Why is China so slow to get anything done? I realize I have been working on this for like five minutes compared to most and I feel everybody's pain. From my research we are looking at one of the longest Visa process on the globe.



Jim

Because your girlfriend is in CHINA. Everyone here have to be patient to get it through.Even it's so hard.
For k1 ,NSC,CHINA. It usually takes 7-10months.So take it easy.One word"Wait".That's all about.

Its slow because the government is trying to make it hard on purpose. Probably to shake out marriages that are from women trying to get into the country and dump the husband once she has a green card.

Could there be any other explanation? No, of course not. No other explanation explains the process of sending in paperwork one piece at a time and paying the fees one at a time. Would you expect to file/pay your income taxes like this?

Its long and hard because it is. Concentrate on your relationship and downplay the misery. Otherwise, you'll end up with time and money down a rathole and no marriage, or a poor one at the end, to show for it all.

Its hard on me and my wife and I have set her up like a queen and travel there every 6 weeks and stay for a couple of weeks.

Buckle down, use the shortcuts posted here, pay for Priority or Express Mail whenever you send something in. Also, invest in Skype, webcams and any other methods you have to stay close. Travel there as much as you can afford to.

Jim

I'm with you all the way. The CSC and the Guangzhou consulate are the worst possible combinations. I have seen some people with NOA1 dates after mine get their visa already. I can't even confirm the Guangzhou consulate has our case file yet. It will probably be July or August before we get our visa. (that's if everything goes well)

Today I bought ANOTHER phone card from CITIC to call the Consulate, only to be told they don't have any information for me. I resisted the urge to trash the woman on the phone because I know they monitor those phone calls and anything terrible you say will come back to haunt you. Be careful.

My buddy totally cursed them out once and then months later when his girlfriend was being interviewed for a tourist visa, the guy was like, Oh your boyfriend's the one who made all those threatening calls... Guess whether she got the visa...

Everyone has a valid point, plus Guangzhou is by far the busiest US consulate inthe world. More visa applications are processed there then anywhere else

Here is some follow up. I cleared NVC on March 8. I emailed the consulate and they told me that they knew the package was on its way because they had received the Case # from NVC. They told me it takes 2 months to clear customs. However I can send her the I-134 in 5-7 days by usps Global mail? using the online mail format will get you a response from the consulate in 3-5 days, save your money on calling them.


Jim

Jim, I hope you know there is a lot more to it than that!
The history of US immigration *from* China is a sad and interesting thing to research. China also has a sort of HUGE population, I hear.

If it makes anyone feel better, the wait list just for the interview in the Dominican Republic is closing in on 24 *months* (yes, that's after the petition, and after an pre-visa processing at the NVC), so you're not at *the* slowest place on Earth.

Mo - can you tell me where you are viewing this information re: Santo Domingo? I did find a 533 page document of those waiting for interviews that dates back to 10/2005, but it does not break the receipt #'s down by visa type (which makes me think many of these are other family based apps other than spouses, ect)

Look up user TwinCactus from here.. he has a site like VJ that's just for the DR and drops in to update/school us every now and again. He's got the lists by visa type posted there as well, I think.

thank you! i had actually looked them up, but kinda moved on to more *official* pages... lesson! dont overlook anything thanks again!

Check the timelines and support available specifically for China at http://www.candleforlove.com

Complaining and "why" questions will just exacerbate your anguish. Expect a two month delay between your NVC out and packet 3. That's normal for China. Sometimes they surprise you and move faster. It doesn't take two months to clear customs. The Consulate uses the DHL customs warehouse as a storage facility and lets the packages sit there until they are ready to work on them. They are behind. Don't expect them to catch up anytime soon.

Don't ever call the pay phone number for status updates. Call DOS in DC at 202.663.1225 1-0-0. They have more up to date information and it's free. Your case should now be in "loaded" status. You want to know if any name checks are pending and later, the indication your file is being worked inside the Consulate is that the status will change to "open".

Bear in mind that in this process, particularly in China, "sent" does not mean "sent". It means approved for sending. The actual handing over of the package to a courier service is usually 2 to 7 days later. Nobody can give you any actual tracking information. If they tell you DHL picked it up or any other such nonsense they are guessing or assuming. The do NOT have any such information available to them.

Seven months is a fast K1 for China. Nine months is also normal. You'd be wise to use the time to build your relationship and your ability to show proof thereof.

I know it's hard for you people petitioning for first world countries to believe, but indeed it is taking 20-24 months just to get your interview scheduled in Santo Domingo. I guess I should post my timeline sometime. Mine was relatively *short* at 20 months from start to finish. 13 month wait for the appointment alone.

Damb, twincactus, you got my respects.

13 months for an interview thats insane!

Ramos