I talked to the chief of immigrant visa operations, uhhh, Steven was his name, (found it on DR consular website) He was really nice. I think that lady you are talking about is his boss, and is over the whole thing. then under her, you have immigrant & nonimmigrant sections. They now have a phone # that you call for general information, and someone actually answers it! I have called a few times and the people seemed helpful (but I did not have a case # yet, either!) I forget the number, but if someone here needs it, I will dig it up. It is a toll call from the DR, they charge you like $20 pesos per call (like a 976 number in the states) but it is a regular international call from the US