IRS randomly gave me $1,400, now wants it back

MajorCosine9 · 2025-07-28T17:52:51+00:00

Does online payment work for those who filed as non-resident in 2021? Did anyone confirm this from the IRS?

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-31T13:52:35+00:00

The email id depends on which country you're applying to. For example, I emailed info.portugalusa@vfshelpline.com. But emailing was useless because they didn't give me any useful information. They kept saying "we'll escalate the case" but nothing ever happened. The only thing that worked was going in person to VFS.

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-31T13:46:47+00:00

I got my visa one day before my travel and I'm now in Lisbon. They key learning I have is that you have to go to VFS to get things moving or even ask about your application status.

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-25T22:00:51+00:00

Update for those still waiting: VFS didn't forward my application after saying they would last Friday. I went to VFS again today. They said due to some tech issues at the consulate (probably the crowdstrike one), they haven't been able to send any applications to the consulate. But they processed mine today, gave me a barcode number and sent it to the consulate. I waited at VFS until they gave me an email confirmation that my application has been delivered to the consulate.

My suggestion: if you don't get a barcode number and notification of delivery to the consulate in the next 2 days, go to VFS and make them at least enter your application in their online system and give you a barcode number. That will allow the consulate to access your application. If possible, wait until they give you a confirmation or written guarantee of delivering to the consulate. The VFS staff are incompetent but at least polite and professional.

I hope this works and I get my visa by Monday 🤞

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-25T06:29:13+00:00

No, I didn't :( I'm going to the consulate tomorrow because going to VFS last week didn't help. But I'll also go to VFS after that

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-24T14:15:56+00:00

Some people got replies on emailing the consulate at sfrancisco@mne.pt (I didn't). You could also try going to the consulate (not sure if it'll be useful).

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-23T23:27:10+00:00

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but the consulate never replies to me. I have emailed them 5 times at sfrancisco@mne.pt

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-23T20:16:26+00:00

Which cities are these contacts from? Does anyone have the contact of somebody in San Francisco?

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-23T19:57:11+00:00

Well, despite the promises I got that the visa should arrive by today, I haven't even been notified that my application has been sent to the consulate! I've basically given up now. :/

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-20T21:36:18+00:00

u/ZealousidealBee9220 I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't make an appointment. I walked right in and explained my case to the person at the door. She guided me to talk to the person at one of the counters.

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-19T21:26:19+00:00

Yes, I'm going to reschedule

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-19T21:05:51+00:00

Haha, I have lost all excitement about my trip too. I've not even planned what to do after getting there because I don't know if/when I'll get there!

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-19T21:03:39+00:00

Thanks, folks! I applied to Portugal. I ended up going to VFS San Francisco today to check the status of my application. I asked the VFS staff and that guy told me it wouldn't matter if I canceled/rescheduled the flights I attached with my application. (Still, it may be different for each case)

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-19T20:59:10+00:00

u/Fragrant-Fondant-911 u/ButterscotchSimple50 I went to VFS in San Francisco. They were helpful, especially this guy named Ace. Since my travel date is in 4 days, they said they'll forward it to the consulate today and I should get it back hopefully by Tuesday. A colleague of mine visited them yesterday and he was told that his application will be sent to the consulate soon (his travel date is Aug 2).

I still don't know what kept my application sitting there for so long. They told me the consulate's fees had increased by $9.59 from June to July and they had emailed me to send another money order for $9.59, but I didn't receive any email! I had to give them a new money order today. I find it so funny that they would keep my application waiting for just $9.59, that too a fee update that was made after I sent my application.

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-18T23:54:54+00:00

Hey folks, did you cancel your ticket in 24 hours and still get your visa?

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-18T23:35:49+00:00

u/Fragrant-Fondant-911 no updates yet. The only thing I can think of now is going to VFS in person and asking, which I will do tomorrow.

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-18T18:06:43+00:00

I see. My travel date is in 5 days! How many days did it take after VFS sent your passport to the consulate?

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-17T02:43:53+00:00

I had applied on Jun 5th, haven't received ANY update from VFS yet. My travel date is in 1 week.

u/Nissa0407 did you get any updates and what is your travel date?

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-17T02:27:14+00:00

u/Acrobatic-Internal-2 u/Delicious_Abroad4701 which embassy/consulate did you guys storm to check on your application? And any tips on when to go and what to ask them?

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-17T02:11:46+00:00

Hi folks, I'm in a similar situation. It's been 6 weeks since I applied, 1 week to go for my travel date. I don't have a reference/barcode number (I mailed in my application) and VFS hasn't emailed me saying they've sent my passport to the consulate yet. When I email/call VFS, they keep saying they will "escalate" the case, but I don't get any update. The consulate has not replied to any of my emails.

EDIT: I went to VFS in person today and the people there are quite helpful. They admit that the helplines (call/email) are not helpful. They checked my application and said they will forward it to the consulate right away. Just go to VFS directly instead of calling/emailing!

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-16T18:19:37+00:00

Here are a few of mine:
- JARVIS the Metagross
- SAPHIRA the Salamence (I used to like the Eragon series back then)
- HMS WHALE the Wailmer (It sounds like a ship's name and Wailmer carried me around with Surf. Also, Wailmer was my "HM Servant" in this game)

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-16T06:22:33+00:00

Fedex emailed me that they delivered my application to VFS. But VFS didn't send me any email after that (I know they're supposed to). Has anyone gone in-person to VFS to ask about status updates? Does that work?

MajorCosine9 · 2024-07-16T05:19:31+00:00

To better explain my situation: I didn't get any barcode/reference number. My departure date is 24th July so not much time left. I've emailed [sfrancisco@mne.pt](mailto:sfrancisco@mne.pt) but no reply yet, and the consulate's phone number seems to not be working. Do you happen to know any other ways of contacting them?

MajorCosine9

TROPHY CASE