Maui & China

Aloha Mari, It was Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs. But I believe she retired in Feb 2008. The current Assistant Secretary is Janice L Jacobs. I don't have an e-mail address for her, but if I find it I'll pass it on.

Yirong, Ken and family, Our deepest sympathies to you and your family from our Ohana.

Haven't posted in a long time, been busy with the kids and all. But unlike the majority who have not had good luck with their elected representatives, we had good results. I must add I did try our congressman and junior Senator first with little result. But after e-mailing Senator Inouye's office, positive things happened. When we were waiting for the K1 visa interview and stuck in namecheck for 8 months I e-mailed him. He contacted the FBI & 6 weeks later, namecheck done and interview granted! In the latest debacle, after 18-1/2 months from filing AOS, 10 months after passing the AOS interview and stuck in yet another namecheck, I e-mailed him again. Within 2 weeks of my e-mail, his immigration aide phoned me. She still remembered our case from before, said she couldn't promise anything but would make inquiries on our behalf. In 6 weeks we get the welcome letter and 5 days after that the Greencards. She even called to make sure we got them and everything was correct. So did it help to contact Senator Inouye? Sure did, Did it help that he is the 3rd ranking Senator in length of service & is the chair of the Defense Subcommittee, member of the Appropriations committee and member of the Homeland Security subcommittee? Maybe. Also it doesn't hurt that Hawaii is a small state, and the Senator might be more willing to help their constituient than a Senator from California who has millions of people they represent. So keep that in mind when you write to your representatives. I tried our other two officials first who are virtually unknown and got nowhere. Then contacted someone higher on the food chain and we finally get the greencard, coincidence? By the way, my e-mail was not a passionate plea for justice or how unfair life was. I tried to stick to the facts and listed reasons why the lack of a greencard was denying my wife and stepdaughter some goverment services or benefits (ie certain jobs or financial considerations). Just my style but it seemed to work. Good luck and keep trying.

We are having problems getting medical coverage for her daughter. They added my wife to the policy without a SSN #. They sid just give it to them once we receive the #. But they would not cover step-children. They cover domestic partners, but unless I had adoption papers they would not add her to the policy. This from a company that is supposed to be one of the top 5 places to work in Hawaii based on a survey of Hawaii Human Resorce Depts. I am now looking for a new job that will cover her.

Like Gene we had the divorce document which stated she had full custody of her daughter. But we did not have a letter from her ex. I was a little concerned, but was afraid he would hold out for some cash if we asked him for a letter. So we took a chance and GZ never asked us for anything. If you think you can get it without any problems I would definitely do so.

Jesse, It took us about 18.5 months to finally get the visa. 7 months at CSC waitng for NOA2 and another 8 months in the second name check mess. We're convinced that without the help of my Senator, we would still be waiting. We had our down moments also...the crying, the doubts, the swearing, the "why are we being singled out" lamenting. But it has just meant in the end that life is much sweeter for us. During that time, I tried to get to China as often as my vacation allowed. To maximize my time there, I would try to go during US holidays so it would add an extra day to my visit and when I got back, go to work the next day. Thank goodness I don't suffer from jet lag too bad. In between visits we would talk over the phone, internet, Skype, e-mail, cards, letters and gift packages. Anything to maintain contact. It's hard to wait. It will affect everything you do or say and consume all your thoughts. I was incredibly moody at work. My coworkers were probably the next happiest people besides us when she finally got here. We'll all tell you to be patient, to hang in there. At times you'll feel like quitting and moving to China. But persist in this great and woderful adventure. It is incredibly and wonderfully worth it!! Just keep an eye on your progress, try not to dwell on how slow it is going. Keep reading CFL, prepare for the next steps and a new life here. If you think you need to contact your Congressman or Senators, because your case is going beyond the norm (for GZ that is) then do so. Maybe you'll get lucky like us and get an elected official who really did get involved and followed through to the end. Just remember, no matter how bad you have it, there is somebody who is probably worse off. When we were waiting in the interview line, we met a woman on her 3rd interview for a CR1. She had been waiting to join her husband for almost 3 years and had only seen him once during that time. We saw her at the GZ post office 2 days later to pick up her visa!!! So stand tall and keep the faith.

Richard, We're very, very happy to hear the good news!! We know what you've gone thru with the name check snafu, but now get here over here so you can really begin your life. Once again, Congratulations!!

Jesse, I have an e-mail address for the FBI. FBINNCP@ic.fbi.gov Attn: Chief, National Name Check Program Section Records Management Division I can't seem to find the phone number or fax number for them, but it was useless anyway. The woman I spoke with over the phone was extremely rude and told me to fax our request. After faxing the request and waiting 3 months I called her again and she replied that they don't answer faxes anymore, just e-mail it. She was a most unpleasant person!! It took the FBI almost 7 months to answer my e-mail request on status of the second name check and why it was taking so long. By that time, my fiancee had already had the interview, flew to Maui and been married. So don't look for any quick response from that branch of government either.

I find myself agreeing with Mari and Frank. Sit tight right now and wait. In our case, after waiting 8 months in second name check and no end in sight, I contacted one of my Senator's. He personaly wrote to the FBI and asked them to expedite. It seemed to work, because within 2 weeks we had second name check approval. Then GZ put us at the back of the interview line, with an estimate of September for the interview, and this was after 17 months of waiting already. A politely written letter to Maura Harty's offices asking for assistance got us an earlier interview. Try to hang in there. It's easy to tell someone to be patient. But we have all gone through this and made it, and you will too. It's all worth it in the end!!

Still here also. Only able to check in for a short time and read some posts. Our marriage certificate got delayed and sent in the AOS forms with a week to spare. Now we can sit back and wait because Honolulu is processing AOS cases in 1-1/2 to 2 years. Ling is slowly coming to like Maui. We are too much like a village to her. But she has adapted well. A neighbor just had a garage sale and when she discovered you could sell all your unused items she was all fired up to sell all my things. She said the first thing to go would be me! (I think she was joking.) Her daughter is loving it though and just started school today. She has really taken to my black lab too, to the surprise of us all. OK, maybe she's not my lab anymore as the dog follows her everywhere. We are expecting in Late Jan/Feb so am busy with the house and getting it all ready for baby. Then I'll really be busy!! Life is great and couldn't be any better. Now if I could only only hide a few of my things before they get sold...

Mari, Congratulations to you and Qisheng!! We are so very much happy for you. Our cases seemed to follow each other and now we both have successes to celebrate!! May your life together be filled with happiness. Let the party begin!! Jon, Ling and Jun

Try asking a few questions at a time, then work your way up. That's what we did, because she said I made her nervous too. I tried to be act like a mean VO in preparation if she got a tough one. I think we started getting serious about the questions about 3 weeks before the interview. I also mixed up the order of the questions and phrased the same ones differently just so she wouldn't get into rote memorization, that she really understood what the question was about. It was difficult but it all paid off in the end. Just remind her to relax. Easier said than done, but it really does help.

Thanks to all. Right now we are trying to pack for our flight back this weekend. Trying to convince her that she does not need all those clothes!! At least she could leave those winter clothes behind. Not having much luck though. Guess I'll be doing my impersonation of a Sherpa through the airports!!

Most of the congressional delegation have offices in major towns within their districts. CALL - don't mail or email. Ask for their immigration laision and speak directly to that person. I really don't know why it was held up, and I didn't want to press for an answer at the time. Was just happy to have that sorry episode behind us. Once we get back to Maui, I'll give the aide a call and try to find out. I agree with Don, talk to a live person if you can. Inouye's aide really was helpful and kept involved the entire time. She even contacted GZ after the FBI cleared the name check, just to follow up. All without my asking. One other thing I just remembered. I always wrote thank you notes to all the people I contacted and kep them informed of our progress.

In our case after 6 months I contacted the FBI which was a big waste of time. Still haven't received a reply from them and they were incredibly rude. Spoke with immigration assistants for my Congressman and one of my Senator's. Senator Inouye's assistant was extremely kind and understanding. She was able to determine it was the FBI holding up our case and kept contacting them every 2 weeks for a status update. Unfortunately nothing was happening. After 8 months I e-mailed the Senator directly and asked for his personal assistance. Amazingly he read my e-mail and wrote to the FBI himself, asking them to expedite our case. 2 weeks later, the name check was finished. I'm trying to get a copy of the e-mail so I can frame it!! So keep contacting your political reps. Don't be afraid to ask for some personal involvement on your behalf. It probably helped that I am from a small state. But I also tried to keep my correspondance logical, reasoned and not too emotional. Tried to appeal to their sense of fair play, and get them on our side. Good luck and keep fighting. Never give up hope.

As promised here is interview questions. It took place on May 16, 2005. My MM was selected first for the interview at approximately 1:50pm. This was for a K1/K2 visa, and she went with her 5 year old daughter. Went to window #9. The VO was very handsome caucasian gentleman. MM: Good afternoon. VO: Good afternoon. Give me your passport please. MM: OK, here you are. May I put all the other stuff on the counter? VO: Yes. He reads the passports and says the names. MM: Yes. VO: Have you been to other countries? MM: Yes, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. VO: Oh, good. Who applied for your visa? MM: My fiance:****** VO: What is his job? MM: He is a ****** VO: What company? MM: ******* VO: Good, can you give me his employment letter? MM: Sorry, pardon? (She could not understand the question) VO: Asks for the employment letter in Chinese. MM: Sorry I'm a little nervous. (She told me her legs were shaking!) MM: Wait a moment please. Finds letter, hands it over and says "Your Chinese is good." VO: Don't be nervous, very simple. (VO gives a big smile.) VO: Very good. (My employment letter was paper clipped to my I-134, bank statement, and last 3 paycheck stubs.) VO: Where did you meet your fiance? MM: We meet on the internet. VO: Can you show me e-mails? MM: Of course. Hands over e-mails, yahoo messages. Gives an explanation of the different dates on the e-mails and messages. VO: How many times did you meet? MM: 5 times. VO: Oh, 5 times? MM: Yes 5 times, and he is waiting for me outside. VO: Can you give me his passport to see? MM: Yes, here is his passport and ticket. (My return plane ticket.) VO: Oh, very good. Do you have photos? MM: Yes. Gives him 3 photo albums. VO: Asks a few questions about who is in photos, where some of them were taken. MM: Answers and also asks the VO if he has ever been to Shenzhen? VO: Yes, but only for a short time. VO: Gives back photos and the rest of the evidence. Hands her the passed letter (It is more lavender than pink in my opinion) At this point, my MM's recollection of events gets a little hazy as she has become very excited and did not hear to clearly what the VO had to say. VO: Go to Shamian Post Office to fill out the form. MM: Thank you very much. Have a nice day. Thank you very much. VO: You are welcome. She had some tears in her eyes as she leaves. The other ladies waiting say congratulations. She thanks them and says good luck to everyone. Some Observations. This VO did not have a translator standing by. Apparently his Chinese is good. We met a few other ladies who passed and had the same VO and he spoke Chinese with them also. All questions were given quickly. The entire interview was probably 2-3 minutes, because she found me at Blenz just after 2:00pm. She felt the questions were easy because I had forced her to practice. She had all the info in a clear expandible folder that was labled for easy reference. The individual info (ie. phone bills, e-mails, letters, etc. was in its own clear binding, that went into the folder.) This made it easy for her to get the info the VO requested. GZ lost the DS-230 form (Gee 10 months and that's all they lost! ) So we had to fill it out again in the morning when she turned in the P4 documents. We had made a copy but left it behind in Shenzhen!! So tell your MM to bring copies of everything with her. It's a pain and a heavy load, but it would have been a stress reducer if we had our copy with us. Take an umbrella. It was very hot standing in line. Plus it rained while we waited for the 1:00pm and then it got very, very hot and humid!! B) The VO was always smiling. He was very handsome. He has a 2 year old daughter according to another woman who was interviewed. All the ladies wanted him to be their interviewer. My MM kept eye contact with the VO throughout the interview. (Actually she just kept looking at his nose. Something she learned from 001.) She says to tell all your MM's to relax. Take it easy, no worry if your love is true. After the interview you register at the Shamian Post Office to have the passport delivered or picked up in person. It took 2 days after the interview before it was ready to be picked up. But to pick it up in person you must go to a different post office off of Shamian Island. About 10 minutes walking distance from the Shamian Hotel where we stayed. You can pick-up at 9:00am. We got there at 9:05 and there was a line already. You take a number and relax. They examine the China ID card closely to match the name and number to the passport package. Make sure the passport(s) are correct and your done!! We were out of there by 9:50pm. Hope all this info helps someone and good luck to you all.

My MM had her interview yesterday and passed with no problems. Was the first person interviewed at 1pm and it went very quickly. She was a little nervous, but the VO told her to take it easy, this was simple. When she showed up at Blenz at 2pm, my first thought was we had another problem again. But this time it was good news. Things have been really rushed this past month. We got a lot of help from Hawaii's Senator Daniel Inouye, my Congressman Ed Case, and Maura Harty and her office. After waiting for 564 days, we are all drained from the experience. We are in the process of getting her and her daughter tickets to Hawaii, so only a few more days in China. Thanks to all the members of CFL with their advice and support, and yes I will contribute to the CFL fund once I get back to Maui. I will post the actual interview questions and some observations at a later date. Until then, Mahalo Nui Loa!!

Nooneufo, Finally got the name check cleared up with the help of a letter by my Senator to the FBI asking them to expedite. So after 8 months the FBI decided that she was not a security risk. But it took a letter from a US Senator to get them off their butts! Not sure when the clearance actually took place. GZ says recently, DOS says one date, and the Senator's office was told by the FBI a completely different date. Here is what GZ wrote back to my Senator and Congressman: XXXXX name checks have only recently been completed so it is relatively low in the interview queue. We estimate that XXXX and her daughter might be scheduled for an interview in the August-September time frame. This estimate is based on our ability to handle a massive visa case backlog with unavoidable resource constraints. This estimate in no way constitutes a guarantee on our part. Approximately one month prior to the interview we will send a letter which will indicate the exact date and time of the visa appointment. So we are on the bottom of the list and get to wait even more. Not sure how this will be reflected on your charts. Right now I'm hoping Mari gets good news soon. She's been waiting even longer than us now!

Hank, Maybe you could include my case too. Started 16+ months ago. Namecheck still pending after 8-1/2 months. Only peek into CFL once in a while now because its too depressing watching everyone else rolling along.

It has been determined by more then one member that it is better to replace toilet seat then to try and clean it! Get the Japanese toilet seat with the built in washer/dryer and seat warmer. Great for those cold winter mornings.

Congratulations Jason and Jun.

Happy Birthday Mark!! Now you're only a few years from joining AARP!! Great pictures of Elizabeth by the way. Doesn't Bea make her trip to the US soon?

I just used the Adjusted Gross Income from my income tax return.

Congratulations and best wishes for your new life together!!

Thanks for the interview info and Congrats!!