AZwolfman

Specifically to the people who have received an email with the infamous "on hold" paragraph. This is something we must not be kept in the dark about.

It might be a good idea to know who all the "on hold" people are. These people need to band together and get this fixed. We need to know what is this hold and how to fix it. Rfsun has posted a letter that he is drafting. Probably all the "On hold" people should send their version of the final form to their contacts. I really believe the other cases are sitting in a pile in GZ just waiting for the employees to get to processing process them.

Again, thanks again to everybody for their support and well-wishes. Welcome back, HAPPY Texan!

WAHOOOOOO!!

I will build them an up-to-date computer

Mick, you said this so well. We have gone through the same as you and Li. We pick each other up when the other is losing hope.

I wish I could, but I will take a few days off work after she arrives instead. She is a very thrifty person who knows the $$ that I would have spent on plane ticket for me can be used to buy things after she is here. If I had known the wait was going to be so long (I last saw her in October 2001), I would have made some visits already with empty suitcases.

Thank you eveyone! I have just awakened from some much-needed sleep (something I have missed a lot over the past 2 days), to see all your congratulations. The wolf still cries, but now they are cries of happiness tears as I read your posts. Yeah Don, my spirits are up - indescribable this feeling. All of you still waiting - you just have no idea how great this feeling until it happens to you. Tom and Jen, Bob, Dave, I'm sure I speak for all the BH gang when I say that we are proud to pave the way so you, the newbies, and future couples won't have to endure the same long waiting. I think as soon as GZ gets all us BH'ers out of their hair, they will schedule your interviews and you will get visas same day - like in the good 'ole days. manhattanmoon, may I have a drink of whatever that is? Guess what, Dave? (snicker, snicker) I just moved into our new house 6 weeks ago, and it came already pre-cleaned! So it not very dirty yet. . Jie will help me pick out furniture after she arrives. House kind of empty now except for lots of boxes. Eric, don't you worry, I still have the toilet seat issue to contend with. Darn it Tony, don't you have EMS yet? You been waiting long time. You may be next. SBS, it is so nice to meet such a couple so much in love. I have corresponded with each of you, and I know you feel so strongly for each other. Love will prevail, and you will be together soon, and we really look forward to meeting the two of you in person. Now we got to find out what this 'hold' thing is all about and get it fixed. R2D2, you just made me realize. . . I got boxes and boxes of dishes (in storage for years) to wash. Thank God they invented something that I didn't have at the time the dishes were put into storage - the automatic dishwasher! Again, thank you all. I realize how many friends I have here and so happy to finally join the 'old-timers' like Mark, Eric, Mick, Owen, Happy Texan, Ski, and Jon in the CFL graduation class of '03. Should have visa next Thursday, and then we will see what flights are available. We are hoping for 2nd week in April.

Charlotte, thank you so much for this post. I encourage all the ladies to read it. You are all coming to America to be with your love. But the American Dream is a worthwhile bonus that, as Charlotte knows, you will only come to truly know and appreciate after you are here.

Great news, Joeseph! The visa stream is flowing!

Nah. . . . I just sent her the credit card and let her do it! wish I could, but I have to stay here and work so I can qualify on the support affidavit.

Atta boy Jim! It won't be long now.

Yes George, you have some of their attention. So keep after them. I still believe all the Black Hole cases are in a big pile (getting smaller) in GZ, just waiting on the workers to get to work on them. Keep stirring up that pile, George. This is further evidence that some of them are more confused than we are about our cases. It seems that different personnel and different parts of BCIS know different things about your case. This is hard for me to understand, since they all are supposedly working together and accessing the same computer network.

Conratulations Robert!! I hope your dream lady is in your arms soon. Then you will realize it is not a dream. It is real, man. It is finally happening.

Finally we have received EMS and my fiancée will pick up visa next week in GZ. For one who has waited so long and seemingly been ignored by his government, this feeling is indescribable. We were sitting on the bottom of the pile. Someone must have strirred up the pile. We wondered if we were lost or forgotten and if GZ would EVER get to us. If they got to us, they will get to yours. I think all the BH visas are coming soon. Just keep stirring that pile at GZ. Hmmm...... 'ya think I need to call President Bush and tell him to disregard that fax I sent him Wednesday? . . . Wouldn't want him to worry needlessly now, would we? uh-oh! ....did anyone see where I put that '10 things to do before . . . ' list? Don't worry folks, the wolfman is not gone; he is just in a better mood these days!

THIS WEBSITE might help you.

Interviewed and received visa on same day? Now this is the way it is supposed to work. Maybe things are returning to the pre-Aug 2002 normality. Way to go!!

We need to find out more information on this "hold" thing.

My fiancee's interview lasted less than 5 minutes; very informal. They only asked 2 questions: When did you meet, and what are you doing now? Do not sweat the interview.

Unless you live nearby, probably email is the best chance. It seems to be very hard to get through by phone these days. Do not worry about your approval expiring. Most all of them expire before GZ schedules the interview. GZ routinely grants extensions to the approval expiration dates. But go ahead and ask them. It may be a way of getting a response to your email. Combine as many questions as you have into one email. Make your sentences short and simple. The person reading probably does not have that well a grasp of the English language.

Just yesterday, I sent faxes, including my timeline chart, to them and also to K. Cabral and President Bush. No, I doubt that just my faxes alone will get a response. But if they receive MANY, MANY faxes and emails from many of us, there may be a response. In our government we only have strength in numbers. There are almost 400 of us here now, and I suspect more than half are still waiting. We have and will continue to effect the course of our government. But remember, if you want to be more than just a case number - MAKE YOUR CASE PERSONAL.

But DO make note of these form letters in your time line chart that you will use as you discuss your case with various officers.

I received this same letter, almost word for word, back in late January.

This has been mentioned before. . . . but if you want to talk to someone at CA, you need to give them a reason to talk to you. Don't just say, "I'm calling to check on......" the way you would with the DOS 1225 line. Very briefly explain why you need to talk to them, and if possible why you need to talk to a specific person at CA. You stand a better chance of a callback from a CA officer if you have something unique to ask or discuss. DOS line seems to be slow in getting information, and inconsistent depending on whom you talk to.

Consular Affairs 1-202-647-7948 FAX 202-647-0341 You can find this and other numbers in the Links and Resources section, and in the Contact List section. Use the pull down menu at bottom right of this page.