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Sunshine got the pink!

I love Sunshine

By I love Sunshine,
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I love Sunshine

I love Sunshine

Posted
Posted

Prior to the interview:

 

After an uneasy night with little sleep, Sunshine got to the line in front of the consulate around 7:20. By this time, the lines were already quite long. A guard with a bullhorn was speaking to the crowd. Sunshine found 4 other 001 friends, including 2 that we met the night before at the Westin (one was CR-1 from Shanghai like Sunshine, the other was a K-1 from Liaoning). Her friends had arrived early and so were close to the front of the line. Other guards were busy shooing other bystanders as far back as possible, and didn't want me to take a photo of the queue (which I did and will post later).

 

Overall, I was a bit surprised at the casual dress of the people waiting in line, many of whom had been preparing for a good part of a year for this big moment. Many were wearing jeans and tennis shoes and a t-shirt. Sunshine and her friends dressed in business attire, and I think that helped their confidence. She had heard in 001 that the waiting area was cold, so brought a business jacket, but the temperature was just fine. I think like most places, the waiting area is really cold when it is hot outside (overcompensation for the outside temperature). The temperature that October morning was quite nice.

 

The other girl from Shanghai remarked that most people in line appeared to be from villages, but to Shanghai people, everywhere in China but Shanghai is a village!

 

Sunshine went up around 7:35, and I carried her heavy bag with the kitchen sink up to the 4th floor, as far as I could, and she went up to the 5th floor. She got her fingerprints done and took the oath with all the others. The Liaoning friend, whom I thought would get a blue slip (one visit by her SO, couldn't speak any English, SO not in attendance) went up first. She left after her interview and the others couldn't locate her, but she claimed later she got the pink as well.

 

The Shanghai girl and Sunshine were called at about the same time. Sunshine's VO was a younger man she remarked was handsome. He was the same VO that took her (and others) fingerprints, but different from the one I met at ACH.

 

The interview:

 

She approached his window clutching the lump of documents in folders, passports visible on top.

 

VO: (in Mandarin) May I have the two passports?

SO: (gives her passport and mine to him)

 

VO: (in Mandarin) may I have the I-134 and taxes?

SO: (gives them to him in a plastic folder)

 

When she passes the I-134 and tax forms to him, she notices she didn't take them out of the plastic folder she had them in. Sunshine said (in English) "Oh, sorry!"

 

VO: (smiles, says in English) That's ok.

 

From then on, the entire interview was given in English, a natural change without the VO even asking if she wanted to interview in English or not.

 

VO: When and how did you two meet?

SO: Hongqiao Airport. Gives the exact date in May 2005

 

VO: How many times has be been over to see you?

SO: We lived together before when he was in China, but he has been here 7 times since he went back last year. I have a sheet that gives details (she holds up an excel spreadsheet that gives details of our itineraries to the glass window and the VO glances at it). Do you want to see this?

 

VO: (after a brief glance) No, that is ok.

 

VO: When did your fiancee get divorced?

SO: In February of this year.

 

VO: Was he married when you two met?

SO: Yes, but he separated from his ex wife in 2004. I have documents if you need them.

 

(she gives him my ex-wife's certified copy of her re-marriage license to another guy, which I found in a public record search, and her 2006 taxes. He takes them and enters her SSN into the computer and gives them back to her).

 

SO: Do you need to see his divorce certificate?

VO: No, that is ok.

 

VO: Do you have photos?

SO: (gives him one of the two albums, with photos dated and labeled).

 

He looks through them quickly, then returns them. The VO then signed his name on a document and reached around and got a pink piece of paper. When Sunshine saw this, she was visibly happy with a big smile, and the VO smiled back at her reaction. She came down about 10:30, a very happy girl with the radiant smile I love so much!

 

The VO kept the information I had in support of the I-134, but Sunshine said this is normal and we should get this back when she picks up her visa. I only worry about this because it has some original check stubs and letters written by my university; I imagine I will need these documents again for AOS. Anyone else know if these will be returned with the visa?

 

Some other notes:

 

Her friend from Shanghai was interviewed at the same time and got a pink slip as well. The friend (a CR-1) had been to the US many times on business trips and received many questions from her VO on why she went to the USA previously.

 

While waiting in the 4th floor coffee shop, I met a retired American man who was living in Beijing and had been married for 3 years. His wife could not speak English and he spoke little or no Mandarin and therefore had to rely on family members of hers to communicate sometimes. I can only imagine how much patience they must have for each other. His wife came down and showed her blue slip for not having an I-134 or I-864 (there was one box checked that mentioned an absence of one or the other form). He mentioned he gave the form to the embassy last year when he applied for a tourist visa for her (she was denied this visa) and seemed unhappy that the US Consulate didn't just locate the I-134 from last year. I mentioned this website and told him how it would help him know what to expect. He did mention that the visa consultants ("vultures") that wait for people leaving with blue slips offered to look over her case prior to her interview for $300 to advise her on her chances. $300??? Wow!

 

The bottom line:

  • I strongly believe going to ACH helped my case, particularly because my financial situation was not straightforward in 2006. Going to ACH allowed me to explain it prior to her interview.
     
  • The hotel we stayed in was great. It was the Grand Palace Hotel, very close to the consulate building. It will be difficult for your SO to get a good night's sleep before her interview, but this place was comfortable.
     
  • Most of the documents we prepared, like chat records, weren't asked for. However, with a 2.5 year history, 7 visits to China in the last year, having lived together, and me having previously lived and worked in China, our relationship was pretty evident.
     
  • There was a lot of focus on my ex-wife, particularly since my divorce was recent. Having her 2006 taxes (we must exchange them for child support reasons) was helpful and having her SSN was important to the VO. At ACH, I also gave her US naturalization certificate number and the approximate date of her citizenship.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many great people here on CFL, and I think this made a big difference in my confidence and Sunshine's confidence too. I saw lots of others leave with blue slips (all were girls leaving alone, not with their SO), so being there in GZ with her also made a difference, at least to Sunshine.

 

I hope this is helpful to others. Sunshine said the EMS number the Consulate gave her is not in the computer as of now, even though this is the second day. I don't know if her visa issuance will be delayed, but getting the pink is the big victory for us.

 

Thanks again CFL!

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Guest Rob & Jin

Guest Rob & Jin

Posted
Posted

Prior to the interview:

 

After an uneasy night with little sleep, Sunshine got to the line in front of the consulate around 7:20. By this time, the lines were already quite long. A guard with a bullhorn was speaking to the crowd. Sunshine found 4 other 001 friends, including 2 that we met the night before at the Westin (one was CR-1 from Shanghai like Sunshine, the other was a K-1 from Liaoning). Her friends had arrived early and so were close to the front of the line. Other guards were busy shooing other bystanders as far back as possible, and didn't want me to take a photo of the queue (which I did and will post later).

 

Overall, I was a bit surprised at the casual dress of the people waiting in line, many of whom had been preparing for a good part of a year for this big moment. Many were wearing jeans and tennis shoes and a t-shirt. Sunshine and her friends dressed in business attire, and I think that helped their confidence. She had heard in 001 that the waiting area was cold, so brought a business jacket, but the temperature was just fine. I think like most places, the waiting area is really cold when it is hot outside (overcompensation for the outside temperature). The temperature that October morning was quite nice.

 

The other girl from Shanghai remarked that most people in line appeared to be from villages, but to Shanghai people, everywhere in China but Shanghai is a village!

 

Sunshine went up around 7:35, and I carried her heavy bag with the kitchen sink up to the 4th floor, as far as I could, and she went up to the 5th floor. She got her fingerprints done and took the oath with all the others. The Liaoning friend, whom I thought would get a blue slip (one visit by her SO, couldn't speak any English, SO not in attendance) went up first. She left after her interview and the others couldn't locate her, but she claimed later she got the pink as well.

 

The Shanghai girl and Sunshine were called at about the same time. Sunshine's VO was a younger man she remarked was handsome. He was the same VO that took her (and others) fingerprints, but different from the one I met at ACH.

 

The interview:

 

She approached his window clutching the lump of documents in folders, passports visible on top.

 

VO: (in Mandarin) May I have the two passports?

SO: (gives her passport and mine to him)

 

VO: (in Mandarin) may I have the I-134 and taxes?

SO: (gives them to him in a plastic folder)

 

When she passes the I-134 and tax forms to him, she notices she didn't take them out of the plastic folder she had them in. Sunshine said (in English) "Oh, sorry!"

 

VO: (smiles, says in English) That's ok.

 

From then on, the entire interview was given in English, a natural change without the VO even asking if she wanted to interview in English or not.

 

VO: When and how did you two meet?

SO: Hongqiao Airport. Gives the exact date in May 2005

 

VO: How many times has be been over to see you?

SO: We lived together before when he was in China, but he has been here 7 times since he went back last year. I have a sheet that gives details (she holds up an excel spreadsheet that gives details of our itineraries to the glass window and the VO glances at it). Do you want to see this?

 

VO: (after a brief glance) No, that is ok.

 

VO: When did your fiancee get divorced?

SO: In February of this year.

 

VO: Was he married when you two met?

SO: Yes, but he separated from his ex wife in 2004. I have documents if you need them.

 

(she gives him my ex-wife's certified copy of her re-marriage license to another guy, which I found in a public record search, and her 2006 taxes. He takes them and enters her SSN into the computer and gives them back to her).

 

SO: Do you need to see his divorce certificate?

VO: No, that is ok.

 

VO: Do you have photos?

SO: (gives him one of the two albums, with photos dated and labeled).

 

He looks through them quickly, then returns them. The VO then signed his name on a document and reached around and got a pink piece of paper. When Sunshine saw this, she was visibly happy with a big smile, and the VO smiled back at her reaction. She came down about 10:30, a very happy girl with the radiant smile I love so much!

 

The VO kept the information I had in support of the I-134, but Sunshine said this is normal and we should get this back when she picks up her visa. I only worry about this because it has some original check stubs and letters written by my university; I imagine I will need these documents again for AOS. Anyone else know if these will be returned with the visa?

 

Some other notes:

 

Her friend from Shanghai was interviewed at the same time and got a pink slip as well. The friend (a CR-1) had been to the US many times on business trips and received many questions from her VO on why she went to the USA previously.

 

While waiting in the 4th floor coffee shop, I met a retired American man who was living in Beijing and had been married for 3 years. His wife could not speak English and he spoke little or no Mandarin and therefore had to rely on family members of hers to communicate sometimes. I can only imagine how much patience they must have for each other. His wife came down and showed her blue slip for not having an I-134 or I-864 (there was one box checked that mentioned an absence of one or the other form). He mentioned he gave the form to the embassy last year when he applied for a tourist visa for her (she was denied this visa) and seemed unhappy that the US Consulate didn't just locate the I-134 from last year. I mentioned this website and told him how it would help him know what to expect. He did mention that the visa consultants ("vultures") that wait for people leaving with blue slips offered to look over her case prior to her interview for $300 to advise her on her chances. $300??? Wow!

 

The bottom line:

  • I strongly believe going to ACH helped my case, particularly because my financial situation was not straightforward in 2006. Going to ACH allowed me to explain it prior to her interview.
     
  • The hotel we stayed in was great. It was the Grand Palace Hotel, very close to the consulate building. It will be difficult for your SO to get a good night's sleep before her interview, but this place was comfortable.
     
  • Most of the documents we prepared, like chat records, weren't asked for. However, with a 2.5 year history, 7 visits to China in the last year, having lived together, and me having previously lived and worked in China, our relationship was pretty evident.
     
  • There was a lot of focus on my ex-wife, particularly since my divorce was recent. Having her 2006 taxes (we must exchange them for child support reasons) was helpful and having her SSN was important to the VO. At ACH, I also gave her US naturalization certificate number and the approximate date of her citizenship.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many great people here on CFL, and I think this made a big difference in my confidence and Sunshine's confidence too. I saw lots of others leave with blue slips (all were girls leaving alone, not with their SO), so being there in GZ with her also made a difference, at least to Sunshine.

 

I hope this is helpful to others. Sunshine said the EMS number the Consulate gave her is not in the computer as of now, even though this is the second day. I don't know if her visa issuance will be delayed, but getting the pink is the big victory for us.

 

Thanks again CFL!

 

Thanks for the insightfull acount, go have fun. :ph34r:

Link to comment
Shenzhen K-1

Shenzhen K-1

Posted
Posted

Prior to the interview:

 

After an uneasy night with little sleep, Sunshine got to the line in front of the consulate around 7:20. By this time, the lines were already quite long. A guard with a bullhorn was speaking to the crowd. Sunshine found 4 other 001 friends, including 2 that we met the night before at the Westin (one was CR-1 from Shanghai like Sunshine, the other was a K-1 from Liaoning). Her friends had arrived early and so were close to the front of the line. Other guards were busy shooing other bystanders as far back as possible, and didn't want me to take a photo of the queue (which I did and will post later).

 

Overall, I was a bit surprised at the casual dress of the people waiting in line, many of whom had been preparing for a good part of a year for this big moment. Many were wearing jeans and tennis shoes and a t-shirt. Sunshine and her friends dressed in business attire, and I think that helped their confidence. She had heard in 001 that the waiting area was cold, so brought a business jacket, but the temperature was just fine. I think like most places, the waiting area is really cold when it is hot outside (overcompensation for the outside temperature). The temperature that October morning was quite nice.

 

The other girl from Shanghai remarked that most people in line appeared to be from villages, but to Shanghai people, everywhere in China but Shanghai is a village!

 

Sunshine went up around 7:35, and I carried her heavy bag with the kitchen sink up to the 4th floor, as far as I could, and she went up to the 5th floor. She got her fingerprints done and took the oath with all the others. The Liaoning friend, whom I thought would get a blue slip (one visit by her SO, couldn't speak any English, SO not in attendance) went up first. She left after her interview and the others couldn't locate her, but she claimed later she got the pink as well.

 

The Shanghai girl and Sunshine were called at about the same time. Sunshine's VO was a younger man she remarked was handsome. He was the same VO that took her (and others) fingerprints, but different from the one I met at ACH.

 

The interview:

 

She approached his window clutching the lump of documents in folders, passports visible on top.

 

VO: (in Mandarin) May I have the two passports?

SO: (gives her passport and mine to him)

 

VO: (in Mandarin) may I have the I-134 and taxes?

SO: (gives them to him in a plastic folder)

 

When she passes the I-134 and tax forms to him, she notices she didn't take them out of the plastic folder she had them in. Sunshine said (in English) "Oh, sorry!"

 

VO: (smiles, says in English) That's ok.

 

From then on, the entire interview was given in English, a natural change without the VO even asking if she wanted to interview in English or not.

 

VO: When and how did you two meet?

SO: Hongqiao Airport. Gives the exact date in May 2005

 

VO: How many times has be been over to see you?

SO: We lived together before when he was in China, but he has been here 7 times since he went back last year. I have a sheet that gives details (she holds up an excel spreadsheet that gives details of our itineraries to the glass window and the VO glances at it). Do you want to see this?

 

VO: (after a brief glance) No, that is ok.

 

VO: When did your fiancee get divorced?

SO: In February of this year.

 

VO: Was he married when you two met?

SO: Yes, but he separated from his ex wife in 2004. I have documents if you need them.

 

(she gives him my ex-wife's certified copy of her re-marriage license to another guy, which I found in a public record search, and her 2006 taxes. He takes them and enters her SSN into the computer and gives them back to her).

 

SO: Do you need to see his divorce certificate?

VO: No, that is ok.

 

VO: Do you have photos?

SO: (gives him one of the two albums, with photos dated and labeled).

 

He looks through them quickly, then returns them. The VO then signed his name on a document and reached around and got a pink piece of paper. When Sunshine saw this, she was visibly happy with a big smile, and the VO smiled back at her reaction. She came down about 10:30, a very happy girl with the radiant smile I love so much!

 

The VO kept the information I had in support of the I-134, but Sunshine said this is normal and we should get this back when she picks up her visa. I only worry about this because it has some original check stubs and letters written by my university; I imagine I will need these documents again for AOS. Anyone else know if these will be returned with the visa?

 

Some other notes:

 

Her friend from Shanghai was interviewed at the same time and got a pink slip as well. The friend (a CR-1) had been to the US many times on business trips and received many questions from her VO on why she went to the USA previously.

 

While waiting in the 4th floor coffee shop, I met a retired American man who was living in Beijing and had been married for 3 years. His wife could not speak English and he spoke little or no Mandarin and therefore had to rely on family members of hers to communicate sometimes. I can only imagine how much patience they must have for each other. His wife came down and showed her blue slip for not having an I-134 or I-864 (there was one box checked that mentioned an absence of one or the other form). He mentioned he gave the form to the embassy last year when he applied for a tourist visa for her (she was denied this visa) and seemed unhappy that the US Consulate didn't just locate the I-134 from last year. I mentioned this website and told him how it would help him know what to expect. He did mention that the visa consultants ("vultures") that wait for people leaving with blue slips offered to look over her case prior to her interview for $300 to advise her on her chances. $300??? Wow!

 

The bottom line:

  • I strongly believe going to ACH helped my case, particularly because my financial situation was not straightforward in 2006. Going to ACH allowed me to explain it prior to her interview.
     
  • The hotel we stayed in was great. It was the Grand Palace Hotel, very close to the consulate building. It will be difficult for your SO to get a good night's sleep before her interview, but this place was comfortable.
     
  • Most of the documents we prepared, like chat records, weren't asked for. However, with a 2.5 year history, 7 visits to China in the last year, having lived together, and me having previously lived and worked in China, our relationship was pretty evident.
     
  • There was a lot of focus on my ex-wife, particularly since my divorce was recent. Having her 2006 taxes (we must exchange them for child support reasons) was helpful and having her SSN was important to the VO. At ACH, I also gave her US naturalization certificate number and the approximate date of her citizenship.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many great people here on CFL, and I think this made a big difference in my confidence and Sunshine's confidence too. I saw lots of others leave with blue slips (all were girls leaving alone, not with their SO), so being there in GZ with her also made a difference, at least to Sunshine.

 

I hope this is helpful to others. Sunshine said the EMS number the Consulate gave her is not in the computer as of now, even though this is the second day. I don't know if her visa issuance will be delayed, but getting the pink is the big victory for us.

 

Thanks again CFL!

 

Thanks for the insightfull acount, go have fun. :ph34r:

 

 

Thank you for the write up it really helps those of still waiting in line!!

 

:D :( :) :P :D :D :o :P ;) B) :( :blink:

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I love Sunshine

I love Sunshine

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Yes, I think Sunshine was interviewed by James.

 

She will pick up her visa on Saturday, a day later than expected. It appears that GUZ is running behind a bit, probably with so many pinks being issued recently! Another of her 001 K-1 friends interviewed with her on Wednesday but her visa also will also not ready until Saturday.

 

For those who want to understand the visa issuance process a bit more, once the SO is approved with a pink, he/she will pay 20 RMB for a shipping fee to get a EMS tracking number. This tracking number can be checked online for delivery. The SO should remember to bring the extra 20 RMB to the interview, since he/she will pay immediately after receiving her pink paper.

 

The fee is slightly higher (up to 35 RMB for next day service) if you wish to have the passport shipped by EMS to another Guangdong province address, the express courier service (think Express Mail by USPS). However, this is only available within Guangdong province for some unascertainable reason (even GUZ doesn't have an answer since it is out of their jurisdiction to guarantee this).

 

ILS

Edited by I love Sunshine (see edit history)
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