I've been trying to get through to the Buffalo regional office to find out the status of my claim, turned in 60 days ago. Being a student overseas my claim is handled there.

This is supposed to be the "special hotline" for us living overseas, but each time I call I spend 10-15 minutes on hold and then the line hangs up! I'm going to hate to see my phonebill at the end of this month!!

I've been trying since last week to get an update on my status--come on VA and get this fixed please, so those of us overseas, who can't travel to a regional office can communicate with you.

Pablo

quote:

Originally posted by 9653193:
I've been trying to get through to the Buffalo regional office to find out the status of my claim, turned in 60 days ago. Being a student overseas my claim is handled there.

This is supposed to be the "special hotline" for us living overseas, but each time I call I spend 10-15 minutes on hold and then the line hangs up! I'm going to hate to see my phonebill at the end of this month!!

I've been trying since last week to get an update on my status--come on VA and get this fixed please, so those of us overseas, who can't travel to a regional office can communicate with you.

Pablo

You do realize that this is a private forum that VA does not manage?

If you go to this web site, you can send an email inquiry and have an answer back in 5 days:

https://www.gibill2.va.gov/vba...aF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**

Yep, I realize the VA doesn't own the forum--I guess my post had two purposes:

1) I was hoping maybe another overseas student had found a way into the system since contacting them via the phone numbers provided is not working.

2) To vent

I did send them an e-mail as well, and I faxed them a letter explaining my situation--still waiting for answers on both counts.

I think the phone system for answering overseas queries, as it's being run, is unacceptable. I don't even mind being put on hold, and paying ocerseas rates to wait, but to wait 10-15 mins and then be hung up on--that's just not cutting it. I've tried at least 50 times since last week. I've tried early in their work day--middle, late, no luck at ever getting anyone on the line.

Problem is--I've started school this month. My UK-based university is at a bit of a loss at my proof of funding, since they also can't get into contact with the VA through the school administrators "hotline," also based in Buffalo.

The university started the process to get my program approved two months before the beginning of semester (they've not had anyone use VA funding before) but have heard not a peep. This is a very awkward situation, as they've tried to contact the VA as well, and can't understand how they can't get anyone on the phone to answer their enquiries.

The school has done everything it can to get this all processed as soon as possible. I'm in a bad situation because I not only am not getting any money yet from the VA--we've not even had approval for my program!

Pablo

Thought I'd bump this up--the topic is not when I've seen addressed here--going to a foriegn school where the program has not been previously approved by the VA.

I got through to a VA rep finally. Not in Buffalo, but the toll-free number. She was very polite, and spent a lot of time trying to help me out. She did confirm that I, or the university, would have call the Buffalo office, but she was unable to give us the direct numbers (she apologized for that). She was kind enough to give me the fax numbers to pass to the certifying school official.

At this point this is between the VA and the university--I can do no more. I start school next week, and my school is at a bit of a loss as to what to do with me.

IT's going to be interesting to see how this works out.

Pablo

I am confused by your profile - you say AD AF paygrade none. Please provide the real info.

I've never even looked at my profile to know it was wrong--"real" info updated.

I think you have a hard to approve program at a time that the VA Education office is overwhelmed with a new program and lots of new participants. That makes it hard to get anything done.

Pablo, I'm glad you got through to the VA. I was going to post the info I had, and I still will.

You didn't indicate what number you were calling. It may be possible you were calling after 1600 (EST) or possibly calling the wrong number.

This information is directly from the VA website:

During business hours, Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm EST, students and School Certifying Officials calling from outside the United States may call the Buffalo Regional Office at 716-857-3196 or 716-857-3197. Once connected, the caller can immediately enter "option 1" to be placed in a special priority queue. This is not a toll-free number but the caller will be routed to the next available Customer Service Representative for priority service.

If the time difference doesn't allow you (or others reading this) to contact the VA between 0800 and 1600, you should follow the career counselors recommendation and submit via e-mail.

Note Note: This info was passed to me by the Foreign School Office in Buffalo.

Dave,

I think you hit the nail on the head. We started the process in May at the university, and they offered me a position to study in June. It's a doctoral research program, so I had to defend my thesis proposal with a board of professors, and all that took time. They did try to expedite things--thinking four months before semester would be enough.
It would have been better if the school could have got the paperwork in earlier for program approval, but they were also extremely busy with new student enrollment, and are unfamiliar with the program, so it didn't get submitted until early August.

Yes, the 716-857-3196 or 716-857-3197 numbers were the ones I've been calling. You get a recording, go through the options, pushing "1" and then you go into a wait queue. After 5-10 minutes the line hangs up. I have never been able to speak to anyone in Buffalo. I've tried at least 50 times (no kidding). Yes, I did allow for the time difference, calling just when they opened, and continuing through the next hours, every 15 minutes or so.

The VA rep. I spoke to I reached on the regular toll-free line. I passed on to her that I had been unable to reach anyone in Buffalo, and she promised to pass that on to their office. She was friendly, spending almost 30 minutes with me, seeing what she could find out. Unfortunately, she said in the end that only the Buffalo office could answer my question. I did send an e-mail as well (using the VA website), but I've not heard back from them for a week.

On the positive side I spoke to the school yesterday, and they are going to allow me to complete my academic registration. They also seem patient in waiting for their tuition. I think they have a pretty good read of the situation and are willing to work with me. We started discussing plan "B's" yesterday as well.

A work friend's wife went through the same thing with a university in London, and she unfortunately decided that it just wasn't working out--after months of trying to get her program approved (she started earlier than I did) she opted to go back to the States, in order to not miss the semester. Of course, everything went very smoothly and quickly at her US-Based school.

I appreciate the comments and discussion this has generated. It's a topic I've not seen discussed anywhere. I think it's good it's come up, and I'll pass on my experiences. So far, as Dave said, it just seems to be a matter of bad timing in trying to go to a foreign school. But, on the other hand I earned my education benefits through 22 years of service, and foreign schools are eligible for funding (with approval), so I'm going to press my case.

A few thoughts I do have--I would be curious to know how many foreign based students the VA deals with...A coworker is doing his doctorate at a German university, and he's been in the program for two years now, using the old GI Bill. I also wonder if there is enough of a population that the VA couldn't have a small overseas branch, say at one of the bigger bases here, maybe in the education office.

Paul

Ah, one thing I forgot to mention--the not being able to contact anyone in Buffalo goes for the school's certifying official as well as for me. I felt sorry for him after talking to him yesterday on the phone. He's really trying his best, but has been unable to speak with anyone at the VA about the status of program approval. He's also the student funding advisor, so he's busy, and I can understand he has other things to do than try to call the VA 20 times a day.
This is really more an issue between him and the VA. I think the VA should provide overseas school certifying officials with direct contact information, so they can effeciently deal with issues like this.

Paul

Got an answer from the VA today on the approval of my program with an overseas school:

"It takes approximately 5 - 9 months to review the program. Once the program is approved your school certifying official will be notified.
Thank you."

Not really much of an answer...guess I'll be paying for the school for myself the first year.

It would be good if the VA posted something about this timeline on their website--guess they wouldn't have many takers in new programs then though!

Pablo

Just a follow-up. The VA promised the university an answer within 5 days--that was two weeks ago--still no answer.
In light of their curious "5-9 months for approval" e-mail I guess I better start looking for alternative funding for my schooling!

Pablo