Blue Slipped now Lao Po enroute to USA

[bubbafred10]

She apparently got the Black Widow and she asked my wife numerous questions and looked at everything my wife had brought in detail.  Finally, she found her power trip reason for denial.  Among the top 10 questions posted here is "how many times has your SO visited you."  Anticipating that question and knowing I had only been there once to marry my wife, I wrote a letter of explanation and had it notarized.  Further, as added incentive for the VO, I offered letters of reference and recommendation from family and friends.  25 of them to be exact!!  Well, the VO saw where I stated in my letter that I was not entitled to vacation in my job and would have lost my job if I made follow-on visits.  So she blue slipped my wife and stated for us to bring a letter from my employer stating I was not entitled to vacation as I had said in my letter.

 

Some of you more knowledgeable than I type guys/gals may know more, but I was of the impression that a notarized document is legally binding.  Thus when I notarized my letter, I was legally bound to it in a legal proceeding.  But that isn't good enough for the Black Widow.  Instead, she wanted a non-legally binding letter from my boss.  Go figure!!

 

Dave

170202[/snapback]

Congratulations, Dave! I am glad the "black widow" glitch was resolved so quickly. That "black widow" is just that - black in heart and mind, for finding the littlest possible excuse to deny a red slip.

Edited November 20, 2005 by bubbafred10 (see edit history)

[HanLi]

all's well that end's well....... congratulations......

[Guest ShaQuaNew]

CONGRATULATIONS!

[goneflying2000]

CONGRATULATIONS. The fun begins.

[tucsonjim]

Congratulations on the successful overcome after a really long wait for both of you!! Best of luck for a happy life together!!

[shyaushu]

It is wonderful you were able to quickly overcome this immensely cruel decision. It's not that different from requiring someone dying of thirst to submit a letter from a doctor stating they are dehydrated before giving them a drink!

 

What are some of these interviewers thinking?

 

Congratulations. All of us with upcoming interviews hope ours will end as successfully (albeit without the last minute jab).

[obxtrainman]

Congratulations

[Yuanyang]

Congratulations Dave!!! I'm very happy that everything worked out for you guys!

 

 

I guess the two things I take from your experience are 1) multi-visits to China is almost a must while waiting for the visa (I'm here now in fact) and 2) how the gub'ment workers in GUZ our so out of touch with the employment conditions of their fellow Americans.

[sailorboy]

Just a quick note to say she arrived OK. I did have to wait for 2 hours for her to come through customs. Seems there were 3 other flights landing at the same time. Regardless, you can imagine how the butterflies start kicking in with yet more issues at Immigration. Turns out my worries were ill-founded. She breezed through Immigration once they got to her. Customs asked her why I was wasn't with her and she told the guy I was outside waiting for her. He flashed her through without baggage check. Seeing her finally coming through that door was the most wonderful thing I could ever imagine! All the imaginations I have had over this long and drawn out procedure all began to come true.

 

Her first impressions have been great from what I can tell. She loves the fact that there are not people everywhere you look and not many cars. I haven't shown her the 405 during rush hour yet....eh, eh, eh...

 

Finally, I want to thank all of you for your congratulations and good wishes. I know my time with CFL has been limited due to my interests on "that other board", but believe when the time came that my wife's paperwork was headed for GUZ, you had all my attention. This is a great board and a great resource for someone going down this path. You old-timers are to be commended for your devotion and loyalty. I truly hope the day comes soon when this process is accomplished more efficiently and, moreover, accountability for the actions of the VO are more closely and openly scrutinized. Too many times I have had my heart tore up by some unknown entity only to be left totally helpless in attempting to resolve whatever problems there were.

 

I wish the very best to all and will continue to be in the background for a little longer if anyone has any further questions that I might help on.

 

Cosmiclobster....I think the dock is planning the weekend after Thanksgiving for the welcome home party. Please plan on attending with wife!! See ya there!!

 

Dave

[mercator]

I arrived in GUZ on Sunday, 11/6...our interview was 11/7.  Everything was fairly typical of previous posts regarding forming lines around 7:00am and such.  They started letting us in around 7:45am and as we got close to the guy handing out the green cards, my wife (in a fit of haste) surge forward and grabbed the next card.  Bad idea!!!  The number on the card was 00013!!!  We went up the escalators to the 3rd or 4th floor (I forget) and my wife gave up her card and proceeded up the next escalator.  I went to the coffee shop and began the wait from h***.  As I looked around, I did see 3-4 other US guys waiting.  I finally joined one of them and we small talked for awhile and then just sat in nervous silence.  Two hours later, they started coming out...my heart started to explode almost!

 

My first and permanent impression of the scam artists was very bitter.  These poor girls coming out have no defense against them!  What a total scam!  Anyway, as some of the ladies with the US guys came out, everyone was saying it was too easy.  Just got asked a couple of easy questions, then the "OK, you pass...you get visa".  For them it was a slam dunk.  Then my wife comes out and I could tell by the look on her face the news was not good.  She was given the blue slip!!  I was stunned to say the least!

 

She apparently got the Black Widow and she asked my wife numerous questions and looked at everything my wife had brought in detail.  Finally, she found her power trip reason for denial.  Among the top 10 questions posted here is "how many times has your SO visited you."  Anticipating that question and knowing I had only been there once to marry my wife, I wrote a letter of explanation and had it notarized.  Further, as added incentive for the VO, I offered letters of reference and recommendation from family and friends.  25 of them to be exact!!  Well, the VO saw where I stated in my letter that I was not entitled to vacation in my job and would have lost my job if I made follow-on visits.  So she blue slipped my wife and stated for us to bring a letter from my employer stating I was not entitled to vacation as I had said in my letter.

 

Some of you more knowledgeable than I type guys/gals may know more, but I was of the impression that a notarized document is legally binding.  Thus when I notarized my letter, I was legally bound to it in a legal proceeding.  But that isn't good enough for the Black Widow.  Instead, she wanted a non-legally binding letter from my boss.  Go figure!!

 

Long story short, we made an appointment for the following Monday.  I had my boss FEDEX the letter immediately.  I came back to the US on that Thursday (11/10) while my wife stayed behind for the Overcome Interview.  The letter arrived the day I left.  On Monday, 11/14, my wife took it in with the blue slip and a copy of my passport with visa stamps for good measure.  Was told to come back on Wednesday, 11/16 for answer.  She did so and got the red slip.  All that was said to her by a nice Chinese VO was "You are OK now" and she handed my wife the red slip.  My wife picked her passport and packet up at the China Post on Friday.  Said she had to wait for 2 hours!!

 

She spent Saturday partying with her friends in GZ and celebrating.  And now, just the flight remains.  Oh, total time from NOA1 to her arrival in the US will be 424 days.  Speedy, eh?  Better luck to all who follow us!!

 

Dave

170202[/snapback]

One visit to marry is grounds to Deny!? Oh man...

 

Well I am going in April. Will that please the Black Widow?

 

I get 3 weeks of a year and only 5 holidays (Xmas, Thanksgiving, 4th, memorial, labor day, new years), so I can't go that often either. Not to mention the cost.

[cosmiclobster]

Dave: Glad to hear that she finally got here safe and sound!

 

The BS of dealing with the govt isn't over yet, but you won't really care so much now that she is here with you.

 

See you on Saturday with a bottle of bubbly!!!

[sailorboy]

I arrived in GUZ on Sunday, 11/6...our interview was 11/7.  Everything was fairly typical of previous posts regarding forming lines around 7:00am and such.  They started letting us in around 7:45am and as we got close to the guy handing out the green cards, my wife (in a fit of haste) surge forward and grabbed the next card.  Bad idea!!!  The number on the card was 00013!!!  We went up the escalators to the 3rd or 4th floor (I forget) and my wife gave up her card and proceeded up the next escalator.  I went to the coffee shop and began the wait from h***.  As I looked around, I did see 3-4 other US guys waiting.  I finally joined one of them and we small talked for awhile and then just sat in nervous silence.  Two hours later, they started coming out...my heart started to explode almost!

 

My first and permanent impression of the scam artists was very bitter.  These poor girls coming out have no defense against them!  What a total scam!  Anyway, as some of the ladies with the US guys came out, everyone was saying it was too easy.  Just got asked a couple of easy questions, then the "OK, you pass...you get visa".  For them it was a slam dunk.  Then my wife comes out and I could tell by the look on her face the news was not good.  She was given the blue slip!!  I was stunned to say the least!

 

She apparently got the Black Widow and she asked my wife numerous questions and looked at everything my wife had brought in detail.  Finally, she found her power trip reason for denial.  Among the top 10 questions posted here is "how many times has your SO visited you."  Anticipating that question and knowing I had only been there once to marry my wife, I wrote a letter of explanation and had it notarized.  Further, as added incentive for the VO, I offered letters of reference and recommendation from family and friends.  25 of them to be exact!!  Well, the VO saw where I stated in my letter that I was not entitled to vacation in my job and would have lost my job if I made follow-on visits.  So she blue slipped my wife and stated for us to bring a letter from my employer stating I was not entitled to vacation as I had said in my letter.

 

Some of you more knowledgeable than I type guys/gals may know more, but I was of the impression that a notarized document is legally binding.  Thus when I notarized my letter, I was legally bound to it in a legal proceeding.  But that isn't good enough for the Black Widow.  Instead, she wanted a non-legally binding letter from my boss.  Go figure!!

 

Long story short, we made an appointment for the following Monday.  I had my boss FEDEX the letter immediately.  I came back to the US on that Thursday (11/10) while my wife stayed behind for the Overcome Interview.  The letter arrived the day I left.  On Monday, 11/14, my wife took it in with the blue slip and a copy of my passport with visa stamps for good measure.  Was told to come back on Wednesday, 11/16 for answer.  She did so and got the red slip.  All that was said to her by a nice Chinese VO was "You are OK now" and she handed my wife the red slip.  My wife picked her passport and packet up at the China Post on Friday.  Said she had to wait for 2 hours!!

 

She spent Saturday partying with her friends in GZ and celebrating.  And now, just the flight remains.  Oh, total time from NOA1 to her arrival in the US will be 424 days.  Speedy, eh?  Better luck to all who follow us!!

 

Dave

170202[/snapback]

One visit to marry is grounds to Deny!? Oh man...

 

Well I am going in April. Will that please the Black Widow?

 

I get 3 weeks of a year and only 5 holidays (Xmas, Thanksgiving, 4th, memorial, labor day, new years), so I can't go that often either. Not to mention the cost.

171109[/snapback]

You know...in most cases nothing has ever been mentioned in the form of a denial reason. The question always gets asked for some reason but most VOs seem to blow right by the answer. Go figure. I think my letter was a move in the right direction but if you are going to get denied, they will find a reason for it.

 

I am trying not to be vindictive, but the more I think about it, the more I am incline to say there is strong indictors that denials are premeditated and the questioning is grilled unless an "excuse" can be attained. The requirements state only one visit every two years is required. But they also have the power to deny on nothing more than their own hunch (no facts, just feelings or gut instincts). This is where I draw the line in the sand as being unfair and a breech of trust of the US citizen.

 

Good luck!!

 

Dave

[david_dawei]

In the FAQ Interview, I have listed as one of the areas a VO looks at is number of visits.. this is easy enough conclusion to draw since it is really in the top five questions asked.. but I would argue it is probably the most important because of the 'bona-fide' issue in regards to a petition of long duration....

 

There are denials from the past clearly because of lack of visits.. I put one in the FAQ:

 

A.2.5.2

VO: Why did your fiancee only see you one time in China he makes so much money each month?

 

She showed him a notarized letter from me explaining that because my company is in the middle of a large expansion I have been very busy training new light rail operators and could not get any time off. I have been also training some one else to fill in for me and I want to save all my vacation time to use for when she arrived. [blue slip interview]

 

 

 

Even 9FAM states:

"However, the longer the period of time since the filing of the petition, the more the consular officer must be concerned about the intentions of the couple, particularly the intentions of the petitioner in the United States."

 

Looking at the top 5 questions in the FAQ, you can see what each question is meant to ascertain (although this section is my interpretation only).. Meeting once in two years only establishes the ability to file a petition... Number of visits helps establishes a bona-fide relationship as their first line (meaning, it is usually asked and also before other evidence is asked)

 

 

1. May I see your passport(s) ; Also give petitioner passport if you have it [ Establishes eligibility and petitioner~{!/~}s visits]

2. Who applied for you / who is the petitioner [Establishes your understanding of the petitioner]

3. How did you meet / where did you meet [Establishes that you meet]

4. How many times did he come / How long has he visited you each visit / how much time have you been together [Establishes bona-fide relationship via number of visits or amount of time together; If the VO has the petitioner passport (or copy), then this is akin to a test question. He already knows this by looking at the passport.]

5. What does he do / where does he live [Establishes relationship, that you know your fianc~{(&~}e / spouse]

Edited November 23, 2005 by DavidZixuan (see edit history)

[Guest ShaQuaNew]

Agreed David, it's incumbant upon the VO to determine whether or not the relationship is a skam or bonafide. That's where the subjective part of their job comes into play. They are supposed to look at the evidence. I can put myself in the VO chair and look at a guy that's visited his partner 5 times over the course of one year, and then, another that only visited once. Does the guy that visited five times stand a better chance at approval? Maybe, maybe not. The guy that visited five times may be a total dork and only have thoughts of his partner as a new toy. The single visit guy may have ten times the affection and gratitude in his heart as Mr. Five Visit Guy. There is a lot of wiggle room within the guidelines of the 9FAM and it comes down to the subjective analysis of the VO.

 

I think most of us are skating on thin ice with our bosses toward the end of the visa process. My first visit to China was a rather routine vacation. The second he and other department supervisors were raising their eyebrows. A friend that recently married a Chinese woman went through the K1 process and during that time visited China five times. Now, his new bride is unhappy because they are both paying off the credit card he used to pay for those trips..... B)

[frank1538]

Glad to hear that the arrival went smoothly and welcome to America. Let's see how long it takes before you start posting in the AOS and Immigration Challenges section. B)