NicolaNSam

Well as most of you know, Nicola's grandparents failed two times last year. We kept trying and sometimes they were treated bad, sometimes ripped off (by people waiting outside), but on their third try they had both passed. Last night Nicola's parents called and said BOTH have been approved. They were asked how long Nicola has been in America. Do we have a baby together. How long do they want to stay. and finally, Nicola's dad passed over both of his parents passports showing they visited us for two months and came back as promised. I hope everyone has this much success but remember its the one that fails the most that wins out eventually! Drinks on me!

I really can't say for sure what the method is but with as many people as they deal with everyday I don't think there is a process. If they had one VO per 3 people each day okay then they can look at things and ask questions and prepare for the interview the day before but its just too many people and I think its all gut feelings and whatever dudes. Maybe they will give them the visa next interview maybe they won't. Maybe they don't check anything and maybe they do. We do know that its a 100% sure they cannot get a visa without trying again. We also know that its 100% sure that it doesn't hurt them if they go back again and again they could care less if you failed before. That's just how I look at it. Keep going back in line and let them tell you no till the one day all the moons line up in the universe and they stop being A$$es about it. I also forgot to say the furniture factory that I invited to come to America for a business visa failed SO many times. He has been trying to get his business visa for the last 5 years while his twin brother had his visa years ago. They just kept telling him no. He tried at least 10 times and finally he got it. Its expensive but don't give up.

I will keep all the numbers accurate on the frontpage so people can see how little assets and income they had. The things I change will be replaced by **** Hope this helps some people: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Grandmother Grandfather Name: Chen *** Name: D.O.B.: **-**-1936 DOB: **-**-1928 Passport No: ***** Passport No: Chinese ID No:** Chinese ID No:** Strong Ties to China PROPERTY OWNED AND FULLY PAID FOR: 1)120.6 Sq Meter Land and Building: Two story, five bedroom, 3.5 bathroom house located in ***, Zhongshan. China Government ID#***** (See Attachment 1 for Notarized Document) 2)74 Sq Meter Land and Building: Two bedroom one bathroom apartment China Government ID#*** (See Attachment 2 for Notarized Document) 3)25 Sq Meter Land and Building: Previously used for their bakery. Currently rented out to a tenant. China Government ID#*** (See Attachment 3 for Notarized Document) 4)182.25 Sq Meter Land: Located in ***, Shiqi. Built a six dorm apartment complex on 2-6-05 individually rented out to a clothing factory for their employees stay. China Government ID#****(See Attachment 4 for Notarized Document) SOURCES OF INCOME: 1)850 RMB Per Month: Rental of their apartment (See Attachment 2) 2)350 RMB Per Month: Rental of store (See Attachment 3) 3)720 RMB Per Month: Total Rental of six apartments (See Attachment 4 for land) 4)820 RMB Per Month: Average income from Grocery Store owned and operated by Chen **** (See Attachment 5 For Current Business License) (See Attachments 6&7 for Photos of Store) 5)500 RMB Per Month: Average Income from commodities sold (including fish, corn, rice, pumpkins, and other vegetables) on 250 SQ Meters of rented land operated by MR.**** (See Attachments 8-11 for Photos of MR.***) 6)680 RMB Per Month: Chen *** Retirement Pension for life from working at previous company for more than 20 years. (See Attachment 12&13) 7)770 RMB Per Month: MR.**** Retirement Pension for life from working at a previous company for more than 26 years (See Attachment 14&15) FAMILY TIES IN CHINA 1)Six Grandchildren (See photo from Attachment 16&17) 2)Five Children (See photo from Attachment 16&17) 3)Chen *** has three step brothers and one step sister living in Guangzhou 4)MR*** has five brothers and one sister living in Zhongshan $5,200 CURRENT MONEY IN JOINT BANK ACCOUNTS AS OF 4-6-2005 1)1,000 USD 2)21,750 RMB ($2633.17 USD) 3)12,511 HKD ($1563.88 USD) --------------------------------------------------------------------- That's all the front page consisted of. Please remember the income and rental numbers were estimates and only their retirement numbers were fixed. Also, each asset they owned like their 5 bedroom house were listeds but no estimated value was given because the value of their homes were meager. I think the 6 apartments cost around $7,000 to built, the house is worth about $12,000 because they built it themselves, the store is also worth very little but we listed every single thing they owned just to show clearly every strong tie they have. Please also notice the bottom where the two of them had a total savings of $5,200. That's $2,600 a person. I also listed every damn member of their family as you can see. I think they had a total net worth of under $50,000 but again as everything was listed and organized it filled up a whole page. I also organized all the notirized documents that we got from the government and wrote on the top right hand corner Attachment 1, Attachment 2, that way they were easily refrenced.

I agree with your questioning this deeper... I don't see multiple attempts as improving the cause.. just a timing issue, like what age your at, etc... I have known some who just don't get the tourist visa, but their older parents do... I was thinking of NicolaNSam's experience. If I recall, his in-laws tried three times before they got their visas. I don't know whether it was persistence or additional documentation that did the trick. I have read of others who were intially denied only to get their visas after several more attempts. Again, I don't know if it was persistence or documentaion, or the color of the VO's socks that tipped the scales. 125067[/snapback] I'm very sorry to reply so late to this Frank, Your absolutely right in saying the more times you try the better chance. They don't even look at anything you provide them. Nicola's grandparents are old old old and they really didn't have much assets or money but they got their visa through persistence and maybe a little more orginization on my part the last time they were interviewed. We knew it would be hardest for her grandparents to visit us so we tried for them first. We are now going to try for Nicola's parents. I guess this is a long overdue story but I just didn't want to relive it before. Her grandparents failed twice before with little questions asked. First time they asked how long Nicola lived in the U.S. and they said a year...Denied. That was it! Nothing else looked at nothing. The second time They where asked their income and both work but they first mentioned they both have retirements for life (Like less than $100 a month) and before they could finish their sentence and explain their income from their jobs.....DENIED! It was VERY aggravating and nothing was looked at. We called our lawyer and she called the consolate a million times with no reply. I asked if we could sue the consolate for letting other people in that had less assets and family and she said we "Could" sue them but nothing would come of it and it would be a waste of money. The consolate finally sent a letter saying they really really took time looking at their documents during the interviews (BS MAJOR BS) and that the officer saw that they didn't have enough assets or strong ties linking them to China. Well, lets talk about the successful interview. We got to China this time for the interview. I made a really really organized front page for their documents and linked assets with paper work (If anyone wants I still have that frontpage and can post it if you guys want to see it, If I post it now this Post will be too long.) They swear that the VO didn't look at a thing I prepared but if she even glanced at it for two seconds it showed a lot of organized thingies that i'm sure they like to see. We got there early early probably an hour before anyone else. I waited in line with them and was told I couldn't go inside. I had previously escorted a factory owner I dealt with during his interview and told the guards I can go in. They kept saying I can't and I kept saying I can. I told them I have done it before and they said the rules must have changed. When I escorted the factory last time I had asked the consolate if I could and they had said that it was okay and if I had problems ask the guards to come inside and verify it so we told the guards to verify it. They told us to step aside and they would be back. an hour early and everyone was passing us up. We waited about 30 mins and they came back saying everyone inside said I can't be there for the interveiw but he insisted that they are old and I keep pushing to be there because I said they have hearing problems. I think the guard just misunderstood me but I didn't argue. He said I could go inside with them. So, in line we waited like cattle. Guards were very impatient with people and it was HOT. Once inside I handed them the paperwork to be assigned a VO line number and they got yelled at for turning in english documents when they don't speak english. I was standing behind them and explained that I filled everything out correctly and they appologized and gave us a window number. I think this is very important because if your SO's family doesn't speak english it seems they would make them go back outside and fill the form out in Chinese which is fair because If I wasn't there God knows who outside incorrectly filled the forms out in English for them. So we wait in line for their interview and my heart is pounding. We finally get up to the window and the girl interviewing us was def in a good mood. The girl in front of us was a manager of a company selling shower heads. She wanted to go to America for a show. She didn't seem to have much documents and she was the sterio typcial reject. Young, and probably single and didn't own the company and for God sakes it was a shower head factory! They gave her the visa. There were two people behind us. A professor from Guilin coincidentally going to Baton Rouge LA to study and he got his visa, and a girl that was managing a bedroom factory who got her visa. So as a side note yes it is buying a $100 lottery ticket and all four in a row got a grand slam ok from the visa girl! We walked up to the counter and she told me I couldn't be there. I said yes I could I asked and she again said I can't be there and please go wait outside the building. Well I realized that i'm arguing with the person deciding their visa and politly said "Yes I can be here but I respect your decision to not want me here (With a really pretty smile HAHAH). I just told her that the front page was prepared by me and it links all their strong ties to China. I walked outside and felt like the biggest loser. Well her grandparents did come out saying they both got the visa. They have very little and are both old. This is just like anything in life. The losers are those who quit. I kept saying after each post that we were going to reapply until they got it and I meant it. Its just how good the VO feels and that's it. They were again asked how long Nicola was in the U.S. and about their income. That's it. Hope this helps. Wish us luck for her parents and its your own faults if you give up with one, two, or ten rejections. Its aggravating but I swear its worth every min of the trip her grandparents had to America. It was the best time of their lives.

Just try not to have too much cash laying around here or China!

I didn't realize that the U.S. consolate is going to move. Where exactly are they going to be moving to? Wow I totally agree that its not going to be as exciting a place if the consulate is not there. Wonder if the new place is going to be as nice an area.

Thanks for the info! So you cannot buy the land on Shamian. Can you leasehold it for 70 years? what good would it do to own a building but the gov. owns the land? I'm glad we live here. No offense to anyone.

I mean leasehold for 70 years. Anyone?

Your wife used to live there? Nice! We are not looking to buy anything there like I said when we passed that building I got curious and was wondering if people could buy property there ans how much. Its a really pleasant place considering how busy GZ is then how relaxed the island is. We are trying to pay off our house mortgage right now. Its like a black hole the more money we throw into it the more likley we won't have to wait 30 years to pay it off. Soooo anyone hear anything about it?

So ya don't know! Trigg, Couldn't you save the money on therapy and talk to yourself? Omg! Now my question is never getting answered (whaling and crying....is that how you spell whaling.....is whaling a word....omg I'm taljing to myself) Just to let everyone know I'm not considering buying property there just curious about it.

Well if ya know then dooooooo share!

No one knows if China allows private ownership of property on Shamian Island? This is Candle we know everything

Is that Moon collecting Blue Thingies again?!! Great seeing ya back

I could just Imagine how expensive it would be but I was wondering if anyone knew if people are even allowed to buy property directly on Shamian Island? We saw some Apartments there that would be heaven to live in or stores that would be fun to own. When Nicola got her visa we saw a building just past the Victory Hotel away from the consolate that was in shambles. That would have been heaven to buy. Cost of renovation would have been cheap i'm sure and it really would have turned out to be a beautiful building with the best location but when we went back for Nicola's grandparent's interview we saw that they were already renovating it. Made me think.....Has anyone bought property on the Shamian Island? Is it allowed? Anyone know a website or any idea of prices?

We joined Candle at the same time and sent our NOA1 in October of 2003. I always wondered what had happed to your interview! Good things do come to those who wait! Now she's not only going to America to be with you but you will both be living in Maui. Heaven! Great news!

Good luck but i'm sure you both won't need it! Keep us updated

Actually Hypo isn't a good clown name. I once knew a clown that argued with Hypo (I'm not clear on what the argument was about) but this clown believe it or not started yelling out LAWSUIT!! I'MA GONNA SUUUUUE!!! HAHAHA It reminded me of the Wendy's finger women! HAHAHA Now that was a clown! HAHAHA I would have paid tickets to see him act like that again! I know Mark very well. He has a beautiful daughter with Bea and is really a great guy! I met him in Shenzhen a few years back and keep in touch with him still. I don't agree with him arguing with a clown when he's the moderator but to make fun of him after he left is really childish.

Will a lot of people really disagree with me that Chinese women are not all submissive and they do not all require thier husbands to sign things and approve of what they want. Does anyone else agree that your SO should have her own credit history and not risk being called "American" like its a bad word! HAHAHA Remember we are bringing them to America. I don't want to "CONVERT" Nicola into anything. Converting someone would require me to control them and change them into what I "Want" them to be. I want Nicola to move and function by herself without need my conversion and controlling. OMG i'm beating my head against the wall. When I look at Nicola I see a beautiful and tallented person who does not need my to change and control her ideas or actions. I trust her decisions and share our future together. She's not a plant that I trim and turn in directions that I want, she's a human with her own identity. Too much thinking! I'm out of this thread! I'm just VERY serious about not controlling and keeping anyone down. Sorry if anyone disagrees.

My whole point is that we should all think about the future. What are you going to call yourself when your AOS comes now?

AOS Snow how's that for an explanation?

I am also SHOCKED that someone would ask why their wife would need credit established for their wife! Its like saying why should she earn a income when she should just stay in the kitchen and cook all day! I'm not attacking anyone on this but when you are married you still have TWO seperate credit scores. In America you cannot do a single thing without credit (No car, apartment, house, computer, phone, loan, cell, NOTHING) and I for one would die if I didn't give Nicola her own Identity. It is not "American" to help your wife function independent of you its human. Nicola is a stong women with desires and dreams of her own. Sure she is working with me right now but I see her building her own credit up and opening a business of her own in the future. That would require her own credit. She has mentioned opening a franchise on the side besides our rinky dinky furniture store and I think it would make a great additional income and I would be proud to see her walking into a bank and asking them for the money. Besides all these reasons stated its also VERY uncomfortable for me to have Nicola ask me for things. I want her to be able to get up and do and have anything in the world she desires by herself. If she wants a cell phone, magazine subscription, credit card from a department store, bank loan (Okay i'm beating a dead horse here) You guys get the idea. I can't wait till the day she gets her credit rating to 750+ and gets $200,000 to start HER own creative business or venture. Its not "Husband may I have" but a independent thinker doing what she wants. Sure we discuss everything together but its HER ability to execute on her own without my permission. Its like saying "Why does my wife need shoes? Won't she be home cleaning all day anyway?" Your SO needs credit as much as she needs her own identity.

Nicola was here no more than 6 months and we went to Circuit City and bought a camcorder on a one year interest free deal in Nicola's name but I cosigned for her. She got approved in her name for the financing and they gave her a visa credit card that can be used anywhere. When we got the bill we paid it off immediately. We put my income as her salary but she doesn't work anywhere (We said she worked with me). We then went to our bank and asked for a credit card in her name. They sent a letter denying her because of too many pulls on her credit at one time, not enough established credit, and whatever else. I then called our banker and gave them the denial paper. She is going to call them and make sure Nicola gets a small amount of credit limit on her card. I have a guy that works here that uses the credit cards where you put your own money down to establish credit and they have had his $600 for the last year! They still say he doesn't have enough credit to get his own credit card. That way sucks in my opinion. Try to cosign a loan or something interest free like a dell or camcorder or something you need and make sure everything is in your SO's name but you cosign. All this has hurt my credit a bit because everything we applied for I cosigned and they pulled my credit for each time.

The Chinese are fed by their government that Americans "Look down" on them and think they are sub-human. Its VERY false to say that the situation is different in any country because I remember a furniture factory wanting to go to America where "The people are friendly" and "everyone says Hello to you when you pass them in the streets" That's how I felt while I was in China. Nicola's grandparents came and everywhere we go people see that they are visiting and not from here so everyone gives them the "Royal" treatment. Holding the doors for them and smiling at them, asking them if they like America. Customers walk into our store and hug them and try to tell them how they wish they could visit China. Most people welcome visitors and I don't think one country is better than the other.

No offense taken Nicola's grandparents are from Zhongshan but I know exactly what you mean about the crawfish in Shanghai! VERY GOOD! They tried some here but I think it was too spicy for them. Since they can both cook they are not having the same food problems that Nicola had. Funny thing is our last trip to China Nicola didn't eat much local Chinese food and missed American food a lot (Popeyes and Subway) I'll find out about their visa annotation and post it incase someone else goes through the same thing.

Well, obviously since you posted it in the public forum you were inviting responses from everyone who read your post and had information, but since you opened and closed your post with messages directly to me, I thought I should respond. HAHAHA indeed. Its just that I asked a simple question and got a response with a attitude. The "Let me introduce you to a website.........google.com (I heard of this website over 5 years ago and know a good bit on it. You were acting like i'm retarded) and me asking a second question and you saying "Perhaps you missed this part of my original post blah blah blah" Again acting like i'm retarded. It was a helpful post with attitude but then again I should consider you are from New York! HAHAHA indeed.