PDXbicycleboy

T-Bone,

If I cough, sneeze, or wipe at my nose, my wife thinks I have the flu and I'm sorry you got it. I work in a school so I'm a marked man.

CONGRATS on your 1st year together!!! People going through Guayaquil: please heed T-Bone's advice about Guayaquil; that place is a lawless hole.

We are doing fine over here in Oregon although my wife thinks it's cold now--January and February are but hopefully she will be in Ecuador for a visit at that time.

-E

Courtesy (probably) of the garbage that floats through the air during a domestic airline flight, I came down with the Porcina (swine flu) earlier this week. It is mild in adults, and I had no coexisting health conditions and no signs of pneumonia, and only two symptoms (a bastardly high fever and a controlled cough).

My wife has notified probably everyone in Ecuador. Everyone in Ecuador (even those whom she did not notify) is terrified of the Porcina. They all asked her, "Is he in the hospital? Is he dead?" She replied, "I am not that lucky." Giggling emanated from her at her computer desk all morning. (I will have to kick her "culo," si man.)

Her mother got on the phone with me and began jabbering something in Spanish (I didn't understand it, but it sounded frantic). I said, "Soy un puerco -- oink oink oink oink oink!" and there came nervous, relieved laughter.

And, happy first anniversary to us -- today, Oct. 31 (Hallowe'en), si man.

I was reading this thread

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=205093

And someone brought up something that seems to hit home for almost everyone that is going through on this process. When it is all said and done, all the paperwork and the hassles of securing your loved one a visa to enter the country.. It all comes down to a single person at the embassy to be given the duty to interview you and ultimately decide whether or not your loved one should be allowed to enter the country or not. Now i know that this single job is a very demanding and stressful job.. Golly I cannot imagine living with the nightmares some of these people deal with on a daily basis but leaving it up to just a single person who decides on the whole case is pretty unfair. Should the worse of experiences happens, you or your spouse/fiancee/relative get ridiculed for bringing insufficient/overwhelming evidence, treated unfairly/biassedly/rudely, or just plain put into a stereotypical category from first glance. We should have protections set in place that a USC can petition for or complain about. The thread that i spunned this other subject from there was a man and his significant other who brought sufficient evidence but the CO said it was not enough and flat out told her to return. To protect us and valid couples, what have people done to complain or petition for another review? Like i said in that thread, "I do not like the idea of someone deciding the fate of our lives, the military does that enough for me.."

What can we do in case this happens? What are our rights as USCs? What can we do to not let aholes, ignorant people, biased, and not properly trained COs dictate our lives? I'm only writing this topic thread because I want to look out for everyone else and see what our are options are in the matter. I have not experienced this myself but reading up on it from other people's experiences make me a little worried... Your opinions and discussion is greatly appreciated.

James

You, as a USC have a right to petition a visa for your SO. Your SO as a foreign national has NO right to a visa. NO visa is denied based on a single person's decision. Petitionss are returned to USCIS for review with a recommendation of denial. USCIS often re-affirms and re-sends the petition back to the consulate (we see threads about this here all the time) and there is a forum dedicated just to such denials and what you can do about them.

It is a mis-statement to say that ONE PERSON makes a decision to deny, simply isn't true.

In just as many...actually far more cases, the visa is approved with no questions asked. (i see no one complaining about that) And even then it is not the decision of one person. For one thing, the ONE person doing the interview follows the rules and practices of the consulate which was the result of many people's work. One person may do the interview but it is a mistake to assume it was his/her on the spot decision. The decision has usually been made before the interview (hence the frequent "no questions asked" interviews) by reviewing the documents YOU have presented. YOU and your fiancee have a right to present your case and provide evidence of a bona fide relationship. I suggest you prepare for it.

The TWO people most influential in this process are YOU and your FIANCE(E) If you go around blaming it on the "one mysterious person" or think it is so, you are doomed to fail.

It is REQUIRED at the Guayaquil Consulate to be at the interview. I get where you're coming from and it sounds like you have a lot of life experience but trust me, I have endured the stuff you say you would go through for your woman (the fighting of the proverbial demons, dragons, standing in the rain for hours, etc). Not to toot my own horn, but I am as tough as they come and love this woman with all my heart and soul but it seems to me that the consulate you went through was easy and your comments are not grounded from the experience of going through what a growing number of us have gone through. Contrary to what you have heard or what the law is in these matters, ONE person CAN and does determine the fate of your case at Guayaquil. I understand that your response to this statement might be that if someone loves a person then they will tear down the walls for them and deal with it because you love them etc.

However, I don't get the impression from your posts you acknowledge or appreciate how difficult, ambiguous and absurd these Ecuador cases really are and that people are getting HAMMERED by this place. They have written their government representatives, have submitted loads of evidence and have fought the bloody battle and STILL are being HOSED. It turns out that one person dictates the pace and life of your case (in other words, this one person cups your jewels the entire time and from time to time kicks them and whatever else they want to do with them because there are no rules, no laywers, no protection for the USC--end of story).

I agree with your take that we control our own destiny and that the gist of what you're saying about taking action and getting stuff done when things get tough. However, Guayaquil is a different place. This is a place where logic, reason, and rationale are not. Guayaquil is a place with its own set of shifting rules and the rogue Consulate is no exception. So, I would encourage you to do some research about this city before you make generalizations regarding the tactics that worked in other parts of the world and expect them to apply them to this rathole consulate; the consulate mirrors the community it is in. When the Civil Registro of Ecuador is a better run and more trustworth outfit than the U.S. Consulate, we have major problems and believe me, I have the experience of having to go to the Civil Registro to get a identification card for our son who was born down there. Oddly, I was treated with more respect in my 3 hours there at the Civil Registro of Ecuador than at ANY time dealing with the United States Guayaquil Consulate.

I missed his birth and helping my fiance and being with her because of one woman--our C.O. and there was nothing that could be done about it because she decided she didn't want to give the visa. It is the truth. One person determined that I couldn't get down to be there for my fiance and son despite having had mounds of evidence. No amount of positive thinking or taking time off work, etc. could have changed this situation because there was a woman who was determined to be a thorn in our side because of the unchecked power given to her. And what is even scarier is that this person seemed to enjoy throwing down an idiotic guantlet of requirements to prove our relationship.

So, I wanted to side with T-Bone on his points because they are all true and valid when it comes to GUAYAQUIL. I am absolutely 100 percent FIRED UP that they got away with what they did. However, the visa is in her hands and yes it is so because I made it so with over a six months of smash-mouth fighting with this psycho consular officer.

Everything, I mean everything about this consulate's interactions with us were deceiving. I commend and admire people that go through the process of brining someone they love to our country. As we all know, the process isn't easy and I understand what your position is, I just had to chime in from the sidelines and because this is such a hot button for me and needed to defend the position that this consulate's practices have to be reigned in.

*I am following up on a previous review (interview was November 2008 and case was put into administrative processing) regarding this consulate now that the visa has been issued.*

Where to start? I am so FIRED UP right now that I don't even feel like I want to submit a review of this circus (yes, you can hear the circus tune playing in the background right now) of a U.S. Consulate because of the RIDICULOUS hoops and UNETHICAL practices these bunch of gutless clowns put us through. Mind you, this wasn't a couple interactions we had with these jokers; they demonstrated through these interactions that this behavior was standard operational procedure for this dive. Let's just put it this way, the Registro Civil of Ecaudor provides better customer service than the Guayaquil Consulate (yes, I had to GO to the Civil Registro to "experience" getting a Cedula for our son in order for the Guayaquil Consulate's doctor to even do the DNA test that had been sitting in his office (of course the U.S. Consulate didn't tell us we needed the father's last name on the Cedula [or even that we NEEDED a cedula to DO the DNA test] on the paperwork they sent saying they needed the DNA test to prove our relationship). As Adam Sandler said in the Wedding Singer, "Once again, things that could have been brought to my attention YESTERDAY!"

They were complete arses all the way to the end. I guess I don't understand the logic in granting my son a United States Passport and declaring him to be a U.S. citizen (in May 2009) without seeing or requesting DNA test results to prove he is ours. However, the Immigrant Visa Department, INSISTS we need more, expensive ($750) evidence to prove he is ours to show that we really do have a "real relationship". All I have to say is that they have their heads so far up their asses on this one.

Memo to the consular officer who ran our case (Yes, in CAPS because I would SCREAM these words to your FACE if you had the GUTS to sign your name in any of the obtuse emails you sent and to even take ONE of my calls: YOU ARE VERY, VERY UNHAPPY WOMAN. PLEASE GET HELP. I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF FOR HAVING SUCH AN IMPORTANT JOB AND MAKING PEOPLE JUMP THROUGH AS MANY HOOPS AS YOU SEE FIT BECAUSE OF YOUR AWESOME POWERS. IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH THAT TAXPAYERS SUPPORT SACKS OF ####### LIKE YOU AND EVEN SICKER TO KNOW THAT OUR GOVERNMENT ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP A JOB. YOU LOST. WE WON. I TOLD YOU WE WOULDN'T QUIT. YOU DON'T CARE AND YOU DO A GOOD JOB OF THAT.

Even though this consulate screwed us over in more ways then most anyone I've seen on VJ, and we went through so much #######, I know this case isn't special; there are lots of poor souls that *thought* their government ran things efficiently and then the trap doors flew open and they found themselves falling through a seemingly endless maze of requirements that are made up by a mentally sick consular officer abusing the power given to her by our own government.

Overall, this place is a shoddy operation at best and at worst a downright embarrassment to the people of the United States of America who, in my humble opinion would be OUTRAGED to see it how it operates if they had to deal with and stomach its policies.

My advice to anyone who tries to get a K-1 Visa out of this place, tread cautiously and never make assumptions. Wait, scratch that. Make the assumption that they will lie to you and you will get treated like a shoplifter who is trying to return something they stole to the store they stole from. Assume that if you don't go to the interview, you will be made to be the star attraction in their circus and jump through the hoops, dance to their tune, and they might even pull out the pistola and start shooting at your feet telling you "Dance! I tell ya, Dance!" Assume that if you get a woman consular officer, that you might be dealing with the nutjob we got and that you're in for a big fight. Assume in all this that you will be treated with no respect and a lot of the information you need will not be given to you. Assume the position.

I was in your shoes over a year ago now and still no visa. Read all Ecuador postings and when you have the interview, go to it or else you will end up like us-1 year and a month no visa. When you start dealing with the consulate, be prepared for the worst treatment possible. I was in there a few weeks ago and dealt with an angry employee and asked to speak with someone else and he was tolerable at least. Nice guys finish last with these jerks.

Also, see this thread, if you haven't already:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...45&start=45

All,

Thanks for the info. I have decided to continue with the email sending them two per day (keeping it friendly) and making some sack working there hit delete twice a day or whenever it is they look at the email at that place. Tomorrow I'm calling the number you pointed out and have resolved never to waste another $12...will just keep trying to get some info out of someone there.

I am usually a positive thinker, and feel that things turn out well in the end. However, in this case, I think they are going to try to run the gauntlet with me as my fiance is pregnant and they can say they want any number of things; whether the baby is mine (e.g., request a DNA test). I try to think of how this works in their best interest (maybe they get more money somehow?) and I always conclude that is an officer who is trying to feel important in her position and show us who's boss. I'll keep you updated about how things are going. When I receive another email from them, it will turn to three emails per day.

Let me just preface this by saying the BIGGEST MISTAKE made was that I didn't fly down there for the interview.

My fiance had her interview on November 21st at the Guayaquil, Ecuador consulate and we are getting hosed. The officer wanted more evidence, gave a letter to my fiance documenting this, and then sent her on her way.

Since then, we sent in two rounds of evidence being sent in and are in a cloud of mystery as to when we will receive any useful information from this rogue consulate. A week after sending in the first round of evidence (post-interview), my fiance was sent her passport and the the same exact letter given to her the first time. So, I sent down EVERYTHING we had and according to DHL, it was received by the consulate January 5th. I know it is common for them to wait 3 days and that would put it at January 8th. They sent me this email on January 13th saying:

Dear Mr. xxx:

Thank you again for contacting us. The new evidence of relationship has not been processed yet because we have not received it. As soon as the evidence arrives the Consular officer will review the case again.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

I figured that my 4th visit down to Ecuador to see my fiance and visit the consulate the week of January 19th, 2009 would help them see that this was indeed a real relationship and we were legit. WRONG! The visit to the consulate was a complete waste as the man who worked behind the desk was programmed to "play dumb" and get guys like me out of there as fast as he could. As I told him I was an American citizen and wanted to see if they got the second round of evidence, I noticed several workers on computer terminals reading El Universo, and basically screwing around. He looked at me and then his computer and simply said, "we did not receive it" and told me to leave.

"Not so fast, I replied. Would you mind if I looked at the file for myself?" I asked.

Incredulously, he looked at me and when he didn't hear the punch line to what to him was a joke, reluctantly retrieved the file only after I prodded with the fact that had traveled from the U.S to get this straightened out. He came back with a folder, opened it and what do you know? There was the second round of evidence! He said, "Oh, there it is!" I felt my blood boil through my veins and I took a few breaths and asked him when it would be looked at. He said it was next in line to be looked at.

On the phone call I made to this consulate, they said they hadn't received the evidence, and on email, they say they hadn't received it. What gives? Could it be that they were lying to me? Or is it that I am just an impatient person who doesn't understand how things really work? All I know is that there, as if it had just been delivered by DHL that moment, the stuff was there! It was a miracle right there in the Guayaquil consulate.

So, where does that leave us now. My fiance is due the end of April/May first and it looks like the baby is going to be born down there. I have been emailing the consulate every single day of the week and starting today they are going to get two emails per day. Here is there response to the first round of emailing on February 9th:

Dear Mr. (My last Name Horribly misspelled)

Our office is conducting an administrative process on this case. As

soon as our process is complete, we will be pleased to contact Ms.

X with our decision.

After receiving that, I kept emailing them everyday and received this one February 20th:

Sir,

Thank you for all your emails, as we wrote in our previous email, we will contact you or your fiancée, once the Consular Officer makes a decision.

I am planning on two emails per day starting today. My big question is can the officer thrash my file if I am bothering her too much with emails? Should I keep pestering? I have an idea of what I should do based on how they have treated us (lies that officer has told us and officer's disrespectful treatment of my fiance during the interview among many other thing). However, I wanted to run this by others to see if I am headed down the wrong road with this strategy of daily pestering until the officer gets tired of it and caves. Believe me, I'm not under the illusion that this consulate is going to do anything rational or anything helpful.

Thanks for reading this and hope to hear some good ideas/feedback!

PDXBicycleboy