Kris-n-Rachel

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Congratulations!

Before I get into the description of our experience at GUZ, let me first say how appreciative I am, to all of the members at CFL that helped guide us over the last few months. I started out at VJ, eventually found my way here, and without the support and help from the members of these two fine sites, Rachel and I would never have gotten this far. This process is HARD! It's complex! It's nerve-wracking! It's emotionally, and sometimes financially, draining! Yet, I knew that it could be done. And, one step at a time, you all have helped us through it. THANK YOU!!! Well, it's not what we had hoped for, but we feel confident in the eventual outcome. It does, however, throw a monkey wrench into our long range planning. Even though we had planned for Rachel and Jenny to come to the US after Chinese New Year, the buying of plane tickets, shipping possessions, divesting the business, etc., will have to wait a little while longer. It's not a disaster, but the emotional drain continues... So, this is what our 221(g) requirement is: Photos of the principal applicant with his or her child (or children) from infancy until now. Identify all persons appearing in the photo as well as the time and location where it was taken. I kick myself in the butt, and take full responsibility, for this oversight. I focused SO MUCH on the relationship and financial documentation, that I completely blew this one. Rachel took a photo album to the interview, and it would have been so easy to include these pictures! Arrggghhhh!!!! Here's what happened, last week: We got into Guangzhou last Sunday evening. Took the bus (highly recommended) from the airport to Citic Plaza, where we were met by our contact from the Concordia. I had planned to stay at the Yang's, but Rachel got concerned (she read, or heard something, I don't know) at the last minute, so we switched. It was a fine place to stay, and the owners were very nice and helpful. Monday morning I had an appointment for ACS, and got some documents notarized. (Is there anyone else here, that thinks like I do, that the Consulate is like a frickin' three ring circus?) In the afternoon, I went back for ACH, and had a nice chat with a VO. Unfortunately, any issues with photos never came up. I met a clueless guy from Boston, that was there to ask some general visa questions, and I gave him the address for CFL and VJ. I hope that he checked them out and gets help. (Are you reading this, Gary? Sorry about the 'clueless' remark!) Tuesday was the interview, and we got into line at about 7:30 am. (the circus feeling intensifies) I stayed with the girls until the last checkpoint going up to the 4th floor, then kissed them both, and watched them take the escalator. I walked back to the hotel, checked email, and made a couple of posts here, but I could only withstand about 45 minutes of pacing in the room. I walked back to the 7-11, next to Police Station, got a drink, and plopped down in a chair out front. At 11 am, Rachel gave me a text message, asking where I was. Before I could reply, we saw each other, and I ran down to meet them. As I approached, Rachel pulled out the Blue Paper, and my heart sank! We immediately walked back to the hotel, while Rachel described to me what had happened inside: They went through all of the up-front processing, without a hitch. As they were waiting for their number to be called, Rachel noticed that almost all interviewees were leaving with Blue papers. The number is called, and they go to a window with a young American man. Rachel: Good morning vo: Good morning. You speak english? R: Yes, I do. vo: Good. When did you meet your Fiancee? R: In September of 2004. vo: Oh, he was married then, right? R: Yes. We met at the place I was working at then. He was a customer. vo: What job was that? R: xxxx xxx vo: He worked at xxxx xxx?! (confusion) R: No No. He worked at xxxxx xxxxx. He worked in Suzhou for more than 4 years. vo: What was his job there? R: xxxxx. But he left 1 year ago. vo: What job does he have now? R: Same job, but in the US. The company name has changed. vo: Did you bring pictures today? R: Yes. (gives him our photo album) vo: (looking through the album) Do you have pictures of you and your daughter, when she was a baby? R: Yes, but I don't have them with me. vo: (takes a blue sheet) You are fine, your fiancee is fine, but you need to send photos of you and your daughter, when she was a baby. R: (takes the paper) Thank you. And that, was that. I am so proud of Rachel, taking the entire interview in English! Ta fei chang cong ming! I'm proud of Jenny too, but they didn't ask her a single question! As soon as we got back to the hotel, we called the airline and changed our flights for that afternoon, and quickly packed and departed. On high hopes, we had scheduled to stay in Guangzhou until Friday, to wait for the passports to be delivered, and sightsee. After getting the Blue Slip, we didn't have the heart for sightseeing, and we had work to do, in Suzhou. We arrived back home on tuesday evening, and got right to work, pulling out pictures, scanning them, and putting 15 of them into photo sleeves. We mailed the packet to Guangzhou on wednesday afternoon, by EMS. The packet was delivered on Thursday. Now, we wait! All in all, I think it went pretty well. Although we didn't get the pink, we are able to provide them with exactly what they want. On a side note, my sister works for the DOS Foreign Service, and although it's been a few years since she was a Consular Officer, she feels that we've done well, and this will be easy for us to overcome and be approved. Just the same, we'll feel much relief when Rachel goes back to Guangzhou and gets the visa's.

Thanks Kyle. We didn't sleep too bad last night, but I stayed up late, tweaking the "Kitchen Sink"! That dang case must weigh 15 pounds... My Guangzhou Gallery pic 1 My Guangzhou Gallery pic 2 Rachel and Jenny are at the interview now. We're going for the PINK!

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone. I'm leaving in a few hours, and will provide a complete report of the interview, as soon as I can. Take care! Kris

Disney will have better success in Shanghai, I think. Heck, I'll go! Sounds like a practical woman, to me.

The way it looks, we won't be able to meet anyone from the November group. We'll be long gone, with PINK in our hands! (I'm holding onto the hope that the VO's will be in a good mood, since the day after our interview is Veterans Day, a consulate holiday!) Actually, I feel very confident in the paperwork package, that we've put together. With both, the support from the folks on CFL, and the vast amount of information available in the forums, the help has been of immeasurable value. And for that, I don't have enough Thank You's. And so, Kyle, Squirty, and Smokiessky, I wish you, and your loved ones, the very best of luck and safe journeys. Wish that Rachel, and I, could have met up with you all. Enjoy China, while you're there! (I lived in Suzhou for nearly five years, and miss it so badly that it hurts) Kris

"The November Interview Group".....we are a rare breed! And we shall succeed!

Yes, indeedy! Keeping my fingers crossed, for that! Congratulations, Jin01!!!

Randy and Cai Xia, This is the best news! Congratulations!

seeker2k, I hope that I can be of help. I know that this is a stressful time, for you, but try to relax (easier said, than done, I know!) Have you received the letter from the NVC, yet? That letter will contain the GUZ number, for your case. It will look like this: GUZ 2009######. You should be receiving this letter, soon. The GUZ number will also appear on the P3 letter, that will be sent to your Fiance'. Something to consider, as far as the situation at GUZ, the Consulate was closed October 1-6 (National Day), and on October 12 (Columbus Day). They have likely been slowed down some, by these recent closures.

We sent ours in mid-September. Have our interview next month. Good luck!

We're on for November 10th. Our flights arrive, in Guangzhou, on November 8. I'm a nervous wreck, regardless of what I may have said, to the contrary!

That has to be the fastest reply, that I have ever witnessed! Thank you, Dan!

Firstly, thank you to all of the members that have answered my recent questions, regarding my fiance's upcoming interview in Guangzhou. I'm very grateful for the peace of mind, that you've helped me maintain! The most recent reference that I can find, for the GIV-24, is a posting from August of 2008. My fiance's P4 did not include the form, nor is it mentioned in the letter to K1 applicants, which lists the official forms and documents, to bring to the interview. Is this form still recommended to take to the interview? Does anyone have recent knowledge of the GIV-24's demise? Thank you all, for the experience and insights!

Thank you for the reply, dnoblett. So, this is an optional procedure? Do the personnel also attach the photos to the DS-156 / DS-157 Forms, or must we do it first?

Hello everyone. I've read through so many helpful topics here, and have read through the Guangzhou Consulate website, but the answer to this question is escaping me. There are references in several posts, that the DS-156 and/or the DS-157 Forms are needed at the medical exam. Yet, I can find no mention of this requirement in the information from the Consulate, or the excellent "Kitchen Sink" posts. Are these Forms required at the Exam? And if so, how many copies? My Fiancee will have her Exam at the end of this month, in Shanghai, and I hope that someone could clarify this, for us. Maybe I have misread something? Maybe missed something? Maybe I'm just burnt out....

Hi Randy. I decided to come over to CFL, and look around. I have discovered that VJ is good, but CFL is the place with some real 'meaty info'. Anyway, thanks for your detailed reply to my message, at VJ. Rachel's interview is next month, and I'm carefully crafting a statement, for her to take to the consulate. After reading about your situation, and reviewing the red flag topics posted here at CFL, I know that this could be an important document to present. Again, thank you for sharing your experience, and I wish you and Cai Xia the very best of luck. Hang in there, and GO HOOSIERS! Kris-n-Rachel

Thank you very much, David! Kris-n-Rachel

So, for my fiance, and her daughter, we need to pay fees totaling USD $262.00. Am I correct?

Hello everyone. This is my first post at Candle for Love, and I hope that I have put it in the right place! My fiance has a beautiful 15 yo daughter, that will accompany us to the USA, when we get our visa. Our question is simple: do we need to pay one, or two, K1 fees at the Citic Bank, before the interview? Her interview will be next month, and she wants to get this paid for, soon. TIA, for your advice. Kris-n-Rachel