Ling's Interview

[Tom and Ling]

Hi everyone....Ling's Interview results....

 

I was planning on arriving on Saturday Nov. 15th in case ling

forgot something important and we would have to fly back to Nanning

to get it. But thank the lord. she didn't forget anything....

Main reason is because I missed my flight in Tokyo because Northwest

airlines could not get the cargo door closed in Detroit and so they

had to bring up another 747. Unfortunately it took 4 hours for all this

to take place and so I missed my flight to Guangzhou. We were put

up in a hotel in Tokyo and my flight out was on Sunday at 5:00 pm

on China Southern...Nice airline!!!

Arrived Sunday night in Guangzhou and told Ling would be going to

ACS and ACH.

The reason I went to both was to let them know that I was here

in Guangzhou to support my wife.

Rob is quite right about being there at the interview if you can

make it. It shows that this is a true relationship and adds another

trip to see your loved one. So, if you can go for the interview, I

highly recommend it...

So, I went to ACS for two reasons and that was to let them know

that I was there and to get three things notarized.

1). Up date of a letter of evolution of relationship.

2). I-134 notarized

3). passport notarized

 

At ACH I asked some questions but one was about can we use the

computer generated DS-156 with bar code and the VO asked why didn't

she just fill out the DS-156 that were sent in the Packet 4??

At the end I said that my wife was nervous and could she be given

the interview in Chinese...English not so good for interview.

Also, both ACS and ACH said they would make a note that I was

there at ACS and ACH.

 

Nov.18 ...medical exams

These people are quite efficient and every thing went quite well.

We asked for expedited service same day and paid 100Yaun extra

each.

However, the hospital asked for the DS-156 filled out in Chinese

and we did not have them filled out in Chinese but English only.

They gave me a fit but finally gave in and completed the medicals.

Boy, would this turn out to be almost a disaster..!!

 

Nov. 20 ..interview

We arrived at 7:15am and people were lined up as has been described!!

Ling and the boys went in and I settled in to the coffee shop.

I bought my first coffee and than every other one was half price.

All of a sudden Ling appears with the boys at the coffee shop and I would

have sworn that if Ling had a MOP she would have hit me over the head!!

The staff up stairs insisted that Ling give them DS-156 in Chinese!!

with signed in Chinese and the telegraphic codes.

This was what the medical exams wanted too!!

So, a word for every body. fill out in duplicate the DS-156 in both English and

Chinese.

I am not sure whether the English ones were even used, but I assumed the the

English ones were the only important ones, and did I make a mistake, and if there

had been a mop available. Ling would have used it on me...she was mad!!

After the DS-156 forms were filled out and this was for Ling and both boys,,she

went back upstairs.

So, I have her cell phone on me and about 30 minutes later, I receive a call on

the cell phone from a VO .."where is Ling"?? "She has been called to the window"??

So, I went up stairs to see if I could find her.

Actually, you can go up stairs,but you just can not go into the area where they

are doing the things. So you can if you want, wave your hands to get there attention.

But finally...Ling was called to the VO's window and she got a middle aged man from

what I could see and here is how it went down.

 

VO..Hello

 

Ling and boys, Hello

 

VO..Passports please

Ling,,gave him all three passports plus my passport with the "Updated letter of

Evolution of Marital Relationship". I had planned that she do this. Fold the letter

long wise and insert it in your passport and Ling does not ask any VO read the letter.

 

Ling..My English is not so good,,Can I have my interview in Chinese??

 

VO..YES..I know!!

At ACH and at ASC I had mentioned that My wife was nervous and wanted the interview

in Chinese.

 

VO and the 6 questions:

1). Where did you meet...over Internet

2). How many times did he come to China...Three times and third time is for

interview.

3). First time to China...March 2008 for 30 days.

4). Pictures...we had about 25 pictures.

5). e-mails and Letters...I had them in three different soft folders and I think

ling only gave him one for e-mails and some of the snail mail letters.

6). What is his job....Research Scientist.

 

VO...you passed and make arrangements to pick up your passports.

 

The passports were picked up at the EMS post on Saturday. So only a turn

around of one and a half days.

 

here is what I think is important:

Be there (if at all possible) for the interview.

Go to both ACS and ACH.

Have something to notarize!!

I had the I-134 Notarized and the VO did not even ask for it at the Interview.

This had to be because they had already seen the I-134 from ACS. They must have

scanned the I-134 and never asked for it.

Since I was supporting three people..they must have seen the I-134 or that I was

not crazy enough to be doing this with out the resources to back me up..who knows??

I also had the "Update of Marital Relationship Letter" notarized, and even though

they may have read it,,I included it in my passport just in case the VO was courious

to see what it was....In Ling's case the VO was curious...

Also,,if your spouse is not comfortable to take the interview in English ,than by

all means ask the "My wife is nervous and can she take the interview in Chinese"??

They..do listen but I did not bring out anything that could have made them question

anything.

 

I think one of the most important things is (as Rob indicated to me) be there for the

interview if at all possible.

Also the DS-156 has to be in duplicates and in Chinese with telegraphic codes.

 

Tom and Ling

[Stepbrow]

Good write up Tom. Thanks.

[Jon & Jas]

Good tips, Tom. Thanks and congrats!

[Guest WenDylan]

Thanks for the write up.

[HelloWorld08]

so for the interview they do have real American's working there, for example, white, black and or American Chinese?

[HelloWorld08]

BTW, congrats on the Approvals!!

[amanda1969]

Tom, very useful information!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for share!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to save your post.

Best wishes to your wife and sons!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Amanda

[flowers]

Hello Tom,

 

How do you get the chinese with telegraphic code. I only have the english with telegraphic code.

 

Thanks

 

AGAIN CONGRAT. Luckly there wasn't a MOP around

 

Joe

[Sebastian]

so for the interview they do have real American's working there, for example, white, black and or American Chinese?

 

Yes, all 3 flavors.

[Tom and Ling]

Hello Tom,

 

How do you get the chinese with telegraphic code. I only have the english with telegraphic code.

 

Thanks

 

AGAIN CONGRAT. Luckly there wasn't a MOP around

 

Joe

 

Hi Joe,

 

I will have to look it up. But it is a web site that gives you the code after you put the Chinese symbol in for the persons name. So like Ling's name is two Chinese symbols and each symbol has a number...so the code is really a numerical representation of the person's name from Chinese Characters...if that makes sense.....

 

Tom and Ling