. I did email Boston already and will call them during their business hours.
The letter I have from my workplace is addressed to the LA consulate though, do you know of anyone who has had success with applying through a consulate different from the letter's addressee?
I did contact them and spoke with Bernard. He is the one who told me that as it is a busy time, it would take two weeks. I explained that my husband had it done (without a service) in a few days, and he reiterated that it was due to the timing.