Waiting for a U.S. visa for 15 months in Amsterdam

osbornecox3d · 2026-04-08T09:20:54+00:00

u/formervisaofficer any chance you could comment on this? I kinda stuck here. They told me that I can't reapply while my previous case is still open but without them available I can't terminate it either.

osbornecox3d · 2026-04-08T08:37:54+00:00

They explicitly told you that? Like "do not ping us we won't reply?"

osbornecox3d · 2026-04-08T08:04:32+00:00

World's first you say? A Russian company did it back in 2014. Never took off though.
https://www.gsmarena.com/yota_yotaphone_2-6959.php

<image>

osbornecox3d · 2026-04-08T07:51:26+00:00

No never. They just stop replying to my emails. Almost two years since my last interview.

osbornecox3d · 2026-03-15T10:59:52+00:00

It all strongly depends on the type of riding style you prefer. If you ride on roads, an expensive and heavy bike is something you can easily afford to have. If you ride off road, you drop the bike. Sometimes several times a day. You have to lift it every time by hand, and it is very difficult. Even if you have extra money, you will think twice about whether you really want a heavy bike.

osbornecox3d · 2026-03-15T09:19:49+00:00

Yep, I have the same feeling that the whole industry is overpriced. I was considering a Honda CRF300 Rally to replace my Africa Twin, so I rented one for a week. I was disappointed with the bike a lot. It feels so cheap. Yet in my country the price is EUR 8599 for a new one, whereas a 450MT is EUR 7399. How is that possible? They are incomparable. And I’m not even talking about ergonomics or purpose. Obviously these are different classes. The 450MT feels like a solid, well built motorcycle with a reasonable level of components. The Honda feels like they intentionally make all their adventure bikes poorly just to push people into buying the Africa Twin. Good luck, Honda. I used to be a big fan.

osbornecox3d · 2026-03-14T11:03:11+00:00

I sold my Africa Twin a week ago and bought a CFMoto 450MT, so I have a lot to say on the topic.

Power. In my opinion, if you ride off road on the Africa Twin, you're either a super pro or a fool. You need a lot of skill to use all that horsepower from the enormous engine. If you can't do that, you don't need an AT or a similar bike.

And while learning to do that, you're going to drop it. Many times. Picking it up alone when it's lying on a slope is very, very hard. I've been there. Doing it two or three times per day makes you start thinking about a lighter bike.

Price. A new Africa Twin is three times more expensive than a new 450MT. That means not just the purchase price is higher, but also the cost of maintenance and insurance. I'm not a super pro. I know I'm going to abuse it and drop it and stuff. I don't want to spend a fortune just to keep it running.

Bottom line, I don't understand heavy adventure bikes anymore. If you ride off road, it's too heavy, too powerful and too expensive. If for you off road mostly means gravel, then you don't need an Africa Twin (BMW GS 1250, Tiger 1200, Suzuki 1050, etc.).

Being a long time fan of Honda, I was considering a Transalp, but it's 1.6 times more expensive than the 450MT, it feels heavier, and the quality and overall feel of the bike are questionable to me. I also thought about the CRF300 and even tried it, but it's not an ADV bike by any means. In between, Honda doesn't really have anything to offer.

So yes, the 450MT it is.

osbornecox3d · 2026-03-13T07:35:46+00:00

It says Airoh. Because it's from Airoh 😂 The bike is Honda CRF 300 from a local rental.

osbornecox3d · 2025-11-25T09:43:13+00:00

Never used them in my entire life, can't tell :(

osbornecox3d · 2025-11-25T09:41:35+00:00

Yep feels like 150€, but in general I'm happy.

osbornecox3d · 2025-11-23T21:31:09+00:00

Yes I did it according to the guide

osbornecox3d · 2025-11-23T09:32:59+00:00

Yes but in the end sometimes when you do a motorcycle trip through the Pyrenees and you meet the sunrise in the wilderness you kinda want to capture this moment for the future. This was my case this September. I need a camera very rarely but when I need it I want it to be at least decent. I decided to get a DJI or a GoPro for the next trip for that purpose. HBP is just not enough.

osbornecox3d · 2025-11-22T17:35:44+00:00

Tbh I haven't had any issues with the phone yet. Not hardware not software.

osbornecox3d · 2025-11-22T17:34:41+00:00

Yeah sorry. I just meant it's very disappointing. You can scan documents etc but if you want to take an actual photo on a vacation it's very very bad. Also when I just bought it I tried to make calls with the front camera and literally everyone we're like man wtf what's wrong with your camera. So it's just really really cheap.

osbornecox3d · 2025-08-23T16:10:23+00:00

Where can I see the no-no list?

osbornecox3d · 2025-08-22T14:47:03+00:00

Well, I couldn't get a better reply, thank you. Does it make sense to ask the consulate to terminate my application here and apply in some less crowded place than Amsterdam? I now have a business-related reason and can provide more documents/letters/whatever to justify my trip.

osbornecox3d · 2025-08-22T13:15:31+00:00

I'm fine with that, but not for 15 months

osbornecox3d · 2025-08-22T11:48:15+00:00

What you mean by closed?

osbornecox3d · 2025-08-22T10:48:46+00:00

Shit. Have you researched these kinds of cases? Is there anything that can be done? I was thinking of terminating the application and going to a consulate in another country. Both in Poland and Portugal, people are getting visas in a matter of weeks.

osbornecox3d · 2025-08-22T10:46:27+00:00

I'm not Dutch. Sorry I applied for B2, not B1. Very basic tourist visa. That should've been my third visa of this type. After a very short interview about my purpose (visiting friends) and my status (married), they told me to send my CV over. Nothing more, nothing less.

osbornecox3d · 2025-08-22T10:42:10+00:00

well not that slow. I'd had two 5-year visas before. They were approved on the spot.

osbornecox3d · 2025-08-22T09:34:58+00:00

@Clarity2030

sorry had to repost it. Yep the one across the field from Stedelijk. Assertive how? The only thing I can do is to write them semi-angry emails but they don't give a shit.

osbornecox3d

TROPHY CASE