sent mine in. I wish I had flown in instead. Talking to the state department is useless because I can't get updates. I keep getting a woman (operator number 5) who really would love to help, but she is kept in the dark.
I have asked a company to go and try to retrieve my document and to get it apostilled. It may take them 5 to 10 business days. Do not mail it to the state department. You're better off dealing with that company. You can PM me if you want to know. I paid $125 dollars for them to see if they can help me push the DOS to find it and get it to me. The company shows up every day in front of the DOS. . I am not trying to advertise for them. They make no guarantees for quick deliver. This might be ideal for people who just sent their stuff or are about to and would rather have someone go there for them. You could look them up on line. You have to mail them a money order. I did, and I am prayin' for the best.
According to a lady who works for that company, the Department of State is in a mess, and it appears they are really backed up. |
Thanks for the suggestion, but mine is about due to show up by next week at least, so I guess I'll just wait for it this time. I actually have my old one with the apostille that just expired about a month ago. I decided to take an extended vacation this spring and didn't use it. I think I'll go ahead and apply for jobs and show all that to the Koreans plus scans of the new one along with all the documentation showing when I sent it off into the black hole of the US State Dept. and see if they'll go ahead and give me a C-4. I'm hoping to pull a last minute camp job, so maybe the Korean Consulate in Japan will be a little flexible for a C-4 short term visa. C-4s don't go through KIMMI here in Korea. They are issued by individual Korean consulates.
Cheers. |
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Tigerstyleone
Joined: 01 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:09 am Post subject: |
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From the Sec of State's website:
Mail Service
Processing Time
The Authentication of documents by mail currently takes about 4 weeks to process from the time of receipt in the Authentications office. Documents sent through the U.S. mail can be delayed by several weeks in arriving at the Authentications Office because of the irradiation process.
Irradiation process- you've got to be kidding me. |
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R. S. Refugee
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Shangra La, ROK
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| Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:43 am Post subject: |
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| Tigerstyleone wrote: |
From the Sec of State's website:
Mail Service
Processing Time
The Authentication of documents by mail currently takes about 4 weeks to process from the time of receipt in the Authentications office. Documents sent through the U.S. mail can be delayed by several weeks in arriving at the Authentications Office because of the irradiation process.
Irradiation process- you've got to be kidding me. |
Thanks for posting that info. Mine was received there July 5th, so it's 4 weeks will be up in 2 days on Tues. |
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lowpo
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| R. S. Refugee wrote: |
| Tigerstyleone wrote: |
From the Sec of State's website:
Mail Service
Processing Time
The Authentication of documents by mail currently takes about 4 weeks to process from the time of receipt in the Authentications office. Documents sent through the U.S. mail can be delayed by several weeks in arriving at the Authentications Office because of the irradiation process.
Irradiation process- you've got to be kidding me. |
Thanks for posting that info. Mine was received there July 5th, so it's 4 weeks will be up in 2 days on Tues. |
Mine took 6 to 7 weeks from the time they got it. To the time they mailed it off. |
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Tigerstyleone
Joined: 01 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Was because of the irradiation process ? |
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R. S. Refugee
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Shangra La, ROK
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| Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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Always good to hear another horror story regarding the US State Dept.
I guess next time I'll try using one of those walk-in services for the federal apostille part of the process. Maybe KIMMI will get a clue regarding the extreme ineptitude (or supreme indifference is just as likely) of US Dept. of State and change the requirement so that it expires after one year instead of 6 months. Six months is hardly enough time to get through the bloody process resulting in a apostilled document that's only good for a month or so before you have to start the whole process again just to "play it safe."
I have an apostilled CRC that expired a month ago. If I'd known it was going to be this difficult to get another one, I would have ended my vacation sooner and looked for a job in May and June. I think I'll take down a photocopy of the current CRC to the US Embassy here in Seoul and swear out an affidavit, then go to KIMMI and ask them if that will do since God only knows when the US State Dept. will cough up the new one and she isn't talking (at least not to me). |
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R. S. Refugee
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Shangra La, ROK
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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It's finally on the way.
Well, as we all know by now there is no way to check for an update with the US State Dept. entity. It's a black box. You put something in and hope it comes back out someday. There's no way to check on its progress or if it got lost or whatever.
That said, I have been checking the FEDEX waybill number that I enclosed for them to send it back to me and finally today it registered when I entered the number. It was mailed out today. Actually, that's Aug. 1st back in D.C. It was received by them on Tues., July 5th D.C. time., so that means the turnaround was 4 weeks minus 1 day from the time they received it until the time they sent it out. So, that should be useful info, I hope, for others going through this fairly unpleasant procedure.
If KIMMI would just change this to a once-a-year procedure, I think that would make a big difference for all the suffering waygooks from my home country.
Cheers. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Tigerstyleone wrote: |
From the Sec of State's website:
Mail Service
Processing Time
The Authentication of documents by mail currently takes about 4 weeks to process from the time of receipt in the Authentications office. Documents sent through the U.S. mail can be delayed by several weeks in arriving at the Authentications Office because of the irradiation process.
Irradiation process- you've got to be kidding me. |
If you were one of the politicians who received anthrax spores in the mail you would not think so. |
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R. S. Refugee
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Shangra La, ROK
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Fedex tracking says it's at Incheon this morning, so I guess I'll get it delivered later today. A day earlier than their estimate. I like that. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:56 am Post subject: |
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| R. S. Refugee wrote: |
| Fedex tracking says it's at Incheon this morning, so I guess I'll get it delivered later today. A day earlier than their estimate. I like that. |
I may not make it. I can't hang on for 4 weeks it's excessive. If the FBI didn't take so long, it wouldn't have been a problem. I've heard these things used to not take so long, but now the government is worse and worse. I even paid a company to try to retrieve my CBC in person; they can't tell me if they could do it by Friday. They made the request last Friday to have my document given to them. It's Wednesday now. It's really been a pain. |
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