sysy

How about these license plates? Mine: “My other computer is a Cray” DOS: “My other computer is a Casio”

Today, after two one hour on hold on the DOS info line, I was told my fiancée’s clearance is still pending. Then I talked to Andrew Simpkin, indeed a nice guy, and was told her case is “probably cleared last week in that big batch”. He further explained the meaning of “probably” – a state of “ready to be cleared and sent to Guangzhou”. He then said the DOS info line should now have identical information as he has. But since the system is new, the person answering the phone may not know everything. This new information is on a new computer.

I am no computer genuine, but to put case number on web is a child’s play for a basic Web administrator. But of course, GZ is just walking baby steps, only we wish they were as cute as babies

The most efficient way is to post the case numbers on GZ web site. Moscow did it, why not GZ?

I think Cable is a glorified form of Telex, or telegraph. The output still goes to printed-paper, therefore, still ends up in the boxes until someone types it into a computer. That’s how far technology has evolved in the government.

Same here. Won't believe it until visa in hand. This is what psychological torture can do to otherwise normal people.

I can donate myself to Guangzhou and finish everything in one day, guaranteed!

Hope it's not Feb 29th.

Forget it. He's the guy accusing WenHo Lee of spying. Remember the infamous "Cox report"?

"Always late, but worth the wait"

Owen and all, Please post your letter on the board, so the rest of us linguistically challenged can cut and paste on our own letters. Sir Owen, Knight of the Northern Realm, Champion of Justice and Slayer of Ignorance, Designated Royal speech writer. Perhaps it should be posted in the info section, and be categorized, say, to DOS, GZ, Whitehouse, NYT, ... The power is in the numbers! Sy

And most of all, common sense. Hmm, I forgot, computer has no common sense. Maybe the government does work like a computer after all

OK, that justifies GZ taking 5 days off, right? If I were them, I would not even sleep well...

Oh come on. If the government works as logical as a computer, we would not have had all these problems to start with...

Or ask your neighborhood policeman to key in your honey's name on his mysterious box next to the dashboard...in one minute, she comes clean... get a signature from him, and hand delivery this clearance to DOS

Oh, right, Eric. I am sure they are bitching now. "It's only the beginning, Pal", says the guy at Kansas INS office

Put that in the evidence folder. Now we are collecting their evdiences too

He will be delivering Democratic response to Bush's State of the Union. Even though he might not be concerned with this topic, he is a Chinese American and his staff might be willing to look into the issue.

It should have been two hours !

It's almost word to word to the previous letters, except that "two weeks" is now "a matter of weeks".

Dear XXXX: Assistant Secretary Maura Harty has asked us to respond to your e-mail of January 26 requesting information about the fiancée visa application of XXX XX. Let me assure you that we fully understand that delays in visa issuance are seriously complicating the lives of applicants and of those who are waiting for their arrival. Your fiancée's case has been awaiting completion of required security-related vetting through an interagency clearance process. Changes to this process made in July 2002, together with communications problems, computer issues, and vastly increased work volumes, had the effect of delaying many clearances, especially those dating from the period July to October 2002. The vetting process has been substantially improved since November. The majority of new clearance requests are now processed within a matter of weeks. We are working to clear up the older clearance cases so that the visas can be processed to conclusion. We are taking two separate, overlapping actions that should resolve the vast majority of the fiancé(e) visa clearances pending for the American Consulate General at Guangzhou. First, visa staff at Guangzhou, who recently began working overtime on weekends, have identified longstanding fiancé(e) visa clearance requests and have resubmitted those requests, including that of your fiancée. Second, we are also working with technical experts here in Washington in an attempt to find new ways to expedite the clearance process using State Department computer systems. In addition to these efforts, we have sent additional staff to Guangzhou, and are working to send more, in order to assist with the heavy volume of visa work pending there. We have also identified some longer-range steps we can take to simplify the process for handling future visa cases. The Department of State, in its visa processes, will continue to carry out scrupulously all legal and procedural requirements for the protection of the security of the United States. When Ms. XXXX's clearance process is concluded, the Consulate will notify her. I hope and trust that the outcome will be favorable, and will not be delayed much longer. We hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Lisa Piascik Director Office of Public and Diplomatic Liaison Visa Services

how about "To romanticize it, the resub is put in a bottle and sent to the sea"?

yes, let's put them on the info section, starting from that 10 year old yellowish paper from Guangzhou

Or whoever has the information; please post on CUC, so at least the subscribers can get it. Thanks.

Or, we may have to apply a K3 from Chinese government by then