Somebody Calm Me Down!

[Mick]

Oh how often I have prayed for God to grant me the patieince and the countenance of Mahatma Gandhi, able to face any storm with an air of serenity. Yet the Creator seems to have chosen instead to wire me with the temperament of Yosemite Sam!

 

Seriously friends, I am about to blow a gasket right here...right now! B)

 

As some may recall, I received a notice, via e-mail, from GZ stating that our case had been resubmitted on January 13. First resubmission was on November 16. This was a cause for what I termed at the time, "cautious optimism". It looks as though the "cautious" part was right on the money.

 

Here's what has happened:

 

Not prone to always believe GZ's pronoucements regarding cases, even though they told Owen they never make mistakes, I had a friend who is an immigration attorney call DOS just to check on things today. I did this because, as most of you know, we live in China and getting through the DOS phone quagmire is difficult at best, and quite costly from over here. She finally got through and this is what she was told. I quote:

 

"You weren't kidding about the wait! I finally got through after a 25 minute wait. She took the name and came back after another 12 minutes and said, "Still pending". I asked if the case had been resubmitted since the interview was in August and she said it had not. She said and I quote, 'nothing can be done', the applicant has to just keep checking with the Consulate!' She said it was 'all confidential'. I asked if I could speak with Greg or Sara and she said they couldn't tell me anything different and that she was a 'senior staff person'. I kept asking if something could not be done since it was from August but she just said you would have to contact GZ. She suggested that you wait until sometime in February. "

 

Now I am really getting to the end of my rope? My understanding is GZ enters it into their system before it shows up on the DOS screen. If, in fact, GZ did resubmit on Jan. 13, why does it not show up on DOS screen? Secondly, what the hell screen did GZ read to send me an e-mail that said it was resubmitted on Jan. 13? Who's on First? Does the left hand know what the right is doing? Are competency, consistency, and service just a lost art in these agencies?

 

In my furor, called GZ. Finally, after one and one half hours, got through to a person with a pulse, albeit a faint one it seems. Was told that they could not access any data to let me know if the case had been resubmitted and suggested I contact them in "a couple of weeks" or "call DOS again".

 

Was my case resubmitted or is someone blowing smoke up my keester big time? When is this ever going to end? What is it going to take? From what I have seen, the resubmit clearances are but a trickle at best when one considers the actual numbers of the backlog. I am fed up to my ears with lies, disinformation, the run around, and the constant roller coaster ride. It is taking a toll on relationships that people, good people all and all, have invested much time and heart in. This is injustice at its zenith.

 

I am really about to blow here. I need to calm down. I'm fed up I say. Again, I quote my guru Popeye:

 

"I've stands all I can stands and I can't stands no more".

 

I need some words of reason, reassurance, and wisdom folks. I stand on the brink, and I somehow feel I am not alone.

 

Each hope they give us seems to be dashed against the rocks of ignorance, ineptitude, and worst of all, insensitivity.

 

Moses, how bout those tablets? Folks, we gotta do something.

 

[doggie]

What can we do?

We keep in a good frame of mind. (for our fiancee) and keep at em! You ask the 1,000.000 dollar question but the answer is not there. 4,5 6 months we have collectively tried but I have not seen one case where there is proof that calls, letters or ranting has paid off. A spin of the wheel that was shown to us at the begining. NOA 1 month 3 months or more? YES very frustrating and heatbreaking but very important to your girl and your relationship to stay positive and endure. You know she can pick up you feelings so the main goal should only be thinking of your new life togeter. Then just pray the worst is over.

 

The big problem since the start is DOS points at GZ and GZ directs us to DOS. Pass the buck not are problem etc. etc. etc. The problem is known and will be resolved when SOMEONE makes a decision and unfortunate not before. SO HANG IN it will be worth it in the end

[owenkrout]

Yes actions taken did make a difference. They got things off center and some visas started to be issued. There were none for over four months. What happened was we fell (I fell) for their promises and let up on them. As soon as we did, things went right back to normal. We need to be relentless. Until we see major numbers of visas being issued, we need to keep after these people. Don't back off. They work for us. We are not their slaves as they seem to think.

[Taoistpanda]

It is my understanding that they are violating their own written law by making it take this long. I can't quote it, but have seen some law referred to many times. There is a time frame they are supposed to do this in.

[skibum]

I don't think it is a law but rather in the 9FAM which is more of a guide line. It also says that once approved, a visa must be issue at once.

As GUZ is one of the stations that gets monitored for the time it takes to issue a visa, that is the reason we see papers sitting in the mail room for a month before anyone knows they are there. They start the clock when they land on a desk and not when they get to the consulate.

Which makes me wonder if the reason they are issuing newer visas first is to try and meet the speed goal.

[Mick]

Thanks to all for the input. I am a bit more calm this morning but still ticked off about this. What made it worse last night was I lost my server connection just after posting this topic.

 

I will fax appropriate offices, including Powell's, with the details of this, plus a transcript of my attorney friend's conversation with the "senior staff member" at DOS.

 

Owen, got your PM and was able to respond this morning. Thanks. At least you had the good sense to edit the Popeye quote from the final draft.

[tonado]

Mick,

 

Follow your icon "Tao". Make sure your body is in harmony. If you lose your cool, you are only hurting your body.

[kkimm]

Mick,

 

Follow your icon "Tao".  Make sure your body is in harmony.  If you lose your cool, you are only hurting your body.

 

Mick - try playing some Tai Chi -

 

Can't stand this delay, too, but on the other hand, DOS don't worth your headache...

[Mick]

Mick,

 

Follow your icon "Tao".  Make sure your body is in harmony.  If you lose your cool, you are only hurting your body.

 

Mick - try playing some Tai Chi -

 

Can't stand this delay, too, but on the other hand, DOS don't worth your headache...

Thanks to both of you for your good advice. In fact, I do practice both Taiji and Qigong and find both a tremendous help. The yin side of me waits patiently while the yang side yearns for action. I suspect both are needed yet I suspect Laozi would even agree that, in our situation, "wu wei" is not called for.

 

I love your kind advice. I really do. Yes, I chose that icon for a reason. I get worked up easily sometimes, but I am able to get calm and focused fairly quickly. But this current mess has me so frustrated and more than a little irratated. Now I have seen Owen's most recent post (See "GZ Screws Up Again"). I find this is an outrage against reason, compassion, and common sense. I feel it is time that we must act to address this injustice.

 

Thanks again my friends.