hayuesen

Hi Alex, I too was given the runaround by my lawyer, which led to at least 6 months in delays and a lot of misery on both ends of the Pacific. Actually, this is what led me to CFL. I guess I can say that one good thing that came of it. Try to hang in there though, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will be picking up my SO at JFK tomorrow at 2:30PM. My lawyer has not contacted me since December of last year, advising there was nothing she could do to expedite a process which she advised would take "2-3 months" I have decided not to try and get a refund of my money because it would not be worth the time and effort. Instead, once my SO arrives and is safely in the States, I will file complaints with the bar association and the immigration lawyers association. It is criminal what these people will do to get your money and then scr%w you. Our best wishes are with the both of you. - Jon

You can also try zhaopin.com. Although I havent really looked at it since I left China

Hey gang, Regarding tix, Dan got hers for @6000 RMB for a one way from Guangzhou to Beijing to JFK. The price seemed reasonable and that way the only time Dan has to change planes is in China. Plus JFK is the POE where you can get the 3-month work authorization. It is a long drive for me to get her, but it seems like it reduces the chances of anything going wrong. Friday cant get here soon enough!

Thanks everyone! I am wondering if getting your Senator involved helps in this final stage because they figure you wouldnt have done so if it was a fraudulant case. The interview seemed so perfunctory, I just wonder if that was a result of the letters sent by my Senator's office several months ago. Any idea if this might be true? - Jon

All, First of all, thank you all for your help information and support. It has been invaluable to both of us. Heres the lowdown: Dan goes to the consulate armed to the teeth with every possible bit of documentation under the sun. She arrives at 7:45AM on the 30th to find a long line already formed. She waits and waits and waits. At 11:30 she is told to go to lunch and to come back at 1PM. She comes back and waits and waits and waits with no chairs to sit in. One woman mildly complains and gets yelled at by a guard. At around 3 PM, she is advised to go to number 11 (interviewer? window? I'm not clear on this). The interviewer is a pleasant man in his thirties. He asks her if she speaks English. She responds "Only a little" He proceeds in Chinese. He asks if I speak Chinese. She advises I do very well. She asks if he wants to see my degrees. He does not. He asks how we met. How long I lived in China. If I am in China or the States now. Finally he asks to see a copy of my passport and tax forms. He then advises her she passed and gives her the pink slip. Overall, the interview seemed very much decided before it even began. Thats about all the info I have. My main concern was her lack of English, but given our history, this did not appear to be an issue. Once again, thanks to all. Dan will go scouting for plane tickets tomorrow.

Yeah, I used FEDEX to send all my documents to my SO in Hainan and they did a good job as well. Sent out from New Hampshire on Wednesday, in her hands by Monday morning. Good online tracking. You get what you pay for. 5 pounds of documents. $95

Once I set up the recurring transfer account, I do it by phone...just punch in the amount I want sent and it is all done. The flat rate is $14.

"The way I do it is we had them set up an account at the Bank of China and the account number" Sorry this should read "and got the account number" If they are not tech-savvy, hopefully the bank tellers can help them

The way I do it is we had them set up an account at the Bank of China and the account number and we set up a recurring international wire transfer at our bank in the US. It sometimes takes the bank personnel at the bank in China awhile to figure it out, but once it is, it is very convenient and takes only 2-3 days to get the money from here to there.

For the ability to communicate, I mentioned in my second letter of intent to marry that I was originally a Chinese Linguist for the government then provided a notarized list of all my degrees and certificates. The list included BA in Chinese from University of Hawaii with 4.0GPA DD-214 stating I was a Chinese Linguist Diploma in Chinese from the Defense Language Institute Certificate of Mandarin-English Translation from Language Line Univeristy Assessment score from Language Line Univeristy of 94% in Chinese, the final paragraph stating: "It should be noted that Mr Harwood has attained a level of proficiency in Chinese few English-speaking natives ever achieve" Certificate of Advanced Chinese studies from Hainan Univeristy Certificate of Intermediate Chinese Studies from Brigham Young Univeristy Certificate of Immersion Studies from Beijing International Studies Center Certificate of Intermediate Chinese Studies from the Joint Language Center A notarized letter in Chinese and English from a Taiwanese friend attesting to my abilities in Mandarin and the genuine nature of Dan and I's relationship I then included copies of all the documents with corresponding serial numbers to those on the list. I dont see how they would need further evidence than this, but you never know

Congratulations to both of you! We are up for our interview on the 30th and will be sure to let everyone know how it goes. It will be a little different from most, I imagine, as Dan doesnt speak English. Anyone have any experience with this? - Jon

Hey, Our date is for the 30th. See my PM for info on the P4 docs. - Jon

Congratulations to both of you! Best of luck with your new life!

OK, I am now officially freaking out. My SO's interview is on the 30th and I am FEDEXing her every possible piece of paperwork notarized, embossed, incorporated with my DNA, etc... My question is: Am I also supposed to supply a letter of intent to marry? Or does she bring one to sign in front of the VO? I cant even sleep at night. This is awful! - ZAO GAO!!!!! - Jon

I have to admit, I really dont think of China as a "Communist" country. As a matter of fact, I dont think anyplace has been really communist for more than a year or two. I think China has basically had the same kind of fuedalist government it has had for thousands of years. China has a couple things working against it: A huge population problem and ensuing pollution problem. Beyond this, however, is a tradition which completely quashes any original thinking and enforces a rigid hierarchy which forbids any true delegation of authority. This is the true obstacle which will keep China from fulfilling its potential. I worked at a Chinese company as the only westerner, conducting all business in Mandarin and it was maddening to see how all decisions, no matter how small, ultimately would be made by the president. This is what the younger generations need to overcome to reach for the stars. If they do manage to get their way around that....watch out world.