Letter and signature page

[Trigg]

That is what we are trying to do. This sig page is just a sig, possibley containing a brief statement of where they are in the process--see me sample sig page(see my sample sig page). No real need for scanning as we will be mailing everyhting via snail mail. I'll include a cover letter with the names of all those who have included a sig page--same as a list if sigs. You are correct that individual comments change the impact of the letter-thats why we aren't doing them.

 

As for changing anything now--too late, there are those who have already mailed thier sig page and to change after they have signed is a bit unethical. This thing has to fly as it stands.

[beijingjenny]

Yes, thanks to all for their hard work. I can't speak for the other sisters on signing, but I am happy to send my sig page. Prob is I'd prefer to wait til after Jack's visa to see where we really are in the process, and by then it will take some time for it to get to you from China. When are you planning to send it?

[Trigg]

I'm hoping to send it a week from tommorrow. If you can get access to a scanner you can scan your sig page and email it to me.

[ed and ying]

Trigg

I see your point about posting even full name of the signers. Possible solution is that the cover letter to the final letter can reference that X number of folks signed - the original with sig pages was sent to ... Blah , blah. We could pick this up and send to our senators, etc. with our sig page - if desired.

 

I agree the sig page should not have extra personal comment, beyond where you are in the visa process.

 

The simple statement of where you are in the visa process shows you are/have been involved and affected - not just a troublemaker

[Trigg]

Yuppers Ed, great minds think alike. Hey, this may even play in Peoria!

[ed and ying]

Trigg - we have plan. Vaudeville is long gone from Peoria, but there is a "little" company here with some international interests. Fishing here is a real problem. The channel in river is only 9 feet deep. The rest of river is only 2-4 ft deep. The proper bait would make a real 4mess !!!

 

Don't tell anyone - I was born in Alabama - Heart of Dixie

[Trigg]

So far only 17 members have commited to sign the letter. Anyone else??? Please PM me so I know to wait for you signature page.

 

Trigg

[Trigg]

This is what we are sending.  Anyone interested in signing please see the sample signature page. make one and send it to me @

 

C. Trigg Minnick

PO box 143

White house TN 37188

 

Then drop me a PM so I know that your page is coming.

 

Anyone who will be forwarding a copy to a senator or congressman etc, please note the cc on your signature page.

Thanks

Trigg

 

__________________________________________________________

To: Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs

 

From:Members of a concerned group

 

Subject:Guangzhou visa processing

 

 

 

 

Dear Ms. Harty:

 

We, are of writing to you as members of “A Candle For Love” (CFL), a growing online community of nearly 2,000 law abiding, taxpaying U.S. Citizens. We are joined by the common bond of a lengthy and unpredictable wait to receive immigrant visas for our wives, fiancee's and children. The purpose of this letter is to address a few of the current immigrant visa processing issues at the American Consulate in Guangzhou. These issues have caused what we feel are unnecessary hardships for us and our loved ones. We ask that you take a moment to read our honest and concise assessment of the current situation and that you consider possible solutions.

 

1) Wait Times for K1 & K3 Visas:

The wait time for the K-1 Fiance Visa and K3 Visa is among the longest in the world. Our members wait an average of 13-months without a good reason or understanding why it takes so long. We would deeply appreciate your help in investigating and helping us to understand this situation, especially in light of the fact that K visas processed in consulates in other countries are done significantly faster than those processed at Guangzhou.

 

China has the world’s largest population. Is it time that a country of this size and importance has more than one consulate to handle immigrate visas? Countries of lessor populations and immigrant demand have multiple consulates.

 

Some of our members have recently enjoyed hearing you speak in Beijing about the improvements in handling student and business visas from China, with over 180,000 student visas per year typically processed and issued in a matter of days or weeks. We are sure that you would consider the petitions of US citizens for their loved ones to be at least of equal priority as those from Chinese citizens.

 

2) Denials without appeal:

Many of our members are being denied visas for no apparent reason. They are denied and not allowed consultation with a member of the IV Unit to resolve these denials, or to know why they are being denied. Your help in resolving this communication deficit would be greatly appreciated.

 

3) White Slips changed to Blue Slips:

There are a growing number of cases where white acceptance slips are being given to the wife or fiancee of a U.S. Citizen immediately after the interview, only to receive a blue slip the following day, and the visa denied — without explanation or consultation. This is very confusing to those of us at CFL. We would like to give our support to your visa officers. However, this becomes increasingly difficult when they over rule themselves with no given reason. You can easily see how this reflects negatively on the consulate staff. Again these cases directly affect the lives and future of US Citizens and their loved ones.

 

These items are simply a few occurrences we wish to bring to your attention at this time.

 

As the US consulate in China is considered US soil, we ask that everyone who enters is treated with the basic human rights of dignity, respect, and non-discrimination that is fundamental to our way of life. We ask for no special treatment, rather, the same consideration, care and service that anyone requesting a visa in China would and should expect.

 

We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to read our concerns. If there is anything that we can do to assist you in your monumental task, please feel free to contact us at any time.

 

Respectfully,

 

 

The Members of CFL.

 

 

 

____________________________________________________________

Sample signature letter:

 

This is in regards to above letter, I C. Trigg Minnick affix my signature and endorsement.

 

Dear Ms Harty:

I am presently finished with the visa process and have procured a Visa for my then fiancee through the consulate in Guangzhou China. My interests are in assisting you in any way possible in order to bring parity and thoroughness to the spouses and fiancee's of my fellow US citizens.

 

If there is anything that I may do to help you or if you have any questions concerning this matter please feel free to contact me at ------

 

Sincerely,

C. Trigg Minnick Ph. D., N.C.S.P.

 

______________________________

Major milestone in this quest. i have recieved the first singature page from OTRMark (squeaky)---waiting for yours!!!!!!!!

[Trigg]

This is what we are sending.  Anyone interested in signing please see the sample signature page. make one and send it to me @

 

C. Trigg Minnick

PO box 143

White house TN 37188

 

Then drop me a PM so I know that your page is coming.

 

Anyone who will be forwarding a copy to a senator or congressman etc, please note the cc on your signature page.

Thanks

Trigg

 

__________________________________________________________

To: Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs

 

From:Members of a concerned group

 

Subject:Guangzhou visa processing

 

 

 

 

Dear Ms. Harty:

 

We, are of writing to you as members of “A Candle For Love” (CFL), a growing online community of nearly 2,000 law abiding, taxpaying U.S. Citizens. We are joined by the common bond of a lengthy and unpredictable wait to receive immigrant visas for our wives, fiancee's and children. The purpose of this letter is to address a few of the current immigrant visa processing issues at the American Consulate in Guangzhou. These issues have caused what we feel are unnecessary hardships for us and our loved ones. We ask that you take a moment to read our honest and concise assessment of the current situation and that you consider possible solutions.

 

1) Wait Times for K1 & K3 Visas:

The wait time for the K-1 Fiance Visa and K3 Visa is among the longest in the world. Our members wait an average of 13-months without a good reason or understanding why it takes so long. We would deeply appreciate your help in investigating and helping us to understand this situation, especially in light of the fact that K visas processed in consulates in other countries are done significantly faster than those processed at Guangzhou.

 

China has the world’s largest population. Is it time that a country of this size and importance has more than one consulate to handle immigrate visas? Countries of lessor populations and immigrant demand have multiple consulates.

 

Some of our members have recently enjoyed hearing you speak in Beijing about the improvements in handling student and business visas from China, with over 180,000 student visas per year typically processed and issued in a matter of days or weeks. We are sure that you would consider the petitions of US citizens for their loved ones to be at least of equal priority as those from Chinese citizens.

 

2) Denials without appeal:

Many of our members are being denied visas for no apparent reason. They are denied and not allowed consultation with a member of the IV Unit to resolve these denials, or to know why they are being denied. Your help in resolving this communication deficit would be greatly appreciated.

 

3) White Slips changed to Blue Slips:

There are a growing number of cases where white acceptance slips are being given to the wife or fiancee of a U.S. Citizen immediately after the interview, only to receive a blue slip the following day, and the visa denied — without explanation or consultation. This is very confusing to those of us at CFL. We would like to give our support to your visa officers. However, this becomes increasingly difficult when they over rule themselves with no given reason. You can easily see how this reflects negatively on the consulate staff. Again these cases directly affect the lives and future of US Citizens and their loved ones.

 

These items are simply a few occurrences we wish to bring to your attention at this time.

 

As the US consulate in China is considered US soil, we ask that everyone who enters is treated with the basic human rights of dignity, respect, and non-discrimination that is fundamental to our way of life. We ask for no special treatment, rather, the same consideration, care and service that anyone requesting a visa in China would and should expect.

 

We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to read our concerns. If there is anything that we can do to assist you in your monumental task, please feel free to contact us at any time.

 

Respectfully,

 

 

The Members of CFL.

 

 

 

____________________________________________________________

Sample signature letter:

 

This is in regards to above letter, I C. Trigg Minnick affix my signature and endorsement.

 

Dear Ms Harty:

I am presently finished with the visa process and have procured a Visa for my then fiancee through the consulate in Guangzhou China. My interests are in assisting you in any way possible in order to bring parity and thoroughness to the spouses and fiancee's of my fellow US citizens.

 

If there is anything that I may do to help you or if you have any questions concerning this matter please feel free to contact me at ------

 

Sincerely,

C. Trigg Minnick Ph. D., N.C.S.P.

 

______________________________

I have nothing to say. This is just a cheap atempt at keeping this at the top of the list.

 

Help, life needed.

[Guest blsqueaky]

Trigg, it ain't going anywhere, it is pinned at the top of the page.

[Trigg]

Ahhhhhh, I see. always wondered what that pinned thing was!!!!!

[Guest blsqueaky]

Ahhhhhh, I see. always wondered what that pinned thing was!!!!!

Mop slap time

[BuffaloPaul]

I have sent a signatory page to Trigg. Those of us whose pettitions are in the early stages at GZ have the most to gain from this and I hope all are courageous in sending theirs.

[Mengxin]

Ahhhhhh, I see. always wondered what that pinned thing was!!!!!

Mop slap time

Ditto Squeak, Make it 2 mop slaps. Not a wet one though. eewee

 

I sent a small picture of my wife and I together so she can see that we are real people. I included our names, wedding date, place, and how much longer I anticipate the wait will be on the back of the photo.

 

Paul, I'm with you, but on the converse side we are also the ones with most to lose. Waited 10 months already, paperwork is still on NVC's plate. For all the rediculous reasons for the blue slip, I would hate for this to somehow be another case of where I opened mouth and inserted my foot again. I always seem to find a way.

 

With this letter, there is sort of a message within a message here. Message on paper is one thing. The other message comes with the delivery and show of support.

[Mengxin]

In my case I figure Chinese stamps might interest someone into looking inside If there is a method to add to what you have (from Shanghai- no scanner here) Trigg let me know. Richard

Chinese Food Stamps. Now that would be interesting.