What a nightmare P3 still at customs

[pha]

It's been three months since I received an email from DOS saying that the P3 has been mailed to GUZ. Three months later, DOS tells me a batch is being held up at customs. Everyone who filed around my time has gotten p3, p4, and interview dates. They assure me that it's not my issue, just a batch of them, but I'm beginning to wonder what is going on. Has anyone ever waited this long?

[rondrum42]

Dude,

I know how frustrating this can be! My fiance got the P3, filled it out,

and returned it the end of August. Still no P4, and every time I call

DOS I get a different answer. One Visa "specialist" told me that P3

was received and in the system as of September 12th, the next follow

up call, no P3 received yet! I dont understand how they can be so un-

orginized when your dealing with something so important????

Hang in there, they seem to let things pile up, and then process a bunch at once. GZ has been closed Mon/Tues/Wed, for the Chinese Holiday, so

maybe tomorrow they will start to process more of our cases. We can only hope so.

[Rahm30]

Had you gotten confirmation that packet 3 was mailed out to you? We did and sent ours back to GUZ early, and he got it a day later. You are on the same timeline as me as far as when DOS sent the paperwork to GUZ. Don't worry you should hear something soon. I know how you feel though.

[dnoblett]

Standard operating procedure for GUZ, 3-4 months NVC to P-3

[rondrum42]

Standard operating procedure for GUZ, 3-4 months NVC to P-3

But it seems a though once you get P3, P4 comes a month later,

and interview is usually a month after P4. Thats what I have seen

looking at many many timelines here. Am I right or wrong? Or is this

not always true?

[David&Wendy]

It's been three months since I received an email from DOS saying that the P3 has been mailed to GUZ. Three months later, DOS tells me a batch is being held up at customs. Everyone who filed around my time has gotten p3, p4, and interview dates. They assure me that it's not my issue, just a batch of them, but I'm beginning to wonder what is going on. Has anyone ever waited this long?

 

Only 3 months?

 

My P3 package (the hard copy) left America during the first week of January this year (2007) and it 'officially' arrived and was entered into the GUZ computer May 11. That's only a 5 month sit in the Chinese customs office.

[rogerinca]

Standard operating procedure for GUZ, 3-4 months NVC to P-3

But it seems a though once you get P3, P4 comes a month later,

and interview is usually a month after P4. Thats what I have seen

looking at many many timelines here. Am I right or wrong? Or is this

not always true?

 

 

Yes Ron, I have the same assessment, when looking at David¡¯s stats in FAQS.

 

Generally, this past year, it has been close to a month or maybe five or six weeks, from P-3 to P-4 and the same for P-4 to interview; both for K-1s and the K-3¡¯s.

 

There are of course, issues which come up, either seasonally or administratively, such as when IMBRA was implemented in early 2006 and now with the P-2¡¯s being delayed so much, due to the influx of case files due to so many trying to beat the fee increases and all those 'expedited' H1B¡¯s being dumped on the service centers. I can understand your feelings, when you find your own case is outside of the 'norm'.

[dnoblett]

Standard operating procedure for GUZ, 3-4 months NVC to P-3

But it seems a though once you get P3, P4 comes a month later,

and interview is usually a month after P4. Thats what I have seen

looking at many many timelines here. Am I right or wrong? Or is this

not always true?

NVC is in the USA, it takes 3-4 months for the package to get from USA to GUZ. after that it is "Received" and is on the other side of Customs clearance, it is now "IN CHINA" P3-P4-Interview tends to be 1 month intervals.

 

This is even noted on GUZ website:

The CIS approved my K-1 petition a while ago, but your office has not yet received it. Can you set up a provisional case for me before my original file from the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) arrives?

 

Due to the high volume of K-1 applications we process, we are unable to set up provisional cases before we receive the I-129 petition from CIS.

 

How will I know when U.S. Consulate Guangzhou receives my petition?

 

Once we receive your petition, we will send you a packet of instructions.

 

Can the Consulate begin processing my application before my petition arrives?

 

No. Fiancée visa processing begins only when we receive your petition. Our office will not be able to answer questions about your case or take any action until the original petition is received from the CIS.

 

How long does it usually take for the Consulate to receive the K-1 petition?

 

We normally receive K-1 visa petitions three months after they are sent out from the National Visa Center.

http://guangzhou.usconsulate.gov/kvfaq.html

 

P3-P4 timing is due to the large case load at the consulate.

 

NOTHING operates at light speed, when bureaucracies are concerned.

 

The system was not designed with the NOW generation in mind, China's bureaucracies are especially slow, it took Yu 6 months to get a lost ID card replaced. The Chinese are use to slow handling of things.

 

Yu and I knew this before beginning the process, and hunkered down for the long run and the months passed quickly.

 

A line form the the Old 70's "Kung Fu" series: "Patience Grasshopper!"

Edited October 3, 2007 by dnoblett (see edit history)

[rondrum42]

Yes Master.

I feel like David Carradine. (getting kicked and beat with a stick) LOL

[pha]

@ David&Wendy

 

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[michaelt]

Standard operating procedure for GUZ, 3-4 months NVC to P-3

But it seems a though once you get P3, P4 comes a month later,

and interview is usually a month after P4. Thats what I have seen

looking at many many timelines here. Am I right or wrong? Or is this

not always true?

See my timeline. This is where we are at. I'm sure you're not far from hearing.

[dnoblett]

Yes Master.

I feel like David Carradine. (getting kicked and beat with a stick) LOL

Now that does conjure up images, like the pot of hot coals with dragon branding irons carried between the fore arms!

[pha]

Um...

 

I don't mean to be picky. But I actually feel much worse after posting this. (Not usually the case here). It seems like everyone who answered had nvc to p3 times of about 2 and a half months. Except David and Wendy. I'm going on 3 and a half months now (but I haven't even heard that the consulate has received my file, which means even after that it will be about 2 weeks before it gets mailed out). Also, the post took a turn and everyone seemed to start talking about their estimated p3-p4 and p4-interview dates. I'm still waiting for any info about my p3. Feeling more isolated than ever.

[mchina34]

It's been three months since I received an email from DOS saying that the P3 has been mailed to GUZ. Three months later, DOS tells me a batch is being held up at customs. Everyone who filed around my time has gotten p3, p4, and interview dates. They assure me that it's not my issue, just a batch of them, but I'm beginning to wonder what is going on. Has anyone ever waited this long?

 

Only 3 months?

 

My P3 package (the hard copy) left America during the first week of January this year (2007) and it 'officially' arrived and was entered into the GUZ computer May 11. That's only a 5 month sit in the Chinese customs office.

 

 

I smell BS. I don't believe their BS about it sitting in Chinese customs. I think they are just passing the buck. If you ship something fedex it takes a 1 or 2 at most to get though their customs unless it's something suspect. Just because it's government documents (which you'd think be as quick or quicker as commercial and private) shouldn't take 3 months to have a little stamp put on.

 

 

 

```Rumorville```: the staff at Guz has been cut in half. anyone else hear this?

[rogerinca]

Um...

 

I don't mean to be picky. But I actually feel much worse after posting this. (Not usually the case here). It seems like everyone who answered had nvc to p3 times of about 2 and a half months. Except David and Wendy. I'm going on 3 and a half months now (but I haven't even heard that the consulate has received my file, which means even after that it will be about 2 weeks before it gets mailed out). Also, the post took a turn and everyone seemed to start talking about their estimated p3-p4 and p4-interview dates. I'm still waiting for any info about my p3. Feeling more isolated than ever.

 

 

Don¡¯t become depressed !! My guess is, you will be hearing some good news very soon !!

 

These things seem to run in crazy little cycles.

 

First, there were those of us who got caught up in the CSC computer glitches, wherein the NOA-1¡¯s were being delayed.

 

Then most recently, those of us at the CSC, are caught up in the race to file before the fee increases, and the truckload of H1B¡¯s being dumped at the service center, wherein we are now waiting weeks/months longer for the NOA-2.

 

You may have just been caught up in a mini-glitch at the GUZ mini-storage venue, and I am sure it will pop out very soon for you and you will have your P-3 and P-4 together very fast, in close order.

 

Keep us apprised !!