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Post by bobcatfan on Jun 4, 2010 21:55:27 GMT -5
I am curious. How many of us are still waiting for an interview appointment. I am 2150 miles from D.C., have a commitment that I cannot change on the morning of Thursday, June 10, and am becoming very frustrated and disillusioned with this process. As my Dad used to say, "patience is a way over-rated vice."
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Post by 71stretch on Jun 4, 2010 22:32:54 GMT -5
I am curious. How many of us are still waiting for an interview appointment. I am 2150 miles from D.C., have a commitment that I cannot change on the morning of Thursday, June 10, and am becoming very frustrated and disillusioned with this process. As my Dad used to say, "patience is a way over-rated vice." When I was called this afternoon, the "choice" I was given was Tuesday morning. I told her I already had hearings scheduled, so she gave me a Thursday spot that someone had canceled. I don't see how they can now get travel arrangements made for a Tues interview, unless they are working tomorrow. I wonder if they will have to schedule more dates.
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Post by mostlyzombies on Jun 4, 2010 23:18:10 GMT -5
I'm still waiting too- I'm hoping they are making calls tomorrow.
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Post by iapplied on Jun 5, 2010 0:09:57 GMT -5
I scheduled my interview. I was given three dates for next week. I wasn't given any second week dates but I'm fine with that as I want to get this part of the process over. I do hope that they are reimbursing for hotels for those of us coming from far away. I have not heard back from either of the individuals booking travel so I don't know for sure about reimbursements. I was just told to keep my receipts.
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Post by mcb on Jun 5, 2010 2:01:15 GMT -5
I scheduled my interview. I was given three dates for next week. I wasn't given any second week dates but I'm fine with that as I want to get this part of the process over. I do hope that they are reimbursing for hotels for those of us coming from far away. I have not heard back from either of the individuals booking travel so I don't know for sure about reimbursements. I was just told to keep my receipts. I live on the West Coast and received my phone call for my interview on Thursday (6/3/10) after 5:00 PM EST. I had faxed my documents in on 5/27/10. I chose an interview on 6/7/10 at 9:00 AM due to conflicts later in the week. After receiving my email confirming the interview, I called (and emailed) Margaret Lonkert & Geoff Spencer to try and set up travel but they were already gone for the day. I reached Geoff at 8:00 AM EST today (Friday morning) and within 3 hours had received my travel authorization and SATO had booked my flight. I could have my hotel room paid for Sunday night, but am staying with my sister and her family in Burke, VA, and declined lodging reimbursement, so although my interview is Monday, I was allowed to fly in on Saturday 6/5/10. I was told that I'll have a per diem (for meals I suppose) on Sunday and Monday. Does anyone know how you get reimbursed for this?
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Post by 71stretch on Jun 5, 2010 4:19:13 GMT -5
Keep your receipts for meals, taxis, etc., as I understand it, we will get reimbursement forms to fill out and send in with the receipts at the interview.
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Post by mcb on Jun 5, 2010 4:46:37 GMT -5
Keep your receipts for meals, taxis, etc., as I understand it, we will get reimbursement forms to fill out and send in with the receipts at the interview. Thanks for the information.
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Post by iapplied on Jun 5, 2010 6:42:51 GMT -5
I can understand this, but given the short notice, the morning and afternoon flights are all booked, so I need an overnight stay for my mid-day interview. I really do not want to spend another $300 out of pocket for a hotel, since I've already spent $1,700 (for a 2 out of 3 chance of not getting an offer). You said the morning and afternoon flights were all booked? Did you mean all? On every airline? Did you take Wolfiemom's suggestion and do your own research about flights rather than take the agency's suggestion about flights? Check again: I did a quick little search a few minutes ago and found flights for all times of the day for both of the days I plan to be there. As a reminder to us all: Flights, information, and availability changes almost rapidly as people confirm and cancel and substitute dates and times. What might have been good information at 2:00 is not the same information someone else is given at 4:00. (e.g. what I just reported, that there are available flights, might change by the time you read this or I get finished typing my point ) So let's just keep the fact that facts change in mind before taking the information reported here as the state of things at the time someone else may be investigating/stating them. Doing so may help reduce some of the anxiety that's being created/experienced. Or it may be better to report solutions. Just a thought...
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Post by kxmulli on Jun 5, 2010 6:49:46 GMT -5
Who is Geoff? Please let me know contact info. It's Sat. A.M. and I still don't have authorization for flights Tuesday a.m. Thanks. PS This shouldn't be this disorganized.
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Post by iapplied on Jun 5, 2010 7:10:22 GMT -5
Who is Geoff? Please let me know contact info. It's Sat. A.M. and I still don't have authorization for flights Tuesday a.m. Thanks. PS This shouldn't be this disorganized. Geoffrey Spencer is the other contact person for booking travel arrangements.
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Post by iapplied on Jun 5, 2010 8:22:08 GMT -5
I canceled my hotel room for June 7th at the Hampton Inn in Alexandria so there may be an availability to stay there on that date if you are still in need. I just called to confirm that as of 9:20 a.m. this morning, there is still some availability. I was told the hotel is 20 minutes away from ODAR HOQ. Their number is 703.329.1400.
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wpalj
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by wpalj on Jun 5, 2010 10:56:22 GMT -5
Is there easy parking for the Falls Church building where the interviews will take place? Is there a lot that is not full, etc.? Thanks!
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Post by carrickfergus on Jun 5, 2010 11:59:50 GMT -5
you can park for free in the target parking lot (which is next to the ODAR HQ) for up to, I believe, three hours. Take the staircase near the mcdonalds to the second floor, and walk across the courtyard to the SSA building.
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Post by kxmulli on Jun 5, 2010 23:06:26 GMT -5
If u r not getting a response re travel, email Geoff at Geoffrey.Spencer@ssa.gov. He works weekends!
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Post by 71stretch on Jun 6, 2010 0:22:44 GMT -5
True. I got an email from him this am.
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Post by issuegirl on Jun 6, 2010 9:51:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the information about Mr. Spencer. If I don't here back from Ms. Lonkert by tomorrow at noon, I will contact him. However, I am apprehensive about circumventing the process, given that SSA should not assume that we are on these forums getting alternate contact info. Was Mr. Spencer specifically mentioned in anyone's email? Thanks.
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Post by 71stretch on Jun 6, 2010 10:22:09 GMT -5
Yes, he was. I was given both names, emailed both simultaneously, and got a response from Mr. Spencer.
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Post by mcb on Jun 6, 2010 18:15:46 GMT -5
Yes, he was. I was given both names, emailed both simultaneously, and got a response from Mr. Spencer. He was in my email, also. I never talked at all to Ms. Lonkert.
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Post by sidewalktalk on Jun 7, 2010 7:41:49 GMT -5
Parking at Target is free for only 2 hours. I think it's about 6.00 for 3 hours.
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Post by issuegirl on Jun 7, 2010 12:42:01 GMT -5
Good news. It appears that the Hampton at Leesburg Pike is no longer sold out for dates this week as it was showing last week.
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