Jason+Joanna

CONGRATS !!!

She wore a conservative skirt and a nice blouse. Definately business casual.

Thank you everyone for your kind wishes and sentiments. Here are some more observations for up coming interviews: The Chamy Coffee shop is on the 4th floor. The coffee shop is just behind the way up to the US consulate. The way down from the US consulate is about 20 yards behind the coffee shop. There are plenty of "visa" helpers there, I suggest avoiding them. There is also a United booking agent right behind the coffee shop. As I mentioned before we lined up in the Immigrant Line. They started letting people in around 7:45 am. We got to the consulate around 7:30 am in the morning. There was about 100 people there at that time. I estimate that there were around 300 interviews on Monday. She got asked around 10 questions. They mostly involved questions about were I was born, about my most recent divorce, if she had family or friends in the US, and about my Taxes. On the Tax question, she did not find my folder with all my taxes right away, so she ended up giving them my last 12 paychecks instead. This did not seem to be a problem. I would recommend pinning your latest tax return with your I-134, so this little mix up does not happen to you. I also recommend having your last 12 months of pay checks and a letter of employment just to be safe -- although we did not end up needing them. Two days later, we arrived at the Post Office around 20 minutes before 9:00 a.m. there were 12 people ahead of us. We got lucky number 13. At around 9:10 am we recieved our visa package and celebrated that we finally got the visa. We then had to get the medical statement. We ended up walking there (take a taxi, it is not that close). We waited about an hour before finally being served. Not an efficient operation, I have to say. We arrived back in Shenzhen on the evening of the 8th. The 9th, we had some final packing and family obigaltions to take care of (we thought we could hook up with Meidon in Shenzhen, but ended up being too busy). We departed Shenzhen to Hong Kong Airport. There was absolutely no problem getting into Hong Kong. I did not need to show them an air ticket. They gave her a seven day pass, no questions asked. On arrival to the US. The first customs agent in LA refused to handle her case. The customs agents was a large asian women. I suggest avoiding her for other to come. We pointed her out to some other customs agents, I really hope she got in trouble for her rudeness. Anyway, the second customs agent was very nice, and handled our case with ease. He explained we have 90 days. He took her picture, and left hand index figure print. We collect our six pieces of luggage and went on our way. I am now re-adjusting to this time zone..

The convention is not affecting hotel prices in TianHe. Avoid the Concordia Apts. It's a new place around the corner from the consulate. They need some time to get their shit together and don't deserve your money until then. Unless you can flush your toilet without running water....... 152885[/snapback] Agreed, avoid Concordia Apts. bad experience with them too.

Good News. We have passed the interview ! We got to the consulate on 9/6 at 7:30 am and lined up in the immigrant line. I stayed out side while she was let in at around 8:00 am. I went in at 8:30 am and stay in the Chamy Coffee shop. We will tell you all the questions later.

Got 20 or so more for me. Luckily I have a pile of work to do in those 20 hours ( or maybe that is unlucky ? )

I also use broadvoice. for a flat fee of $22.00 I get free calling to land lines. It costs me 2 cents / minute to call her cell phone -- but I call her land line 99 % of the time. It is well worth it.

Thanks for the great info, and congrat !

I have also moved, but reported my new address on the P3 since I moved in March and we got the P3 in April.

I am bringing the past 13 months of Bank Statements, the past year of paychecks, letter of employment, and past 3 years of taxes.

I don't want to come off being too uncouth... So I will leave it to your imagination on the bitching and nagging.

Maybe I should state this in a different way, that does not come off like some kind of crazy mad-man that been burned one too many times.... I think I would ask the "naysayer", what he or she was looking for in a relationship. I think most people would be looking for the exact same thing I am looking for. I would explain to the "naysayer" that those qualities can be found in Chinese women, and much more. I would then ask how many American women really have those qualities... And there is the answer, I believe.

I don't hate American women, mind you. I have just had my share of bad apples. Like I said, there are good ones.

I got sick of American women. I have only found that they are very demanding, very self-centered, very egocentric, selfish, conceited, and have a very poor value system. Obviously there are very good American women, I am not saying none exist. However, I think more then a few bad apples have spoiled the bunch for me. Basically, I think that finding the proverbal good apple in the US has about the same chance of finding a needle in a hay-sack. Whereas, finding someone with very good values, that is kind, that is caring, that is selfless, that is very giving has a very good probablity in China at least. I cannot speak to other asian countries.

*** Begin Joke *** What is that about the Exorcist ? -- Thats a classic horror flick. *** End Joke *** (Yeah, I am bored and counting down the days ...)

I just wrote a letter today stating how all the evidence I have gathered is organized, and I also re-affirmed our intent on getting married with-in the 90 day period. I also shared information on our wedding plans. I also mentioned that I will be there for her interview, so they can ask me something if they want to. I got it notarized today. That should put a nice little bow around everything, and wrap everthing up very nicely

We plan to get the health check in GZ Sept. 2nd. -- we'll pay the the extra 100 RMB to get the results fast, then go back to SZ for the weekend. We'll return to GZ on Sept. 5th. Interview is Sept 6th. We plan to stay in GZ until we get the VISA from the post office. I am sure we could arrange to meet, just let us know the where, when, and how.

I am not sure what category to post this one under. Move it, if it does not belong under the General Visa Discussion. But, I though it was most appropiate here. America Lyrics Artist(Band):Neil Diamon Far We've been travelling far Without a home But not without a star Free Only want to be free We huddle close Hang on to a dream On the boats and on the planes They're coming to America Never looking back again They're coming to America Home, don't it seem so far away Oh, we're travelling light today In the eye of the storm In the eye of the storm Home, to a new and a shiny place Make our bed, and we'll say our grace Freedom's light burning warm Freedom's light burning warm Everywhere around the world They're coming to America Every time that flag's unfurled They're coming to America Got a dream to take them there They're coming to America Got a dream they've come to share They're coming to America They're coming to America They're coming to America They're coming to America They're coming to America Today, today, today, today, today My country 'tis of thee (Today) Sweet land of liberty (today) Of thee I sing (today) Of thee I sing (today)

My attention span is almost nill. Which makes work pretty much suck !

I don't care who is right or who is wrong -- as long as she happy, I am not complaining. Like the book with similar title says "Don't sweat the small stuff ... and its all small stuff."

I bought ahead of time. Decided to roll the dice and take a gamble. We have a day or two to fix problems, so there is not much time at all. So I am hoping I don't crap out...

Good news, she finally recieved the re-sent package. They sent it out on the 16th, not the 11th. Interesting.

Consulate said they would call her to confirm that she has not yet recieved the re-sent package. Then they will send a third time !

I am going to print everything from Dons P4 link out. I have asked the consulate to resend yet again (I am sure they will not be too happy about that). To be sure I have my back covered, I will have her call the hospital to check if they have the forms we are missing (thanks to david for this suggestion).

I need to know if the link for the P4 package that Don has includes the most recent versions of the documents that GUZ will send. If not, I need the most recent versions, if someone can scan them... PLEASE !!! I have asked the consulate to re-send the package, and we have not recieved it (they say sent Aug. 11th, and its now Aug. 16 -- and She is in Shenzhen -- normally takes only one day ! )