Foreign National in China

[Harold_Oakland]

Hello,

 

My fiancee is an Iranian citizen having lived in China for three years as a student and a professional.

 

I'd like to reach out to the community of foreign nationals in China as well as those knowledgeable about Guangzhou and K-1 in China.

 

I have two concerns:

 

1. Her police certificate from Iran is stuck in bureaucracy hell. She has sent off for it many months ago. She will not have it for the interview. A call to the NVC says she is not required to have one from Iran but an email to the consulate disagrees.

 

2. We have only been able to meet once as my work schedule is somewhat grueling. When we did meet it was in Turkey as she did not need a visa to get there and it afforded us two more days together (travel time to China and what not). I am trying to make it there for her interview, which is on Sep 6, but am not certain of that. Will that help?

 

If anyone has any opinions, knowledge, experience on these matters as well as general tips it would be very much appreciated if you were to share them.

 

Harold

 

 

[dnoblett]

1. Regarding Iranian Police records. This is what the Department of State has on it and DOS has authority over the consulates.

 

 

Police Records

 

Available but unreliable. Police certificates are issued by the General Department of Penal Records and Pardon Amnesty (Idar-e Kul Sajl-e Kifari va Afva Bakhshudagi ). However, police records are not required for immigrant visa applicants because posts cannot verify them. Clean record certificates can be obtained in Iran or from Iranian Embassies and Consulates and the physical appearance of the certificate changes significantly depending on which authority issued it.

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/IR.html

 

2. The opinion on being in Guangzhou when fiancee interviews is mixed, some feel that showing invested interest and dedication by being there helps, have fiancee holding your passport at the visa interview as a way of showing that you are physically present in Guangzhou. (I did this with my wife)

[Harold_Oakland]

Thanks for the speedy reply and helpful answer!

[Randy W]

NO ONE has authority over the Visa Officer at Guangzhou in deciding whether to award the visa or not. All you can do is to make EVERY effort to acquire the police report, and DOCUMENT the effort. Include ANY contact with names where possible.

 

As far as relationship evidence, two trips are better than one. Again - the Visa Officer has final authority over whether to issue the visa.

[amberjack1234]

I think that we just had that last discussion a short while ago. Randy is right. They are Omnipowerful. Sad in some cases but true. I think that I would rather have a case in front of the United States Supreme Court. At least they will listen.

[Harold_Oakland]

Thanks all for the replies. The Iranian governement flat out does not care and has given no supporting documentation.

In regards to "two trips is better than one", well, that settles it, I'm going for the interview.

 

Thanks again,

 

Harold