Finally got through to DOS

[Mick]

Finally got through to DOS last night (I am in China). Talked with the same nice lady I spoke with the other two times I have managed to get through. So far have not talked with Greg or the imfamous Indian lady. Anyway, what I have to report is nothing new but may be informative to some, so here goes.

 

Li's interview date was 8/20...right in the middle of the famous August Zone. When she checked she told me that Li's name had not been cleared as of yet. When I asked her when it was last submitted she gave me a detailed run down of the submission data. She seemed quite open about what she was reading from the screen. She said the name was submitted in August, post-interview and immediately returned due to incorrect filing procedures. She said the name was supposed to be re-submitted in September but for "unknown reasons" Guangzhou did not resubmit the name until November. Thus, the case is still pending and is due for another submission in January. I asked her what the problem was with the August submissions and she replied there had been repeated paperwork errors on some cases. She could not explain why these errors were made. She encouraged me to contact GZ, which I have for two weeks now with no response. She went on to say that DOS is "well aware of the problems with the August cases". However, she claimed no knowledge of what is being done to correct the situation. She hinted that the problem was still on the GZ end of the pipeline, but then, that may be the left hand blaming the right hand.

 

I hate to complain but I am nearing my wits end with all this. It is like living in a constant state of limbo. Although I am in China, and living with my lady, each delay fouls up our future planning. I am now faced, for the third time, with the necessity of signing another contract with the University where I teach in order to wait this out. This will keep us here until late June unless the issue is resolved soon.

 

What is more frustrating is that way back when GZ sent out packet 3, rather than sending it to our Chinese address, they sent it to my stateside address! It took over three weeks to arrive there and another week to get it back to us in China. Then we hand delivered it to GZ. Yet this little snafu caused us a five week delay in submitting packet 3. Thus our interview date, August 20, could have easily been prior to the July 22 implementation date of the new policy and we could have been home by now. What adds to the burden is that I have been having some cardiac problems and my Chinese doctors have advised me to return to the States for treatment as the medical care is more advanced there. I had a quadruple by-pass six years ago. I am in need of angioplasty on one of the by-pass grafts. The doctors suggested that I not travel alone. Further, they need some sort of time frame in order to determine a correct course of treatment until I can return home.

 

Two months ago I wrote Guangzhou about all this but they told me "we understand your situation but regretfully we can do nothing to expedite the situation". I paid them a follow up visit but was given the run around again. Now, with all this re-submission, ninety day B.S., I feel like I am running out of options. I have written congressmen, senators, no response from either. GZ has no interest in hearing my current health issues. Yet I understand that if a fiance is pregnant, they will expedite the case.

 

So here we are. August zone, not cleared, stuck and confused. The only bright spot is that I am with the lady of my life. For that I am grateful. We have lived together over here for over five years now. To return without her would be like leaving half of myself behind.

 

Anyone out there have any suggestions or at least, a few words of encouragement? I could use a few smiles. Anyone have any new info?

[markimwaiting]

Finally got through to DOS last night (I am in China). Talked with the same nice lady I spoke with the other two times I have managed to get through. So far have not talked with Greg or the imfamous Indian lady. Anyway, what I have to report is nothing new but may be informative to some, so here goes.

 

Li's interview date was 8/20...right in the middle of the famous August Zone. When she checked she told me that Li's name had not been cleared as of yet. When I asked her when it was last submitted she gave me a detailed run down of the submission data. She seemed quite open about what she was reading from the screen. She said the name was submitted in August, post-interview and immediately returned due to incorrect filing procedures. She said the name was supposed to be re-submitted in September but for "unknown reasons" Guangzhou did not resubmit the name until November. Thus, the case is still pending and is due for another submission in January. I asked her what the problem was with the August submissions and she replied there had been repeated paperwork errors on some cases. She could not explain why these errors were made. She encouraged me to contact GZ, which I have for two weeks now with no response. She went on to say that DOS is "well aware of the problems with the August cases". However, she claimed no knowledge of what is being done to correct the situation. She hinted that the problem was still on the GZ end of the pipeline, but then, that may be the left hand blaming the right hand.

 

I hate to complain but I am nearing my wits end with all this. It is like living in a constant state of limbo. Although I am in China, and living with my lady, each delay fouls up our future planning. I am now faced, for the third time, with the necessity of signing another contract with the University where I teach in order to wait this out. This will keep us here until late June unless the issue is resolved soon.

 

What is more frustrating is that way back when GZ sent out packet 3, rather than sending it to our Chinese address, they sent it to my stateside address! It took over three weeks to arrive there and another week to get it back to us in China. Then we hand delivered it to GZ. Yet this little snafu caused us a five week delay in submitting packet 3. Thus our interview date, August 20, could have easily been prior to the July 22 implementation date of the new policy and we could have been home by now. What adds to the burden is that I have been having some cardiac problems and my Chinese doctors have advised me to return to the States for treatment as the medical care is more advanced there. I had a quadruple by-pass six years ago. I am in need of angioplasty on one of the by-pass grafts. The doctors suggested that I not travel alone. Further, they need some sort of time frame in order to determine a correct course of treatment until I can return home.

 

Two months ago I wrote Guangzhou about all this but they told me "we understand your situation but regretfully we can do nothing to expedite the situation". I paid them a follow up visit but was given the run around again. Now, with all this re-submission, ninety day B.S., I feel like I am running out of options. I have written congressmen,  senators, no response from either. GZ has no interest in hearing my current health issues. Yet I understand that if a fiance is pregnant, they will expedite the case.

 

So here we are. August zone, not cleared, stuck and confused. The only bright spot is that I am with the lady of my life. For that I am grateful. We have lived together over here for over five years now. To return without her would be like leaving half of myself behind.

 

Anyone out there have any suggestions or at least, a few words of encouragement? I could use a few smiles. Anyone have any new info?    

I'm sorry, but no good words here.

I do beleave there is a batch of messed up submittals and I also beleave we have been thrown in the ditch.

I think once GZ got the motherload of clearances, after the new training on how to enter them into the new and inproved system, we were simply put on the back burner so they could finish the large clearance package they recieved.

I hope and pray our letter will help.

I think everyone here needs to email or fax an individual copy of the Powell letter to powells office this week, next week, the next and the next.

Im going to untill I get an answer that is acceptable.

[Mick]

Thanks for responding. I will take your advice. There has to be some light at the end of this eternal tunnel, other than an oncoming train. And by the way, thanks for all your hard work in everyone's behalf.