Phnom

My wife had her interview on March 23rd and passed. This was exactly 18 months to the day that I first initiated her papers. I hope all my efforts with DOS, Marty Harty and U.S. Represenatives were the reason I was shaken loose. She waited about two hours for the interview but it only took about 2 minutes. Just looked at a few pictures and asked my occupation and "goodbye". The one thing I was light on and a little nervous about was the support documents. I held back most of my assets and had about 25,000 of income listed. It was never questioned. We are leaving for Eugene. Oregon on April 7th. It would be nice if any members in Oregon would like to email us and maybe we could get together at some time. This is a wonderful forum full of advice and knowledge. Thank You everyone for your support and good wishes. Take Care Fred

I was shocked to recieve the packet and interview scheduled for March 23rd exactly 18 months from the date of the intial acknowledgement receipt. I hope I have everything in order and a couple of questions. Should I write a cover letter with a synopsis of our relationship? I figure on doing the medical in the same week as the interview. The interview is thursday and figure on arriving Monday. That would give me three days for completion. I imagine the visa if successful would not be available until the following Monday. Does this sound right for the timeline? I have no idea why it took so long and have no idea if my beating on the different doors helped or not. The bottom line is the journy is close to a end baring any unforseen difficulties. My heart goes out to those that are still in limbo and have waited so long in the system. I think Lian and Larry and Paula must be close behind me. As a side note my very good friend was just succesful with a 130 just a few days short of eight months. He is a microsoft engineer and she has Masters degree from a Chinese university. Neither were ever married. I guess this kind of relationship must be a "piece of cake" and fly through. Go figure! This is a wonderful forum and support group. Thanks for all the information.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice. I will heed tigress and Franks advice and try that route. Larry, I wrote a professional letter to Marta Harty. I was just venting frustration here. I am frustrated by the way our government branches are being administrated. FEMA is a good example. There are people having interviews that submitted initial paperwork after we received GUZ numbers. I am happy for them but it doesn't make sense. Its like their throwing darts and picking the file. I am sure there is a few that need extra evaluation but there is no distinct or logical pattern to the processing. I will keep trying. Thanks Again

As I enter into my 17th month the hope to bring my wife to America is growing dim. I have been in Name check Hell since July 8th 2005. I have had replies from DOS, Marta Harty, Shanghai information, Guangzhou and now my U.S. Represenative that it is impossible to do anything as all inquiry comes up in security clearance and interview will be scheduled upon completion. There is no other information. You would think that they would have a data base that would check your case and find out where the file is or why the process is taking so long. I wonder if the file is just lost. There is nothing in our backgrounds that is out of the ordinary. It just makes you feel helpless with no answers. I am thinking it may never happen. I know there are a few even longer. My lawyer said it has to be delayed around 3 years before I could file a Mandimus. Sorry to complain in a open forum but after paying at least 5 million in corporate and personal taxes over the years and 4 years as a military veteran I could expect more from my government.

We have reviewed your wife's case at U.S. Consulate in Gunagzhou and found that it is still pending completion of required security related vetting by Security and Law Enforcement agencies. We are aware of and regret the many inconveniences this has caused you and your family. We assure you that we are working with the relevant agencies to complete your wife's case as quickly as possible. We are also working with technical experts here in Washington in an attempt to find new ways to expedite the clearance process. The consulate will notify your wife once processing continues on her case. We hope and trust that the outcome will not be delayed much longer. The key words here are (once the process continues). Why would it be stopped? Should I write back to Marta Harty's office and ask that question. I actually recieved this letter on December 7th and just read it over very carefully and this sentence provoked more thought and questions. I have been in this process since September 13th 2004 and in Guangzhou Security Check since July 8th 2005. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Thank You in advance

Thanks for the replys. This residence permit thing has me a little concerned. I never heard of it. I put my residence down when I went through customs and that is it. I also wonder on reading some of these threads like the Man fron Shenzen over a year in Namecheck and just now wondering about the time. I am going to Fax GUZ today and see if I get a reply. I think I have been in Namecheck since early July 05. I corresponded with my lawyer today and she said the time limit is about normal. "Yea Right" You can do the DD on these threads and see where some of us are being screwed over royally. Sorry to turn a Thank You into a prolonged ramble but I am sitting boiling mad over my treatment.

I am living in Nanning with my wife and presently have a double entry 90 day each entry. My first entry is up January 17th. Do I actually have to leave the country or is there a way around this? If I go to Hong Kong or Hanoi and return will that suffice? I would appreciate any helpful information. I am now on my 470 day and not a glimmer of hope. If I go to Hong Kong I was thinking of returning through Guangzhou and attending the American Citizen program on Friday afternoon and discussing my situation. Any thoughts on this. I just noticed one of the lucky couples whizzed through in 204 days. How can a old man and a middle age librarian be screwed over so bad by bureaucracy. I know there are a few others hurting by this situation also. It can't be that hard to at least do a follow up on a extended file at let the petioner know where they stand.

Is it possible to find out where in the Name Check process you are? I am now into my 16th month since the start of my 130 and 6th month in Name Check. I have been waiting this out in China but will be forced to return to the states soon to take care of personal business. I would not want to fly back and a week later something positive happens. Any Ideas or is this impossible? Done the DOS, Shanghai, Marty Harty and nothing.

...turning yellow from age..... Sad, but somehow I believe you... It would be nice if we could plan ahead, but it seems we often are not afforded that luxury. I wish I could be there in China right now....for that, I'm sure you are very grateful.... 174558[/snapback] Sha, You are really knowledgeable about the system. You must have done some serious due diligence. It might be a good part time job when you case is all said and done. "Just Kidding", I think.

Yes, agreed. We are in the unfortunate position of being virtually helpless during much of the Visa process. It's important to know your advocates and use them when needed. It's just a pisser that there is even less that we can do during the untouchable "security, namecheck, background check, blah, blah, blah," is going on. However, there is a very important timestamp that occurs when involving DOS or other government officials in that they are accountable to show results. It's a sad fact that US attempts to reduce immigration by using heartbreaking and hurtful delay tactics. You are doing the right thing....Good luck... 174364[/snapback] I am sorry that Maura Harty was not able to help you with your situation. I know in Phil's case he was over 9 months at NVC and mine was over 12 months. It looks like yours is 7 months if I read your timeline right. My only impression is that maybe that amount of time wasn't at the point yet of thinking it was an emergency or even falling through the cracks yet. We can only speculate at what length of time she will think she has to act. That is only my opinion. I didn't like mine at the 7 month point either. I know that all of us here at CFL think it is way too long but maybe she doesn't look at cases like we do. I hope it can work out of NVC very soon. Hang in there. Larry 174377[/snapback] I am in China living with my wife and will be forced to return home in January to take care of some business. I was hoping for a January interview but that seems out of the question. If it happened in February I could stay someway. My whole process is 15 months and maybe 7 in GUZ is lengthy but not out of the question. It seems long when you see most skating through under a year. I don't have to tell you this with your long wait. I looked at my initial paperwork and its turning yellow from age. Ha!

Marty Hartys office replied promptly to my request for some assistance in the GUZ Namecheck deadlock. It was the same tune, "The case is still in Pre Interview Security clearance". They tried but nothing has changed. GUZ # was issued on May 10th 2005. I just don't think there is anything that can be done. I am glad to see Larry finally was removed from his deadlock. There are good people in the Marty Harty office. They did say that they were in the process of changing the Namecheck procedures to speed things up.

Has anyone received January Interview notice? I was hoping for something to finally happen. I have tried Marta Harty, Congressman and feel like its a impossible task and we have disappeared from the system

Are the Interview Appointments usually released in the first two weeks of previous month for the following month?

I am living in Nanning with my wife and thinking of going to Guangzhou to visit the Friday American Citizens time when you can talk to a Consulate employee. I have heard good reports on these contacts and thinking of discussing my Name Check problem with a Consulate employee. I was entered into Name Check by GUZ in early July. I realize that it is probably in the FBI area where it is stalled but hoping I could talk them into a follow up to try and break my paperwork loose. I will be entering into the 15th month if I go after the holidays. Any Thoughts?

This is very frustrating when you are in Namecheck and its just dead water. Enter Name Check early July and nothing but silence. My wifes last name is Chen which probably isn't helping. I call GUZ Shanghai prepaid once a week and they just check the computer and state "No Interview Scheduled yet". There is a ray of hope as the Police Department in Nanning called for two copies of her marriage license. Could that have something to do with the Name Check? If it was maybe the process is coming closer to the end.