Thanks... Interesting about the judge ordering them to stop using DHL.... I guess that is indeed a technical difficulty if the consulate can't actually send or receive the passport. of course if we were updated to the year 2012 they could not have to physically ship... but alas.
the next catch 22 is there's no actual way to get a VISA right now... but i haven't been denied one either. The airline agreement likely says I have to be actually denied a VISA in order to get a rebooking... ugh. we booked as a 1K through United, but it's on Copa. Will they proactively issue a waiver? that would be nice. nothing can be that easy though, can it...