Interview time again!

[NicolaNSam]

We couldn't make it to help them out but I mailed all my information along with a notorized letter from our lawyer (Have no clue of its purpose other than making our lawyer $100) and some documents. I'll know in a few hours if they passed or not. Nicola just came June 15th so not sure if they'll let her grandparents visit so soon BUT the're always a chance for the sake of this baby girl that's coming January 11th. Wish us luck!

[tonado]

Good luck.

[Guest Gene]

I hope they make it Good Luck

[cosmiclobster]

Best of luck, Nicola and Sam!!

[NicolaNSam]

They Failed! They traveled all the way from Zhongshan the night before got documents ready and pictures. I hate complaining, i'm glad my wife is here with me and understand we're lucky as is but the only thing that kinda upsets me is the VO only asked them one question. They have many businesses and money, they own a lot of property, the VO asked them what their income is. Instead of telling them that her husband owns a bakery and she has a small grocery store and farm, an apartment and a house (All these assets don't add up to much but should be enough) Nicola's grandparents say that they are retired. HAHAHA I have NO clue why they wouldn't mention their assets or strong ties.

The second the VO heard they are retired she refused them. After saying they are refused her grandparents tried saying they own this and that but the VO didn't want to look at anything. I can't complain because I think it was Nicola's grandparents mistake. We're making a second appointment. I'm a persistant guy so there will be a story number two. I hope some of this information helps others trying to get relatives over. I kinda feel bad for everyone waiting for fiance's and i'm talking about relatives. Good luck to everyone. More to come next month!

[Guest Gene]

Sorry to hear that.......Seeing how our government likes to make a guessing game out of all of these procedings it is not surprising that it takes two or three times to get a visa

[lele]

I am very sad to hear about this...

 

*sigh*

 

However, one piece of advice:

I have seen from chinese people who have come on a b2 (not a b1, right?) who are about that age that if **1** grandparent applies, and claims that the other is still staying in china, that they will approve it 99% of the time.

 

Then, after returning before the visa expires, have the other one apply, to go alone.

 

Then, under US law, once you have been accepted for a B2 in china, so long as you left the US in legal status, if you apply again, within 1 year, it is an automatic acceptance. Since now both have been accepted, visited, and returned, they can continue to come, once every 11 months, stay for 5, return, come together 11 months later, etc etc etc.

 

Good luck, and I am really sorry to hear about your experience. I hope the future goes better for you.

 

LeLe

 

ps. you may also want to look into the multiple rejection laws. I am not sure what they say, but have heard that if you get multiple rejections within a certain period of time, that you will be barred for all visas for a long period of time, i hope it is not true though!

[beijingjenny]

That's horrible. My own husband having been rejected a couple times, I know the desire to scream. I thought they were kinder with old people I mean come on, what's the threat - they're gonna run off and be migrant workers?

 

I think I mentioned the story before of this old lady whose husband died doing construction in NY. Traveled to Shanghai as instructed to get her visa to claim his body - denied! Disgusting. Hilary Clinton and a councilmember intervened and she was able to go later.

 

You can apply three times in one year - as far as I know, there isn't a longer term bar on applying again. I know of someone who got it on his 7th try.

[warpedbored]

It is a sad state of affairs when our government refuses to let loved ones visit relatives who are legal residents. It isn't like they don't know where to find them. I mean what are they going to do, go underground as soon as they hit american soil and go work in a restaurant somewhere washing dishes?

[NicolaNSam]

The hard part to accept is that the VO looked at nothing! She asked that one question then didn't let them explain anything. She heard retired and slapped a denial slip. Her grandparents said she wouldn't even look them in the face and they tried to explain some things and she just handed them the slip. Its a hard journey from Zhongshan to GZ for them and its okay with them and us if they get rejected after looking at things but one question and a no is hard. Again, i'm very happy and feel fortunate to have Nicola here but it would have been nice to have her grandparents come for the birth of the baby. Nicola has an asian diet and doesn't care for American Chinese food. It would have helped to have her them here.

Also one other note. That darn office to the left of the line (Anyone that went there knows what i'm talking about) grabbed them from the line and took them in. They fooled them into thinking they need the invitation letter retyped and need some forms to bring in and for several hundred RMB they took advantage of two elsder Chinese people. Everytime we walked around there they would say "I can get you visa for blah blah price" pretty aggravating.

[Jim - Portland, USA]

Such an aggrevating story! Sam, don't worry about complaining about this, this is something that many of us will face in the future, it's good to hear such stories! I guess all interview tales are good to hear.

 

That really sucks that they were flat out denied! Hopefully they'll get approved the second time around.

 

But what really bothers is how those scam artists in that room conned them out of several hundred RMB!!! Those people really burn me up. Those scumbags, how can they find it in their souls to prey upon confused and elderly people like that?!? When I was there at that spot (waiting for my honey to come out from the interview), I also saw those people doing that. They make it look like they are part of the interview process or something. They direct every person that comes out straight into their offices as if that's what is required of them. I think they even wear arm-bands or something which make them look like "officials" of some sort. I didn't like seeing that at the time, but most of the young people were wise to them and disregarded them. But I can see how an elderly couple would fall into their trap, victims of a society where you were always expected to follow the group and follow orders. I wish someone would shut that shop down, or at least put a leash on those scammers - they are heartless!!

 

Well, at least now Nicola's grandparents are that much wiser. And hopefully next time everything will go more smoothly. Please keep us updated!