What I experienced at the Consulate

[tsap seui]

I hope this helps to take a bit of the anxiety and newness of going to the Consulate off of someone. I had my share of them both when I went so I tried to remember everything to post here.

 

I got to Guangzhou 8 days ahead of our interview and purposely didn't get my handwritten, new, letters of intent to marry and evolution of relationship certified in the states so that I could go up to the consulate and check it out while I got them certified there.

 

You walk in the main floor entrance, dodge all the pretty ladies with their official badges, bells, and whistles trying to hustle you into the lawyer's office and restaurants and walk up the escalator to the second floor, and keep walking around to the next escalator to the third floor, follow the hall to the next escalator for the fourth floor and once on the fourth floor you'll see the entrance to the consulate on your immediate right, Raymond Lau's visa services is to your left. You give a guard your passport and they wave you thru to the escalator to the fifth floor. Here you empty your pockets and hand over anything you're carrying and walk thru the scanner (like an airport). They'll keep cell phones, knives, B-40 rocket launchers, etc. and give you a number for them.

 

Just ahead is where you get notorizations and such and you take a number as you walk in and have a seat. Your number gets called and you go up to the window to state your business. In my case the lady took my letters and I was sent to pay for my notorizations at window 16. While there I got to look at and walk around the empty interview room. I got to get a feel for where my girlfriend and her son would have their interview as it was around 2:00pm so the joy and the heartbreak for that day was over.

 

After paying the fee I head back to the initial room and hand over my receit and am told to have a seat and my name will be called. My name is called and I go up to get the certified forms. Get the forms and walk back thru a set of doors behind me to pick up my cell phone and head back down to the fourth floor. Here you get a bunch more attention from more beautiful ladies trying to pull you in to buy airline tickets from the many airline offices as you make your way to and around "the coffee shop", where you'll await your little darlin' when she has her interview. Back down the next escalators and a quick ride down an elevator to the main hall and once you extricate yourself from the mob of "official" ladies your tour is over and you can now step back into hot sweaty Guangzhou.

 

 

 

 

 

On interview day...we had a 7:15AM appointment and from what I had learned on CFL it doesn't really make a hill of beans what time you get in line, we stepped into the line at 7:30AM.

 

Getting in line at 6:30AM wouldn't guarantee your lady anything other than a longer time sitting in the interview room as all the ladies get their fingerprints done and the interviews don't start until 9:00AM after the swearing in. Plus the interview numbers are called in random number. Number 2201 may get you a 9:00AM interview, or it may get you a 11:15AM interview.

 

There will be two large mobs (Chinese for lines) out front of the building and you want to get into the left mob (Immigration) line. There will be guards at the front of each mob and guards walking around talking on a bullhorn. When they start letting people in the guards will look at your lady's P-4 interview letter and I think National ID card, and then they pass you and her into the building, and you make your way back up to that fourth floor.

 

On our interview day there was only one other American male there with his lady and nothing was said about us getting out of the mob...er...ah... line with our ladys. Also, I only saw a couple of ladies that might have had a half inch of interview material (besides their P-4 and medical package and x-ray tube) the majority might have had a quarter inch of interview materials in their plastic shopping bags....LOL...so much for being well prepared, huh? Here we stood with my old wheeled double briefcase stuffed with organized folders, gathered from 9 months of research....I can only laugh at myself now, as I later only saw three of those small shopping bag ladies get blue slips and many more others with pink slips. One in particular came running into the coffee shop with her pink slip, an awesome quarter inch of evidence in her plastic shopping bag, and my girlfriend's niece translated her as saying she had only been asked two questions (who is the petitioner?...where does he live?) by a male American VO, and then given a pink slip.

 

Anyhow, you get up to the fourth floor, your lady shows her interview letter to the consulate and you wish her luck as you make your way over to the coffee shop for a sit down and a read of a good book....I read part of "The Borne Ultimaitum" that day, smoked a couple of Chinese ceegars, handrolled by Chairman Mao hisowndamnself, and talked and joked with my girlfriend's niece as we waited.

 

Shortly before noon there was a flash of white by the coffee shop entrance as my girlfriend in her new white dress sped by pulling my wheeled double briefcase. I jumped up to chase her down and in the process left a burning hand rolled Chinese ceegar in an ashtray.

 

When I first saw her face my heart stopped as knowing what a jokester she is I literally thought her facial expression was telling me she had gotten the pink...oh Gawd...one close look into those deep dark eyes and my world fell apart. There were no tears, but her almost black eyes were "blue." We hardly talked until we got back to the Yang's and I got my first look at the blue slip.

 

 

 

For ACH, just go up to the fifth floor and there will be a roped off path that leads down and around into the interview room where you get in line to one of the interview windows where you will get a number and an info sheet asking for the case number and any comments or questions you care to put on it. I just put the case number, and "blue slip" in the comments section, and waited my time. There were 5 VO's calling numbers (in order this time) and I got a look at the sixities something American lady that had given my girlfriend a blue slip...but I didn't get called to her window and my Chinese was not good enough to offer $50 to the Chinese lady who got called to her window, to change numbers with me...DAMMIT

 

 

Good luck to any of you going to Guangzhou and may your lady get a pink slip.

 

tsap seui

 

Oh yeah, do prepare well, I wasn't being sarcastic up above, only having a laugh at myself

Edited August 17, 2007 by tsap seui (see edit history)

[chilton747]

Thanks buddy for sharing the experience. You humor is awesome dude. One day soon you and your wife will look back at this experience and probably find some more humor in this story. Did you get your rocket launcher back?

[IllinoisDave]

Thanks for the great info tsap. I'm copying it and taking it with me to GUZ for interview day.

Under the circumstances, it's incredibly unselfish of you to take the time to write up your experience. You both have shown great character and sense of humor throughout this ordeal.

 

I look forward to your write-ups about a successful overcome and your wonderful SO's inevitable arrival in the US.

 

Best of luck and thanks again.

[tsap seui]

Thanks guys.

 

I truly hope the "tour guide" helps a bit Dave, and any others making the trek to good ol' Guangzhou. I made some notes and tried to remember the layout and experience because it sucks to not know where the hell to go and how the game is played.

 

The girls trying to pull you into their boss's offices are really no bother and with my demented sense of humor I found it all quite comical.

 

If you're going to ACH, to get a notorization, or simply seekin' to check the Consulate out just walk thru the big doors of the building and you'll instantly be out of the oppresive heat of Guangzhou. Act like you're a man on a mission and walk straight to the escalator on your left. If you stop and look unsure of yourself you'll quickly have a crowd to say "no need" to.

 

If you want to take a look around, go up to the Consulate around 2:00pm and let the guard look at your passport on the 4th floor at the top of the escalator on your right. Go up the next escalator, hand over your hardware at the security/scanner, and walk straight into the Consulate office. You can grab a number if you need to carry out some business or you can just turn left once in the office and walk thru a glass door to see where your girlfriend/wife will get her interview. I found it sorta comfortin' to actually look around at the interview windows and the empty seats. This is also the room where you'll go for ACH.

 

I don't have much to offer in the way of forms and evidence help but I thought I'd try and pay back the help I got from many CFL members by helping others who might be going to Guangzhou for their lady's interview.

 

Another note of interest...When my girlfriend's niece and I were hanging out in the coffee shop there was a young Chinese lady who I thought was working in the coffee shop (she took our orders and brought our drinks and food to us). She speaks decent english and it turns out she actually works for Raymond Lau's office (at the top of the 4th floor escalator on your immediate left). Raymond is an "immigration specialist" and if you should encounter a problem he'll look over your paperwork for free and and look for any problems and give you free advice (similar to the lawyer on the main floor on your right as you walk into the main lobby.

 

Raymond Lau couldn't see what the exact problem with our interview was, gave my girlfriend and her niece some free advice, and told them that if we used his services that he took a retainer of 3,000 yuan and gave it back if he didn't get you a visa.

 

After my ACH visit, we chose to wait and see what the Consulate decides on our case before we hired a specialist or attorney. Now we know the options close at hand if we get denied again.

 

Good luck to you guys and your lady's.

 

tsap seui

 

sniff..sniff...they didn't give my B-40 rocket launcher back...shucks, my crewchief had picked it up off a NVA soldier's body in an LZ (landing zone) in Cambodia and I had been carryin' it around like a "blanky" ever since...sniff...sniff...dadgumit

Edited August 18, 2007 by tsap seui (see edit history)

[ChrisA]

tsap seui,

 

I've been there a couple of times, seeking information from GUZ, got more info from one of the offices downstairs than I got from GUZ and as you can guess I wasn't happy with the rsults. Yes, it's easy to get lost inside that building, plus walking in a circle going out. After I came out my Lao Po thought I was mad at her but I wasn't, it was with GUZ and there answer to seek the info via the USCIS website.

[DongDong]

Thanks for the tour, Tsap!

[tsap seui]

My God guys....that post seems like it was 10 years ago!!! Heck, that was back when we truly thought the consulate was staffed by honest americans.

 

I re-read that post and thought of how I felt at that time, the fresh hope and expectations the lil' rabbit and I had back then. I had just been told at ACH that our case looked very strong and that the VO thought in a month month and a half we should be getting a letter from the consulate....9 freakin' months ago I was told that lie.

 

The lil' rabbit and I have grown up so much since that interview. I talked to her this morning for 3 hours, and then (1 1/2 hours ago) just before she went to sleep we talked another 1/2 hour. We barely spoke of the remote chance that the consulate is going to ever wake up to their mistake and issue her a visa. We spoke more of my living in China and the possibilities of where we would live while I taught english. We talked about our family in China, "our" 12 year old son, his education in China, we spoke of mama and baba and her older brothers....we spoke about out truly bona fide relationship, our commitment to each other.

 

It is really sad to see that this beautiful lil' woman with a heart larger that the consulate buiding is going to be denied by heartless disgusting american visa terrorists, and we will NEVER know what the F they are even looking at or thinking about. It will be america's loss that this lil' woman so full of happiness and joy will be denied to shine like a star on america's shores... my father and sister and brother and their families will most likely never get to meet the lil' rabbit and it will be years before my daughter gets to meet this special angel.

 

Uncle Sam has lost his path, one day there will be no one to defend him.

 

Chris and DongDong, I hope the best for you with your visa quests for your beautiful ladies. I truly hope they both get the "3 lil' questions, who cares about the financials, and here's yer pink slip".

 

tsap seui

Edited April 20, 2008 by tsap seui (see edit history)

[ChrisA]

I feel for you tsap, I know it isn't easy and any kind of information is better than the standard reply letter, and then letting you and the rest of family sit and wait in the unknown for such a long period of time. It would be better for them to come out and say it, instead drag your heart around for 9 months.

 

I know it's not fair and other will say the same thing in support of your effort, but then again GUZ is following there polices and then again if they were in your shoes they wouldn't be very happy either.

 

Kept your feet on the ground and kept reaching for the Stars, your time will come.

[tsap seui]

I feel for you tsap, I know it isn't easy and any kind of information is better than the standard reply letter, and then letting you and the rest of family sit and wait in the unknown for such a long period of time. It would be better for them to come out and say it, instead drag your heart around for 9 months.

 

I know it's not fair and other will say the same thing in support of your effort, but then again GUZ is following there polices and then again if they were in your shoes they wouldn't be very happy either.

 

Kept your feet on the ground and kept reaching for the Stars, your time will come.

 

Thanks for the words Chris.

 

Our feet are firmly planted on the ground and our time WILL come...it's just gonna come in China as it looks at this point.

 

We're gonna be okay. We have found ourselves in each other and those visa terrorists in GUZ have no clue how loving and bona fide our relationship is. Visa or no visa....it ain't gonna make much difference, other than who learns Mandarin and who learns english.

 

Please don't let our story make you worry. You'll be okay at interview time. Our path probably never was meant to be in america.

 

tsap seui

[ChrisA]

tsap,

 

It's your faith that will keep you two together regardless of what the outcome is.

 

Should the same thing happen to us, I have no problem living anywhere in the world other than the Middle-East. I spend 27 years living in Europe, so as you can see anything is fine with me, as long as I'm happy and comfortable where I'm living.

 

At least there is one good positive, you won't have to worry about getting shot in a drive-by there as you would have to here.

[jimncherry]

My God guys....that post seems like it was 10 years ago!!! Heck, that was back when we truly thought the consulate was staffed by honest americans.

 

I re-read that post and thought of how I felt at that time, the fresh hope and expectations the lil' rabbit and I had back then. I had just been told at ACH that our case looked very strong and that the VO thought in a month month and a half we should be getting a letter from the consulate....9 freakin' months ago I was told that lie.

 

The lil' rabbit and I have grown up so much since that interview. I talked to her this morning for 3 hours, and then (1 1/2 hours ago) just before she went to sleep we talked another 1/2 hour. We barely spoke of the remote chance that the consulate is going to ever wake up to their mistake and issue her a visa. We spoke more of my living in China and the possibilities of where we would live while I taught english. We talked about our family in China, "our" 12 year old son, his education in China, we spoke of mama and baba and her older brothers....we spoke about out truly bona fide relationship, our commitment to each other.

 

It is really sad to see that this beautiful lil' woman with a heart larger that the consulate buiding is going to be denied by heartless disgusting american visa terrorists, and we will NEVER know what the F they are even looking at or thinking about. It will be america's loss that this lil' woman so full of happiness and joy will be denied to shine like a star on america's shores... my father and sister and brother and their families will most likely never get to meet the lil' rabbit and it will be years before my daughter gets to meet this special angel.

 

Uncle Sam has lost his path, one day there will be no one to defend him.

 

Chris and DongDong, I hope the best for you with your visa quests for your beautiful ladies. I truly hope they both get the "3 lil' questions, who cares about the financials, and here's yer pink slip".

 

tsap seui

 

I feel for you my cfl friend. I truly wish our cfl friends could help you somehow. Maybe, we should bombard them with letters and emails to show how much you care for your lil rabbit. You have helped us all with your knowledge, humor, stories, and kindness. You probably know more about the process than most of us in the CFL family. I hope you continue to stay with the CFL family. If I could do anything for you, let us know. I think so many of the cfl family would join in and help to. Continue the fight my friend. I wish you the best and hope that one wish we all want comes your way soon. When that happens, I want to be the first one to say "Congratulations..."

 

jimncherry

[ChrisA]

I, 2nd the the Motion

[ChrisA]

How would John Wayne say it, showing True Grit.

[tsap seui]

My God guys....that post seems like it was 10 years ago!!! Heck, that was back when we truly thought the consulate was staffed by honest americans.

 

I re-read that post and thought of how I felt at that time, the fresh hope and expectations the lil' rabbit and I had back then. I had just been told at ACH that our case looked very strong and that the VO thought in a month month and a half we should be getting a letter from the consulate....9 freakin' months ago I was told that lie.

 

The lil' rabbit and I have grown up so much since that interview. I talked to her this morning for 3 hours, and then (1 1/2 hours ago) just before she went to sleep we talked another 1/2 hour. We barely spoke of the remote chance that the consulate is going to ever wake up to their mistake and issue her a visa. We spoke more of my living in China and the possibilities of where we would live while I taught english. We talked about our family in China, "our" 12 year old son, his education in China, we spoke of mama and baba and her older brothers....we spoke about out truly bona fide relationship, our commitment to each other.

 

It is really sad to see that this beautiful lil' woman with a heart larger that the consulate buiding is going to be denied by heartless disgusting american visa terrorists, and we will NEVER know what the F they are even looking at or thinking about. It will be america's loss that this lil' woman so full of happiness and joy will be denied to shine like a star on america's shores... my father and sister and brother and their families will most likely never get to meet the lil' rabbit and it will be years before my daughter gets to meet this special angel.

 

Uncle Sam has lost his path, one day there will be no one to defend him.

 

Chris and DongDong, I hope the best for you with your visa quests for your beautiful ladies. I truly hope they both get the "3 lil' questions, who cares about the financials, and here's yer pink slip".

 

tsap seui

 

I feel for you my cfl friend. I truly wish our cfl friends could help you somehow. Maybe, we should bombard them with letters and emails to show how much you care for your lil rabbit. You have helped us all with your knowledge, humor, stories, and kindness. You probably know more about the process than most of us in the CFL family. I hope you continue to stay with the CFL family. If I could do anything for you, let us know. I think so many of the cfl family would join in and help to. Continue the fight my friend. I wish you the best and hope that one wish we all want comes your way soon. When that happens, I want to be the first one to say "Congratulations..."

 

jimncherry

 

Jim, and to you Chris...thank you very much for your words. And thank you for your trying to think of ways to help us out. Those kind thoughts will come back to give you good Jim.

 

This debacle with minor government officials with huge powers over peoples lives takes it's toll but the lil' rabbit and I try to stay positive and happy. It's now over 9 months of time lost together that we can never regain. We are honest people, have done nothing wrong, were more prepared than most for that interview, and are treated as criminals by our government.

 

Well, I take that back...we are being treated LESS than criminals by our government...criminals have rights...criminals get their charges and accusations read to them, we get none of that. We are non-entities. My voluteering to serve my country when everyone around me was dodging the draft and protesting america counts for less than nothing

 

Well, it's a dog eat dog world, no one said life is fair. The lil' rabbit and I have eaten an awful lot of shit and lies from Uncle Sam and his damned DOS over the last 9 months....but we're still standing, and we're lots stronger as a couple, and as a family unit with our son.

 

Visa, or no damned visa...Uncle Sam and his midgets are powerless to stop our love and bona fide relationship...nor will that bitter dried up prune of an old american female VO in GUZ ever have the fortune to understand the happiness that we have.

 

You guys keep positive thoughts and get yer ladys ready for thier interview. They will do just fine and you'll soon be living your dream.

 

No matter what life gives ya....happiness is always optional, and it's totally up to YOU.

 

tsap seui

[Guest Rob & Jin]