Interview experience--BLUE

[mama bear]

A. Before enter the interview hall

It is 7:15 AM on my appointment letter; I took my daughter downstairs to the next building at 7:30am. When we arrive there it just start to let people in.

There are 6 lines, 3 for immigration, 3 for other. Asked the guard which one is for 7:15, he said all those 3 lines on the left are. So we choose the 3rd one the shortest one.

They allow a case (a person or a family) go into the building in every line each time, so even it seems we were almost the latest one in the lines, but we were not the latest ones into the building. The guard checks everybody¡¯s passport and appointment letter. He gave me 2 blue cards (He has green ones and finished, then start gave blue ones) for me and my daughter.

There is elevator and moving staircase towards the 4th floor. Then an other guard take back the cards, and we are on the way to the 5th, a guard sits there check everybody¡¯s passport again. Then we are on the moving staircase to 5th floor, there area 2 lines for immigration visa and non immigration. A guard came and let us hands in everybody¡¯s appointment letter.

Before enter the interview hall, security check, like at airport, no food and drinks. All through away, take out all electric things: cell phone, mp3, electric dictionary etc, all keys into bags, and take off shoes, waistband all put onto the deferent belt to go through the x-ray. So it is a little chaotic. We didn¡¯t take any food drink, no cell, and no waistband, so very fast, just put bag and shoes through the machine. A guard even blessed the lady before me good luck for her interview after checking her bag, maybe I also need bless from the guard, but nobody said that to me. It is ok, I have a lot bless from CFL and before we leave, papa bear and me prayed and what ever result it will be we will accept it, God knows what we really need and will make the best arrangement for us.

 

B. In the interview hall

Then we entered the interview hall, sit and wait. The seats is not enough for so many people, some stand around.

Start to call name and hand in the medicinal exam package. After it you will get a number, it is for the following finger print and interview. But the number just a number for to call you, it is not the sequence.

So the finger printing maybe number 1060 is a lot early than 1001, and for the interview, maybe after 1112, number 1045 still not be interviewed. It is just a number of your case. The broadcast in both languages, for Cantonese they call your name or number in Cantonese, for people from other parts of china. They speak mandarin, sometime it even adds your place before your name, such as: shanghai xxx go to no. xx window, so if you know Cantonese you just listen to mandarin would be fine. First I worried about loose my name or number, then I find I don¡¯t need worry about it.

We are waiting there so many people there, it start finger printing, then a lady announced stop everything, stand up , rise your right hand and start juration in both mandarin and Cantonese. After that everything continue, still call name to hand in medical exam package, to finger print and after a while, interview start.

Finally most of the windows became interview window, and only left no.12 for hand in medical exam package, and no. 18 for finger printing.

Finally it is calling my name, and I took my daughter went to no. 12. the Chinese guy is very nice, he let me open the 2 packages, and hand in, he let me sign on ds-230 part 2 for me and my daughter, didn¡¯t ask me any question, I thought it is a good start, he didn¡¯t ask me any question. Usually they ask some question and make a mark on your case at this step. And it maybe concerning your interview.

Then he let me go to an other window to get a number, the window is a interview window, a man sits there interviewing a family there, he let me to the next window and give me my number no.1112.

Came back to my seats. And wait again.

The toilet at the right hand, there are 2 women¡¯s and 2 men¡¯s; drinking water machine at the left turn, in the no immigration hall. . After we get water, there are no cups. So long waiting, kids start to play in the hall, running and roughhouse, still a lot stand no sets.

It is said husbands cannot company for interview except for some very special days such as last Christmas, but I see at least 3 white and 1 yellow husbands there, I asked one lady how can she come in with her husband, she told me they are short of a document, so the guards let him in.

It is my turn for finger print. It not easy for me to print my finger, the man is very patient; he gave me a tissue, and let me clean my finger and the machine, tried again and again both left and right first finger. Finally it is fine.

Wait again. My daughter and I went to toilet again and again, and we are hungry, some people gone and there are start empty seats. Daughter said she want go for lunch, won¡¯t wait for interview.

Finally it is my turn while my daughter in toilet: No 1112 go to no.25 window.

I have whole bag stuff for my interview; I took my bag and the x-ray photo to the window. Put some files on the sill, and lay the bag on floor. She is a very pretty white girl, later they said she is a new comer. She is very careful.

Something wrong with her mike, almost every question I have to ask her repeat again, and she adjusted the mike again and again. So she kept read and check information from her computer and adjusted her mike during the whole interview process. If she speaks a little farther from the mike then I cannot hear anything at all. She is very patient, too, and sometime she speaks one or two Chinese words.

 

C. Questions

1. who¡¯s your petitioner? --my husband

2. What¡®s his name? -- xxx xxx xxx

3. When did you meet? -- Feb 2005

4. How did you know each other?¡ªinternet

5. Which one?¡ªAsian Promise

6. How many he came to china? ¨C4 times.

7. Do you have your husband¡¯s passport copy?-Showed her copy

She read it very carefully.

8. How do you connect with each other?¡ªMSN

Show me?¡ªI showed her a big box full of chat recorder printed in A4 paper both side, each side printed 4 pages recorder.

She let me show her some pages, I gave her some, she read them carefully.

9. Do you have photos?¡ªshower her 2 booklet photos.

She watched them carefully, and then pointed his daughter and son¡¯s photo asks:

10. Who are they? ¨CHis daughter and son.

11. Do they live with their father?¡ªNo.

With their mother? ¨Cno , they live alone.

12. When did he divorce?¡ªOct 2004.

13. When did you divorce?¡ªJuly 2004.

14. Why did you divorce?¡ªxxxx

15. Where is your ex now?¡ªBeijing?

In Beijing? Her voice is surprised. ¨C I have his address, his 2nd marriage certificate and their registration book (Hukou)

Show me¡ªhand in and she read very carefully.

When did he remarried¡ªat eh end of 2004, Dec.

16. Does he meet your daughter often, every week?¡ªNo, only once after divorce.

17. Does he know you will take your daughter to America?¡ªYes, I have a notarized statement from him allowing me to take my daughter immigrate.

Show me--I gave her, she read and put it into my case.

She checked information in her computer, after a long wait, then she asked me the last question, I know it is a signal of the end of the interview.

18. Are you a CCP member? ¨Cyes.

Surprised. Are you a current CCP member?¡ªyes. I have statements for it from me and my husband.

Show me¡ªshe read it very carefully and thanked me for the statements.

Then she fill in a blue slip let me wait till they connect with me and return my passports after make a stamp on both our passports.

I read the blue slip , make sure I won¡¯t need add any stuff , and asked her how long I have to wait, and she didn¡¯t reply me, then I asked her if next time I don¡¯t need take my daughter, she make sure not need to take my daughter next time.

Thanked the VO and collect everything into the bag we went to the consulate.

It took me about 20 minutes for my interview; the VO is pretty, patient, nice and careful.

There are so many person stand outside keep ask us if we pass, smile to everybody tell them pass and go back home. We are so hungry, went to Mr. Xie ask his help to book ticket return to Beijing, we went to Ikea for lunch, I know life will be same after we arrive Beijing. Autumn Beijing with be bright sunshine and clear blue sky.

 

D. Accommodation

I stayed at Mr. Xie ¡®s apartment. Same building with IKEA. Next building to the consulate. Across a small street.

There is a small play ground for kids and swimming poll, garden on 6th roof, then 2 Pollux building on either side upper 6th floor. The apartment is 3 bedrooms, sitting room big and with good furniture and TV, PC. Fridge, full kitchen and washing machine.

The room I stayed is main bedroom with separate bath room.

We eat at IKE for my daughter¡¯s sake. Mr.Xie invited us every time for meal. But my daughter likes IKEA food. There are fewer choices than Beijing IKEA and smaller kids area, but she still like it. Especially after whole morning hungry waiting in the interview hall, hot Swiss ball meat really nice!

[mama bear]

Documents list for interview

 

1. Affidavit of support

1.1 Scan Copy of Notarial Form I-864

1.2 Scan Copies of Tax Return for 2003,2004,2005

1.3 Scan copies of Income Statement W2 for 2003, 2004, 2005

1.4 Scan copies of Retired paper and union card

1.5 Scan copies of Employment Letter (Before retirement)

1.6 Scan copies of Petitioner¡¯s Passport with Chinese Visas and Entry/Exit Stamps ¨C Total 4 times

1.7 Scan copies of Petitioner¡¯s Birth Certificate

1.8 Scan copies of Petitioner¡¯s drive license

 

2. Relationship evidence

2.1 Letter from Petitioner and step-daughter& son¡¯s to VO

2.2 Email and Chat Record for 2005,2006

2.3 Phone Record for 2005,2006

1/ Petitioner's call record with telephone numbers

2/ Applicant¡¯s telephone card, receipt &on line book list

2.4 Greeting Cards from mother-in-law on 2005 Christmas, from my daughter to my husband for Spring Festival

2.5 US Embassy receipt

1/ 1st trip,11July 2005, for single paper

2/ 2nd trip, 10 Jan. 2006 for w-7

2.6 Receipt of marriage Ring and Jewelry Certificates

2.7 Receipt of mailing Gifts

2.8 Petitioner¡¯s Retirement plan beneficiary in my name

2.9 Receipts of Petitioner exchange $ in China

2.10 Registration of temporary residence from police station for 1st, 3rd, 4th trip, lost the 2nd

2.11 Petitioner¡¯s 4 times china trip Air tickets\ receipt\ luggage tie paper\ boarding card

2.12 Petitioner¡¯s hospital receipts in Beijing

2.13 Receipts of Hangzhou trip in 2006 July: train tickets, hotel receipt, food, bus£¬taxi, shopping.

2.14 Copy of checks from Petitioner and bank receipt

 

3. Photos

3.1 With family 2006; 2005

3.2 With friend 2006; 2005

3.3 With students 2005/12

3.4 Petitioner¡¯s photos in different age

3.5 P¡¯s photos with mother¨Cin-law, his son£¬daughter and her sons

3.6 Future home and my car(bought in 2006, 3 year banking loan)

3.7 Photocopy of video chat

 

4. Brief China visits

4.1 4 times from July 2005till Aug 2006.

11/07/2005 - Married in Beijing

05/07/2005 - 03/08/2005 1st BJ trip 4 weeks

26/12/2005 - 11/01/2006 2nd BJ trip 2 weeks

27/04/2006 - 10/05/2006 3rd BJ trip 2 weeks

29/06/2006 - 28/08/2006 4th BJ trip 2 months

4.2 Evidence for those trips: receipt of shopping, food, bus, taxi, park....

 

5. Documents from CR1+CR2

5.1 Interview Appointment letter

5.2 CR1/CR2 Passports

5.3 Receipt of IV Fee (See 6 payment of 380$bill.)

5.4 Medical Examination Report package

5.5 Vaccination Record

5.6 Household Registry

5.7 Marriage certificate

5.8 College English Teacher¡¯s certificate / BETS /PETS /YLE / BOEC oral examiner certificates

5.9 ID Card

5.10. CR2¡¯s birth certificate

5.11 CR1¡¯s divorce certificate

 

6.Copy of all application stuff (p1,p2,p3,receipts 70$ 380$ )

 

7£®Ex-spouses¡¯ information

7.1 Petitioner¡¯s divorce papaer, ex-wives' name and marriages ended:

7.2 Applicant's ex-husband¡¯s information

1/ Employer, address and telephone

2/ Copy of his 2nd mirage certificate

3/ Copy of his Household Registry with his 2nd wife

 

8. Evidence live alone after Applicant¡¯s divorce

8.1 Apartment rent contract

8.2 Bills of water\power\ gas\ telephone

8.3 Daughter¡¯s 3 different kindergarten¡¯s monthly fee receipts

1st, before July. 2004 in CAU kindergarten¡ªlive with ex before divorce£»

2nd, before July. 2005 in Spring Rain kindergarten¡ªlive with parents and brother in brother¡¯s home after divorce£»

3rd, before July. 2006 in Huixinli kindergarten¡ªlive in rent apartment.

 

9. Asian promise information

10. CCP member statement ¨C both husband and wife

11. Statment of why without wedding from husband

 

 

My timeline see my signature

PS. I use Jame's short cut at NVC to saved 2-3 months during NVC process.

Edited November 4, 2006 by mama bear (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

Wow very detailed review! Thanks.

[Rickmt57]

Thank you very much for taking the time to make such a detailed report.

I wish al of you the best.

[hankster]

Great detailed report, Mama Bear, I know it will be helpful when I show it to Lao po.

Thanks so much and sorry for the blue slip................I know you will overcome.

Lily and Hank

[stacato]

Thanks mama bear. I printed a copy and will try to follow the instructions. I hope your situation will be resolved soon, you deserve it!

[woainilin]

A. Before enter the interview hall

It is 7:15 AM on my appointment letter; I took my daughter downstairs to the next building at 7:30am. When we arrive there it just start to let people in.

There are 6 lines, 3 for immigration, 3 for other. Asked the guard which one is for 7:15, he said all those 3 lines on the left are. So we choose the 3rd one the shortest one.

They allow a case (a person or a family) go into the building in every line each time, so even it seems we were almost the latest one in the lines, but we were not the latest ones into the building. The guard checks everybody¡¯s passport and appointment letter. He gave me 2 blue cards (He has green ones and finished, then start gave blue ones) for me and my daughter.

There is elevator and moving staircase towards the 4th floor. Then an other guard take back the cards, and we are on the way to the 5th, a guard sits there check everybody¡¯s passport again. Then we are on the moving staircase to 5th floor, there area 2 lines for immigration visa and non immigration. A guard came and let us hands in everybody¡¯s appointment letter.

Before enter the interview hall, security check, like at airport, no food and drinks. All through away, take out all electric things: cell phone, mp3, electric dictionary etc, all keys into bags, and take off shoes, waistband all put onto the deferent belt to go through the x-ray. So it is a little chaotic. We didn¡¯t take any food drink, no cell, and no waistband, so very fast, just put bag and shoes through the machine. A guard even blessed the lady before me good luck for her interview after checking her bag, maybe I also need bless from the guard, but nobody said that to me. It is ok, I have a lot bless from CFL and before we leave, papa bear and me prayed and what ever result it will be we will accept it, God knows what we really need and will make the best arrangement for us.

 

B. In the interview hall

Then we entered the interview hall, sit and wait. The seats is not enough for so many people, some stand around.

Start to call name and hand in the medicinal exam package. After it you will get a number, it is for the following finger print and interview. But the number just a number for to call you, it is not the sequence.

So the finger printing maybe number 1060 is a lot early than 1001, and for the interview, maybe after 1112, number 1045 still not be interviewed. It is just a number of your case. The broadcast in both languages, for Cantonese they call your name or number in Cantonese, for people from other parts of china. They speak mandarin, sometime it even adds your place before your name, such as: shanghai xxx go to no. xx window, so if you know Cantonese you just listen to mandarin would be fine. First I worried about loose my name or number, then I find I don¡¯t need worry about it.

We are waiting there so many people there, it start finger printing, then a lady announced stop everything, stand up , rise your right hand and start juration in both mandarin and Cantonese. After that everything continue, still call name to hand in medical exam package, to finger print and after a while, interview start.

Finally most of the windows became interview window, and only left no.12 for hand in medical exam package, and no. 18 for finger printing.

Finally it is calling my name, and I took my daughter went to no. 12. the Chinese guy is very nice, he let me open the 2 packages, and hand in, he let me sign on ds-230 part 2 for me and my daughter, didn¡¯t ask me any question, I thought it is a good start, he didn¡¯t ask me any question. Usually they ask some question and make a mark on your case at this step. And it maybe concerning your interview.

Then he let me go to an other window to get a number, the window is a interview window, a man sits there interviewing a family there, he let me to the next window and give me my number no.1112.

Came back to my seats. And wait again.

The toilet at the right hand, there are 2 women¡¯s and 2 men¡¯s; drinking water machine at the left turn, in the no immigration hall. . After we get water, there are no cups. So long waiting, kids start to play in the hall, running and roughhouse, still a lot stand no sets.

It is said husbands cannot company for interview except for some very special days such as last Christmas, but I see at least 3 white and 1 yellow husbands there, I asked one lady how can she come in with her husband, she told me they are short of a document, so the guards let him in.

It is my turn for finger print. It not easy for me to print my finger, the man is very patient; he gave me a tissue, and let me clean my finger and the machine, tried again and again both left and right first finger. Finally it is fine.

Wait again. My daughter and I went to toilet again and again, and we are hungry, some people gone and there are start empty seats. Daughter said she want go for lunch, won¡¯t wait for interview.

Finally it is my turn while my daughter in toilet: No 1112 go to no.25 window.

I have whole bag stuff for my interview; I took my bag and the x-ray photo to the window. Put some files on the sill, and lay the bag on floor. She is a very pretty white girl, later they said she is a new comer. She is very careful.

Something wrong with her mike, almost every question I have to ask her repeat again, and she adjusted the mike again and again. So she kept read and check information from her computer and adjusted her mike during the whole interview process. If she speaks a little farther from the mike then I cannot hear anything at all. She is very patient, too, and sometime she speaks one or two Chinese words.

 

C. Questions

1. who¡¯s your petitioner? --my husband

2. What¡®s his name? -- xxx xxx xxx

3. When did you meet? -- Feb 2005

4. How did you know each other?¡ªinternet

5. Which one?¡ªAsian Promise

6. How many he came to china? ¨C4 times.

7. Do you have your husband¡¯s passport copy?-Showed her copy

She read it very carefully.

8. How do you connect with each other?¡ªMSN

Show me?¡ªI showed her a big box full of chat recorder printed in A4 paper both side, each side printed 4 pages recorder.

She let me show her some pages, I gave her some, she read them carefully.

9. Do you have photos?¡ªshower her 2 booklet photos.

She watched them carefully, and then pointed his daughter and son¡¯s photo asks:

10. Who are they? ¨CHis daughter and son.

11. Do they live with their father?¡ªNo.

With their mother? ¨Cno , they live alone.

12. When did he divorce?¡ªOct 2004.

13. When did you divorce?¡ªJuly 2004.

14. Why did you divorce?¡ªxxxx

15. Where is your ex now?¡ªBeijing?

In Beijing? Her voice is surprised. ¨C I have his address, his 2nd marriage certificate and their registration book (Hukou)

Show me¡ªhand in and she read very carefully.

When did he remarried¡ªat eh end of 2004, Dec.

16. Does he meet your daughter often, every week?¡ªNo, only once after divorce.

17. Does he know you will take your daughter to America?¡ªYes, I have a notarized statement from him allowing me to take my daughter immigrate.

Show me--I gave her, she read and put it into my case.

She checked information in her computer, after a long wait, then she asked me the last question, I know it is a signal of the end of the interview.

18. Are you a CCP member? ¨Cyes.

Surprised. Are you a current CCP member?¡ªyes. I have statements for it from me and my husband.

Show me¡ªshe read it very carefully and thanked me for the statements.

Then she fill in a blue slip let me wait till they connect with me and return my passports after make a stamp on both our passports.

I read the blue slip , make sure I won¡¯t need add any stuff , and asked her how long I have to wait, and she didn¡¯t reply me, then I asked her if next time I don¡¯t need take my daughter, she make sure not need to take my daughter next time.

Thanked the VO and collect everything into the bag we went to the consulate.

It took me about 20 minutes for my interview; the VO is pretty, patient, nice and careful.

There are so many person stand outside keep ask us if we pass, smile to everybody tell them pass and go back home. We are so hungry, went to Mr. Xie ask his help to book ticket return to Beijing, we went to Ikea for lunch, I know life will be same after we arrive Beijing. Autumn Beijing with be bright sunshine and clear blue sky.

 

D. Accommodation

I stayed at Mr. Xie ¡®s apartment. Same building with IKEA. Next building to the consulate. Across a small street.

There is a small play ground for kids and swimming poll, garden on 6th roof, then 2 Pollux building on either side upper 6th floor. The apartment is 3 bedrooms, sitting room big and with good furniture and TV, PC. Fridge, full kitchen and washing machine.

The room I stayed is main bedroom with separate bath room.

We eat at IKE for my daughter¡¯s sake. Mr.Xie invited us every time for meal. But my daughter likes IKEA food. There are fewer choices than Beijing IKEA and smaller kids area, but she still like it. Especially after whole morning hungry waiting in the interview hall, hot Swiss ball meat really nice!

 

 

Great summary mamabear!!! This goes to show that total preparation and complete documentation does not ensure a pink. :-(.

[Michael and Manyun]

mama bear

 

Manyun and Lingyi have arrived after one overcome. I will wish the same for you. However, I also understand the presence of the membership in the Communist Party.

 

I admire your honesty. I believe that you know the blue slip will come after your answer to the final question. Yet, you answer as an honest woman. After reading the posts on CFL, you knew this would come, but you give the honest answer. Your laogong is very lucky that he has such a woman. You will overcome, and have the happy reunion as the reward.

 

Other women lie, yet receive the visa. I cannot accept this, but your response send a clear message of your honest character.

 

Be well, and good luck, mama bear.

 

Michael

[mama bear]

mama bear

 

Manyun and Lingyi have arrived after one overcome. I will wish the same for you. However, I also understand the presence of the membership in the Communist Party.

 

I admire your honesty. I believe that you know the blue slip will come after your answer to the final question. Yet, you answer as an honest woman. After reading the posts on CFL, you knew this would come, but you give the honest answer. Your laogong is very lucky that he has such a woman. You will overcome, and have the happy reunion as the reward.

 

Other women lie, yet receive the visa. I cannot accept this, but your response send a clear message of your honest character.

 

Be well, and good luck, mama bear.

 

Michael

Congrats for your overcome and happy family life!

We will live in MI, too, up north.

Thank you for your support and good wishes, hope we can recover as soon as what you did, but I know it will take time,we have to be patient.

Thank you again.

mama bear

[scott1956]

Mama Bear - I am so sorry to hear that you got blue slip, but I am sure you will overcome. Thanks so much for the superb detail in your report of the interview.

[FREEASABIRD]

Mama Bear, may GOD bless you. You have such a good personality. Very kind of you to have done this for us. I know that you must be waiting for the further notice from GUZ. Best of luck. You are in my thoughts. Ok?

Again, thanks so much for the detailed info.

FREEASABIRD

[chilton747]

mama bear

 

Manyun and Lingyi have arrived after one overcome. I will wish the same for you. However, I also understand the presence of the membership in the Communist Party.

 

I admire your honesty. I believe that you know the blue slip will come after your answer to the final question. Yet, you answer as an honest woman. After reading the posts on CFL, you knew this would come, but you give the honest answer. Your laogong is very lucky that he has such a woman. You will overcome, and have the happy reunion as the reward.

 

Other women lie, yet receive the visa. I cannot accept this, but your response send a clear message of your honest character.

 

Be well, and good luck, mama bear.

 

Michael

 

mama bear,

 

You must know that when a person lies, they get their just reward. When a person tells the truth then they get their just reward, too. Your husband indeed is a very lucky man. Your honesty will pay off.

God bless you mama bear.

Charles & Haihua

[mama bear]

God knows what we need, and will arrange the best for his child.So what we do just wait though it takes time.

THANK YOU CFLers again, for your best wishes!

[chilton747]

God knows what we need, and will arrange the best for his child.So what we do just wait though it takes time.

THANK YOU CFLers again, for your best wishes!

 

[mama bear]

Today got reply of my inquire for my case after 3 months from my interview :

"Your case is under review by a Consular officer. We will contact you when your case is ready for continued processing."

Does it mean my case improve a little bit? This is a little diffrent from 2 months ago, DOS told us we were under security check, now it is under review, that means check finished, moved to next step?

I hope so.If really so, maybe I will get some good news in a month.

Edited February 8, 2007 by mama bear (see edit history)