exexexpat - so your guy was not currently resident in the US - and you're dealing with Embassies - that's different from someone coming direct from their country of origin.

Happy - you seem to be a victim of the non customer service culture pervasive in the Gulf. In many (if not most) organizations here, if someone is on vacation, sick leave or gone to the bathroom, there is No one Else who can do his/her job - it's idiotic but it's how it is here. Try to be patient, if you've got all the docs and all the i's dotted and the t's crossed you should get here ......sometime