costly mistake

[mGolden]

Yesterday Xue Shan had her interview. The process has been told accurately by many others. She arrives early, waits in line, get shuffled around as she waits for her turn. Then, everyone enters the consulate, turns in their documents, gets their fingerprints taken, and waits hours for the 2 minute interview. Her interview went smoothly with the 3 predictable questions: How long have you known your fiance, how did you meet, how often has he been to China to visit you. Let's see some pictures -interview finished. My fiancee told me the woman interviewer was nice to her and seemed to have already made up her mind to approve her for the visa even before the interview. This should have been a slam dunk. BUT..... But, we made a costly mistake. That is, we made a mistake that got us a blue slip and lost us probably a month before she will be able to get the fiancee visa and join me here in Seattle. So, the mistake was that her Chinese documents were not translated into English in the correct format. Did everyone know this but me? The instructions on Package 3 say "All documents not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations. A competent translator must certify the translation and swear to the accuracy of the document before a notary public." We did that of course, but apparently what we didn't realize that it must be done at a specific location and the format must come out in a booklet fashion. We had the translated documents (birth certificate, no criminal history record, and marriageability statement) with official papers from the translating agency and certifications, ect. But, our documents were not accepted. The man at the document counter told her exactly where to get it done so now she understands and has returned to her hometown to get it done at the correct office. I miss her very much and I wish I had known where to tell her to go to get the translation so we could have avoided this problem. How did others know where to go? I have read enough posts on the topic of blue slips to know that even if she get the information to them within a few days, it may still take weeks or months before she gets the call-back letter and gets the visa in her passport. Anyone care to guess how long the wait will be before she gets the call-back letter?

[chilton747]

The documents should have been done by a government notary in her hukou. That is common knowledge on CFL.

 

Sorry but no telling how long it will take....they have to review the info.

[weiaijiayou]

I was going to post a link to the recent thread "Police Report" but I guess you found it (although too late).

[Randy W]

If you are looking for current information on the fees that the United States charges for nonimmigrant visas, you have come to the right place. In addition, you will find country-specific information regarding documents such as birth certificates and police records.

 

The Dept of State - Reciprocity by Country

 

For China

 

Most of the documents listed below can be obtained from one of China's Notarial Offices (Gong Zheng Chu - ¹«Ö¤Êé). All Chinese documentation to be used abroad is processed through the notary offices and issued in the form of notarial certificates. Notarial offices are located in all major Chinese cities and in rural county seats. These offices are part of the Ministry of Justice structure, but are separate from the people's court system.

 

The P3 instructions reaffirm this

Applicants born in the People¡¯s Republic of China must have a birth certificate issued by a local notary public office

Edited May 6, 2010 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Sam and Fen]

Dont sweat over it too much.

 

This is a very easy overcome. As far as time goes the most recent case would be that of RobertH who got a blue for financials.

 

Just look at his timeline, I think it took him about 6 weeks to get the visa.

 

Goodluck.

[dnoblett]

Well at least it went well other than missing that critical detail that the Chinese Docs need to be translated by the Notary office, per the consulate and department of state.

 

As for USCIS, and adjustment of status later, what you did would have been fine.

[Kyle]

I'm sorry to hear about this setback. Hopefully things will move quickly forward through the AP process.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Kyle (see edit history)

[Yuanyang]

I'm sorry for the set back. Sounds like someone was working with some bad information. Public Notaries in China are officials with uniforms and the whole bit. You pay the fee (more to expedite) and get the official documents translated and notarized. Review the documents carefully. as they sometimes make mistakes.

[mGolden]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Part of the problem was that we already had this step completed before I ever discovered Candleforlove. Meaning, I didn't check here about this issue first. I thought it was pretty clear, didn't realize they meant it had to be done at the Gong Zheng Chu - ¹«Ö¤Êé only.

[Amaro]

Im sorry to hear about the problem you encountered. I assure you that this post will help me in the future. I tend to "wing it" a lot. I will learn from this situation. Hope you have a speedy recovery from this error and you are together once again.

[dnoblett]

Im sorry to hear about the problem you encountered. I assure you that this post will help me in the future. I tend to "wing it" a lot. I will learn from this situation. Hope you have a speedy recovery from this error and you are together once again.

Yep study, study, study.

 

I have seen cases where being well prepared even before filing a petition may have prevented problems at the interview.

 

One in particular recently was a K-3/K-4 case from the Philippines, the marriage took place after the K-4's 18th birthday, they got all the way through the process only to find out the K-4 could not adjust status and had to return home. (K-4 needs an I-130 filed by US Citizen step parent to adjust status from, and since marriage took place after 18th birthday, this could not be done.) Had they researched the process carefully before marriage, the would have learned K-1 and K-2 was the only option.

[RobertH]

This sounds very easy. They are not asking for more proof from you, only for you to provide english copys of Chinese docs. Get it done mail it back in and I wouls say 2 weeks after they receive the package they should send out the call in letter.

 

I know what your feeling. Our blue came for a stupid reasion. They asked for a Co-sponser.....this is after she tried to give them Co-sponsor papers at the start of the interview.

 

Don't get to frustrated... Just think you have 4 or so extra weeks to finish watching all that porn under your bed.

[HongKong2LA]

Sorry to hear about the setback. Hopefully the overcome will be smooth....and quick.

[putian]

Can you clarify if the issue was not having the "official notarized white booklet" or that you didn't get it done in her hukou location or both? No where that I can find does it say the official translation has to be done in her home town. We're due to go for interview in a few weeks and some of our "white booklets" were done in her home town and some in Hangzhou where we live.

[dnoblett]

Can you clarify if the issue was not having the "official notarized white booklet" or that you didn't get it done in her hukou location or both? No where that I can find does it say the official translation has to be done in her home town. We're due to go for interview in a few weeks and some of our "white booklets" were done in her home town and some in Hangzhou where we live.

What they did was take the Chinese docs to a translation service, not the notary office, the consulate wants Notary Translations.