G-man

CFLer's, Just a few more tidbits. If you are flying into the new airport in Guangzhou, you'll probably just grab a cab into town. There is plenty of competition so tell the taxi driver what you'll pay, and no meter. We paid 120 yuan for one trip and 100 yuan when we left. So if you need a cab in town, ask for a price, then lowball them. There is a little deli just west of the White Swan that has some baked goods and a decent ham/egg croissant. There are nice outside tables with umbrellas. I wanted to thank everyone for all the valuable information. Luo & Gary

Dear CFLers, We have returned from Guz. last Fri. 4-15 and getting over the jet lag, new abode thing. Luo's interview was last Mon. 4-11 and everything went smooth. Luo speaks a little English and had a translator during interview. The typical 5 or 6 questions. Only paperwork requested to look at was Affidavivit of Support. She met some other ladies in the line and it's just a crap shoot which window and VO you end up with. The 3 girls she met all had success, but 2 other women that were scheduled for the next day, were denied. The one had pictures and looked sincere but couldn't spell or pronounce her fiancee's name. He was not in Guz. We stayed at The Victory Hotel and I would recommend it. Come on folks, $46.00 a night on 8th floor with a nice view. With the trade show, we did go to Shamian Hotel for the last night but it is definitely "lower rent" than Victory. A note on Victory. The main building is actually about a half block from their annex building. We looked at a room there but main building has the views. Medical clinic is less than a block down the street from Victory. Like fools, we went early and there was 1 girl waiting. I was all prepared for a several hour ordeal (reading material and munchies) and she was done in 50 minutes! She went on a Tues. and picked up results on Fri. Interview was on Mon. If you haven't been to Shamian Island everything is within 10 minutes walking time. The Shamian Coffee House( it's a restaurant) has a good menu and everything is about $2 to $4. There are also a couple 7-11's and a neigborhood type store close by for drinks, food etc. We did a tour of The White Swan Hotel also. Folks, we're talking Deluxe! A beautiful waterfall and koi pond in the center of the hotel create a very nice feeling. Oh yeah, aside from not being a very good long distance flyer( I'm getting too old for this!) we sailed through immigration in Minne. ( Luo got sick when landing, so we were actually the last ones because we had to get her cleaned up. Poor Luo.) I sprayed her down with my Drakkar to get her smelling "fresh" again. Anyway, we only waited 15 or 20 minutes to get thru. OK..........I gotta get back to "living" Luo & Gary

This is the first post that mentioned Travelers Health Record as a requirement. Same question, what's involved to get one? G-man

P4 Received.................April 11 interview. Holy *&%#@* !!! G-man & Luo

C4Racer, I know what you mean about the gambling thing. Interview is on Mon. Apr.11 and we plan on leaving the following Sat. That's a few days for a"cushion factor" and maybe the bookies in Vegas might like my odds. I'm leaning toward buying now. Thanx G-man

Hey Folks, I hate to beat a dead horse as this has been discussed before, but........... My lawyer says to wait until visa is in hand but I would like to plan ahead. My question is : Is it a problem to buy a ticket in China only 5 days before departure? Price-wise and availability. All feedback greatly appreciated. G-man

Hey nooneufo, You might be aware that our P3 date is when it was mailed in, so I have no idea when it was entered into the computer. It's ironic, but I'm praying for a non-April interview, so I don't have to deal with the trade show. Thanx again for doing a fine job on "The List" Gary

Ooooops!!! (above) Hey nooneufo, Thanks for keeping the list going, it really has been helpful. (With all that number crunching, I think you have WAY too much time on your hands!) Best of luck on packing your bags and a successful outcome in Guangzhou. Gary & Luo

Hey nooneufo,

Can King tell everyone if he is available to help, or would it be a shameless plug. I'm sure a lot of folks wouldn't have a problem paying for some honest advice.

Even though Luo has sent her P3 in Nov., I was wondering if we could be part of your thread. You are like the class ahead of me in high school!

I'll throw my two cents in. You probably don't need an attorney but I felt more secure having one. I used William Livingston at fiancee-visas@ prodigy.net. He charges $1000.00 flat fee which I thought was a deal after talking to local attorneys that said they would charge 3 to 4 grand. It's an expensive way to make sure your i's are dotted and your t's crossed, but..... that's life. ( He also sells an instruction book for $80.00)

Skip this one.

I've bought some inexpensive items, but was wondering if you can purchase quality items, like a wedding ring. Any reputable dealers? Any Do's and Don'ts? Thanx

Mike, I was wondering the same thing, concerning the busses.

If anybody has any feedback or suggestions about the new airport in Guangzhou, I'd like to hear about your experiences. Thanx

Dear Yaya and Neal, Glad to hear you arrived home safely. Merry X-mas. Gary (I'll pick your brain later)

Ken, I know exactly how you feel. Did you ever have thoughts like, "WHAT THE HELL HAVE I GOT MYSELF INTO?" It's human nature to fear the unknown, but what are the alternatives. Stay home and do nothing..........Not. Give it your best shot and everything will work out.

I hate to sound like a moron, but can someone explain the "nuts & bolts" of the "second name check" Is this something that every applicant experiences or only special cases? It seems like it is a major speed bump for several couples. Thanx

I have sent mail by regular postal air mail about 8 times and have had no problems. They were addressed in English and were sent to a mini-village outside(way) of Luizhou. I saw one car, I think they were visiting! To test censorship, I have sent cash to see if it gets through. No problem yet.

Thanks for the input, everyone. I was leaning toward the Victory, primarily because of it's location. G-man says" Fifty opinions are better than one"!

Good news Neal & YaYa, I assumed you would pass with flying colors, especially after all your trials and tribulations. Thanks for interview questions. Gary ( Note to audience: I met Neal in Gz 6-1 heading back to US. ......................... small world. )

I've got a few months before I go, but any recommendations? Thanx

Being a rookie, where do I enter my timeline?