bobmal99 Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 (edited) IR-2 VISA DENIED 11:30 AM11/21/05 My wife and I went to GZ, with her two children for their interview on 11/21/05. Can you imagine the first time having met my wife’s children who were extremely Nervous about their interview. I told them just be honest and not to worry we will both be there with you. One of the most important times in their young livesand what I told them about being there for them did not come true because we were denied attendance to their interview…. After having been told a month earlier both my wife and I could attend the interview. However, we were both denied entrance by the Chinese security. Needless to say we were both furious, but at the time we had no recourse. There was not an American from the Consulate to be found anywhere to speak with. My wife and I waited patiently on the 4th floor of the consulate with several other People while the Interviews were going on. I must say I never really appreciated what went on at the consulate while the interviews were going on until I actually attended one of these interviews. The stress level was unbelievable for everyone as people came out some with smilesAnd some in tears as their whole lives were about to change. As other children came down they told us they were only being asked one or two questions. mainly do you have pictures and why do you want to go to the US??? Now our children were not prepared at all because they expected us to be there!!They were asked where their Mother’s green card was? They did not know anything about A green card as there was no reason for them to. Then they were asked what the stepfather did for work and they told the VO what I do for work. The VO never even looked at one piece of our paperwork and denied their application.Basically saying he did not believe this was a legitimate marriage. Visas denied because there was no green card and no proof that the biological Fatherhad given permission for these children to leave the US. However, since he did not look at any of this paperwork how would he know. I believe the VO made a judgment call when he saw these twoyoung children and no parents.. He probably though someone was trying toget these kids into the US for whatever reasons, since the parents did not evenbother to Come to the interview.. Now my Passport, my wife’s Passport and Green Card, were all in the top file given to the VO, which he never looked at…. Well we would have been there had the Chinese security allowed us to attend the interview..Now the children were traumatized, they thought they did something wrong, but they dideverything they were supposed to do. After reading the reasons for the denial all I could think of was warpboard when his Fiancé was denied and he was not thereto offer any help. They basically wanted me to prove our whole relationship from the beginning which began over four years ago. We went back to the hotel and I tried to keep everyone calm and try to figure out what I was going to do short of having to come back for another interview sometime in the next few weeks, or months.. After I calmed down and read all the reasons for their denial were based on us not having proof of our relationship which we did, but the VO never looked at it. Now at 1:30 PM I was on my way back to the consulate trying to get the decision overturned because the VO did not do his job properly and the fact my wife and I weredenied entrance to the interview with our children.. I figured the odds were about 10,000,000, to 1, of my actually having this decision being overturned the same day as the denial.. I mean after all we are talking about the US Govt. And the GZ Consulate. Has anyone ever been able to do this in the past. I have never heard of anyone doing this before. Knowing all the stars were aligned against us, I had to try anyway while I was there... In the consulate I spoke with A Chinese guy who told me I would have to come back Friday, as it was the only day they answered questions about visa’s. Now this was A Monday, and the next Friday the consulate was closed because of Thanksgiving. I told him I could not wait two weeks to speak to someone and demanded to speak with his supervisor…About 20 minutes later an African American woman whom I believe this board has nicknamed the Black Pearl called me to the window…. The 1st question I asked was are parents allowed to attend the interview with childrenthat are only 14??? She said they absolutely are able to attend the interview. I then asked her who is responsible for training and instructing the security and she saidThe consulate was. I told her I think they may need some additional instruction. I mean how many other people were denied access in the past?? When I told her both me and my wife were denied to attend the interview with our children I can see she was definitely surprised. I then pulled out the bright orange sheet which lists the reasons for their denial. 1-Please present a notarized copy of your wife’s Green Card. 2-Have documented proof that the Father his given his permission for these children to leave China. I then showed her our file with all the original documents and asked why do we needA copy of the Green Card when she has it right here. Then I showed her the notarized copy of my wife having been granted sole custody of thesechildren by A Chinese court. Once again she seemed to be quite surprised if not a bit shaken. I then reiterated that if we had been allowed to attend the interview this all could have been straightened out during the interview. She then said I can not guarantee anything but I will try to contact one of the VO’sand see what happened. I said thank you all I want is an explanation of why we werenot allowed at the interview and subsequently denied visa’s for our children. Now I am waiting for about twenty minutes and she called me back to the window. She told me the VO who interviewed the children was reviewing his notes and would then give me an explanation of his decision. About ten minutes later I was called to meet with the VO that actually did the interview. I mean what are the odds of this happening???? I will probably never know the truth but I think when the Black Pearl called himand told him the Stepfather was in the consulate and claims you never even looked at the paperwork they provided and was quite upset these visa’s were denied for not having the proof that they in fact did have… I can not remember his name, you have to realize I was also still pretty much in a state of shock myself, but he said he was from Maine. I mean the future of these kids not to mention the sanity of me and my wife was going to be decided in the next few minutes by this total stranger. When I went to the window this man was extremely polite, he asked for my wife’s Green Card and Passport. At this time all I asked him is why my wife and I were denied access to the interview.. He said he did not know, why but was certainly going to find out. After looking at the Green Card and Passport, he apologized and said he was immediately going to overturn the denial and grant the visa’s. At this time he explained that fraud is their biggest concern and when he saw two children and no parents he wondered what kind of relationship/marriage this was. Which is why he wanted us too basically prove everything all over again. The next and last question I asked is why he did not ask the children where their parents were??? He really did not have an answer but said in the future that will be the 1st question he asks children who have no parents at the interview.. The Black Pearl was very polite and helpfull!!!Finally I think both The Black Pearl and the VO legitimatelyfelt terrible because we were not allowed to attend the interview with our children.. MORAL OF THE STORY, BE THERE IN GZ, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!!! Had I not been there just imagine how long it may have taken to get these visa’s.. I FOUGHT THE US CONSULATE AND I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3:30 PM SAME DAY--11/21/05 VO rescinds his decisionand approves visas!!!! WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THIS????? Edited November 30, 2005 by bobmal99 (see edit history) Link to comment
IluvmyLi Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Congrats Bob! How were you able to see a VO if USC's are not allowed in that section or floor? Link to comment
Guest ShaQuaNew Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Congratulations on your victory! Link to comment
bobmal99 Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Congrats Bob! How were you able to see a VO if USC's are not allowed in that section or floor?172146[/snapback]The interviews and Consulate are both on the 5th floor. Only people being interviewed and US Citizens with business at the Consulate are allowed on the 5th floor. The interviews take place in a seperate room from the actual Consulate where US Citizens can go for help!! Link to comment
frank1538 Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Wow! What a story. Being well informed and challenging the authority when necessary really paid off. I just wonder how many visas have been denied simply because people did not stand up to the great GUZ. Congratulations. Bring the kids home and enjoy life. Link to comment
jim_julian Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 All I can say is Wow! ... and congratulations. It's great to see that when responsible people in the consulate understand the situation that the right decisions are made. Link to comment
bobmal99 Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Congrats Bob! How were you able to see a VO if USC's are not allowed in that section or floor?172146[/snapback] I did not properly answer this question. The only reason I was able to see the actual VO who interviewed our children in the same room as all the Fiances and people seeking any and all types of family visas is The Black Pearl must have said something like this. Hey (to the VO) you really screwed this case up, unless you want to see a Congressional Inquiry on why these parents were denied entrance to their childrens interview, you had better meet with this man and straighten this out... He has all the proof of a legitimate relationship that you neglected to look at!! Link to comment
Guest ShaQuaNew Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Congrats Bob! How were you able to see a VO if USC's are not allowed in that section or floor?172146[/snapback] I did not properly answer this question. The only reason I was able to see the actual VO who interviewed our children in the same room as all the Fiances and people seeking any and all types of family visas is The Black Pearl must have said something like this. Hey (to the VO) you really screwed this case up, unless you want to see a Congressional Inquiry on why these parents were denied entrance to their childrens interview, you had better meet with this man and straighten this out... He has all the proof of a legitimate relationship that you neglected to look at!!172156[/snapback]That's is excellent work on not only your part but on hers. It goes to show how important it is to track the process and events at each and every stage. Some may have been discouraged and given up when confronted with your difficulty..... Link to comment
tonymasiello Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Amazing Story! Bob, I'm really glad you prevailed in the end!!! Congrats!!! Link to comment
bobmal99 Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 (edited) EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN THE RIGHT, I AM STILLIN A STATE OF SHOCK A WEEK LATER, THAT GZ ACTUALLY DID THE RIGHT THING!!! NEXT SATURDAY MY WIFE AND THE KIDS WILL ARRIVE IN BOSTON, MA!!! Edited November 28, 2005 by bobmal99 (see edit history) Link to comment
Joanne Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I held my breath till the end of your story! Congratulations!! P.S., I had a very good impression about her also watching her at work. Link to comment
stacato Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! Great job!!! You did not take NO for an answer and overcame this in a very persistent way!! Good luck to you and your family!!!!! Link to comment
Randy W Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 This is an especially cruel story, but especially heartening that you were able to get the response you did. Excellent work. Link to comment
tucsonjim Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Wow, fantastic job!! I think this also shows a different side of the Black Pearl than we are used to hearing about. Bravo to her for her actions that made this outcome possible!!! Best of luck on bringing your family home!! Congratulations for being there and standing up for what you deserved! Link to comment
warpedbored Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 (edited) A truly amazing story Bob. As David pointed out once the black woman who helped you is probably the 2nd or 3rd incarnation of the original black pearl who earned the reputation for being so mean. I have been a strong proponent of being there for the interview since my wife's blue slip. I still believe the # 1 reason we over came it was because I went to China to appeal the decision. If you hadn't been there it would have been a convoluted mess to straighten out. I have only heard of one other case that a denial was overcome the same day and that was about 2 years ago and a furious US citizen demanded to see someone. I doubt it is a common occurrence. Way to go Bob. Perhaps some positive things like better training for Chinese security will come of it as well. Edited November 28, 2005 by warpedbored (see edit history) Link to comment
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