freedream

Hi Randy W, Yes, this is an interesting problem. I thought that by providing my e-mail address on (each and every) piece of paper that I supplied to the gov't through the whole process (the whole process) and my husband's e-mail addy as well, that they could easily verify either of them...i"m not sure how to verify the e-mail addy. I guess I could try to add it into the fax to them and send a fax every day and drive them crazy (or tick them off) ? Thanks for the support appreciate it To discuss case specifics they need a verified email address. That is an real nightmare they are putting you through. They show no understanding whatsoever of the difficulties they can cause.

Thanks for your info Rob and Jin, I called DOS too-- they said, still in admin processing and they had no entry about anything to do with the visa being issued. Strange. I also took down what I think was my husband's EMS # and tried tracking it online-- NOTHING. No information on that number. Either he didn't understand and it's the wrong # or they haven't even touched it or processed it yet. ? I will fax them-- that's a last-ditch effort. However, they said very specifically on the e-mail to both of us that we can "fax them" but they will MAIL to us the response. Now, that doesn't make much sense if we're trying to get an answer about the status of the visa processing so my husband can know what to do and how to budget his time and money for this stay in GUZ if he has to go home to his home city to get the mail response OR I have to wait for it to get here (could be one month) to the US. How silly is that? I even gave them a local Guangzhou phone number they can call my husband at. So, I'll try the fax method...that's the only avenue we have left. Can he go to the window at GUZ and ask them directly? He says they won't talk to him even if he tries. ? Thanks for the tip! I asked him to be patient-- he says "no more money and waste my time-- have to go back to work and help my parents". Not much I can do at this point-- because I'm in the U.S.

Well everyone, It's been 11 days in GUZ...expensive hotel rates and bored to death. No sign of a VISA. Post office told him very clear he CANNOT pick up on SAT, SUN or MON. (although others have told me they were able). The inconsistencies of this visa process could drive anybody crazy. Tuesday, we both e-mailed the consulate. Their response to both of us was: sorry we cannot determine you are the petitioner or beneficiary by the e-mail you are using (WHY DON'T THEY HAVE MY HUSBAND'S AND MINE email ADDY IN HIS CASE FILE???? I INCLUDED IT EVERYWHERE from the time we applied for this CR-1) THey told us that we can FAX them and then they can Send the answer BY MAIL. HOW ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS IS THAT??? So, let the person stay there 2 weeks...no idea what is going on-- and perhaps even the mail is lost-- NO FEEDBACK and NO communication avenue he can use to make sure about this? SO, he's expected to just wait there INDEFINITELY????? 1 MONTH PERHAPS? 3 MONTHS? 6 MONTHS? THE REST OF HIS LIFE AND NO RESPONSE AND NO COMMUNICATION AND NO WAY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? COME ON UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IMMIGRATION UNIT IN GUZ!!!!! BE REALISTIC FOR DOG SAKES!!!!! And HE HAS TO LEAVE GUZ!!!! HE cannot continue to stay there. So, he's said he's buying a train ticket tomorrow and leaving after he checks for the visa one more time. that's it. I don't know what to do. I'm not in GUZ so I can't go to the US Citizen window to get info or complain. So, as a Chinese citizen and applicant for CR-1 he has NO way to communicate with the GUZ to find the status of that damn post office delivery? Any suggestions or info....anything you've heard will be beneficial. I even tried calling their silly phone system (where nobody has a clue about anything) and they won't take either of my credit cards online to pay for it. I'm absolutely disappointed in the way our gov't is running their operation over there so difficult!! THey're not only making it difficult for HIM, they're making it difficult for ME. Thanks sorry for the dump.

We did.. we both e-mailed them yesterday. haven't heard back yet. Some others (above) have said it took them 10 and 11 days. Perhaps it's possible. I don't know. I'm just waiting for the next surprise around the next corner-- you never know what it will be. SO you got a blue paper in the mail when you went to pick up your visa at the post office? BUMMER! That is always a possbility for us I suppose. Anything is possible I believe now. But he's already been through 2 blues. So I thought they wouldn't jack us around and do this to us esp. by letting him come all the way here to get his visa...and then slapping him with a blue. let's hope not. Keeping my fingers crossed. :0

Hi! Did it take you 10 days from pink slip to getting the visa? He's been there 10 days now and still no visa. :0 So it's better to find others have had same experience! I wonder if it can also indicate a problem at the last minute. ? Thanks again! We stayed at one of Mr. Yang's 2 bedroom apartment for 10 days last year March. Mr. Yang is humble, respectful and trustworthy. Give him a call and tell him what you need.

Really? Yes, today is his 10th day and others are telling him: "there's something wrong-- that's not natural and so he's almost given up. I hope there's no problem. That system of mailing it to the post office is ridiculous! Why can't they just have them pick it up at the window? They must have a good reason! Thanks!

Hi, thanks for the help! 1. you are right! He found out before he went...so when he got there, he found another family who has hotels in the same bldg. as Mr. Yang. 2. Really he can get it on Sat, Sun? They told him they're closed and don't deliver visas to the post office on Sat, Sun or Mon?? The people at the post office told him clearly he can only pick it up Tuesday-Friday. ?? 3. I don't know-- good question! I think he gave it to me-- I am not totally sure it's an "EMS #" though? ex He's there 10 days now as of today and he still doesn't have it. I can't fax out for some reason...we both e-mailed GUZ,but that's about it. I can't fax them....have some problem with my VOIP and faxing out. Thanks for the great tips!

Rob and Jin thanks! You gave some really helpful info... My husband turned in the congrats letter on Monday and not until Tuesday was he able to pick up his pink letter. Then he was told to wait. So, I'm wondering if that's why he still hasn't received it at the post office...? The timing...? (he was at the consulate at about 2-3 p.m. on Monday).

Hello again all-- I know I'm power posting-- this site is a great place for suggestions and info-- excellent so thanks to everyone who's giving a hand! My husband was told still NO visa today (Friday in China) and that now he'll have to wait until Tuesday or later!! They said they don't work on Sat, Sun or MON!! (who knows how long). HOw the woman who was approved for a visa the same day he picked up his pink slip got her visa at the post office yesterday-- and my husband is still waiting-- I can't understand but I do know that through this process we've seen so much inconsistency it's incredible...that's the only thing I can say is it's the usual inconsistencies at work?? SO, we're thinking of having MR. YANG (or other trustworthy services?) to pick up his visa and having him mail it to my husband so my husband can go home. Hotel prices are SUCKING the money we'd be spending on a plane ticket all up-- and both of us are tight on money...can't see spending another $200 USD on hotel stays and still guarantees. Anyone know how to use Mr. Yang's services and how it works, how safe it is... I'd love to hear people's experiences with him or other reliable, trustworthy services to have the visa picked up from the post office and mailed to him. Any ideas or suggestions or experience stories? how long it takes? HOw much it costs? THanks so much!!!!

That was my next question everyone--- HE went again this morning... STILL NO VISA and now they told him maybe TUESDAY or LATER because they don't work on Sat, Sun or MON!!! My husband is so tired of waiting in a hotel room (during the CAnton business fair when hotel prices have skyrocketed-- he's sitting there twiddling his thumbs without a phone or internet so we can't even talk...and it's just plain frustraing. We're considering having it mailed to him now....MR YANG can do that? I wonder if it's too late because we didn't notify the VO or anyone who he submitted the papers to. ?? Does anyone know how that process works??? Gosh, this last minute waiting feels like pins and needles-- or like being dragged over hot coals slowly and really slowly.... Thanks a bunch everyone!! cam

HEY HOMERSIMPSONS CONGRATS!!!!! SO YOU GOT THE VISA???? AWESOME!! HOw long did it take when you came back to get it?

Well, hubby is getting worried that some odds are against him...he handed the "congrats your immigrant visa is approved" letter and his passport in on Monday-- Tuesday came back for the pink paper and was told to wait for the visa to arrive in the mail-- But he told me last night he's feeling a little discouraged (mind you we've been through 2 blue papers after the interview in July) and it's been a long CR-1 road for us (1.5 years to the tee to this point). So, he said he feels something isn't right. He also said that a lady who had her interview that day (lilblimp was that your wife?) got her pink slip and then yesterday picked up her visa at the post office! So, especially since that lady got her visa in the mail, he's feeling "why didn't mine come in"? I told him not to worry-- that it might just take a day longer or so...not to worry. But...we both can't help feel that it isn't over until it's over and that anything could happen for the worse! haha I read somewhere (here at CFL)? that someone who got a pink slip and waited for the visa to arrive at post office then received a blue slip in lieu of a visa! Well, that would be cruel and unusual if that happened...but... hopefully that's not the case (since we've already been through the blue papers, etc., etc.).

Thanks everyone!

THanks! I guess we could say that the CR-1 is for diehards? Or should we say, "masochists"? hhaha

congratulations great job!!!! Enjoy togetherness!!!

wow! Congratulations!!!

HE brought in his "call-in letter" which was a "congratulations" and he submitted it yesterday. THey told him to come back Tues for the "pink slip" (he referred to it as the "red paper" because he doesn't know the word for "pink" haha Now he's just waiting for his visa to arrive at the post office! What a strange way to give a visa to someone!! Why do they risk losing peoples' visas via mail instead of just giving it at the window? WEll, I'm not going to complain too much-- he's getting his visa finally!!!! First filed our CR-1 application April15, 2007. 1.5 years almost to the tee to when he receives his visa.

Thank you everyone for the helpful hints! My husband is staying in a pretty nice hotel now (Home Inns GDH Inn)-- but it's price is going to be hiking up this week and he's waiting for his visa to come to the post office (very strange process they have). He'll go today and look for another cheaper hotel. So, I"ll give him all of this info. I really appreciate your input!!! Thanks again!

CONGRATULATIONS!

I wouldn't worry-- seems they can ask for just about anything that tickles their fancy and though they have their reasons (usually nothing to worry about), it may not be obvious to us at first...and YES it feels like "hair splitting"! THey probably just want to understand and verify your living situation in the context of your relationship (that you indeed live and work in China and that you're honest about your stuff)... maybe because it's not that common. It's probably just something like that. Don't worry. Just focus (you already did I think) on answering the questions or providing a diligent statement (if appropriate) and/or sending them whatever they need/asking for-- try to send nothing less and nothing more. Put some thought into it before you send it-- make sure it's all there and that's all you can do (other than inquire from time to time). I would probably wait a few more weeks or a month. THey say several months...but usually it won't take that long-- but if you tick them off (who knows)? So...it's okay to inquire within a reasonable amount of time out but try not to be rocking the boat too soon. Let it work its course. Don't worry! Everything will probably be just fine! Good luck to you!!!

Hello everyone, I know there are (some) things posted about hotels...but all I saw was mainly info on the Westin and the Yang's place. Does anyone know where Chinese people might stay that is cheap (given the trade fair is going on and hotel prices are soaring and/or they're all booked)? It must be near the TRAIN station AND near the CONSULATE... And CHEAP. Does anyone have any access to local peoples' info? (where a CHinese would stay with those things in mind)? Any help is appreciated!!! Anyone's wife or husband can help me (I can't read Chinese) go to the places on the internet for CHinese people that would help them find a place like this? THanks so much!!!

It is a good thing I asked. I was going to have him buy this ticket through Canada... I think a direct flight is more attractive at this point-- worth a few extra bucks. Thanks much for the info! appreciate it much http://geo.international.gc.ca/asia/china/.../default-en.asp

Well, I'm glad I asked I think just paying about 100 bucks more to go straight from PEK to SFO is well worth it. thanks for the invaluable advice! http://geo.international.gc.ca/asia/china/.../default-en.asp

wow, sounds like it haha. For $75-$80 more he can fly straight through to SFO. Probably worth the extra hundred or so bucks. Thank You for the reply! If going through customs in Canada, he may need a transit visa for Canada. Check also to make sure that US Immigration can handle his visa type at that location. Other than that, once he passes through customs, it's just as if he's taking a US domestic flight. But it may just be more complicated than it's worth.

Hello all, I found a pretty cheap flight coming from PEK to SFO but it stops in Vancouver, Canada. I understand since it'll be his first port of entry outside China, that he'll have to clear US customs and immigration in Canada then. Does anyone know about this? Is it a BAD IDEA to do that? Should I just have him fly direct to SFO from PEK? (no stopovers in other places)? any experience with this or suggestions will be helpful...