IR-2 DENIED 11:30 AM 11/21/05

[bobmal99]

IR-2 VISA DENIED 11:30 AM

11/21/05

 

 

My wife and I went to GZ, with her two children

for their interview on 11/21/05.

 

Can you imagine the first time having met my wife’s

children who were extremely Nervous about their

interview. I told them just be honest and not to

worry we will both be there with you. One of

the most important times in their young lives

and what I told them about being there for

them did not come true because we were

denied attendance to their interview….

 

After having been told a month earlier both

my wife and I could attend the interview.

However, we were both denied entrance by

the Chinese security. Needless to say we

were both furious, but at the

time we had no recourse. There was

not an American from the Consulate

to be found anywhere to speak with.

 

My wife and I waited patiently on the 4th

floor of the consulate with several other

People while the Interviews were going on.

I must say I never really appreciated what

went on at the consulate while the interviews

were going on until I actually attended one

of these interviews.

 

The stress level was unbelievable for

everyone as people came out some with smiles

And some in tears as their whole lives were

about to change.

 

As other children came down they told us

they were only being asked one or two questions.

mainly do you have pictures and why do you

want to go to the US???

 

Now our children were not prepared at

all because they expected us to be there!!

They were asked where their Mother’s green

card was? They did not know anything about

A green card as there was no reason for them

to. Then they were asked what the stepfather

did for work and they told the VO what I do for work.

 

The VO never even looked at one piece of our

paperwork and denied their application.

Basically saying he did not believe this was a

legitimate marriage.

 

Visas denied because there was no green

card and no proof that the biological Father

had given permission for these children to

leave the US.

 

However, since he did not look at any of this

paperwork how would he know. I believe the

VO made a judgment call when he saw these two

young children and no parents..

 

He probably though someone was trying to

get these kids into the US for whatever

reasons, since the parents did not even

bother to Come to the interview..

 

Now my Passport, my wife’s Passport and

Green Card, were all in the top file given to

the VO, which he never looked at….

 

Well we would have been there had the

Chinese security allowed us to attend the interview..

Now the children were traumatized, they thought

they did something wrong, but they did

everything they were supposed to do.

 

After reading the reasons for the denial

all I could think of was warpboard when

his Fiancé was denied and he was not there

to offer any help.

 

They basically wanted me to prove our

whole relationship from the beginning which

began over four years ago. We went back to

the hotel and I tried to keep everyone calm

and try to figure out what I was going to

do short of having to come back for another

interview sometime in the next few weeks, or

months..

 

After I calmed down and read all the reasons

for their denial were based on us not having

proof of our relationship which we did, but

the VO never looked at it.

 

Now at 1:30 PM I was on my way back to

the consulate trying to get the decision

overturned because the VO did not do his

job properly and the fact my wife and I were

denied entrance to the interview with our children..

 

I figured the odds were about 10,000,000, to 1,

of my actually having this decision being overturned

the same day as the denial.. I mean after all we

are talking about the US Govt. And the GZ Consulate.

 

Has anyone ever been able to do this in the past.

 

I have never heard of anyone doing this before.

Knowing all the stars were aligned against us,

I had to try anyway while I was there...

 

In the consulate I spoke with A Chinese guy

who told me I would have to come back Friday,

as it was the only day they answered questions

about visa’s. Now this was A Monday, and the

next Friday the consulate was closed because

of Thanksgiving.

 

I told him I could not wait two weeks to speak

to someone and demanded to speak with his

supervisor…About 20 minutes later an African

American woman whom I believe this board

has nicknamed the Black Pearl called me to the window….

 

The 1st question I asked was are parents

allowed to attend the interview with children

that are only 14??? She said they absolutely

are able to attend the interview.

 

I then asked her who is responsible for

training and instructing the security and she said

The consulate was. I told her I think they may

need some additional instruction.

 

I mean how many other people were denied

access in the past??

 

When I told her both me and my wife were

denied to attend the interview with our children

I can see she was definitely surprised.

 

I then pulled out the bright orange sheet

which lists the reasons for their denial.

 

1-Please present a notarized copy of your

wife’s Green Card.

 

2-Have documented proof that the Father

his given his permission for

these children to leave China.

 

I then showed her our file with all the

original documents and asked why do we need

A copy of the Green Card when she has it right here.

 

Then I showed her the notarized copy of my

wife having been granted sole custody of these

children by A Chinese court.

 

Once again she seemed to be quite surprised

if not a bit shaken.

 

I then reiterated that if we had been allowed

to attend the interview this all could have been

straightened out during the interview.

 

She then said I can not guarantee anything

but I will try to contact one of the VO’s

and see what happened. I said thank you all

I want is an explanation of why we were

not allowed at the interview and subsequently

denied visa’s for our children.

 

Now I am waiting for about twenty minutes

and she called me back to the window.

 

She told me the VO who interviewed the children

was reviewing his notes and would then give me

an explanation of his decision. About ten minutes

later I was called to meet with the VO that

actually did the interview.

 

I mean what are the odds of this happening????

 

I will probably never know the truth but I

think when the Black Pearl called him

and told him the Stepfather was in the

consulate and claims you never even

looked at the paperwork they provided

and was quite upset these visa’s were

denied for not having the proof that

they in fact did have…

 

I can not remember his name, you have

to realize I was also still pretty much in a

state of shock myself, but he said he was

from Maine. I mean the future of these

kids not to mention the sanity of me and

my wife was going to be decided in the

next few minutes by this total stranger.

 

When I went to the window this man was

extremely polite, he asked for my wife’s

Green Card and Passport. At this time

all I asked him is why my wife and I were

denied access to the interview.. He said

he did not know, why but was certainly

going to find out.

 

After looking at the Green Card and Passport,

he apologized and said he was immediately

going to overturn the denial and grant the visa’s.

 

At this time he explained that fraud is

their biggest concern and when he saw

two children and no parents he wondered

what kind of relationship/marriage this was.

 

Which is why he wanted us too basically

prove everything all over again.

 

The next and last question I asked is why

he did not ask the children where their

parents were???

 

He really did not have an answer but said in

the future that will be the 1st question he

asks children who have no parents at the interview..

 

The Black Pearl was very polite and helpfull!!!

Finally I think both The Black Pearl and the VO legitimately

felt terrible because we were not allowed to

attend the interview with our children..

 

MORAL OF THE STORY, BE THERE IN GZ, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!!!

 

Had I not been there just imagine how long

it may have taken to get these visa’s..

 

I FOUGHT THE US CONSULATE AND I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

3:30 PM SAME DAY--11/21/05 VO rescinds his decision

and approves visas!!!!

 

WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THIS?????

Edited November 30, 2005 by bobmal99 (see edit history)

[IluvmyLi]

Congrats Bob!

 

How were you able to see a VO if USC's are not allowed in that section or floor?

[Guest ShaQuaNew]

Congratulations on your victory!

[bobmal99]

Congrats Bob!

 

How were you able to see a VO if USC's are not

allowed in that section or floor?

172146[/snapback]

The interviews and Consulate are both on

the 5th floor. Only people being interviewed

and US Citizens with business at the Consulate

are allowed on the 5th floor.

 

The interviews take place in a seperate room

from the actual Consulate where US Citizens can go for help!!

[frank1538]

Wow! What a story. Being well informed and challenging the authority when necessary really paid off. I just wonder how many visas have been denied simply because people did not stand up to the great GUZ.

 

Congratulations. Bring the kids home and enjoy life.

[jim_julian]

All I can say is Wow! ... and congratulations.

 

It's great to see that when responsible people in the consulate understand the situation that the right decisions are made.

[bobmal99]

Congrats Bob!

 

How were you able to see a VO if USC's are not allowed in that section or floor?

172146[/snapback]

I did not properly answer this question. The only reason I was able to see the actual VO who interviewed our children in the same room as all the Fiances and people seeking any and all types of family visas is The Black Pearl must have said something like this.

 

Hey (to the VO) you really screwed this case up, unless you want to see a Congressional Inquiry on why these parents were denied entrance to their childrens interview, you had better meet with this man and straighten this out... He has all the proof of a legitimate relationship that you neglected to look at!!

[Guest ShaQuaNew]

Congrats Bob!

 

How were you able to see a VO if USC's are not allowed in that section or floor?

172146[/snapback]

I did not properly answer this question. The only reason I was able to see the actual VO who interviewed our children in the same room as all the Fiances and people seeking any and all types of family visas is The Black Pearl must have said something like this.

 

Hey (to the VO) you really screwed this case up, unless you want to see a Congressional Inquiry on why these parents were denied entrance to their childrens interview, you had better meet with this man and straighten this out... He has all the proof of a legitimate relationship that you neglected to look at!!

172156[/snapback]

That's is excellent work on not only your part but on hers. It goes to show how important it is to track the process and events at each and every stage. Some may have been discouraged and given up when confronted with your difficulty.....

 

[tonymasiello]

Amazing Story! Bob, I'm really glad you prevailed in the end!!! Congrats!!!

[bobmal99]

EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN THE RIGHT, I AM STILL

IN A STATE OF SHOCK A WEEK LATER, THAT GZ ACTUALLY

DID THE RIGHT THING!!!

 

NEXT SATURDAY MY WIFE AND THE KIDS WILL

ARRIVE IN BOSTON, MA!!!

 

Edited November 28, 2005 by bobmal99 (see edit history)

[Joanne]

I held my breath till the end of your story! Congratulations!!

 

P.S., I had a very good impression about her also watching her at work.

[stacato]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

 

Great job!!! You did not take NO for an answer and overcame this in a very persistent way!!

 

Good luck to you and your family!!!!!

[Randy W]

This is an especially cruel story, but especially heartening that you were able to get the response you did. Excellent work.

[tucsonjim]

Wow, fantastic job!! I think this also shows a different side of the Black Pearl than we are used to hearing about. Bravo to her for her actions that made this outcome possible!!! Best of luck on bringing your family home!! Congratulations for being there and standing up for what you deserved!

[warpedbored]

A truly amazing story Bob. As David pointed out once the black woman who helped you is probably the 2nd or 3rd incarnation of the original black pearl who earned the reputation for being so mean. I have been a strong proponent of being there for the interview since my wife's blue slip. I still believe the # 1 reason we over came it was because I went to China to appeal the decision. If you hadn't been there it would have been a convoluted mess to straighten out. I have only heard of one other case that a denial was overcome the same day and that was about 2 years ago and a furious US citizen demanded to see someone. I doubt it is a common occurrence. Way to go Bob. Perhaps some positive things like better training for Chinese security will come of it as well.

Edited November 28, 2005 by warpedbored (see edit history)