supernova1987a

I'm not exactly asking why I'm in this situation, but I can explain. Everyone has a unique set of challenges, mine would be to contantly trying to collect my sister's signature over email, she works 14 hours a day and travel around the world a third of the time, and I have to fly to Beijing and escort my frail parents to Guangzhou for the interview. Collecting every piece of paper with orginal signature is a bigger challenge for my sister than it is for me.

Fleeing means getting out as quickly as they can. The well-off people feel their asset is under increasing threat from the economic downturn and a government that feels it can "adjust" things without rules of law. I'm not even gonna get started on the food safety, air quality and an education system designed to make parents and students miserable. while some of these are a constant over the last decade, the recent economic uncertainty is causing wide spread anxiety.

The GZ consulate also indicated in a notification letter (I forgot which) that their recent case load is increasing so one should expect longer delays. On the interview day I couldn't even find a curb space to sit on - notably more crowded than a year ago, when I had to go there for my wife's case.

You should always take ALL documents with you when you do such things. Why would you not carry a few pieces of paper around? It's simple to keep and carry a few pages of paper than be in the situation you are in; despite what is "required."

What "fleeing" are you talking about?

My sister has been sponsoring my parents' IR5 case since April last year. The IV interview took place in Guangzhou on Apr 21, and we got the dreaded 221(g) because we failed to submit the "original Affidavit of Support". On the interview letter, the I864 has an "R" designation, which means we already submitted it online, or in other words, we don't need to bring it to the interview. I864a was also requested - and that's not even in the checklist! But hey, who are we to argue on these "minor" issues?

On the 221(g) letter, it says their case is approved, but additional document is needed. They kept their passports too.

We submitted both the I864A and the I864 the next day. A LUD was generated on April 24. A soft one - the status remains "Administrative Processing".

Like most others, I contracted the horrible Luditis disease. I've been checking CEAC every day since the beginning of May. From May 4 to May 13 (Beijing time), my parents' case have been accessed virtually every single day, except Sunday (yes there was a Saturday access too). So more than half a dozen "soft LUD's" so far, but we are still AP'ed.

The cool-headed peeps would say this means nothing. The optimistic type would call it a good sign. I belong to the third category: I think some ####### is about to hit the fan. What's there to look at? I'll admit when I filled out one of the fifteen billion forms I may have indicated my father's profession is a scientist, as opposed to saying merely "retired" (he is almost 79). Would that trigger an alarm? They might think that I lied?

Now here comes my questions - 1) has anyone been turned down or delayed because of his or her profession? 2) what's the typical wait time (aka AP time) at Guangzhou these days (I've seen some related threads on VJ but they are old. An increasing number of people are trying to flee the country in recent months, so the case load there is mounting)?

So far I remained cool but the anxiety will soon kick in.

I'm going to take a wild guess here - they forgot to update it. These "hard LUD's" are entered by human, and as such, human errors are commonplace. Is there a ustraveldocs email address where you can email the case number to and get the tracking information for the passport?

Darnell - Just picked it up today. Passport status was updated to Ready for Pickup 33 minutes pass midnight last night. So basically the 3-business day rule remains true for most people - 3 b-days between Origination Scan and Ready for Pickup.

Hey folks - I've been browsing this thread for a while so I figure I should chip in...

My wife's interview was on Feb 6 and it was approved. Two weeks later (in AP the whole time) we received an email saying we need to send in the notarized marriage certificate (they didn't ask for it during the interview). Long story short, we dropped off the certificate to a Citic Bank in Beijing on Feb 24, on Feb 28 they received the document.

On March 6 we received two calls from the GZ Consulate, after my repeated emails (my wife was 35 weeks pregnant at the time, and Chinese hospitals are just downright scary). They agreed to expedite our visa processing.

Next day (Match 7, Friday) CEAC status changed to Issued. That was fast. The following Monday after 11am Beijing time the passport status changed to "Passport received from consular section and is being processed for delivery". Sending an email to passportstatus@ustralvedocs.com yielded "Origination Scan".

Another two business days passed. This morning I called the Citic Bank on Financial Street in Beijing (one of the so-called Expedited Pick Up Location), it's not there yet.

Browsed this thread from Page 1. Looks like everyone got their the famous "Ready for Pickup" status in 2-3 business days. I hope we get it tomorrow, Day 3.

Funny they say you can pick up your passport at one of the 5 "Expedited Pick Up Locations" ON THE SAME DAY the consulate releases the passport and visa packet. I'm going to assume I read it wrong - that's only possible if your case is processed IN THE SAME CITY! I have to say though, the "same day" claim didn't include a fine print. I was excited for nothing.

Good to know it's not just me. It started with St. Valentine and won't end till at the Presidents pass. How charming. Can anyone else access CEAC in the last, I don't know, 96 hours?

Now it's Feb 16 in EST too, but it's still Application Error Land...