Zingaro

Welcome to CFL! Check in often, read through the threads and comments. There's plenty to learn. Feel free to ask any questions. It's likely someone here will know the answer, or will know where to find it.

I agree with you to a large degree. The assitants and aides are on the front line of dealing with the day-to-day constituents with problems, doing the leg work and grunt work that enables the elected reps to do what they do. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, which has kind of wandered around a bit, it's not only important to find the right person with the right connections, but it's important to find the key that will unlock at least a little bit of motivation. I honestly think it was my email directly to Sen. Feinstein that pushed things a bit. The assistant in the home office had pretty much scraped me off with a "nothing can be done" after two letters and a phone call. My email to Feinstein was rather more pointed in the help I was requesting, and simply asked for some direct help from the senator. Whether or not she actually got involved I don't know. SOMETHING prompted DOS to call the senator's California office, which was a pretty substantial change from the eight-month long drone of no movement, no change, no information. It's not all resolved yet, but there is at least a glimmer that something positive is happening.

I can't speak specifically about United Airlines, but the Chinese-based airlines (Taiwan and PRC) always have flight crews that are native Chinese speakers. Other international airlines typically have flight crew members who are proficient in the destination language. You can ask the airline ahead of time about the availability of multi-linqual assistance and documents.

A quick update: Sen. Feinstein's office telephoned me today to say that DOS had telephoned THEM requesting my SO's date of birth. This seemingly insignificant event lifted my spirits. Even though it left me scratching my head (my SO's birth date is only on a zillion different documents) it also indicates that someone, somewhere, is trying to sort things out. My guess is that duplicate name confusion has stalled the name check process, but that's only a guess. I will mention that after my disappointment about the first letter I received from Feinstein's office, I not only wrote a letter back to her office, but also sent a strongly worded (but diplomatic) email to her Washington office. It's only speculation, but I'm guessing that email might have prompted a little more action than I got from her California main office in San Francisco. Stay tuned!

Take a few deep breaths ... and please try to relax. We do know how you feel, and we share your feelings. You WILL reach the end of the road - together.

If the QUOTA system is being implemented, there is nothing one can do. That's my guess, and it definitely seems that way. CSC has slooooowed to a screeching halt, under the disguise "more detailed investigation" phrase. US economic system cannot handle the additional influx of hard working, freedom loving, and wealth creating people from China. I've wondered a bit about the "quota" system, and if that's influencing anything. I didn't know CSC had slowed down so much - glad I sent my I-129f through 15 months ago, before the political pendulum swung the other way! (I went through CSC.) Our paperwork actually went through fairly quickly - roughly 6 months from submitting the I-129f to receipt of P3. Clear sailing - or so I thought. Guess it pays not to count one's chickens too soon!

I agree, the DOS is in charge of coordinating the second name check. Of course, the DOS repeatedly says they can do nothing to influence or control the process once it begins. I also agree that the assistant at Sen. Feinstein's office had absolutely no ability to do anything that I had not already done for myself. To hear this woman talk, Sen. Feinstein has no more influence in Washington than somebody selling pencils on a sidewalk outside the senate office building. Yeesh. Thank you for the PM ... I've replied separately.

I sometimes think senators' and congressmen's offices are ill equipped to do any actual business in Washington. The home state offices are too far removed and the Washington offices are too busy taking pot shots at the other party. I'm sorr your senator didn't help - but it looks like you're on the home stretch! Good luck in July!

I had read about your rather weird visit from the FBI. Curious - at what point did they identify themselves or show credentials? I'm glad it turned out well, and that your name check passed through NVC. I Googled my SO's name in both Pinyin and in Hanzi and got quite a few hits on both - none of them her. So I do understand there can be duplicate names. But honestly, does it take nine months to determine which person is the female with her date of birth? We're hanging in ... I'm writing to my congressman tonight and sending another email to the senator.

Interesting information about your dealings with your senator's office. I've been concerned about the same simple bureaucratic delays being at play in our case - our file simply sitting in the wrong basket or filed incorrectly. I asked Feinstein's office how I would ever find out if FBI (or whatever mysterious agency is involved) had simply misplaced my file. The assistant hemmed and hawed for a moment, then dismissed this possibility because DOS/GZ send automated follow-ups. She's correct about the follow-ups, but I think she overestimated their effectiveness. Every politician budgets and spends their political capital differently. It seems that there are two tasks here - one is to actually get to the senator or congressman directly (more difficult for an ordinary citizen in a big state) and the other is to find the motivational key that will unlock the political capital piggy bank.

I have had the same thought about the FBI not being the place to call - although I'm certainly willing to call if it will do an ounce of good. Thanks for the info about the NVC name check. That's good to know.

Thanks, David. Then the only one we really have to be concerned about is the the police report. I haven't done my I-134 yet. She hasn't done the medical exams yet - since she hasn't received the P4 which gives the forms and instructions for the medical exams. Hopefully, we'll have an interview date by October, which is when her notarizations expire.

good point, that's right.. your now the expert on this.. sorry you have to go through this... and anyone else. Your handling it well despite all the BS , I admire that... Thanks, David ... it's a trial, to be sure. Now my SO is worried that all her notarized documents are going to expire before she ever gets the interview. It's a regular domino effect. All one can do is keep on keepin' on, no? well... they could well expire beyond the GUZ litmus... I think the rule of thumb to follow is wait for the P4 and then get the documents.. Maybe feels a little tight to some, but ensures they are without expiration and questioning... You got to keep on and keep the faith.. your lady is worth any wait... Yeah, I'm a little concerned myself that the notarizations will expire before we ever get to the interview. My poor SO has done everything by the book. She's had her birth papers, police report, military record, etc, all notarized and tucked into a bank safe deposit box since last year. I'll have to email GZ and ask about this. Maybe we can get a grace period on the shelf life of those notarizations.

I don't know the FBI numbers - I'm trying to find that out myself. I don't think the FBI is what you need right now. The NVC does their own internal name check after the NOA2. Later, after you receive the P3, there is another name check - the "second name check". That one involves the FBI and other US security agencies. If I find out any contact numbers at the FBI, I'll send you an email here at CFL. I might disagree only on the basis of two experiences shared, where visits occurred by the FBI... clearly demonstrating that the FBI is involved in this name check. I assumed this was during the NVC name check and apologize if I'm wrong in interpreting the thread: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index....722&hl=fbi&st=0 Interesting ... I remember that thread. I don't know much about the name check done at NVC. Ours went through in about two weeks, so it was never an issue for us. Maybe different cases are flagged for different handling at different stages in the process.

I don't know the FBI numbers - I'm trying to find that out myself. I don't think the FBI is what you need right now. The NVC does their own internal name check after the NOA2. Later, after you receive the P3, there is another name check - the "second name check". That one involves the FBI and other US security agencies. If I find out any contact numbers at the FBI, I'll send you an email here at CFL.

good point, that's right.. your now the expert on this.. sorry you have to go through this... and anyone else. Your handling it well despite all the BS , I admire that... Thanks, David ... it's a trial, to be sure. Now my SO is worried that all her notarized documents are going to expire before she ever gets the interview. It's a regular domino effect. All one can do is keep on keepin' on, no?

In fact, if the namecheck is not finished, NVC will not mail you a lettle. You have to call NVC to ask them, my fiance gets our GUZ number throught this way, it is very common now. I also know 3 girls have been waiting for namecheck over 7 months now, they are K1 and donot receive P3 either. unfortunately, i have a bad news to you. I heard of girl who was in army long time ago, she is K1, and her second namecheck has been 2 years, and still in pending now. Actually, if you received the NOA2, then the fiance's I-129f petition has been approved and sent to the NVC. The NVC checks their records to find out if there have been previous visa applicatons, etc. If it has been more than 4 weeks since you received the NOA2, then you should telephone the NVC (or your fiance should do this). The number is (603) 334-0700. You must enter the receipt number (same as at the US CIS website) and you'll get information on your case. Thanks for the info on the army. I am sorry for your friend. I was a bit concerned about this, so I asked the Department of State about it. The DOS told me it usually isn't a problem. At least I hope it isn't.

since we have not had P3, so we think we donot need to email GZ. Yes, he called DOS, but they said they can not help us. Here's something else you can do: Go to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (US CIS) online case status page. It is https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp - click the "case status search" option. Then you can enter the receipt number that was printed on your NOA1 and NOA2. The website will then tell you where your case is.

Thanks again, David. I've been in touch with maui & china (Jon) and with mari. Both gave me some good advice and details about their cases. I'll also contact the others you mention. Unless GZ screwed up my SO's name when they requested the name check, this doesn't seem to be in GZ's hands at the moment. GZ/DOS send automatic follow-up reminders at intervals during a name check, which GZ has been doing in our case, but that's about it. Att this point, it seems that DOS just stonewalls anyone who calls, giving only their "name check incomplete" spiel. I can try Harty and the others, but they've not been terribly responsive, as I recall. I'll keep at the elected rep tack for now unless I come up with a better idea.

I'm not sure about the FBI. I can try to contact them, but others have said that the FBI was simply rude to them when they were contacted. Do you know what numbers or individuals at FBI would be appropriate?

since we have not had P3, so we think we donot need to email GZ. Yes, he called DOS, but they said they can not help us. Have you received ANYTHING since your NOA2? The next piece of paper you should receive is a notice from NVC (National Visa Center) stating that your fiance's I-129f petition has been received and that it has been forwarded to Guangzhou. That notice will also give you your GUZ number, which is the case number by which Guangzhou and DOS will identify you. The time between the NOA2 and the letter from NVC really should be no more than a few weeks. Then it is normally a few months until you receive the P3. BUT - GZ won't begin to process the case until they receive an official notification from the NVC. Here's what you or your fiance should do: Go to the Guangzhou website: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/guangzhou/ and use their email form to send a request for information. Since you don't have your GUZ number, you might not be able to get any information. But at least ask if they have received any paperwork in your name. Meanwhile, your fiance should contact the National Visa Center to track your case using the case number provided on NOA1 and NOA2.

Thanks, all, for your input and thoughts. Don and CR1: I completely agree with both of you. I'm not actually a huge fan of any of my elected reps. (Here's a bit of irony: The Feinstein assistant who wrote and telephoned me is a Russian immigrant herself. You'd think she would have a bit more empathy and motivation, but my impression was that she couldn't wait to get me off the phone.) My take on this is that it's the luck of the draw. IF your elected rep is motivated, and IF there's a lucky connection from his/her office to the right someone in Washington, things can be resolved rather quickly. But if those conditions don't exist, you're SOL. David: I've pondered hiring a lawyer, but I honestly don't think that would do any good unless the lawyer met both of those conditions above, i.e. motivated AND connected. A friend of mine has a brother who is going through a K-1 process. The brother, in New York, had some delays and had his lawyer contact Senator (I'm not running for president) Hilary's office. Hilary got on it and resolved things in days. Their interview is scheduled for this week! The lawyer, it turned out, had connections with Hilary's campaign. ed and ying: I think you're right that the CA reps are pretty overloaded. After all, CA is bigger in many regards than most countries. Also, you ask a fair question about "cards on the table". The answer is "yes". I know my SO very well, I know her whole family, have met them, been to their homes, etc. My SO's father was a provincial official in Hunan province, but he is long since retired. My SO is not and has never been a CP member, doesn't work in a sensitive industry, etc. She was in the army when she was 16, as a nurse's aide. All of that information is in our paperwork. I think my best strategy now is to aim a little higher up the food chain, write to the other senator and to my congressman. My congressman is on the Judiciary committe's subcommittee on immigration - which I doubt will make much of a difference, but I hope his office is at least a little more familiar with the process and the players. Feinstein's assistant told me outright that DOS wouldn't even tell her all the security agencies involved in the second name check. Jeez - that might just be taking national security a little too far. But then again, according to Feinstein's assistant, "we have a lot of Chinese spies." I almost howled out loud when she said that! Sorry this isn't better news, folks, but I guess it's discussions such as this one from which we can all learn.

my fiance is in Texas, our case is still in America, has not sent to Guangzhou, China yet, so I have not received my P3 First, welcome to CFL! You (and your fiance) will find a lot of good information, good people and much support here. I recommend that your fiance in Texas should join in here, also, since he (or she) has to prepare a lot of paperwork for you. If you haven't yet received your P3, then you are probably not yet at the "second name check" stage of the process. But ten months is a long time to wait for the P3. Has your fiance sent email to Guanzhou? Has your fiance telephoned the Department of State? Sometimes you have to ask the right question to get any real information.

A few people here have obtained genuine help from their senators, but I'm beginning to think they were very lucky. I think we have to persist and keep communicating. Can you post your timeline? When did GZ log in your P3? What state are you in? Maybe we can help each other - even if it's only with some moral/emotional support.

Received a phone call today from Calif. Senator Feinstein's office, and it was as bad or worse than the absurd letter I received from them a couple of weeks ago. I had written to Feinstein to ask for help breaking the name check deadlock in which my SO and I find ourselves. Our name check is now approaching nine months. It's almost 15 months since I submitted the I-129f. I have telephoned and/or emailed DOS, GZ, CIS and have received the same reply over and over: "Name check incomplete, you'll get an interview date when it's complete." In other words, don't call us, we'll call you. I wrote a detailed letter to Feinstein. The letter I received back just dropped my jaw. It said: "Name check incomplete, you'll get an interview date when it's complete." I wrote a second letter to Feinstein's office, politely expressing my dismay to hear the same words parroted back to me and asking for some real help in expediting the name check. Today, I received a phone call from Feinstein's office. I felt like I was talking to one of the many I've talked to at GZ and DOS. Unbelievably, this assistant in Feinstein's office told me that there is NOTHING that can be done to expedite the name check, that a nine month wait is NOT unusual and blah-blah-blah. I asked why this might be the case, why others (judging by the timelines here at CFL) have gone through the whole process much more quickly. The assistant told me she doesn't believe the timelines I gave her, that she sees many cases - from China, Russia, Pakistan, etc., and they all take this much time. She actually said there are a lot of spies from China, so there's extra caution. And blah-blah-blah. I had mentioned in my second letter that I know of other cases where a senator was asked to intervene, and that the case was pried loose within a few weeks. This assistant had the audacity to tell me she didn't believe it, that it was pure coincidence, and that I should give her the names and case numbers so she can verify it. I asked if there were anyone in a more senior position who could help. She said, no. I asked, "So, there's actually no one anywhere on the planet who can do anything about this, and we just have to wait forever and have no recourse?" She said, "That's right." I really did my best to keep from simply telling her to go to hell. But, polite chap that I am, I simply thanked her and hung up. So ... now what? I honestly don't think that my other senator (Boxer) or my congressman will do any more or any better. But is it worth writing to them? I'm really running out of ideas here. I will persist, but it's obvious that this particular senator's office is useless. I won't waste my time with them. Anyone have any ideas? Experiences to share?