Group Letter- Second Draft

[hank]

I want to thank everyone for the great amount of feedback that I received on the first draft of our group letter. I tried to incorporate as many suggestions as possible. Wolffjw, I liked your suggestion about removing all references to "Candle For Love", but this made it hard for me to qualify my claims about problems at GUZ. I needed to be able to refer to the experiences of our members. But your feedback was certainly appreciated.

 

Alright everyone, the second draft is below. If you feel that it's ready, let me know if this petition has your support. If we can get enough bids of support, we can proceed to discuss the details behind getting this petition and signatures to Mrs. Harty.

 

 

"Dear Secretary Harty,

 

 

We are members of “A Candle For Love”, a growing online community of American Citizens who are waiting to be reunited with family and loved ones in China. The purpose of this letter is to address current immigrant visa processing problems at the American Consulate in Guangzhou. These issues have caused tremendous hardships for us and our families, so we hope that you will take a moment to read our honest assessment of the current situation. Below, you will find a list of reoccurring problems that our members have encountered.

 

Our greatest concern involves the complete lack of transparency and customer service in the visa process. Currently, some of our members have been denied visas for NO apparent reason. Their anguish comes from being kept in the dark about the cause of the denial. How can they provide the right evidence or even make their case when there is no consular representative to discuss the situation with?

 

To make matters worse, several of our members have received white approval slips on the day of their interviews, only to be denied on the day of visa pick-up. This unethical and abhorrent practice casts a long shadow on the Department of State’s credibility.

 

Then there are others with no interview date in sight, as their petitions are stuck indefinitely in the second name check process. Their burden could be lightened if they understood the reasons for such extreme delays. Unfortunately, they have also been kept in the dark.

 

Imagine the tremendous heart-break and hardships that are placed on these couples, especially after waiting so long for the immigrant visa process; many have waited over a year. Since they are committed to their fiancés and spouses, some are left with no choice but to abandon the United States and move to China. In a way, this creates a backdoor expatriation of American Citizens. How can this happen in our country, where we were raised to believe that our government values each individual citizen?

 

This situation can easily be resolved if those who were denied visas, after resubmitting evidence, could have the opportunity to sit down and discuss their cases with a knowledgeable consular officer. And those who are stuck in the name check process could get straight answers from the Department of State. This is not only fair, but an ethical necessity.

 

Our second concern involves the treatment that our fiancés and spouses have received during interviews. Some have received blue slips or denials before the consular officers even looked at the evidence presented. Others, who presented additional evidence to overcome initial denials, had their evidence returned with letters unopened. How can any interviewer make a fair decision without considering the evidence? This practice is unfair and completely unethical.

 

In addition, some of our fiancés and spouses have encountered interviewers who refuse to provide interpretation services. To make matters worse, some of these same interviewers have asked questions in rapid succession, without providing proper time for our fiancés and spouses to answer. We strongly feel that the authenticity of our relationships cannot be measured in one’s command of the English language. If there is a written policy that requires fluency in English, we would like to know about it. If not, interpretation services should always be available.

 

Finally, we wish to address the long immigrant visa processing times at Guangzhou. Compared to other consulates around the world, Guangzhou is one of the slowest (if not the slowest) in processing family based petitions. In addition, it seems that Chinese citizens who are applying for student visas are given priority over American citizens who are applying to be united with their families. How can this be right?

 

In conclusion, we are requesting better customer service and transparency in the visa process. This is our most urgent request, because the inexcusable suffering of so many Americans and their loved ones can be resolved through simple improvements. Please provide better customer service and transparency to those who encounter snags in the visa process. Please ensure that consular officers treat our fiancés, spouses, and cases with the respect and attention that they deserve. Finally, we hope that immigrant visa processing times at Guangzhou can improve soon. Thank you for taking the time to hear our concerns."

 

[beijingjenny]

Good letter, Hank. You raise an interesting point I wish I'd brought up to Harty that they find enough staff to handle non-imm visas across the country, clearly making them a priority over the families of US citizens. I wonder if that point should be more clearly emphasized. Adoptions I'll allow some priority, but students and businesspeople I won't.

 

Also, others may disagree, I wonder if it'd be nice to add some expression of appreciation for the work they do here with their obviously limited resources and for the VOs who ARE curteous and efficient. The letter I handed her ended with the comment that no doubt the GZ staff would also be very grateful for any improvements there.

 

At any rate, I'll sign. We're close to interview date, but don't think there would be any negative repercussions...

[hank]

Jenny,

 

Good point! We should say something nice, like a "thank you" to those VO's who are polite and doing their jobs well. It's true that most of the problems are caused by a few bad apples. I'll add that before we send out the copy.

 

Who else is in?

[Carl]

Count me in. Anything that may bring Ying and me closer by even a few days is worth the effort.

[Trigg]

I'd kinda like to wait for some more input and a few more revisions before you fire it off. It's good but anything can get better. When your done, I'll spell check it for you.

[boba]

I feel it is a good idea to include that there are some vos who are doing a good job. It would help our case if we can acknowledge the good (what little there is) along with the bad. I also feel the second draft flowed better than the first daft. It can not hurt to do another daft.

 

Again thank you,

 

Boba and Meixiang

[pingme]

Good letter, Hank. You raise an interesting point I wish I'd brought up to Harty that they find enough staff to handle non-imm visas across the country, clearly making them a priority over the families of US citizens. I wonder if that point should be more clearly emphasized. Adoptions I'll allow some priority, but students and businesspeople I won't.

pointing out good things gives the reader a positive feeling, that their efforts have produced some good results.

 

maybe pointing out the extra care and positive effect she has had for Chinese citizens (students and business people) applying for and reciving their visas in record time and record numbers now. (so it is clear she knows what needs to be done and is able to accomplish it)

 

then include a request, if only the same care and consideration and efficiency could be applied to us US citizens who have petitioned and are waiting to be united with our loved ones.

 

sort of an emotional appeal to her.

[jt1832]

I have to agree about accenting the positive aspects that we do have there. A little more is needed in that part. And perhaps a plea for them to open another office in Beijing or Shanghai where they do have enough room to expand and a requirement for less language knowledge..(Man/Eng instead of Man/Can/Eng)

 

 

I am curious to know if anyone has ever asked what the process is there at the embassy...Someone visiting there of course....A better understanding of the behind the scenes process would be quite enlightening for the whole group and I cannot imagine there could be any reason why we couldn't know how our paperwork travels once it reaches GZ. I mean they don't have to get to specifics...but a trip behind the curtain to see what the wizard does there would sure assuage some fears and concerns....Anyone know one of the Consular officers well enough to get a tour down the yellow brick road?

[pingme]

welcome to our immigrant visa processing section.

 

(in the background, the song Hotel California is playing constantly)

 

We have a very efficient and hard working consulate here. We handle all of the immigrant visas for our dearly loved US citizens, as well as many of the visas for Chinese students and business people.

 

in this corner we have the pending visas by US citizens for their loved ones.

 

We call this place our detention center

 

Here papers gather dust for 3-4 months. After that time, we pick them up at random and begin our processing.

 

Over in this corner, we have the visa applications by Chinese citizens, students and business people. As you can see the pile is very small, since they never have time to sit idle around.

 

You can also see how we have improved the working conditions for these visa officers. You can see some of the boxes labeled K-vsias are also being used as desks and chairs to help expidite the Chinese citizens visas.

 

Our operations are a model of efficiency and productivity admired by all the consulates in China. They have suggested that we continue to process the immigrant visas since we do such an excellent job. (and they do not need the extra boxed chairs or desks)

 

Any questions?

 

As uou exit, you will pass through our gift shop. Please be sure to purchase a t-shirt or post card and there are also free coupons good at any one of our preferred legal vendors waiting just outside our doors.

 

Today's special is 50% off White/Blue switch legal help. Just show them the coupon and your white slip turned blue, and they will know what to do. And don't forget to tell them I sent you.

 

Enjoy your day, and I know you will be back soon.

 

(you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave...)

[Luo_Bin_&_Jialu]

Hank:

 

This letter has excellent content, but is way too long. "Concise, yet cogent" is what we need to send. This will never get read. If we can modify it from its current literature style to a business style of writing we have a greater chance of it being read.

 

Feel free to contact me directly.

 

Thanks for your efforts!

 

Respectfully,

 

Rob

[rogerluli]

Hank:

 

This letter has excellent content, but is way too long. "Concise, yet cogent" is what we need to send. This will never get read. If we can modify it from its current literature style to a business style of writing we have a greater chance of it being read.

 

Feel free to contact me directly.

 

Thanks for your efforts!

 

Respectfully,

 

Rob

I have to concur with Rob's assessment. Tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em', tell 'em, tell 'em what you told 'em, and be done.

 

Also I would add that people who have already been through the "wringer" and have hung around to help the rest of us agree with this letter.

 

I will sign and/or send it and thanks for your efforts.

 

Roger & Lu Li

[Trigg]

Hank:

 

This letter has excellent content, but is way too long. "Concise, yet cogent" is what we need to send. This will never get read. If we can modify it from its current literature style to a business style of writing we have a greater chance of it being read.

 

Feel free to contact me directly.

 

Thanks for your efforts!

 

Respectfully,

 

Rob

Well Rob, you have put your foot in your mouth---so now do a succinct buisiness type of rewrite.

 

have fun dude.

[hank]

I agree that it is usually better to keep things simple. However, is there a way to cover all of the major points in a shorter letter? We need to talk about those who were denied visas for no aparent reason, and the fact that they are in the dark about the reasons why. We need to talk about those who received white slips, and then blue slips on the day of visa pick-up. We need to talk about those who are stuck in the second name check process, about the way VO's have been dismissing our cases without looking at all of the information, about how they refuse to provide translation services, and about the long visa processing times. We need to explain each of these issues in a meaningful way. For example, I brought up the notion that Chinese citizens are getting serviced for student visas before American citizens who want to be reunited with their families. By presenting this point, we are stating "why" our cases should have priority.

 

In addition, a few members have also suggested that we mention a few positives about GUZ. That will make this letter even longer. But it also adds credibility to our claims, as it shows that we are trying to be fair in our assessments.

 

Finally, if Maura Harty cannot take the time to read this letter, she certainly will not have the time to make any changes on our behalf.

[jgrier5]

Good letter, but I would try to trim it down. I doubt that she will read the entire thing if it appears too lengthy.

I know you want to include detail, but too much detail could be a hamper.

 

Let me know if you need help. B)

[pingme]

Hank,

 

i think you are right, there are too many problems.

 

its not possible to summarize 10 issues into 1 sentence.

 

i'm not sure what is the best way to go about raising all of the issues.

 

one way is to include all of them in 1 letter, another way would to mention only 1 in a letter, but have more than one letter, maybe one letter per week. this would make it more like a "discussion" or exchange with Maura (or whoever we send it to) assuming they read it and do reply.

 

since there are so many issues, and each of us has our own item that touches us most, maybe the thing to do is outline them all in 1 letter, and then have each person include those items that are most personal to them.

 

for instance if someone has been given the white slip/blue slip switch, then they can include that one topic and cite themselves as a personal example.

 

for others, maybe they received fair and descent treatment by the visa officer, but their wait time was longer than it needed to be.

 

either way, there are many issues and the problems run deep, and have run out of control for a long time. so i don't think there is a way to edit them down to 100 words or less.