Henry and Mei

Happy anniversary. You picked an easy day for me to remember you both by since it is my birthday.......... As you are looking forward to your next anniversary together, I am looking forward to the same date next year with my loved one.... Great to have someone to cherish

Thanks everyone.........I still cannot sleep, but at least a lot of the stress is now gone. I have been in so many competitions in my life locally and nationally from things like shooting a shotgun, golf, fishing tournaments, all kinds of racing, tennis, debating and even goose calling with my voice. What I have always learned is that you save the best for the final round. I was worried that I maybe took a chance by holding a little back in reserve........ When I filed the petition, my thoughts were simply aimed at the interview presentation. Get the VO on the right track with front loading the extra materials and at the interview, finish it off with added proof. I did not really overly consider the P2. Keeping a couple of aces in reserve for GUZ. Something new, but with punch for the bona fide relationship issue that sometimes is encountered. With all the waiting, I started to wonder, if I shouldn't have included the aces as well. Looks like we will get our chance. I really like the idea of handing the VO the passport with the notarial timeline/evolution letter folded and inside (with a couple of extra photos) and ring receipt. She will be wearing pink and her engagement ring. Had already sent the Chinese certification of the ring. Everyday, Mei would ask me if I had any good news. Each day I had to reassure her to be patient and she would be the first to know. Yesterday, was the first day I could really tell from her that she needed some good news, but I still did not have any so I had to side step the issue some. In China, the ladies really share the horror stories...and with our ailing economy, she was stressing more than she should. Besides, her younger cousin's wedding anniversary was yesterday. So I had the good news at 4:47 AM her time, so I sent her a text. To my surprise, she responded immediately. I waited about 20 minutes. Tried to call. Her line was busy. Quick text from her. Call me. She was still crying........she calls happy tears....... And yes, I saw the Chinese proverb and pot on the stove. Staying busy and keeping my mind on other things helps, but only for so long....mind can always out race the body. I have never married, so it is going to be a big adjustment for me. My friends have always told me if I got married, my home would go from being 100 percent mine to 10 percent. And Mei has always given me a hard time about how neat my place is. I tell her it is neat. I get -- No believe (always with a big smile from her). And yes, Lee I have a lot of things I have acquired over the years that now have less to little meaning and will need to go...... In a way that is a big relief also...... Besides being the most important thing I have ever done in my life, of course, it will also be the most meaningful. I cannot wait to have her with me. The joy she brings to me knows no bounds..... Good luck to us all. Good night......and thanks.

This past Monday, on May 11th when Ting received her visa, I could not take it anymore and I had to speak to someone at USCIS. I wondered through the maze to talk to a human and of course got the call center and not USCIS. And yes, I had signed up for email updates. Repeatedly, checked my online status........all the same result from the human body to the USCIS site.......pending and in review....... Today, I came home after being gone all week and low and behold. NOA2.........I realize such another small step for....Okay maybe not mankind, but another loving couple...... Envelope dated 5-13-09. NOA2 dated 5/08/2009... Hurray and we are on our way....... Good luck to us all. Henry

Thanks. That was a good read....... And I agree that the real effort and concern should be addressed at the Consulate/Embassay level, where most decisions really happen that adversely affect us, the customer. Until they finally allow petitioners the opportunity at the time of the applicants interview a chance to provide any supporting evidence to address a refusal of visa, they are still missing the boat for TRUE customer service that they mention so often. To my understanding, GUZ claims lack of space and time......... First, was not space the reason they moved into the current building. I thought they applauded themselves on a bigger facility... Time.....I guess a few minutes of their time is not available compared to days, weeks and sometimes months of the customer..... My real guess is that they do not wish to possibly deal with a confrontation or defend their decision in person in full transparency at GUZ......... I would like to think that someday we will see REAL progress in this arena.........CUSTOMER SERVICE........for all those that have come before us and those of us to follow.........

From what I have read, there are 2 problems associated with getting someone in Congress involved especially early. First is that your case can get pulled due to Congress stepping in and may add unnecessary delays from the "normal" and I use that word loosely process...... I look at so many petitions filed months ahead of mine and really wonder what they are experiencing.....right now, since I know what I am. Trying to patiently wait and let it run its natural course. Of course, how do you define natural..... Second is that most don't know they have a problem until they have a problem. And even then a lot of times the true reason for the quote problem is not properly or adequately identified, if that makes sense..... So as I wait for word, I do feel your concerns like others, but most I am sure if not all of us want to get through GUZ as quickly as possible. To have her here with us.... Good luck to us.......

I was there last year when the earthquake happened. Fortunate to be far enough away... My family and friends keep sending me emails about the disaster, which up until then I had little knowledge, since news was slow moving at first and I could not read the newspaper.... For many days I watched CCTV and was numb. My fiancee could hardly stop crying. It touched so many........the Chinese people really pulled together and you could give donations everywhere to help in the relief efforts.... Has left a permanent mark on me.......

Oh and two more thoughts while this thread brings up ideas. Back to the translators that had great translation. About half the price of the Besta. They also make different sizes of this one, since I had the chance to use them often on my first trip. Just difficult to use And while in line at ACS, one older gentleman was very bitter, since he thought he followed and played by the rules. He met her on the first trip. Married her on the second. She got a non bona fide at the interview due to the VO asking her if her husband spoke Chinese (No), when she requested a Chinese spoken interview. He was right behind me in line, so I missed the conversation at the window. My fiance is taking English class after work to be safe, but I am still thinking of asking for Chinese for her being nervous at the interview........ Why this process has to be so subjective can cause a lot of sleepless nights....

Talking about the translator is a little off thread, but I paid the same for what I had determined was the best and really shopped price to get it at 1800 yuan with extra memory chip. Asked 2600 yuan. My fiancee had the older black and white version of the Besta CD 900, I bought. Has all the bells and whistle, but only Chinese manual. Since the manual was printed nearby, I requested an English version with no success. The translator has a nice keypad with the New Oxford English dictionary version, so I was sure I was onto something, since I tried more tedious translators. And yes, she could write on it to find Chinese characters. Bottom line is the translation is really poor. Lucky, we do not need them often and I too had an ear infection The translator that requires you to key in each letter on the screen in English actually rocks in English translation. But extremely tedious and not cooperative if your spelling is not good or you make a mistake. The ones we used though left me scratching my head many times.......she had to scratch also So after a while these became toys and something to amuse ourselves with when were taking the bus or train. Good luck.

Perserverance can never be overrated especially with this process........ CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Thanks a lot for that Randy........ I was not sure if it applied to the petitioner or the applicant or both... Talking to my brother the other day, since he has vowed to never marry but is in full support of me marrying a Chinese lady, left a ringing sound in my head when he laughed about hoping the government does not know that we are brothers. Mei should stop writing.......LOL......she knows so very little of our government. Just hope she gets a good experience at GUZ...

While waiting in limbo and much more reading and researching, another one of the red flags or basic ineligibilites, which I would think would be an obvious is "someone interested in the overthrow of the government." When I read so many that are frustrated with the GUZ system and wish for some positive change, I often hear that thread from my younger brother about our political system. Sometimes even extremely. And he does not want to be one that sits back and wishes for change, so he frequently tells me of the letters he sends to Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, etc... I love my younger brother very much, but I often do not share his views. And of course, not publicly. Any system can use improvement, but I would not be at all surprised if my younger brother is on government watch lists..... With all the background checks and things, should I feel any concern? I would not know what to do if they have an issue with my younger brother. My record is spotless, so does immediate family play any part of this process???? Waiting is tougher than I have expected especially since I am generally very patient and we are now in the window of approval opportunity, but still no word......

You both made it look easy CONGRATULATIONS....

My thoughts exactly, "Great news........" When you are at the beginning of the trail, it is really nice to see couples at the Finish of the GUZ journey. Congratulations on the overcome...... Besides there is nothing happening with the K visas for the past week that we know of at either Service Center (which I am not sure is a regular occurence), so thanks for breaking the tension. Great to see some actual progress in this process. Wishing Jun a Happy Mother's Day.....

Sounds great.......we can all meet here. I have plenty of room and if someone can't drive home afterwards, I have a couple of guest rooms. Just finished feeding the calves, your son I am sure would have fun with that. I am heading off to one of our biggest canoe races in Texas called the Prelim. Basically sets up the pole position like Nascar for the Water safari. I have proms to drive for this weekend, so I am only making a token appearance....before the Big Dance in June. I have already purchased a race canoe for Mei, but if some of the wives want to learn to paddle a canoe, they can. There are lakes and rivers nearby my home. The women competition in Texas is not very deep. And my friend Howard specifically needed a woman that could cook for him. I am just the opposite and with Mei working up the corporate ladder so to speak, she really cannot cook much. She has already warned me....but I was not looking for a cook... But I am looking forward to seeing Chinatown. Have ran the Houston Marathon and remember running by it, but that is about it. Look forward to the visit and increasing my knowledge of Chinese cooking and dishes....... Okay, let us plan on doing this in the early Fall and help me coordinate with all that are interested.... Thank you..... My family, friends and neighbors cannot wait to meet Mei, but I think she will also like seeing how we Texans that have married amazing Chinese wives share our experiences and cook I like doing the BBQ thing on the outside pits..... Hope to see everyone soon.

Thank you and howdy.....noticed several Texans here and Sebastian was one of the first to give me some helpful advice..... Easy to say, I have never been so busy, but it helps right now, since Mei is not here. The recent drought cost me some cows, which has me bottle feeding calves every morning and evening. Still do a crazy canoe race called the Texas Water Safari, some 260 non-stop miles of paddling in a couple of days in June. Running my father's limo business on the weekends.....and of course, simply the grind....... But I still manage every Tuesday to play golf with my Dad in Ganado and give back most of the money I made playing in scrambles last year (won 20 out of 22 times). I have a small ranch here in Victoria that is suited for parties and get togethers like playing volleyball, shooting skeet, playing basketball, hot tubbing to name a few....... Have several strengths, but learning the Chinese language is not one of them, so I have started networking with my friends to make sure Mei has several Chinese women here to talk to and feel at home. Nothing I can do right now to prepare her for living here. Had hoped to time having my first marriage with my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and the Safari, but it looks like I did not time everything perfectly, but things will work out........ Anyway, I did not know how to get us together except throw it out there, since I see doing this is probably more helpful for our ladies than us guys....but good also for us to simply kick back and enjoy our favorite beverage and share a few stories and possibly even slideshows or videos. I have been fortunate to have traveled around the world now 4 times, but I cannot get enough of China. Never have felt so comfortable and treated so kindly and with so much respect. Many times just walking down the streets of China in so many cities, I felt like a celebrity..... and that is with spending about 3 months in China and seeing only a handful of Americans. Most of the time I would go for days with seeing another American. Still I was greeted with so many smiles and politeness.....sometimes almost mystified me.... Hope Mei can feel as good about America......

Thanks, Randy...... MS is having issues right now with my Acer computer I bought in China due to the XP version. Didn't want the bundled Vista, so they installed XP for me and now it seems that MS has blocked my COM port for my modem. So anyway, I got back yesterday and saw your reply. And once I get these glitches fixed may ask Dylan to take over the Timelines, since it is a very useful tool to have a hint what is going on timewise here and at GUZ. Really excited in a weird way I guess to get past this process although my fiancee constantly hears of our struggling economy and that few visa are getting issued. I have to assure her not to worry...... And for what I have gone through to find Mei, everything else in my life is SIMPLY easy...... But reading last night about Brokenheart, just makes me feel grateful to be in the game and fortunate that my fiance on some levels is able to understand it. Working hard to learn English and simply believe. Our only issues have been over what see feels is in my best interest in China. Although this has brought about a few differences in opinion, we both are on the same page with the same goals and undying desire....besides being best friends, we are on the same team. And when I saw someone recently write "TIC" for "This Is China", it really made me laugh, since I have heard Mei tell me this phrase a lot.... We can only feel for those forging ahead, sometimes with success and sometimes not so much, but I constantly see the need for us here to work together and also get together, if possible..... Anyway, my thoughts...... Henry

Hey, I am the eternal optimist. Heck beats the alternative. And since we have at least one common bond with obaining or trying to obtain a visa for our Chinese loved ones, how do we get together? Texas is not known for being the Friendship state for nothing. I am guessing that by the Fall, I will have my fiance here. And it looks like Randy W organized the last one in Dec. 2007/Jan 2008 in La Grange. We have a couple of ranches near there and have plenty of deer sausage........maybe something a little different for the ladies... But anyway, 2007 is much too long ago..... So help me out on how to get one of these things going. This process in many ways is stressful, so I would like to meet those that made the journey. And it seems the purview here at CFL is better than VJ. Why is that? Does going through the Guangzhou experience simply require more diligence than other Consulates? Or we just love our ladies more....

Congratulations to all the PINKERS....... And I would like to think they do not have a quota system on the number they pass. So keep the Karma going and good times flowing. Hope to follow in your wake. And Mike, as you know the many hotel prices going up during the Expo. Fortunate enough to be given a buyer's pass to attend. What an event. The woman that assisted me could not even be allowed in. But the restaurant prices did not seem to change. Good luck.

On my second trip to China, I took a 13-section clear divided folder that contained the 4.5 lbs of paperwork that I sent to VSC. Each section had documents, receipts and all the required information for the petition. I left her the labels and explained to her, her elder sister and her cousin, the contents so she could quickly access, if needed for her interview. I had hundreds of photos to chose from from the first trip, but only about 10 good ones from the family. My second trip, I had over 500 photos. Over 300 hundred downloaded fortunately to my laptop before my camera was stolen. The police were sympathetic that I had the memories, but I really wanted the photos. But that is another thing. Fortunately on this trip I also took my video camera. Now I just have to see if I can capture quality photos from video, since I lost everything from having fireworks with her 91-year old grandfather to the engagement dinner party. (I thought about asking someone here for advice on that also, but first I am going to transfer to DVD and see what I have.) So I took one of the best thoughts that I had seen on CFL for photo presentation and combined 2 photos per page on premium glossy paper pasted them into a Word document and labeled. The dates, places and names and what we were doing plus a couple of photos of us welcoming Jerry and Ling at the airport in IAH. Plus my friend Howard went to see Mei in October when I could not go to give her some things from me. So I sent a photo of Mei and his fiance. This evolution has been like my life. Not always easy. And I could share Howard's experiences, but it has taken him 3 trips/years. He has been scammed and robbed. If one thinks that finding the perfect/right one simply through emails and phone calls, I hope you are blessed. So I will spare you the details, but my friends were already well versed in what I was trying to do and were watching over my shoulder the whole time especially for SCAMMERS. The woman that actually helped me take this leap of faith to go back to China was a huge SCAMMER. It took me 4 months to discover this and my friends missed this, but my gut was telling me she was NOT REAL. Her final slip was wearing a wedding band in a photo. But I kept my mind and options open and my friends did find 4 other women that were trying to scam me. I do not know how familiar you are with CB, but I only spent one week looking and writing to women in September 2007. And for the next several months, I only wrote to those women. Thankfully, it narrowed quickly and the few remained until I went to China. A lot of work for me personally, but I wanted to finally find HER. So either you will understand this or not. But to my defense and Mei's, when I saw her photo and learned about her, I told my close friends that she was the ONE. Meeting her in person confirmed it. So I want to keep this short, since it is already long.......... I had finally become jaded here mostly due to TRUST issues and I was quickly learning, it does not change just because you are speaking to someone across the pond. So anyway, I am sure this is somewhat reflected in my emails to Mei. I did not go through each one with a fine tooth comb wondering what a VO would think. I am a person with nothing to hide, so I did not even read the emails I chose. I was just being real, open and honest to her --ALWAYS. Back to her promotion and company. That was also a real concern of mine ESPECIALLY since her bosses love her work. But Mei gave me a surprise birthday party and all of her colleagues and bosses were there. They like her brothers drank me under the table. CHEERS Also every 6 months, she takes her colleagues on a trip. This time to pick cherries. BUT YES, I ALSO HAD YOUR CONCERNS ON MY MIND. But I was there for 2 months and how much are you willing to hide. Plus, she works in the clothing industry and we traveled constantly. And in my research I had heard of third parties (mostly agencies) sometimes trying to upset the apple cart. Mostly, my concern was with ladies connected to agencies. As you may know many use agencies due to the language barriers and customs differences. Those agencies never seem to be a plus, so I mostly avoided women connected. And that took research and time as well to discover........... So I do not want to go through all that I have been through for over 20 years here and a couple of years lately. But my nerve has been struck a few times including this process, when I was questioned on basically, you should know the right person from the internet. I am sorry, I cannot without spending time with that person. But for all my efforts, I have found the ONE. Now, it is all about making IT HAPPEN!!! And I am confident it will, but I am not going to shun helpful advice from people that have gone before me on this...... I think my ducks are all in a row and I probably do not need to add any additional work to our petition, but I wanted some advice on this. And I missed my chance to talk to a VO about it in China. Thanks for your thoughts and help. Henry

You are correct, I lost my China visa stamps from my first passport for my first trip and the entry for the second trip. That was also a concern for me although I already send a premium glossy letter size photo of my passport with visa stamps in the original packet. Right now, only have exit visa stamp with basically a temp passport. About to mail in for another one... Plan to photoscan the temp before I mail in. Just not sure how much the VO reads the emails. I sent about 80. One from Mei and I for each week. I was open and upfront to Mei about my plans on my initial trip. Have my airline stubs and stayed with the family at 3 different places, since I was accepted as her husband to be especially enjoyable since I did not get much sleep playing with the kids and trying to keep up with her brother's drinking Henessey. I have been pretty much resting since doing all the work for the I-129F, but I have today off and started looking at the rest for the P3/4 phase, so it is also done. Had me looking back at the initial packet. And hey neighbor , when you are in the area, let me know. Which also reminds me that on my first trip, I lost most of my hotel receipts and I do not know where they went. I mentioned in packet that I stayed mostly in Qingdao at the Jinjiang Inn and sent the receipts that I still had.

Hello everyone. This is my first post although I have been looking at this site for several months. My friends, Jerry Davis (who recently married his Chinese fiance) and Howard Hashida, recommended this site to me. Thanks for all the resources that you have made available here. My friends both used Cherry Blossoms to help them prepare their I-129Fs, but told me to do the research, ask them questions and submit, which I did on January 16. Received NOA1 on January 21 after my return from my second trip to China to be with Mei and family for CNY. Several thoughts here so please bare with me. When I was in the Navy, I left the ship early as we soon were leaving the Gulf to see my sister in the Miss America pageant. Caught back up with the ship in Hong Kong and met a wonderful woman, but lost touch with her. So after 3 years of Howard and Jerry talking to me, they convinced me to take a leap of faith and go to China. Does it affect our case that I spoke to several women before I went to China? Actually met 3. I took 66 days. I met one in Hong Kong, Mei flew down from Qingdao to meet me in Shenzhen and one in Guangzhou. Quickly, I realized that Mei was real and the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. So I spent the last month in Qingdao, where here company promoted her to regional sales manager and for the first time in my life I bought a diamond ring and got down on one knee. She is from Yingde, so I only had a few days to get photos with the family. My return trip for the CNY and an engagement dinner included hundreds of photos. Right now, our I-129F is at VSC. Should I send more photos, emails, phone records, tax transcripts, etc. to VSC? Jerry made 3 trips and did not send additional material. Just gave his fiance the remaining documents for interview. Also my fiance, likes to call me laogong in emails. Does this look bad, since we are not married and I have chosen to go the K-1 route? Side note at a bus station terminal in Shenzhen I along with several other Americans had their passports stolen. Mine was taken when Mei and I were walking hand-in-hand on a non-crowded street with her sister in front of us. It was 2:30 PM and only a couple of hundred yards between buses. I dropped my guard and my passport, wallet and camera (valet) were stolen from my backpack. In 4 days including the weekend, my flight was leaving. I will spare the issues faced except the Chinese government charges you the same fee as a regular visa (over 900 RMB) for a 10 day exit only visa. And they do not like to call it "Stolen", but "Lost". Really enjoy China, but dealing with getting an exit visa was not a highlight. Getting another passport in about 4 hours though went smoothly.