Making an appointment with US Embassy

[Dim Witty]

I'm finding it impossible to make an appointment with the Social Security counselor there. I haven't received my payment this month (my bank account was screwed up- now it's okay), and dealing with the Embassy by phone (living, breathing humans used to answer) or through the website is maddening!! Can I just go there directly and make an appointment?

 

[RichardAlem]

I'm finding it impossible to make an appointment with the Social Security counselor there. I haven't received my payment this month (my bank account was screwed up- now it's okay), and dealing with the Embassy by phone (living, breathing humans used to answer) or through the website is maddening!! Can I just go there directly and make an appointment?

I asked them for help with SSA as well. They didn't even have enough professional courtesy to respond. I also asked them for help as requested by another federal agency and again, twice they did not even have the consideration to respond. They do as little as possible. I look forward to the meeting with the new ambassador.

 

[Macanudo]

Try sending an email to [email protected] using as subject: FEQ-country where you live-last name of the worker’s record under which you receive benefits (sample: FEQ-Argentina-Doe) and add the following information:

• • Complete name of the beneficiary that did not receive the monthly payment.
  • Last 4 digits of the SSN under which benefits are paid
  • Two phone numbers
  • Address
  • Reason for the email: Non receipt of monthly benefit

Wait for a response within 5 business days
Also you can try this number: 11 5777 4510

I contacted them a couple of months ago by email and they replied promptly.

 

[Dim Witty]

Yes, Richard, they are unbearably useless. How were you able to contact them? By email? (I can't even find their email address) Was your problem eventually resolved? If so, how? Thanks!

 

[Dim Witty]

Try sending an email to [email protected] using as subject: FEQ-country where you live-last name of the worker’s record under which you receive benefits (sample: FEQ-Argentina-Doe) and add the following information:

• • Complete name of the beneficiary that did not receive the monthly payment.
  • Last 4 digits of the SSN under which benefits are paid
  • Two phone numbers
  • Address
  • Reason for the email: Non receipt of monthly benefit

Wait for a response within 5 business days
Also you can try this number: 11 5777 4510

I contacted them a couple of months ago by email and they replied promptly.

Thanks, Mac! Glad your problem was resolved. I tried that, but to no avail. I'm an useless old fart with the compu. I'll have to find someone to help.

I asked them for help with SSA as well. They didn't even have enough professional courtesy to respond. I also asked them for help as requested by another federal agency and again, twice they did not even have the consideration to respond. They do as little as possible. I look forward to the meeting with the new ambassador.

Do you think that if I went to the embassy I could arrange an appointment?

 

[Macanudo]

Maybe you could get a telephone appointment by delivering a letter instead of sending an email. You can deliver an envelope directly at the embassy. You need to do this through a secondary gate in Av. Cerviño 4320, around the same corner. Remember that the envelope should be correctly addressed to the Federal Benefits Unit. You won't get to speak with anyone and if you request an appointment they probably will try to answer any questions you have in an email or possibly give you a telephone appointment.

 

[GuidoAnselmi]

Thanks, Mac! Glad your problem was resolved. I tried that, but to no avail. I'm an useless old fart with the compu. I'll have to find someone to help.

Do you think that if I went to the embassy I could arrange an appointment?

Hey Dim. Mac is correct. All contact must be via email, exactly as he wrote. Simply enter the info as outlined and write your message. I've done this several times with FBU and have received rather prompt responses always. Also, go to the embassy's web homepage and click on SEARCH (top right of page), then type in SOCIAL SECURITY. You'll then see a list of topics, etc., including for federal benefits, all shown as Mac wrote. I wouldn't bother trying by telephone, a waste of time.

 

[florence]

Don't forget that the U.S. govt is currently in a shutdown. If any humans are needed for a response, you may not get one for a while.

 

[Ries]

the embassy here has been overworked and understaffed for a decade, but the current government laid off 1300 state department employees by June, many of whom worked directly or in support of the foreign service. And now, the shutdown.
They require emails.
you would probably do better to call SS directly in the USA.

 

[RichardAlem]

Yes, Richard, they are unbearably useless. How were you able to contact them? By email? (I can't even find their email address) Was your problem eventually resolved? If so, how? Thanks!

DW, I called SSA in the USA at no cost via Google Voice. Then I did other work (for over two hours) while waiting and listening to elevator music + IVR. Which is fine since the live agent straightened everything out. Just budget your time and put the phone on speaker. They'll eventually answer. I do the same with the VA.

I don't waste my time with the US Embassy for anything other than passport renewal. They do as little as possible.

Good luck.