HongKong2LA

The very best of luck and God speed to you brother. I have a good feeling about this one. Hope your able to show the wife the best side of America soon.

I hear ya Ben...they treat the reasons for our denials like they are some sort of freakin' military secret...for Christ sakes, it's simply a man and woman trying to live together, why the secrets? Makes one think they are trying to hide something. My view on using congressmen's liasons (I used two of them) is that they are just a way to tell your wife you are trying everything you can, because the congressmen's liason can't find out anything more than we can ourselves...they, just like us are helpless to the IV officers and the IV officers know it. I know how you feel about waiting almost four years on a visa, we have been stuck in this sick game for three years and seven months now. I hope you soon find success at the end of your wait. tsap seui Yeah, quite impressive how diligent they are in protecting America and us innocent little USC's from the big bad dangerous Chinese girls. They're doing a heck of a job. I tend to agree with you about the congressmen, or in my case congresswoman and senators, but I don't think it can hurt and it shows we are not afraid to shine the light of day on our petitions, which is more than I can say for the secret society of IV officers who seemingly operate with impunity and a total lack of oversight, but don't take my word for it, I'm pretty bitter these days.

Righteous bucks. Thats a hefty raise.

Thanks. We interviewed in HK. Well that was what I thought but then I could not imagine HK giving a blue for this story so I decided you must have interviewed in GUZ for some reason ... I am really amazed that they have a problem with this story... Yeah, me too! Ya know, I don't have facts but just from hearing from other people, HK is very tough.

Congratulations!

Thanks. We interviewed in HK.

Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement. I really hope and believe we will overcome it soon. I thought I had posted it at some point but I'll give you the short version of how we met. After a pretty brutal divorce and child custody battle, I needed a break and some fun in my life. I went on match.com and went on a couple of dates, nothing serious and I was thinking maybe this internet dating thing wasn't for me. Then one day out of the blue I got a wink from Chinese gal in Shenzhen. I had never even considered international dating let alone doing it in China, but she seemed very nice and her picture was pretty, so I responded to her with an email. Pretty soon we were exchanging emails everyday and making plans for me to go and visit her. After what I had been through the last couple years, I thought I could use some adventure in my life and one of my life long dreams had been to go to an Olympics at least once in my life. This was an opportunity to get a break away from all the drama in my life, check off one of my "bucket list" items and meet a nice girl all at the same time. So in August 2008 off to China I went. The plan was to meet her and if we hit it off, do traveling in China with one of the "must see's" being at least one event at the Olympics. Well, she met me at the airport in Shenzhen with three of her friends and we all piled into her friends car and headed to my hotel in Shenzhen. She didn't speak any English and I knew one of her friends had been helping translate my emails and write back to me. We spent a few days sightseeing and getting to know each other and with every passing day I was growing more certain there was no future with the gal I had gone to meet, but I had developed a friendship with Michelle, the girl that was translating for her, not a romantic thing but it was a genuine platonic friendship. So even though it wasn't going that great with the girl I went to meet, I wanted to give it every chance and we decided to go to Disneyland in Hong Kong. So off we went to HK, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel which was beautiful with a gorgeous view of HK, but from a distance. Anyway, that trip confirmed that I would not pursue a relationship any further with this gal, but I still had a great time. On the train back we agreed that it wasn't working for us and this is where the plot thickens, so after two days at D-land we head back to Shenzhen and when we get to the Lo Wu check point to cross back into the mainland they would not let me in. This was my first trip abroad and at that moment I learned what a single entry visa meant , entered in Beijing, exited in Shenzhen, visa done. The gal I was with had already gone through but they let us say goodbye across the metal rail. They told me if I wanted to return to the mainland I needed another visa and that I would have to return to HK and get the visa there. They gave me a nice little paper with the address in English of the Chinese consulate in HK. Needless to say I was lost and alone. So, I take the train back to HK island and get off at a random stop because I have no idea where I am going, how long I'm going to be there or where I'm going to stay. The only person I know in all of China that speaks English is Michelle, fortunately I had her phone number so I call her and tell her what happened and ask her if she can help me. Since she is in Shenzhen she can't really help me but she tells me she has a friend in HK who is tour guide and knows the city well. I asked her if she thought her friend could help me get around the city, help me find the consulate and so on. She says let me call her and I'll call you back. Well, she calls me back and says her friend agreed to help me and she can meet me the day at 8:00 in the morning. So, I walk a few blocks and just happen to stumble on to a hotel and am able to get a room. It's a great hotel and I get a great room with an awesome view of Victoria harbor from my room, I'm starting to think this is the coolest adventure I have ever had in my life. At 8:00am the next morning I go down to the hotel lobby, look around, our eyes meet and I ask the most beautiful girl in the world "are you Aiai?", she laughs and says yes and the rest is history. We went to the Starbucks across the street and talked until noon when she had to leave for work. We can't go to get the visa that day because there is a level 8 typhoon warning and all government offices are closed for the day. This is a Friday and my flight home is scheduled for Monday from Shenzhen and I realize I am not going to make that flight, even if I get the visa approved on Monday I won't get the visa itself until the next day which means I'm missing my flight. I extended my stay until Wednesday, rescheduled my flight out of HK and spent the next five days getting to know the love of my life. We had no trouble communicating the day to day things, where to eat, what to do, etc... and we many hours and several battery changouts on our translators telling each other our life stories. We never were apart for the rest of my time in HK. Going home was so bitter sweet, having met her so sweet but having to leave her so sad. Sorry so long but believe it or not this is the abrieviated version. Thanks again to everyone for the encouragement, it really helps. I'll update when there is news. {edit} Replaced "]" missing on a quote tag.

The questions weren't any different than any of the other questions we're used to hearing about. How did you meet? How many times has your husband come to see you? Do you have pictures? He questioned my daughter how she felt about me? He did say straight out that he didn't believe her explanation of how we met. Granted, the way we met was unexpected but still perfectly legit. The IO was a young guy, no offense to the young guys but we oldish guys know some young guys may have a greater tendency to excersize their authority if given the opportunity. I've already sent a notarized letter addressing in minute detail the time of our meeting and pointed out to him to him all of the dates can be verified by the stamps in my passport, of which they have copies of every page. Pretty hard to fake all the passport stamps. Hope that will do it. Also asked my Senator to inquire into our case, don't know if it will help but it can't hurt. The next step will be to get Marc involved. We'll see soon how it plays out.

No, nothing asked for, just the generic, "applications can be suspeneded pending additional processing" blah blah blah.... Jeff, there is simply no way to tell what they are doing. I went to ACH the day after our interview and the guy would tell me nothing except they needed some additional processing. He went into the computer and told me our case looked good, we had all the documents, and he thought that within a month or two we would get a letter from the consulate with their decision. I wish I had words to soften this blow to your emotions. From experience I realize the enormity of the feelings of loss you feel right now. All I can say is start each day with hope for the best. Be a consistant strong positive beacon of support for your lady. Even when you feel dead and completely empty inside you must find it within yourself to show a positive attitude. No matter what, just know and believe...one day we will all celebrate you and your woman's success. The damned government can delay your dreams, but they are powerless to break your will. Best of luck, buddy tsap seui Thanks for the kind words and good advice, tsap.

No, nothing asked for, just the generic, "applications can be suspeneded pending additional processing" blah blah blah....

221g...we're in AP. We think the IO for some reason known only to him, doubts how we met. I talked to Marc Ellis and after laying out our case to him, he was a little surprised at the blue too. Extremely frustrating.

Congratulations!!!

Let me be the first thenn to offer congratulations!!!

I agree it is confusing, but line 21 says "Do not count anyone twice" so even though you enter your wife on line 21-a and 21-c, you only count her once.

Good luck!

This one: http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/5/24/green_hummer.jpg OR perhaps this one? http://sorgenfrei.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/green-car2.jpg

That sucks! Do you know why they cancelled flights for almost a month? {edit} Repaired broken quote tags.

Sorry to hear about the setback. Hopefully the overcome will be smooth....and quick.

Congratulations!!!!

I thought this was a cool story. I wonder how good Kobe's Chinese is? http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010exp...ent_9804307.htm

I saw a similar article in China Daily today. Sure sounds like it's getting easier. The article states 385,000 (1Q of 2010) so far and possibly as many as 1 million by the end of this year. I never been there but have flown over it a couple times. The colors and topography are striking...at least from an airplane they are. Looks like a beautiful country... http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05...ent_9809061.htm

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations!!!

Congrats Zhou Zhou and all June interviewers! Good luck!

Good Luck!