whatsthehaps

Yes, thats my 97 GTS , thanks 203915[/snapback] Congratulations! Thanks for the tips. I will have to tell my fiancee to start sprint training and wear sneakers! And with all that paperwork to! I will have to hold the stuff for that part then. Did you see any good hip checks? My girl is also shy and polite. I would hate to have an injury from something like that. I am also proud of your car it's a real beauty! Only <------------------------------> this much jealous!

I should be getting a couple more. I sent them out the day of this post so we will see how long it takes them to respond. Hillary was the fastest but it sounded like a cut and paste reply.

Welcome to NY! They also wanted to provide illegal aliens with health care!

Response from Hillary: Enclosed is my most recent statement on immigration reform. I hope that you will read the statement in its entirety as this is a complex issue for which there are no simple solutions. Please know that the thoughts and concerns of my constituents are very important to me and I send my thanks that you took the time to write. For updates on this and the many important issues being considered by the United States Senate, please check my website at http://clinton.senate.gov. STATEMENT OF SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON ON COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM March 8, 2006 Immigration is the lifeblood of America , a bedrock value tied to our founding and one that constantly renews the greatness of our country. America is and will always be a home for people who are willing to put in the hard work to create a better life for themselves and their families. Our immigration system is in crisis. It is estimated that we have over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States , 1.7 million of whom are children. Our current laws fail by not providing adequately for our national security. Also as a result of our broken system, many families are forced apart, unable to reunite with their spouses, parents, children, and siblings because of a shortage of visas. Our current system allows unscrupulous employers to skirt our laws and exploit undocumented workers in the name of cheap labor . As a consequence of our broken immigration system, there is a huge drain on our state social services, including financial strains on our local and state law enforcement. The situation leaves us with a lot of tough choices. We have a system that is broken and we have to find practical but fair solutions to fix it. I neither support illegal immigration nor the enactment of fruitless schemes that would penalize churches and hospitals for helping the truly needy. That will not fix the mess we are in. I support comprehensive immigration reform. That reform has to be based on: Strengthening our borders to make us safer from the threat of terrorism and using new technology to help our Border Patrol agents be more effective; Greater cross-border co-operation with our neighbors, especially Mexico , to solve the problem of illegal immigration; New enforcement laws that are both strict and fair; Harsh penalties for those who exploit undocumented workers; A fairer process for people seeking to come to America , especially for those whose families have been torn apart; A path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar for becoming a citizen. So I will support plans that meet these principles, and I will oppose one-sided solutions that simply sound tough but do little to deal with either our porous borders or the millions of families who live here. Here is my reasoning. A Nation of Immigrants and Laws Ours is a nation of immigrants. Our national identity and heritage - who we are as Americans - is shaped by our commitment to welcoming people of diverse backgrounds who come to our shores to pursue better lives for themselves and their families. We are rightfully proud of this commitment, and we are made better by those who come here to pursue the American Dream. There is no better example of our nation's rich cultural heritage and diversity than New York , and its prosperity is a testament to how our country is enriched by the contributions of immigrants. When our forefathers created this nation, they envisioned a "land of opportunity," and we must never show contempt or disdain for that vision. But ours is also a nation of laws. It is our respect for the rule of law that distinguishes the United States from many other nations and is no doubt one of the reasons people from around the world yearn to come here. Our notions of justice and fairness are revered, and it is often the pursuit of that justice that brings immigrants to our country. We betray our ideals when our laws cease to reflect these values. There are many competing voices in the immigration debate, and because our national heritage is at its heart a story of immigrants, it is often a passionate and emotional one. But as we move forward and undertake the thoughtful reform of our immigration laws, we must continue to embrace our uniquely American values of being a nation that is both welcoming to immigrants but also respectful of the law. Strengthening Our Borders Smart reform must have as an essential component a plan to strengthen our northern and southern borders. It is unconscionable to think that in a post-9/11 world we do not know precisely who is entering and exiting our country. Our homeland security requires that we know the identities of all people who cross our borders. In reforming our broken system, our efforts must be multifaceted and comprehensive. During my tenure in the Senate, I have supported efforts to increase exponentially the number of Border Patrol agents. By the end of this year, the ranks of our Border Patrol will have increased by 3,000 agents since 2001, a 30% increase. But the problem is not simply one of manpower. We also need to deploy new technology that can help our Border Patrol agents be more effective in stopping the thousands of undocumented immigrants who enter the country each day. Employing new surveillance equipment - like detection ! sensors, unmanned drones, and infrared cameras - can assist in this important work. This includes stopping the deplorable and tragic practice of human smuggling that preys on the undocumented. We must also demand that our neighbors do their part. In particular, we must have a willing partner in Mexico if we are going to stem the tide of illegal immigration into the United States . Mexico needs to be more fully engaged in this effort if we are going fix our immigration system. We must also work together to ensure that our shared, 2,000-mile-long border with Mexico and 5,000-mile border with Canada do not become gateways into the United States for terrorists. That means improving the ways in which we share intelligence and information with our neighbors. If we can succeed in securing our borders, the Department of Homeland Security will be freed to focus its resources and energies on other credible threats against our homeland. The Need for New Enforcement Laws Of course, enforcement of our immigration laws cannot start and stop at the border. We need an effective interior enforcement plan as well. In reforming our laws, we must enact strict and enforceable laws that are simultaneously effective and rationally-based. They can be neither rooted in prejudice nor play to peoples' fears. In this vein, I oppose proposals - like the Sensenbrenner Bill (H.R.4437) - that target and criminalize the undocumented and punish those who would provide them with humanitarian assistance. Among other things, our laws must go after unscrupulous employers who skirt our laws and exploit these workers in the pursuit of cheap labor. Our American values dictate that all people who put in a hard day's work should receive a prevailing wage and have a safe workplace in which to work. We must honor that. Regrettably in this struggle against illegal immigration, we have abandoned our state and local governments, leaving them to bear the burden and the cost of our failed national immigration policies. Unchecked illegal immigration strains our schools, hospitals, and local emergency services. And while the vast majority of undocumented people do not engage in criminal activity, there are those who do, putting an incredible strain on our local law enforcement agencies. For too long we have left our state and local governments to fend for themselves in this effort. They should not be made to bear this burden alone. They need the support of the federal government in dealing with illegal immigration. Of course, our goal of comprehensive immigration reform can not be achieved by simply patching up our porous borders and promoting increased law enforcement. Smart reform that is consistent with our values also requires that we find a way to couple an orderly and legal immigration system with a policy committed to keeping families together and treating all immigrants with dignity. Our laws can be both strict and fair. We should not unduly punish the overwhelming majority of immigrants who work hard, raise families, pay their taxes, and contribute to their communities. Preserving the Sanctity of the Family Although we as Americans believe strongly in the sanctity of the family, our immigration laws do not reflect this value. Growing visa backlogs often prevent legal immigrants and United States citizens from uniting with their loved ones, keeping families separated for years and in the worst cases, tearing them apart. As these family visa backlogs swell, a growing number of families find themselves having to make a difficult choice - remain separated from their loved ones for years or encourage their family members to enter the country illegally so that they can be together. To be clear, these backlogs do not just affect immigrant families - they also affect American citizens who have family members living in other countries who are also caught in this bottleneck. Any reasonable immigration reform proposal must offer relief to those would-be immigrants who have tried to play by the rules by obtaining a family visa, but who have nonetheless been unable to reunite with their spouses, parents, children, and siblings because of a shortage of visas. The Undocumented and an Earned Path to Legal Status One of the consequences of our dysfunctional immigration system has been the creation of a growing underclass made up of undocumented people. Estimates have the number of undocumented in our country at approximately 11 million people, a number that grows by the thousands each day. They are here illegally because our current system permits it. Both the undocumented and the United States are complicit in this. But we cannot continue to ignore the problem. No one benefits from the current system. The undocumented are made to live in constant fear of persecution, too afraid to come forward when they are sick or in need of help. Conversely, our national security is imperiled because we have an enormous population of people we know nothing about. It is not enough that we simply know who is entering and exiting the country; we also need to identify who is already here. Our homeland security demands it. Therefore, we must develop a system that gets the undocumented to come out of the shadows. There is not a single approach that can fix this crisis. The suggestion that enacting stricter and more enforceable deportation laws alone can solve this problem ignores reality. This will only force the undocumented deeper underground. New laws, which are both strict and fair, are certainly part of the answer, but we also need a worker program that encourages undocumented workers to come forward and identify themselves. While I categorically oppose any program that grants unconditional amnesty for illegal immigration, I do support providing undocumented workers with the opportunity to earn legal status in this country. For those who work hard, pay their taxes, continue to obey the law, and demonstrate a commitment to this country, the opportunity to eventually earn citizenship should also be available. A program such as this is not a free ride, and it certainly is not for everyone. Legal status must be earned, as it was by previous generations of immigrants who became citizens through perseverance and hard work. Respecting Our Heritage and Providing for Our Homeland Security Balancing all of these interests is not easy, but I am committed to working with my colleagues to create a comprehensive system that respects both the rule of law and our immigrant heritage and American values. As is etched on the Statue of Liberty, we must continue to welcome to our shores those who "yearn to breathe free." But we must do so with an eye towards adopting new policies that encourage orderly, safe, and legal immigration that take into account the needs of our national security. Sincerely yours, Hillary Rodham Clinton

What about using your camcorder and recording the computer screen on the messenger (in a pinch)? My messenger also has voice. Provided you have a webcamera. If you can't get the voice, I am sure they could see her type in English. Also, wouldn't letters from her hand written in English help?

I think you guys know about this site, I read something on a 001 post about people fighting. My SO calls it bbs I think. Not positive if that was the one that they were talking about on the 001 thread. I know it works her up a lot. So if some of my posts seem odd then you know who is partly responsible. A lack of sleep doesn't help either. Did I set myself up? Thanks for everyones suggestions.

I'm afraid I've dug myself a hole and was unable to get my point across without sounding biased. Sometimes I do not want to open my mouth because of cases like this, and then I find myself trying to explain myself. The events and experiences I went through are largely responsible. I feel really, really bad about it. I really did not mean to imply the whole of China was "bad". Poor wording on my part. I do like China, I enjoy my trips there, and I will have an apartment there. So I do not plan on taking my SO from her homeland and her family there. This topic has gotten way off the beaten path. I tried to emphasize certain points; unfortunately I came across as biased. I've removed the past couple posts to hopefully calm it down some. regards and apologies, Rick http://i1.tinypic.com/scfbj4.jpg

Thanks everyone. Her application form from GUZ listed her name correctly. I also thought it would be best to be consistant. I think it would be better to be consistant with the passport. I will double check the pinyin to see if it is actually one or two words. Right now this looks good so I didn't know if we should mess with things at this stage.

My SO has been online again! She is saying people are having problems filling in the middle name location on the forms. Chinese don't have middle names. So I split her first name into 2 and put the second half of her first name in the middle name spot. Does anyone see a problem with this and should we correct it for the P4 forms or keep everything the same?

Congratulations! Wow, I paid as high as $1700 for my trip from buffalo, on what I consider a bad service airline (UNITED). Although singapore fits in the 5star alliance, it was rated the #1 airline in the world a ways back. I will review alternitives.

So far, I think the cantonese food that I've had was the best. I was in shenzhen and there are many people from hong kong there. So, there are many nice cantonese restaurants owned by people from hong kong, and also are particular about the quality of the food. I am open to all suggestions though, maybe a variety would be nice. I like to eat where many of the locals like to go, I'm not into the tourist type of thing. Also maybe a good chinese seafood restaurant. I was tempted to eat those beetles. A guy at work tried them before and said they were horrible.

good suggestions, thanks. I have a couple other avatars. Maybe I will change one with each new blue thingie! I didn't get a picture with her parents while I was there. I want to do that quick when I get there before the interview. I also am going to get my brothers, sister, and parents to send her a letter in the mail as evidence that my family knows her. I also have pictures with her students and she took a picture of her and her students with our picture on the wall proving she had students after we met.

When I'm in China, I prefer the Chinese food. I don't like to be a tourist, as much as I can help it. Anyone got some great Chinese places, I'm sorry, I have not looked for posts on here regarding restaurants as yet. Thanks, Rick

This is all around good advice for anyone with a fiancee who lives alone in China. Knowing what I do now, I would definitely do things differently. Thanks for all your posts everyone, I don't know how much they will help me at this stage but hopefully they will help many others out.

It's more than just childish people here, they are selfish, mean, and jealous. My SO does not want to think about it anymore, it makes her naucious. It is the children who are good. They are nice and trustworthy.

that's a good idea, however, if she were to do that, the people where she lives will think she is strange, that there is something wrong with her and she will have no more students. I once broke a board on my friend's mom's deck that she just finished. I had the idea of flipping the board over and staining it. When I got done staining it, it was a different color (there was 2 cans of stain). His mom redid the entire deck again. I tried to make it better, but made it worse instead. I tend to way over do things. Keep things simple is better, one variable at a time. I'm optamistic, in this case, I could not believe a case could get derailed like that based on hearsay from people with obvious motives in the light of all evidence. It does, however, help me prepare. Propper, prior, planning.

She say's she can't, but she can get her students letters saying she is a good teacher. They can also call the students parents and if they don't believe her they can call the principal. She has no relationship with the school anymore and the principal is very busy, not concerned with that stuff. She also does not want to go anywhere near that place after the treatment she received.

I would make sure her daughter comes to America. I know Chinese who hated going to school there and my SO is a teacher and she hated going to school there also. Did you happen to notice what jobs the majority of women have in China? For me that would be a no brainer. The discipline part seems normal for China. The Chinese know it would be better for your SO's daughter in America with her mother, I don't buy that for a second. Her sister seems controlling. If it becomes a problem, and I would keep things on the down low regarding her sister, I would try to be friendly and considerate of the sister's ideas but be firm with getting her daughter here. Never keep a daughter away from her mother if possible. I would also not try and step between the sister because the sister could try an open woopass! I'll bet you a whole dollar she would want to come to the US given a chance.

I am pretty sure they have both our names and most likely all of my SOs information. One of my mottos is "there are no secrets in China" and that can be applied to cases like this and business. I doubt they have the case number. If I found this site a little earlier, her colleagues would have no idea who I was. Once they found out I was an American, all hell broke loose. They get extremely jealous and watch out! No one can have it better than them.

Congratulations! Thanks for the interview experience, from everyone. I learn more each time and they are very helpful! Great ideas!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Cogratulations!

hmmm... I am aware of mean/jealous sisters. Maybe you could ask your SO how she was treated by her sister when they were growing up. The people I am aware of were mean to their siblings. The stuff I heard was pretty bad. Also is the sister coming here or staying in China? I know Chinese here and they will tell you how mean and jealous they can get. I would really hate to hear that of a family though.

Thanks everyone I appreciate the posts and they are helpful! I would not be as prepared or half as far without you! We are doing everything by the book and we are both good people. I'm finding it difficult to believe that the government would ignore the evidence, police reports, etc. and go off of some letters that certain people send. Does GUZ consider the motives behind them? Do they think that the Chinese in question are sending them information so that they may help them and be good Chinese sumaritans and foreign relations advocates? Really what could they say that they can prove? Nothing! I have faith that the government would see through stuff like that. If GUZ is monitoring this site and reads these posts, then thank God, because they realize what is actually going on and what they are puting people through. These posts may also add to the evidence later if necessary. She also will not go back to that school again, she has been through a lot, and she feels like she is living in the Cultural Revolution. We also cannot be 100% sure anyone sent anything, GUZ certainly would not say. But the threats were made. All by jealous women, the guys are fine. And man are they jealous and hate her, I've seen them and met with several of her male colleagues. They do not want her to have anything better than them. That's their motive. I remember Eric! And by the way, I have had no beers, it just comes natural!!!

Exactly the advice Trigg gave me. Thus, we never raised the issue, and a third party issue never arose with GZ and she passed the interview. Here is the forum I referred to about 3rd party correspondence: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...&hl=third+party 199804[/snapback] I agree with the quiet approach. However, there are a couple things bothering me. It seems much of the keep quiet responses were directed at issues where the person "feels" that they may be harmed, they are not sure. In this case we know several things. Here is what we know: - She quit her job because of me, jealous colleagues created massive trouble. Made up stories, told lies, etc. non stop until she quit. - The prime trouble makers in question were fired from their jobs by the new principal who worked there previously, they were considered trouble makers by the principal. - The fired colleagues have angry relatives at the school. - Former male colleagues, who my SO is on good terms with, have told her how much pleasure the jealous colleagues take in making sure she never goes to the US. They will make up lies, say she is bad and a communist (there is no evidence what so ever to substantiate this, she is a good tutor with many students and is not a member so there is no record of her being a member. We also have pictures with the students and letters.). - They know our names, they know GUZ. - GUZ says to inform them immediately: 3rd Party Correspondence Dear Candle for Love Members, There are a few things you should keep in mind about third party correspondence: 1. Consular officers always consider the totality of circumstances when making a decision. 2. Consular officers are fully aware that the motivation of individuals sending us third party correspondence is often unclear. 3. If any petitioner or beneficiary feels they are being threatened or blackmailed by any outside party, they should immediately contact the Consulate with this concern. We will then take the appropriate actions to resolve the issue. QUOTE(warpedbored @ Oct 25 2005, 02:25 PM) We have two cases now in this group where the visa was denied due to third party corespondence. Overcome evidence was submitted and then visa approved only to find out when they go back to pick up the visa that there is to be additional investigation and then the case revoked and sent back to the USCIS. I find this practice very cruel. Please explain how an overcome can be submitted and approved then the rug yanked out from under thier feet when they go to get the visa. The Consulate advises that in rare cases, despite being approved initially during the interview, an applicant’s visa can then be later delayed or denied for various reasons. Applicants should then follow the instructions they are given when they are told their visa will not be available for pick-up. Once again, this is not a common occurrence, but we strongly recommend that applicants do not make any travel plans until they have the visa in hand. http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=25&t=13283 3rd party correspondence.., Will GUZ spill the beans before i'view? http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15230&hl=third+party the concensus from this post is to stay quiet An appeal sounds extemely messy and lengthy. Note that the reason for these "after thought posts" are because I want to make sure I have explained the situation well and I am slightly worried about it. (just tossing and turning right now) I tend to think what is the worst that can happen so there are no surprises. I was also planning a trip out to the interview, getting her visa, and coming home within a 2 week timeframe. I may need to rethink this idea also. I was under the impression at the time that the government would look at our evidence and be able to see through any (if any) BS. And it seems that people have been denied over the BS. What was the name of that pill again?

She does have friends still at the school. The new principal fired the troublemakers, but they have angry relatives working there. What I have seen is most people seem friendly to you but are really jealous when it comes to things they will never have, especially anything American.