Sweating Bullets

[yuan fen]

What not to do in the 12 o¡¯clock hour of the interview. This is a truly rare case, and I would not attempt to duplicate our steps. We were truly blessed, and I am still in disbelief as are others in Guangzhou who experience the process daily.

 

yuan fen

 

9-Oct-2006

 

Arrival at 22:00 Guangzhou Airport

P4 not a mark on the documents

Medical not complete

No single Certificate

More pictures needed

 

10-Oct-2006

 

Mission: fill out P4 documents, and obtain Single Certificate

 

Not too impossible right?

 

Okay now for the kick in the below the waist. After Mr. and Mrs. Yang examine our documents they state that since Jie¡¯s Police Record, Birth Cert, Single Cert, and divorce docs were not in the neat little white infamous books we should opt to reschedule the interview. At this time I was frustrated, and could not believe this was happening.

 

I was not about to give up at halftime.

 

Anyway, around 14:00 Hrs we walk to the consulate to obtain notarization of the English document for Jie¡¯s Single Cert. Yes, it was a statement in English, no Chinese document was used for our case.

 

I was admitted into the Consulate, and Jie would have to wait for my return. In the Consulate I take a number and wait to be called. After being called, I explain that I needed a document to be notarized with Jie¡¯s signature, and by this time it was 14:55. The nice woman at the window directed me to the cashier, which closed at 15:00, and said after I paid to bring Jie back in with me. First trip to the 4th floor where Jie was waiting we attempt to enter. None doing, I could return but Jie would have to wait because the guard was not called to allow Jie to enter. So, back to the 5th floor, obtain another number, and wait to explain again. A young man at the window said to return to the 4th floor, he would call the guard, and we should return. This time admitted, we return the 5th floor, take a number, and wait. Another woman at another window called upon us; sorry we can not do this was the response. Then an American Visa Officer approached the window, and I proceeded to explain our situation. He explained that this may or may not be sufficient for evidence, but he could notarize the document with no guaranty. I also posed the question of Jie¡¯s other documents. He replied that this is not normal, and that the documents may not be accepted at the interview. So we had two choices, a fork in the road, let it ride or postpone.

 

He did explain that rescheduling could push things out a few months for another interview, risk of blue slip at that time, and even postpone things even longer. If we proceeded with the interview we may receive a blue slip, but we would know exactly what the Consulate required.

 

I am not about to lay down was in my mind.

 

Push forward was our choice. I explained to Jie that we may have to return at a later date, and we truly expected a blue slip.

 

We then returned to the room to complete assembly of the P4 docs. 5 hours later we finished with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Yang. In the morning it was off to the medical.

 

11-Oct-2006

 

8:00 Hrs. and off to the Medical College where we were informed an expedited service was impossible. So we go to the clinic next to the White Swan Hotel, and things are a go at 800 RMB for expedite. Before returning to the clinic we make copies of all docs being submitted to the Consulate in the medical packet, and drop off a CD for development of pictures. Returning at 16:00 hrs to the clinic the package was assembled for the Consulate, but the Police, Single, Birth, and divorce docs were not included in the sealed packet. We did get a notice of required documents needed to proceed, and a complete examination report with x-ray tube. We returned to the hotel, went out to eat, and returned to go through the game plan for the mornings interview.

 

12-Oct-2006

 

At 5:00 Hrs I wake to complete assembly of the evidence with Chinese tabs, and write a handwritten letter to the VO.

 

12-October-2006

 

I, Petitioner, apologize for the incompleteness of our documentation required for the scheduled appointment due to misinterpretation. We fully understand the possible outcome of today¡¯s interview, and are in the process of obtaining the required documents for fulfilling the requirements of the United States Consulate, and USCIS for immigration.

Jie means the world to me, and we intend to spend the rest of our lives together, so be it granted in America, or I legally living in China.

Once more, I would like to apologize for the incomplete documentation, and waste of your valuable time. Please have mercy.

 

Not exactly the same words but the same message.

 

6:50 AM we proceed to the Consulate to wait in line. I eased Jie¡¯s nerves by carrying on by joking and being positive that we will be alright. Just delayed a bit longer. She completely understood, and said she would wait as long as it takes. A scan of the invitation and Jie¡¯s passport by the guard, and we were off the 4th floor. The wait began. On the first floor I met another American, and we stopped at the coffee shop beyond the elevators. We exchanged stories of our experiences, and at 10:00 Hrs. his fianc¨¦e returned with pink slip in hand with the biggest smile on her face. They proceeded off on their way, and I returned to the 4th floor to wait.

 

At 10:50 Hrs. Jie rounded the corner with a pink slip, and asked for 20 RMB. We returned to the entrance of the Consulate where she returned inside to pay the EMS fee.

 

Now for Jie¡¯s recount of the interview events interpreted by myself. Upon separation at the entrance, she proceeded inside. She said that the first person she talked to told her that she would have to return to her hometown to obtain the white bound books. This was a Guangzhou person. Then the second person repeated the same line, also a Guangzhou person she said.

 

She then took a number and waited.

At the window she said an American Visa Officer greeted her with a smile, and she said ¡°Good Morning.¡± She said that the smile made her fears disappear.

 

Tell me how is a VO going to smile when no Birth, Single, Police, or Divorce documentation is in their possession?

 

She handed the VO my statement, and he read it then asked for the documents we had collected as the Police, birth, single, and divorce documentation. He looked at them and walked off for 5 to 10 minutes, and returned. He asked is your husband here, and she said yes. Is that his passport the VO said, she said yes, He asked may I see it and she gave it to him through the window, he looked at the 5 visas in my passport and asked her when I visited China, she named the dates, and he handed it back to her. Next he asked her for the I-134, briefly looked at it, kept it, and said why do you love your husband. She said I do not know, and said it was yuan fen. (Here is the true meaning of my member name.) He smiled and said do you have pictures. She handed him the 30 pictures we decided upon, and he scanned them stopping at on and asking are these some clothes that you made that you are wearing? She said yes, he said they are very nice, and scanned the pictures some more, stopping at the picture that was taken at Jing Po of the big group of family and friends for a few minutes. He then smiled and handed her back the pictures. He told her that he wants her to go to his America, and America wants her to come there.

 

IMHO

 

This process is so unpredictable I do not know what to think.

 

 

I am still in shock.

[sleepless in Houston&CQ]

What not to do in the 12 o¡¯clock hour of the interview. This is a truly rare case, and I would not attempt to duplicate our steps. We were truly blessed, and I am still in disbelief as are others in Guangzhou who experience the process daily.

 

yuan fen

 

9-Oct-2006

 

Arrival at 22:00 Guangzhou Airport

P4 not a mark on the documents

Medical not complete

No single Certificate

More pictures needed

 

10-Oct-2006

 

Mission: fill out P4 documents, and obtain Single Certificate

 

Not too impossible right?

 

Okay now for the kick in the below the waist. After Mr. and Mrs. Yang examine our documents they state that since Jie¡¯s Police Record, Birth Cert, Single Cert, and divorce docs were not in the neat little white infamous books we should opt to reschedule the interview. At this time I was frustrated, and could not believe this was happening.

 

I was not about to give up at halftime.

 

Anyway, around 14:00 Hrs we walk to the consulate to obtain notarization of the English document for Jie¡¯s Single Cert. Yes, it was a statement in English, no Chinese document was used for our case.

 

I was admitted into the Consulate, and Jie would have to wait for my return. In the Consulate I take a number and wait to be called. After being called, I explain that I needed a document to be notarized with Jie¡¯s signature, and by this time it was 14:55. The nice woman at the window directed me to the cashier, which closed at 15:00, and said after I paid to bring Jie back in with me. First trip to the 4th floor where Jie was waiting we attempt to enter. None doing, I could return but Jie would have to wait because the guard was not called to allow Jie to enter. So, back to the 5th floor, obtain another number, and wait to explain again. A young man at the window said to return to the 4th floor, he would call the guard, and we should return. This time admitted, we return the 5th floor, take a number, and wait. Another woman at another window called upon us; sorry we can not do this was the response. Then an American Visa Officer approached the window, and I proceeded to explain our situation. He explained that this may or may not be sufficient for evidence, but he could notarize the document with no guaranty. I also posed the question of Jie¡¯s other documents. He replied that this is not normal, and that the documents may not be accepted at the interview. So we had two choices, a fork in the road, let it ride or postpone.

 

He did explain that rescheduling could push things out a few months for another interview, risk of blue slip at that time, and even postpone things even longer. If we proceeded with the interview we may receive a blue slip, but we would know exactly what the Consulate required.

 

I am not about to lay down was in my mind.

 

Push forward was our choice. I explained to Jie that we may have to return at a later date, and we truly expected a blue slip.

 

We then returned to the room to complete assembly of the P4 docs. 5 hours later we finished with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Yang. In the morning it was off to the medical.

 

11-Oct-2006

 

8:00 Hrs. and off to the Medical College where we were informed an expedited service was impossible. So we go to the clinic next to the White Swan Hotel, and things are a go at 800 RMB for expedite. Before returning to the clinic we make copies of all docs being submitted to the Consulate in the medical packet, and drop off a CD for development of pictures. Returning at 16:00 hrs to the clinic the package was assembled for the Consulate, but the Police, Single, Birth, and divorce docs were not included in the sealed packet. We did get a notice of required documents needed to proceed, and a complete examination report with x-ray tube. We returned to the hotel, went out to eat, and returned to go through the game plan for the mornings interview.

 

12-Oct-2006

 

At 5:00 Hrs I wake to complete assembly of the evidence with Chinese tabs, and write a handwritten letter to the VO.

 

12-October-2006

 

I, Petitioner, apologize for the incompleteness of our documentation required for the scheduled appointment due to misinterpretation. We fully understand the possible outcome of today¡¯s interview, and are in the process of obtaining the required documents for fulfilling the requirements of the United States Consulate, and USCIS for immigration.

Jie means the world to me, and we intend to spend the rest of our lives together, so be it granted in America, or I legally living in China.

Once more, I would like to apologize for the incomplete documentation, and waste of your valuable time. Please have mercy.

 

Not exactly the same words but the same message.

 

6:50 AM we proceed to the Consulate to wait in line. I eased Jie¡¯s nerves by carrying on by joking and being positive that we will be alright. Just delayed a bit longer. She completely understood, and said she would wait as long as it takes. A scan of the invitation and Jie¡¯s passport by the guard, and we were off the 4th floor. The wait began. On the first floor I met another American, and we stopped at the coffee shop beyond the elevators. We exchanged stories of our experiences, and at 10:00 Hrs. his fianc¨¦e returned with pink slip in hand with the biggest smile on her face. They proceeded off on their way, and I returned to the 4th floor to wait.

 

At 10:50 Hrs. Jie rounded the corner with a pink slip, and asked for 20 RMB. We returned to the entrance of the Consulate where she returned inside to pay the EMS fee.

 

Now for Jie¡¯s recount of the interview events interpreted by myself. Upon separation at the entrance, she proceeded inside. She said that the first person she talked to told her that she would have to return to her hometown to obtain the white bound books. This was a Guangzhou person. Then the second person repeated the same line, also a Guangzhou person she said.

 

She then took a number and waited.

At the window she said an American Visa Officer greeted her with a smile, and she said ¡°Good Morning.¡± She said that the smile made her fears disappear.

 

Tell me how is a VO going to smile when no Birth, Single, Police, or Divorce documentation is in their possession?

 

She handed the VO my statement, and he read it then asked for the documents we had collected as the Police, birth, single, and divorce documentation. He looked at them and walked off for 5 to 10 minutes, and returned. He asked is your husband here, and she said yes. Is that his passport the VO said, she said yes, He asked may I see it and she gave it to him through the window, he looked at the 5 visas in my passport and asked her when I visited China, she named the dates, and he handed it back to her. Next he asked her for the I-134, briefly looked at it, kept it, and said why do you love your husband. She said I do not know, and said it was yuan fen. (Here is the true meaning of my member name.) He smiled and said do you have pictures. She handed him the 30 pictures we decided upon, and he scanned them stopping at on and asking are these some clothes that you made that you are wearing? She said yes, he said they are very nice, and scanned the pictures some more, stopping at the picture that was taken at Jing Po of the big group of family and friends for a few minutes. He then smiled and handed her back the pictures. He told her that he wants her to go to his America, and America wants her to come there.

 

IMHO

 

This process is so unpredictable I do not know what to think.

 

 

I am still in shock.

 

 

 

Congrats

WoW

Dude I wish you two the best life has to offer!!!!

 

Bobby/Emma

[C4Racer]

Wow, Congrats.

 

You may not have had the normal white books, but someone thought what you did have was acceptable.

I think with that, you had a few other things going for you as well. One, you were there to support her and help her through the process, but more important, this became known to the consulate because of your actions. Your five trips to China shows a commitment to the relationship.

 

The steps will have a wait, but man is it better. She'll be with you from now on!!

Have a safe trip home. Best wishes for your future.

Edited October 15, 2006 by C4Racer (see edit history)

[esun41]

many congrats... now come home!!!

[Carl]

HAHAHAHAHAAHHA! Sorry, I just had to laugh when I read your post. It just shows how consistently inconsistent our government can be......Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Get the visa and get your butts on the next plane outta Dodge before they change their minds!!!!!!!!

[LeeFisher3]

Congratulations

 

You might want to see if it's possible to get one of those white books as a birth record before coming to the US. It might help to smooth the way on a few items.

[jim_julian]

Just more proof that there are nice, caring, reasonable, professional VOs.

 

Congratulations to you both!

[Cerberus]

Congralations Yuan Fen

 

It has been a long time in coming

Edited October 15, 2006 by Cerberus (see edit history)

[Michael and Manyun]

Congratulations.

 

Further proof of the broad discressionary powers of individual VO's.

[jemmyell]

Congratulations!

 

I thinks this speaks volumes for the power of the USC being there for the interview!

 

The letter to the VO is also a VERY good idea!

 

-James and Loving Candle

[chilton747]

Much congratulations to you and my wishes for a happy life to you both. I have one question. Does your fiancee speak good english?

[yuan fen]

Bobby, see ya when I get there! hao ma?

 

 

Yes, C4. Don't underestamate reality. Scared as I was, lao po knew I was in charge. Yea whetever......

 

 

Eric, I am just glad to get out of GUZ. Nose bleeding from the crap in the air, but we are all good. Want to be in Tejas, I do.

 

 

Carl, exactly right. Rare case. Craped my pants seeing Jie walk out with a pink slip. lierally!

 

Yes, Books are in the make. Lee, my thoughts exactly. Lee, I see a bigger picture now. Thanks. Good advice. In the works. Three copies of the "Books". Be here in a day or so.

 

 

Jim, There is a heart there and we felt it. One thing we had evidence to back it up also. We just threw our heart at the Consulate, and there is life ther I believe.

 

Cerberus, yes so so time, in my eyes. To many others suffer, but why I ask did we make it.

 

Michael, I have no idea. On the day, it was us against the giant. We just asked for mercy. Why? I have no clue. Still in shock.

 

Jemmy,yes I do belive being there for the interview speaks from the heart. The letter, if I can't be there, why not, I only told the truth about our situation. Man, to see Jie's face when she asked me for 20 RMB. Priceless.

 

Okay, they are screaming for another "Cheers" just got back from KTV. It never ends, does it?

 

Hey!

 

 

Live from Shang hai...............

 

 

Is this a part of training?

[SirLancelot]

With all due respect yuan fen, but I don't understand your story at all.

 

With 699 posts under your belt here at CFL, you're certainly no newbie. How could you two possibly have arrived at GUZ without all the requested documents securely in hand? When your SO signed and returned the P3 back to GUZ, she was suppose to have had all those documents completed. Did she just lie?

 

I can't possibly imagine how you got there without any of these done.

 

It's great that you personally got through this process without playing by any of the rules but as a system of check and balances, that VO should be fired! He or she completely was NOT doing his or her job. Having compassion is one thing, allowing visa applicants to pass interviews without all the proper required documents is a seucrity breech.

 

What not to do in the 12 o’clock hour of the interview. This is a truly rare case, and I would not attempt to duplicate our steps. We were truly blessed, and I am still in disbelief as are others in Guangzhou who experience the process daily.

 

yuan fen

 

9-Oct-2006

 

Arrival at 22:00 Guangzhou Airport

P4 not a mark on the documents

Medical not complete

No single Certificate

More pictures needed

 

10-Oct-2006

 

Mission: fill out P4 documents, and obtain Single Certificate

 

Not too impossible right?

 

Okay now for the kick in the below the waist. After Mr. and Mrs. Yang examine our documents they state that since Jie’s Police Record, Birth Cert, Single Cert, and divorce docs were not in the neat little white infamous books we should opt to reschedule the interview. At this time I was frustrated, and could not believe this was happening.

 

I was not about to give up at halftime.

 

Anyway, around 14:00 Hrs we walk to the consulate to obtain notarization of the English document for Jie’s Single Cert. Yes, it was a statement in English, no Chinese document was used for our case.

 

I was admitted into the Consulate, and Jie would have to wait for my return. In the Consulate I take a number and wait to be called. After being called, I explain that I needed a document to be notarized with Jie’s signature, and by this time it was 14:55. The nice woman at the window directed me to the cashier, which closed at 15:00, and said after I paid to bring Jie back in with me. First trip to the 4th floor where Jie was waiting we attempt to enter. None doing, I could return but Jie would have to wait because the guard was not called to allow Jie to enter. So, back to the 5th floor, obtain another number, and wait to explain again. A young man at the window said to return to the 4th floor, he would call the guard, and we should return. This time admitted, we return the 5th floor, take a number, and wait. Another woman at another window called upon us; sorry we can not do this was the response. Then an American Visa Officer approached the window, and I proceeded to explain our situation. He explained that this may or may not be sufficient for evidence, but he could notarize the document with no guaranty. I also posed the question of Jie’s other documents. He replied that this is not normal, and that the documents may not be accepted at the interview. So we had two choices, a fork in the road, let it ride or postpone.

 

He did explain that rescheduling could push things out a few months for another interview, risk of blue slip at that time, and even postpone things even longer. If we proceeded with the interview we may receive a blue slip, but we would know exactly what the Consulate required.

 

I am not about to lay down was in my mind.

 

Push forward was our choice. I explained to Jie that we may have to return at a later date, and we truly expected a blue slip.

 

We then returned to the room to complete assembly of the P4 docs. 5 hours later we finished with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Yang. In the morning it was off to the medical.

 

11-Oct-2006

 

8:00 Hrs. and off to the Medical College where we were informed an expedited service was impossible. So we go to the clinic next to the White Swan Hotel, and things are a go at 800 RMB for expedite. Before returning to the clinic we make copies of all docs being submitted to the Consulate in the medical packet, and drop off a CD for development of pictures. Returning at 16:00 hrs to the clinic the package was assembled for the Consulate, but the Police, Single, Birth, and divorce docs were not included in the sealed packet. We did get a notice of required documents needed to proceed, and a complete examination report with x-ray tube. We returned to the hotel, went out to eat, and returned to go through the game plan for the mornings interview.

 

12-Oct-2006

 

At 5:00 Hrs I wake to complete assembly of the evidence with Chinese tabs, and write a handwritten letter to the VO.

 

12-October-2006

 

I, Petitioner, apologize for the incompleteness of our documentation required for the scheduled appointment due to misinterpretation. We fully understand the possible outcome of today’s interview, and are in the process of obtaining the required documents for fulfilling the requirements of the United States Consulate, and USCIS for immigration.

Jie means the world to me, and we intend to spend the rest of our lives together, so be it granted in America, or I legally living in China.

Once more, I would like to apologize for the incomplete documentation, and waste of your valuable time. Please have mercy.

 

Not exactly the same words but the same message.

 

6:50 AM we proceed to the Consulate to wait in line. I eased Jie’s nerves by carrying on by joking and being positive that we will be alright. Just delayed a bit longer. She completely understood, and said she would wait as long as it takes. A scan of the invitation and Jie’s passport by the guard, and we were off the 4th floor. The wait began. On the first floor I met another American, and we stopped at the coffee shop beyond the elevators. We exchanged stories of our experiences, and at 10:00 Hrs. his fiancée returned with pink slip in hand with the biggest smile on her face. They proceeded off on their way, and I returned to the 4th floor to wait.

 

At 10:50 Hrs. Jie rounded the corner with a pink slip, and asked for 20 RMB. We returned to the entrance of the Consulate where she returned inside to pay the EMS fee.

 

Now for Jie’s recount of the interview events interpreted by myself. Upon separation at the entrance, she proceeded inside. She said that the first person she talked to told her that she would have to return to her hometown to obtain the white bound books. This was a Guangzhou person. Then the second person repeated the same line, also a Guangzhou person she said.

 

She then took a number and waited.

At the window she said an American Visa Officer greeted her with a smile, and she said “Good Morning.” She said that the smile made her fears disappear.

 

Tell me how is a VO going to smile when no Birth, Single, Police, or Divorce documentation is in their possession?

 

She handed the VO my statement, and he read it then asked for the documents we had collected as the Police, birth, single, and divorce documentation. He looked at them and walked off for 5 to 10 minutes, and returned. He asked is your husband here, and she said yes. Is that his passport the VO said, she said yes, He asked may I see it and she gave it to him through the window, he looked at the 5 visas in my passport and asked her when I visited China, she named the dates, and he handed it back to her. Next he asked her for the I-134, briefly looked at it, kept it, and said why do you love your husband. She said I do not know, and said it was yuan fen. (Here is the true meaning of my member name.) He smiled and said do you have pictures. She handed him the 30 pictures we decided upon, and he scanned them stopping at on and asking are these some clothes that you made that you are wearing? She said yes, he said they are very nice, and scanned the pictures some more, stopping at the picture that was taken at Jing Po of the big group of family and friends for a few minutes. He then smiled and handed her back the pictures. He told her that he wants her to go to his America, and America wants her to come there.

 

IMHO

 

This process is so unpredictable I do not know what to think.

 

 

I am still in shock.

Edited October 15, 2006 by SirLancelot (see edit history)

[chilton747]

With all due respect yuan fen, but I don't understand your story at all.

 

With 699 posts under your belt here at CFL, you're certainly no newbie. How could you two possibly have arrived at GUZ without all the requested documents securely in hand? When your SO signed and returned the P3 back to GUZ, she was suppose to have had all those documents completed. Did she just lie?

 

I can't possibly imagine how you got there without any of these done.

 

It's great that you personally got through this process without playing by any of the rules but as a system of check and balances, that VO should be fired! He or she completely was NOT doing his or her job. Having compassion is one thing, allowing visa applicants to pass interviews without all the proper required documents is a secrity breech.

 

I must agree. Although I am very happy of their outcome, the VO's decision makes absolutley no sense to me. It is VERY ironic that some bring to the interview the kitchen sink and get denied and others are passed without the proper documents.

[RLS]

If all of this is true, then I'm happy for yuan fen and who wouldn't be happy for them. However, the story seems so incredible that one can almost suspect that there are things we don't know about or are not being told. I know if my SO and I were that ill prepared, the VO would probably laugh at us. If it did indeed happen exactly as told, then I agree with Carl - get the visa and get to hell out of Dodge.

Edited October 15, 2006 by RLS (see edit history)