Interview Logistics

[FoundNanning 0]

Our Appointment is June 5 @12:30. We are staying in a hotel 3KM from the Consulate. If I accompany my wife that first (Document Intake) day, approximately how long will I be waiting for her outside? Do they assign her a time for the next day, or does everyone report to the Consulate at the same time for the actual interview?

Likewise, on the second (Actual Interview) day, roughly how long will I be waiting after she passes the guards, or is it just better for me to walk back to the hotel to wait?

[Ryan H 3,813]

Do they assign her a time for the next day, or does everyone report to the Consulate at the same time for the actual interview?

Everyone will report to the Consulate at the same time on interview day.

[Luigi 0]

My wife and another gentleman I met went in nearly the same time on document intake day, and came out literally one after the other. He and I stayed on the bottom floor. That said, if memory serves, they got out around 4:30, which would be about 4 hours. However, she and I didn't arrive until 11:30 to 11:45, and there were plenty of people in line, already. That day, when you get through the first guys handing out cards, you seem to kind of get a number, she never clearly explained how that worked, and I'm not 100% sure she really knew...

The next day, we were a little further behind the same gentleman, but my wife got out more than 90 minutes after his. This time, however (at least until he and the other person we were with left), we waited at the cafe just outside the exit of the consulate. Be warned, it's really expensive, but once you buy a drink, they just leave you alone. The second day, my wife got out around 11:15. I waited for her both days, but had people to talk to, fortunately. If you stay, strike up a conversation with some of the people there.

That's my advice, anyway. If you don't want to wait so long, going back to the hotel for an hour or two might not be bad, and if you go back, she might not notice, haha.

[Pitaya 2,577]

My wife and another gentleman I met went in nearly the same time on document intake day, and came out literally one after the other. He and I stayed on the bottom floor. That said, if memory serves, they got out around 4:30, which would be about 4 hours. However, she and I didn't arrive until 11:30 to 11:45, and there were plenty of people in line, already. That day, when you get through the first guys handing out cards, you seem to kind of get a number, she never clearly explained how that worked, and I'm not 100% sure she really knew...

The next day, we were a little further behind the same gentleman, but my wife got out more than 90 minutes after his. This time, however (at least until he and the other person we were with left), we waited at the cafe just outside the exit of the consulate. Be warned, it's really expensive, but once you buy a drink, they just leave you alone. The second day, my wife got out around 11:15. I waited for her both days, but had people to talk to, fortunately. If you stay, strike up a conversation with some of the people there.

That's my advice, anyway. If you don't want to wait so long, going back to the hotel for an hour or two might not be bad, and if you go back, she might not notice, haha.

Many thanks for the info.

[Luigi 0]

Many thanks for the info.

No problem. Hope it helps you guys.

Also, you can go upstairs with your significant other, to the long line, however, when they are actually going in to the consulate, there's a rope barrier, you can't pass that at this time. I forgot to mention that, before. My wife read online that some people were allowed into the consulate to wait on one of the days, but that's not true.

[bigdog 376]

Take an IPAD or good book. It is so much fun waiting.

[FoundNanning 0]

For those of you ho have used the Metro in Guangzhou:

How far (walk) is the clinic from the Zhujiang New Town Metro Station?

Is the Consulate closer to the GZ East Station or Linhexi? Then, how far far a walk?

[Luigi 0]

After you exit Zhujiang New Town (B1, if memory serves), you face a wall, with an intersection just to your left, and a large building just to your right. I believe it's the second building, and probably not 100 meters away.

As for the consulate, I feel it's closer to East Railway, but Baidu says to get out at Linhe Xi. If you get out at the station, it's a more direct shot, fewer turns and all. However, you have to pass the large waterfall before you can see it, thi way (not really an issue, IMO). Just get to the corner of the park, and look across the street, and the consulate should be there.

[Darnell 8,478]

Don't forget, there's an Ikea round the corner, and the food there is much cheaper. Lean to the left at the front entrance, find the hidden stairwell or elevator, and you not need to go round the store to get to the food section.

Edited May 21, 2012 by Darnell

[dave & joy 2]

Don't forget, there's an Ikea round the corner, and the food there is much cheaper. Lean to the left at the front entrance, find the hidden stairwell or elevator, and you not need to go round the store to get to the food section.

Across from IKEA there is a mall and a grocery store for the thrifty travelers. Also I have been to over 20 places in China and never did I see so many 7-11 stores as I did in Guangzhou.