Luo_Bin_&_Jialu

Whoooo-hoooo!!! Congratulations Bill. I am on the way to the airport in the wee hours of the am. I wish you and your SO all the best. Sincerely, Rob

So basically you are saying it would be safe to get a notarized, sealed and wax stamped letter from my elementary school principal, my high school football coach, the priest who did my confirmation, all of my past girlfriends, a few close buddy's, all surviving members of my family including some cousins I don't really know, a few guys I used to work with, my neighbor's barbeque guests and the guy down the street with the really cool dragster?

I am shipping all of my SO's belongings including a whole housefull of furniture. She also has boxes of clothes. According to the shipping people here in San Fran/Oakland, they are more concerned about the clothes as there is a limit on what one can bring. I would check regular mail pricing, but I know that no matter what it will be expensive. I also took some large suitcases of her things back here to the US a few trips to china ago and paid about $100 in extra baggage fees. This was worth it as I had two 75 kilo boxes of her things. I swear she has about 200 pairs of shoes....girls will be girls!

My gal's came in on thursday August 4 (wednesday US time)...

Dude...I would be all about it if I could. My problem..is that I came back to cali to be near my family--I missed my mommy. Then to further complicate things..I bought a da** expensive house and started a project that won't be complete until the end of this year...so, I became stuck other than milestones in the project. My interview could not have come at a better time. It is almost too perfect..hmmmmm....

I dig Nanning. Next to Zhanjiang, it is my favorite city in China. The air quality is good, their is much new architecture, and my uncle in law to be lives there and is a structural engineer...which is cool in my book. It is funny to see the same details that we design here--only in chinese.. Yea, the dual entry thing was the reason I didn't go to HK the last few times I have been to china. This time, time constraints..next time though...it's on! Thanks for the info OHB

Oh, yeah, I will be there. No question, no thought. I purchased ticket last night. No way I would miss it after all this heartache.. If anyone wishes to connect, I will be hangin out with my mama while my gal interviews on the 13th. We will be busy doing the family thing but I will also have some time for morning, evening tea if anyone is interested. We have quite a few friends in GZ..some attending and teaching at the foreign language institute, so you may get some good insight about GZ from them...

Sorry guys, I think I would commit suicide if I was drinking a beer while staring at ya'll on the computer screen....wait a minute...why don't we all eat cheetos and stare at each other on the computer screen...actually, that is all I have done for the past year...except--no offense to anyone--my gal is a lot more attractive than any of ya'll...

I would actually like to go to HK. One of my brothers best friend lives there and is married to a local gal...they live quite the fast lifestyle is the only thing that has kept me out so far. I would love to check it out. You don't need the dual entry? You can go mainland and back with no problem? This I didn't know. Thanks for the heads up. Bill, are you guys going to stay for a while or are you coming right back to the USA? Rob

I'm with PF Kops. I will be at 12.666 months wait by the time I get my interview. Looking at everyone's 8-9 month's wasn't that easy to stomach, I don't think I made it without a complaint, but in the end, it will be worth it. This last month is going to suck. Hang in there! You're a Texan, you can handle it!

I have seen this fare. I don't feel like messing around by taking a train or bus to GZ from HK. I can fly HK to GZ for another 150-200, but then I pay another 25-30 for the dual entry visa. It comes out to be more hassle---way more time--for the same price. I paid $901 RT to fly NWA from SFO to GZ. I will get a good seat on the brand new A330 Airbus which has plugs under the seat for my laptop, and the personal video monitor. To be honest...unless it is a solid $200-300 savings..it just doesn't matter. I actually put this thread up for anyone who may not have seen it already. No new news here, the same info from the last time I have seen it...

My experience so far has been that Northwest is the better of the three airlines I have flown for California-China travel. I will pay about $920 round trip to fly in september. Does this sound on par with everyone else? Also..not to add more fuel..but what does anyone think about pre-buying her ticket or waiting for space available? (I know there is already threads on this, but maybe someone has something else to add)

Whoo-hoo....I know how good this feels... Is your interview the 14th or the 19th? Ours is the 13th.... Good luck! Rob

One more time.... 1. What are suggestions for flights from California to GZ? 2. What are airlines that are recommended? 3. What are airlines that are to be avoided at all costs? 4. What does everyone else pay for fare?

Eric, I will be in GZ for our 9/13 interview. I will be flying in on the 10th. You must be pleased. Your timeline is very short. Why do you have "interview finally" on your sig? Many people would love this timeline..

Ok...you can update our timeline... P4 August 1, 2005 Interview Date September 13, 2005

Pissed off would probably be an understatement. All the crap various people who work at the consulate told me about fairness and timelines is garbage. I can't even stomach reading about how people are getting their P4 only 9-10-11 months after filing. I can only imagine how others have felt after 13,14,15,16..months go by. Congratulations to those who have received their P4...I don't think I will be able to view this site anymore. It is too aggravating. Suicide or Homicide aren't viable options, but if I don't get my P4 by the time I have a break in my current project--September 16, I will take an extended leave of absence and put my house up...

All I know is F*** GZ and this crappy system. The US is the only country where people like my family can give so much to our nation and not get crap in return. My family has a strong tradition of military service. I can name lives given in wars--starting with my father--an army officer killed in action in Vietnam, my stepfather-who subsequently adopted me after the deal with my father--with 30 years service..but does this get me anything? No...I am well educated and decorated as well, my paperwork is complete, thorough, organized and as they request. I am not angry that people who filed months after me get interviews...but I am PO'd that the crappy system comes down on me... Altough I will say that if I get a 15-17 date in September that is cool...it is a great time to be in China..and I need a break. Does anyone else work as hard as I do? I hope so..I would hate to be the only overachiever here...

I was informed that the true date to watch is when the package arrived at GZ. This does not make sense as far as the CFL historical data, but this is what I was told by one of our most esteemed govt employees at DOS. They went on to say that the wait is about 9 months from the arrival at GZ. He would not elaborate on if this was the date it was sent electronically to GZ, when it got "customs delay" to GZ, or when GZ actually picked it up... I kind of like our 150 day average from P3 to Interview...

Any chance of us forwarding our timeline thread to GZ and giving them the ultimatum of meeting these deadlines or we are taking our business elsewhere? Maybe we could attach some liquidated damages at say...$1500/day for every day late they are past our projected deadlines..any thoughts??? Rob

Excellent work! Your prediction seems to mirror mine. Of course that may have something to do with us both drawing off the same information source...hmmm...I am seeing a pattern here....yes...it must be...this is the only source of sanity in my otherwise insane universe..I can only hope the timeline comes sooner Oh well...can't bat 1000 on every level

Hey! Can't you move ours up sooner than September....I mean...if we're gonna fantasize...at least make it appetizing... Seriously, thanks for your efforts. We appreciate them. It makes the time pass quicker... Rob

We use the heck out of the internet. We chat daily with Yahoo messenger, send e-mails daily and talk to each other on the telephone in the morning and the night. I can call her in China cheaper than I can call my parents two hours away.

Good luck and thank you for your posts. Being familiar with GZ, I am picturing all you say. I look forward to your conclusion and welcome your future bride to her new home...

I am a huge tea fan. I have at least twenty different kinds of tea. There are different kinds such as: Ren shen cha, tie guan yin, guan yin wong, and there are differing grades of each. I have enjoyed going to many different tea shops and getting a "tour". There is often an owner who is proud of his tea and will educate you--ie, let you stay for a few hours and sample his goods (this is a requirement if you are to buy any--sample before you buy). If you are in the Northern California area after I get our furniture over here, you are welcome to come by and sample some of mine. I will give you the same stories that I got when I sampled some of these. I will warn you that some of the better teas can be a bit pricey.