Marc

I've changed my avatar since my fiancee is on an airplane to join me. Here is my timeline (through Moscow Embassy). 06/12/02 1st NOA (CSC) 08/21/02 2nd NOA 09/05/02 1st namecheck request 09/23/02 encoded date in MOS number 12/31/02 2nd namecheck request 01/10/03 3rd namecheck request 01/17/03 namecheck complete 02/11/03 1st interview--documents incomplete (police dept in Georgia had refused to include former married name since she never lived there under that name, later they agreed to include it because of some special incentive) 03/17/03 2nd interview 03/17/03 16:22 (Moscow time) DHL pickup at Embassy 03/18/03 16:07 (Moscow time) fiancee picked up visa

Several people in the Russian group have apparently been resubmitted for an additional namecheck after their interview. Lately in Moscow, fiancees usually receive their visas 2 to 3 days after the interview. Some fiancees have passed the first namecheck (however many months), then they were cleared, then had their interview, and then were resubmitted for an additional namecheck. It sounds like in all cases the fiancees had been married before, but the first namecheck did not include their former married name. Has anyone else heard of this? It would be perfectly in character for DOS to check only the current name, and not bother with any former names. I'm terrified this is about to happen to my fiancee. She was supposed to have her interview on 2/11 (coincidentally her birthday), but at the front office they noticed that one of her police reports did not list her former married name. So they cancelled her interview. She never lived in that region of Russia under her married name, and the police department from that region had said that since she was never registered under that name, they could not list it on the police report. Since then she has gotten a new police report with her married name listed. Never mind how. Let's just say American dollars can be useful. So she has a new interview date on 3/17. Ouch. Will this never end? Marc

Hi Eric, or as the Russians say: don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Oh, this is scary. I'm feeling so great that my fiancee received her clearance today, but everything could be dashed in a few days. Waiting, not knowing when, was horrible, but then to go through the excitement of thinking the end is in sight, and then be thrown back into the pit. I am so sorry.

Thanks, I am floating on air. People at work kept asking me what was up, I was acting so weird. Have you ever seen someone actually bumping his head on the ceiling and his feet dangling in midair? That was me today. Oh wow my head still hurts from when I banged it through the skylight. It's not brick. I'm not sure why I rated it, but Kathryn Cabral actually called me to tell me the good news. She apparently called one other person (Russian fiancee) as well. Several other people from the 1/8/03 group resubmission (Russian group) have not heard anything yet. I had a resubmission on 12/31 as well, so I'm not sure which one did the trick. I'm not quite ready to change my avatar just quite yet. I've been banging my head so long, it just doesn't feel right when I stop. The only one who can make me change my self-destructive ways is still in Russia. I'm flying there on 2/3, and staying past her birthday until 2/14 (Valentines Day). There are still several hurdles, but I promise that the day she gets off the airplane in San Francisco, I will chuck that avatar and put up a big fluffy pink one. Well, maybe I'll be too busy that day, but certainly the day after. Marc

06/17/02--1st NOA (CSC) 08/21/02--2nd NOA 09/04/02--1st namecheck submission 12/31/02--2nd namecheck submission 01/08/03--3rd namecheck submission 01/17/03--clearance 02/20/03--interview

06/17/02--1st NOA (CSC) 08/21/02--2nd NOA 09/04/02--1st namecheck submission 12/31/02--2nd namecheck submission 01/08/03--3rd namecheck submission 01/17/03--clearance 02/20/03--interview

It's a big detour to California, but I'm thinking about going. Originally I was going to try to set something up for end of Jan, but then there were all the resubmissions, and I'm still hoping things are going to happen...If they don't, I'm going to DC, no doubt about it. I'll be with my fiancee for her birthday from 2/3 to 2/14 (in Russia). If you go after that, and she doesn't have a clearance I will meet you in DC for sure. Marc

Hi David, Visa Eagle is the type of namecheck required for K applicants from China. Here is part of a telegram that Powell sent to various consulates in September. Unfortunately most interesting parts of the telegram are still classified. I can send you what I have if you PM me. Marc ------------------------------------------------- II. Non-official travel Visas Eagle name check requests Visas Eagle telegrams must be submitted for the following persons: (1) K nonimmigrant visa applicants; (2) immigrant visa applicants; and (3) applicants for refugee status. These cases may be brought to conclusion 10 working days after submission of the Visas Eagle telegram unless otherwise advised by the Department. Visas Eagle Mantis (applies to posts in China only) A Visas Eagle Mantis telegram must be submitted on Chinese applicants (only when applying at a China post) who are coming to study (other than undergraduate students under 30 years of age), teach, conduct research, engage in commercial activity, participate in an exchange program, attend meetings or conferences, or be temporarily employed or trained in a scientific or technical field on the Technology Alert List. Visas Donkey Mantis (applies to all other posts) A Visas Donkey Mantis telegram must be submitted on Chinese applicants (when applying outside of China) who are coming to study (other than undergraduate students under 30 years of age), teach, conduct research, engage in commercial activity, participate in an exchange program, attend meetings or conferences, or be temporarily employed or trained in a scientific or technical field on the Technology Alert List. The Department's response is required prior to issuance.

Oh, I just assumed it was "Mark I'm Waiting." But your fiancee's name is Kim. That is even better. Marc

Just moving this back up to the top for people that might not have seen it. Marc

The Moscow Embassy is a little different. They stopped interviewing at the beginning of August. My 2nd NOA was 8/21, 1st namecheck submission was 9/4, 2nd namecheck submission 12/31 (at my request to consulate), 3rd namecheck submission (apparently part of a big group resubmission). So, what I'm getting at is that group resubmission is clearly also for people who have not yet interviewed, but who have been in the system for a long time. Marc

Hi PJ, Looks nice. My fiancee basically just did a literal translation. We had a long conversation today about the meaning of lighting a candle for someone that is away. It has no meaning in Russian. I suspect that Silverion will have a translation that is more poetically in the spirit of the introduction. I will feel a little badly if Oksana's translation isn't used because I asked her to spend time on it. On the other hand I have spent countless hours writing and sending faxes, letters and e-mails that as far as I can tell have just been ignored. We each do what we can, and hope that everyone gets what they need. Hey, that sounds like something I've heard before: "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." Oh no, I've been corrupted! I must repeat over and over "I will work for money, this will be my money, if I don't have enough money (nobody ever does), then I will get a credit card." Hey, this is something Russia and China have in common! Ah, its too late, I'm not making sense. Good night all.

I just realized that the part of Owen's post that struck me was posted in the Russian forum, and not here. So I am reposting it here. Hope that's ok, Owen. ----------------------------------------------- This is from Owen Krout. I just had a conversation with Ms Kathryn Cabral, the Public Inquiries Division Chief at DOS. She recognized my name immediately. She was very helpful and has asked me to post the text of an email. While our conversation was focused on the problems at Guangzhou, China, the substance of what she had to say should be of interest to the Russian group also. It indicates that DOS is taking steps to solve the problem. The steps they are taking should help everyone, not just the Chinese group. Also it demonstrates that our efforts have paid off. I am convinced that this is legitimate information and that it is a sign of progress. I also agreed to encourage people not to call to check on cases for the next couple of weeks. This is because new, truly helpful steps, have been taken by DOS and by easing up on the phone calls, we will give them the manpower to work even quicker. All outstanding cases have now been resubmitted. A call to verify this may not be helpful because DOS themselves resubmitted the remaining cases instead of waiting for GZ to do so. Those cases will not show on the computer as having been resubmitted even though they have been. Therefore calling right now only ties up manpower. Since they have taken definite, positive steps and they have chosen to share information on what they are actually doing, I agree with letting them alone for a couple of weeks. They are estimating that most cases should be clear of the name check by then. Of course anybody whose name generates a “hit” in the system may have to wait for a more extensive check, but that is the point of the system. She assured me that all names are now being actively processed. The last names, my wife being one of them, were apparently entered today. Jan 10th. ***then comes the e-mail that is posted under a separate thread***

Yeah, that's my understanding, too. 2-3 weeks after resubmission. That is what Kathryn Cabral told me this morning. But she took pains to point out that this was their hope, not a committment. Older Russian clearances were resubmitted on 1/8, she told me. Marc