China Romance
All About China => Visas, Immigration and Emigration => Topic started by: Jim on October 26, 2011, 07:40:42 pm
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Everyone has said that a spouse cannot get a tourist visa, so we did not apply for a long time. Finally my wife said she wanted to try. Lo and behold today she went for her interview and received her pink paper. So much for what everyone says. It is good for a year, multiple visits. Now we can start getting her spousal visa. She said the Questions were: Why did she want to come to the US. How long did she plan on staying, how long have we been married and did we start the proceedings for a spouse visa. She showed him the letter of invitation and support that I had sent her. These letters I copied from the Govt website. That is it. She went to the Beijing embassy. So, now you know to try. To heck what anyone else says.
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Everyone has said that a spouse cannot get a tourist visa
Most said it was near impossible for a chinese woman to travel solo to the US on a tourist visa. Most can not make the requirement. What was the requirements?
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Congratulations Jim to you and your wife.You and your wife are the only couple Ive ever heard of who has ever got a tourist visa.To the U.S.This is something to be real proud of.I think this is a bigger deal than you realize.
I know a woman in China who applied for a tourist visa.She met all the requirements.she actually had twice the amount of money in the bank.That the U.S required at the time.she speaks English fluently.Has a good job owns 3 houses and a store.And a delivery truck.I talked to her after her interview.She said her interview lasted about five minutes..And they wouldn't even look at her documents.She said they told her her visa was denied.When she asked why.They told her that she wasn't a good risk for a visa.This was all in GZ.
As you can see it is tough to get a tourist visa to the U.S.So I'm real curios what is your secrete.I think you and your wife being married mite of had a allot to do with it.I have another question.Have you filed for your your wife's visa to immigrate to the states? Are you living with your wife in China? About a year ago we had another member who got his wife a visa to the states.But it was a emergency visa.So that his wife could attend his mother's funeral.I don't know how long the visa was valid for.Or how long she could stay.He lived with his wife in GZ.And had ben there close to a year when his mother passed away.And he applied for the emergency visa.If I remember correctly it took him a week for his wife to receive her visa.
We have another member.Who applied for a tourist visa for his wife.He filed the application while he was living in China.With his wife.His wife application was denied.He didn't tell me why.He had ben living in China close to a year with his wife.
So I need to know what the secrete is.We could go into business together and make a fortune selling this kind of information ;D
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As we know Maxx that member's wife never used her emergency visa because circumstances changed. But I am curious why someone comes here and makes a 'You know nothing on here' sort of statement as a first posting! It will be interesting to hear the follow up.
Willy
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For the record, Willy, this was not my first post. I have actually been a member since the very beginning. Secondly, it was never meant as an 'in your face' type of statement. I came here to tell everyone that its not unheard of anymore. Because we were all told that for years that there was no hope so dont even try.
Even before she tried I called my Lawyer and they said she wont get it. It just goes to show that in these things no one knows it all.
To answer the questions, yes I am from the US. we have actually been married for 2 and a half years. I live here and she lives there. I have not officially started the process for her spousal visa. We have had some issues that we are trying to work out. She hired a company to help her get the proper paperwork together. I never figured she would get one. She said she wanted to try anyway. I dont know what happened other than the questions I told you about. I did mention in my letter of invitation that my aged mother would like to see her before it was too late. I never claimed she was going to die. Other than that. She is a Nurse with over 20 years of experience, has a 21 year old daughter and her family is a professional family mostly in Wuhan. She wasnt even asked about money. I stated in a letter that I would support her while she was here. That I was retired military, I promised to make sure she returned at the end of her visa. I am elated that she got it, but it just goes to prove the point that it all depends on the interviewer. Maybe he got laid that morning and was in a good mood. I dont know. Thats the problem with the system we have.
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Willy, Think back. You know Jim. I'll leave it at that. If Jim wants to say more it is up to him. I for one am glad to see him back posting and am happy that his wife and he are having success with the visa.
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Willy yes I remember that she never used the visa.
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I think I know who this is but last heard from was retreating back home?
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Retreating? Jesus christ. I wasnt even going to come back here and tell about this but Martin asked me to so he is a friend. Now I get crap? Vinny have you ever even been to China yet? Now I remember why I left. Dont worry I wont be back. Hell, all I wanted to do is tell you all that maybe times are changing. I am sorry if that flies in the face of all your knowledge.
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I am sorry if that flies in the face of all your knowledge.
The only knowledge we have is when people tell us their experiences. Of course people will question anything new if it goes against past experiences. I am glad that you had success.
But do you not think that if we told everyone to go for it and they did not succeed, that they would be happy with us? We try to be conservative, and if people show the alternative can happen, then we have a case for those who still wish to try. Maybe your case is the start in a change in direction for tourist applications.
Current advise usually lags behind results so if more people apply and get acceptance, then more can we encourage people to try. Of course it never hurts to try, but denial can really hurt peoples attitudes.
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********* At least know who you are talking to. Why don't you PM him and ask him. Then apologize.
Maybe I should save the strong comments for PM's.
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Guys, I totally understand why you have questioned Jim...but this is JimB...Sarge...a member since the beginning of FB, and once a MOD on this site. He and I were talking on Yahoo the other day, and he told me his wife got a tourist visa. Both of us were very SURPRISED! I asked him to come here, and post his story, because I thought it might be of use to some people in the future.
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What am I suppose to be a Physic? If people come back with changed names and start posting as new people then who is to know what is reality and what is not.
I will just go back to my own senile little world.
Willy
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Sir, I see you Censored by coming to your senses. ;)
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Wow ...... who knew that a positive result of one guy versus the Government could cause so many feathers to be ruffled. I guess it goes to show that we have been discouraged for so long by our own government, that we lack the courage to believe any other result.
Willy, I see no wrong in your 1st statement questioning the original posting.
I will just go back to my own senile little world.
And please do not leave us here to go to Egypt.
Martin, I am sorry that your helpfull intent caused such a stir.
So I guess it is not only the bearer of Bad News that has to worry about his reception. It just goes to show, that how the news is delivered is just as critical as its content. ::)
So don't SHOOT the
Messanger
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Willy...he hadn't been here for awhile, and had forgotten his account information. I am not criticizing anyone for their posts...I would have reacted the same.
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I will just go back to my own senile little world.
And please do not leave us here to go to Egypt please.
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Out of the 35 - 40 Countries I have visited I think that Eqypt was the most interesting after China. Crusing down the River Nile was relaxing. And the antiquities are amazing. So I see nile as you say Rhonald.
If anyone goes to the most famous three Pyramids outside of Cairo then just word of advice. There is one you can go in and go down to the lower gallery level.
This is a steep very low passage. People struggle to get down and it is some way and back breaking! Just go down backswards and lean forward then it is a piece of cake.
Willy
My apologies to one of the oldest (in Membership) members from the oldest (age member, probably, in real life) here.
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Out of the 35 - 40 Countries I have visited I think that Eqypt was the most interesting after China.
Willy
My apologies to one of the oldest (in Membership) members from the oldest (age member, probably, in real life) here.
I remember you telling me this when I visited you Willy, and it's good to see in your recent video apperance, a sound English Walking stick. With keeping of the theme and Haloween around the corner, I guess ....... Mummies the Word :-X
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well, Willy, maybe like me you should take the hour rule. I think we both forgot it. lol. Sorry I got my dander up. If anyone wants the people who helped her, I will give them the QQ number of the company. I dont know if they actually helped her or not but they charged about 300 USD. I just hope that with Obamas new rules, it will get easier for us.
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well, Willy, maybe like me you should take the hour rule. I think we both forgot it. lol. Sorry I got my dander up.
But at least with your success, you are Head & Shoulders above us. ::)
I am glad that you have decided to ignore your other comment and decided to post again. We need more success stories and lets face it, even just referring to Government involvement, we all end up scratching our heads in frustration. Thus the dandruff.
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As you see from the photo I am the eccentric Englishman that never leaves home without an Umbrella. Come rain or shine, winter or summer I am like a boy scout. 'Be Prepared'.
Willy
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Sorry guys. I just didn't want to see Jim go. I hope you understand. I guess I'm still in shock after hearing WIlly talk on the video. He has a Brittish accent? :o ;D
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Sorry guys. I just didn't want to see Jim go. I hope you understand. I guess I'm still in shock after hearing WIlly talk on the video. He has a Brittish accent? :o ;D
British Accent! But Athena, my friend, who did translating for Iceland has trouble at times understanding me. Come to think of it my friends from way back AND my sisters all have that problem. In Africa where they spoke English they needed a translator to understand MY English.
I think the only person who understands every word I say is me!
But there again I can't be really sure about that either.
Willy
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There is the British accent then there is the Brittish accident. Sorry Willy. It appears they my bifocals need a little readjustment. Thinking I need to go from a 1.5 to a 10.0 today. Where is my blood sugar monitor?
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Martin reminded me of the 24 hour rule, I had forgotten and so is all of the negativity. I talked to my wife today and she received her passport back with her visa in it. So it is officially official. We cannot figure out why she got it. I know it is unheard of. She just claims she is lucky. As I said before this just points out the stupidity of the way things are handled now. One person decides who gets and who doesnt using abstract criteria.
If anyone is interested in talking to the company that she used pm me and I will give the QQ number for the woman. She speaks english, not great but plenty enough to understand. I just hope that Obamas policy has had a change for the better for us.
Anyway, good luck to all and if I can help just let me know. Also who has the cheapest flights going now? We are planning on her coming in January.
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From China I always go to the ELong website. Its the Chinese equivalent of Expedia and I got some good deals from them. Plus no need to give credit or debit card details over the phone as you can pay the cash into any bank for the ticket.
Just as an aside to this there is an Nike Advert running here at the moment. Features Li the grand slam tennis player arriving at a USA Immigration point. The guy asks her where she is coming from and she answers with locations of tennis tournament. He ask her where she is going to and she again gives a list of cities where she is to play. He looks at her and asks what is the purpose of visit. She replies 'Tennis'. He looks at her again and then finally stamps her passport and lets her through. So according to this advert it seems these guys on the gates have a lot of power.
Willy
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So according to this advert it seems these guys on the gates have a lot of power.
Willy
Especially the pearly gates.
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Willy yes the guys at the gate do really have all the power.If the guy at the gate is having a bad day.your going to have a bad day.Power hungry ego maniacs is all they are.It says somewhere on the Americans wife/girlfriend visa application.That if and when your lady arrives in America.That the border patrol agent can deny.Said wife/girlfriend entry into the United States. I was worried about this when I brought my wife to the states.I had my high priced over payed lawyer number locked into my Mobil phone.If my wife was denied entry.I was going to call my over priced lawyer and raise the roof.They were going to hear about this in Washington.Fortunately they just glanced at her passport stamped it.And we were on are marry way.
Back in 2003 me and a friend drove to Mexico.Dropped some equipment off and hung out in Mexico for the weekend.We flew back into the states in a private plane that is registered in the U.S. The gestapo wannabee that was working immigration in Tuscan Arizona.About had a stroke when we landed and walked into there office.We screamed and hollered at each other for half a hour.Until the gestapo agent called his supervisor.His supervisor told him to stop being a jerk.And to let us go on are way.10 minutes latter were taxing down the runway.Getting ready to take off.
Back in maybe 1999 I drove across the border into Mexico.Looked around this little town in Mexico.Had some breakfast.maybe spent 2 to 3 hours there.When I went to go back across the border.There was this border patrol agent.Setting in this little booth.Out in the middle of nowhere.So I pull up to the both.Flash the guy my driver's licence.And start to go on.This fat little border guard jumps out of his booth.And starts chasing me down the rd on foot.I can hear him hollering at me.So I stop my jeep.And fat boy comes huffing and puffing up the rd.Tells me I need to shut off the vehicle.And get out of the car.So I do it.Then we stand out in the hot New Mexico sun and play twenty questions.For about ten minutes.
He then gets on his radio and calls for backup.So this big suburban pulls up.And out jump 4 border patrol agents.They even brought there dog.So by this time.I'm almost rolling on the ground I'm laughing so much.Fat boy is getting madder and madder.Because it is getting hotter.And I'm not taking this serious enough according to him.So they make me go stand by the side of the rd.And start searching my jeep.I pop off to fatboy tell him to keep the dog out of my jeep.Because I'm deathly allergic to them.I tell them if that dog gets in my jeep.They will have to take me to the hospital.Because I will be that sick.I'm really not.Allergic to dogs.I just want to mess with the guy some more.
So now he is really pissed.And he sends this woman border patrol agent to watch me.So I'm standing there flirting with her.making jokes about the fat border patrol agent.I've got her laughing so hard.That they send another guy over.To watch her while she is watching me.So I keep making jokes about the guy.Now I've got both border patrol agents laughing.And fat boy is having a fit.So they check my jeep.They can't find anything.So they kick me loose.After fat boy gives me a lecture. On How I should show border patrol more respect.While he is giving me this lecture.The other 2 agents that were watching me.Have gone over to the other 2 border agents.And they are all laughing now.I think the woman was telling the other 2 agents what I was saying about the fat guy.
So I hope in my jeep.And take off.I look in my mirrors.And the fat guy jumps into his truck and starts following me down the rd.So I string him along for probably fifty miles.I slow down.I speed up.Like I'm looking for something.I finally get bored with this guy.So I pull over at a gas station.And he drives by while I'm standing there putting gas in my jeep
We have are own official goon squad here in the states called TSA.These are the men and women who are supposed to be protecting us from terrorists.It has got to the point that we need to be protected from TSA.These are the monkeys that run airport security.My last trip to China I was flying by myself no wife no kids.I was going to China to help my wife with the boys.
I get to the airport check in.And start to go threw security.You have to take off your shoes.And any metal objects.And then walk threw this machine.on the other side of the machine is some kid wearing a TSA uniform.He wants to see my passport.And my plane ticket.So I give them to the kid.And the little schmucks pulls out his jeweler's loop.And starts looking threw all the pages of my passport.I have traveled internationally allot since I got this passport.I have traveled so much internationally that I had to get pages added to my passport.Because there was no blank pages left.
So this kid is looking at my passport.Like I'm some kind of terrorist.I'm trying not to laugh to loud.I go to get my stuff and this kid starts yelling.Sir Sir you must stand right here.So I stand their while the monkey looks at each and every page of my passport.And the line is starting to back up behind me.A supervisor finally comes over and makes the kid give me back my passport.While I'm picking up my stuff.They take the kid off of checking IDs and put him on picking up tubs.Only in America can the guy with the least amount of commen since get the best jobs.
I was flying threw Denver one time.And I had some time before my next flight.So I sneak outside to smoke a cigarettes.So when I went to my gate I had to go back threw security.They had some women who was blind running the ex ray machine.Her glasses must of ben a half inch thick.She would look at her screen pass a bag threw the machine.Then back the bag up to look at it again.Because she couldn't tell what she was looking at.Some of the people must have ben standing there along time waiting for there bags.They were calling the lady some nasty names.And making nasty comments to her.This was before the twin towers.When you could actually talk to these people.And not be pulled out of line for a strip search.If you made one of them angry.
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I have had to endure the pat downs and searches on most all my trips. But on my return to the USA the last time, the guy looked at my passport and said wow you've been in China for three months. Then he marked some special code on my entry card and when I came to customs they emptied all 4 of my bags and repacked them piece by piece. I guess it is unamerican to leave the states for 90 days. All they had to do was ask.
http://youtu.be/iuG30df_EE8 (http://youtu.be/iuG30df_EE8)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-hate-the-TSA/106278776107499 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-hate-the-TSA/106278776107499)
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I've flown between Florida and New York a little more then a few times in the 40 years I've been coming here (where I live now) and had my fill and amusement of the TSA. I even knew a couple personally that worked in customs. But one of my last flights (coming back @ JFK airport) this little shit (kid about 5'5") pulled my carry on off the belt and inspected it? I had a plastic bag on the bottom (used for the dirties). He swiped the bottom checking for something? (at the time I was wondering if I ever put my guns in this bag and left a residue?) But having no common sense (the plastic bag) I let him do his thing. Is it a wonder why the last time I went up to NY , I drove.
Not to change the subject (somewhat) just on TV News a Florida State Trooper pulled over an Miami police officer in his police car and handcuffed him, reason is he was traveling on the interstate at 120 mph (no emergency) he was late for his second job. Just shows how authority has taking advantage of their position.
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When my wife visited UK, which was her first time, I went through the slow NON european channel with her. At that stage her English was very small so I answered the questions for her. She hand to put her thumb print on a scanner so that next time she came through she would be immediately recognised as one who had been and left the country before which will make further visa applications faster and entry into the UK a bit less slow.
Willy