roadtosuccess

Medically speaking you are absolutely correct....but you forgot "This is China" and it is also the "Chinese National Holiday" here. SITHC originally told us to come back in 13 days! We debated back and forth with them and they finally agreed to 11 days...October 9. That is a Saturday and the flight to Guangzhou is on Monday....

I am an American petitioning my German spouse for a US CR-1 visa. We are temporarily residing in China and have been assigned an interview in Guangzhou. We completed my husband's physical exam at the Shanghai International Healthcare Center. The medical exam instructions on the Guangzhou Consulate website state four pictures and 1100 RMB. The person at SITHC scheduling the appointment verbally stated four pictures and 2000 RMB. Upon our arrival, we were informed that six pictures were required, and the fee was only 1529 RMB. (The vaccines are an additional fee to the 1100 RMB). The receptionist at SITHC gave us a health assessment form to complete which was only in Chinese and no English. My husband is immigrating to America, he speaks German and English. The Chinese language is not a requirement to immigrate to the USA. Therefore, the forms should be provided in English or the native language of the immigrant. The Chinese receptionist at SITHC did not know how to translate a Chinese pinyin address into Chinese characters! Fortunately, we had our Chinese driver’s license with our address in Chinese characters. We presented my husband’s German passport, we do not look Chinese, and she still typed his nationality into the computer as Chinese. There were masses of people herded through the process which provided no patient privacy or confidentiality, something which I am privileged to have in the USA. The employees could speak only a few words of English. The doctor performing the health assessment screening could not speak any English. I do not understand how a physical exam can be complete and valid if the physician is unable to communicate with the patient, other than hand gestures. The physical exam should be completed by the USA standard of care rather than the Chinese standard of care if it is required by the US government. The cleanliness of the facility was below standard, there was food consumption in the patient care areas, and there was no hand washing observed. There were no processes in place to prevent the contamination from patient to patient. The post vaccine instructions were also provided in Chinese. Last, the follow up instructions were not provided. We inquired and were told to return to Shanghai on the day of the interview, which is not possible because the interview is in Guangzhou. We said this cannot be, and they answered, “Yes, we know”. We were able to change the date to pick up the exam results two days before the interview, after much debate. My husband was required to sign his name many times on information that was in Chinese and will be required again to sign his name confirming the accuracy of the assessment. How can the American government recognize a facility that provides incompetent below standard level of care? I would like to add that this is not the same situation with all medical facilities in the Shanghai area. I have received quality medical care at Kowloon Hospital in Suzhou, China. The recommended care plan is exactly the same as the current recommendations in the USA, and the quality of care is similar to US standards. The Shanghai International Healthcare Clinic should not be endorsed by the Guangzhou Consulate or by the U. S. Department of State as a recognized facility to complete physical exams for visa applicants.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/guangzhou/47024/IV%20p4/Medical%20instruction%20_GIV-8_%20-%20Dec%2009.pdf

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/guangzhou/47024/IV%20p4/IV%20Appointment-%20Aug_10.pdf

Was the pre-interview conversation in Chinese or mixed with Chinese and English?

Thank you so much!

Yes, you are correct. The NVC case is electronic GZO file number. Earlier posts state the "final review" varies in length of time. Do you know any more information regarding the length of time between "case complete" and "final review"?

He will not be able to board the plane without the passport, therefore, mailing it to Shanghai is not helpful. (We live in Suzhou). You indicate that he would need to stay in Guangzhou. How do we arrange to get his passport from the consulate if we do not speak Chinese?

"Applicants from outside these areas should arrange to pick up their visas at the Junyuan Post Office (directions to this post office will be provided to you by the China Post service counter)."

What I meant to say is: How do we obtain directions from the China Post Service counter at the "Junyuan Post Office" if we do not speak Chinese? My experience has been no English at the China Post office.

ps. I am from Dallas, which is where I met my husband and we plan to return to. Houston would be fine too!

Thank you so much!

Yes, you are correct. The NVC case is electronic GZO file number. Earlier posts state the "final review" varies in length of time. Do you know any more information regarding the length of time between "case complete" and "final review"?

He will not be able to board the plane without the passport, therefore, mailing it to Shanghai is not helpful. (We live in Suzhou). You indicate that he would need to stay in Guangzhou. How do we arrange to get his passport from the consulate if we do not speak Chinese?

whoa. This sounds really wonky. USUALLY, when an NVC EP case is finished up at NVC, the last final stages are:

case complete (documents complete)

final review

appointment date set

NVC tags casefile in SAFEFILE for GUZ IV.

Usually, is about 1 week between 'case complete' and 'appointment date set' - but note is different, private queue for NVC for GZO casefiles - and the NVC Tele-Operators are braindead- have no clue what to tell you - you must ask for supervisor, you must remind them is EP casefile.

You need to track down EXACTLY where the failure point is - as for YOU to resend the DS-230 to NVC?

smells like something wonky happened.

Call NVC again, ask for supervisor. Something is really messed up.

Be certain if you are Electronic Processing Case, or no - as there are other processes, hidden to you, for a 'paper/postal case', at NVC.

One good indication of 'case type' is the Guangzhou casefile # - an EP casefile starts with 'GZO' whilst a paper casefile starts with 'GUZ'.

Thank you for the helful information! I can add a stupid RFE!! I cannot believe that a highly intelligent idividual (myself) sent the wrong attachment for the DS-230, not once, but twice! The 'certified translation' from German to English by a Chinese translator held up the process for two additional weeks. The NVC states the case is now complete and I am waiting for an interview appointment. Previous posts on this website instruct to call Guangzhou, however, they do not take immigrant visa telephone calls since January 1, 2010. Can I obtain the interview appontment date by calling the NVC? What are your suggestions to keep the case moving? Will my husband (beneficiary) need to stay in Guangzhou waiting 2 days for the visa or will they return his German passport so that he can fly back to Shanghai? We are not Chinese and unfamilar with picking up mail at the Chinese postal service.

We sent the application to the Chicago address.

This is unclear to me: The NVC said they forwarded our case to Guangzhou on June 29, 2010 (electronic). Guangzhou does not know anything about it. The NVC said they never received the electronic submission of the DS-230, therefore it was resent on July 29. Do I need to change any dates in my timeline? How many days does the NVC take or average to complete the application? I had read it was 10-12, but of course, the NVC said 6-8 weeks.

I agree with you that there is no need to send packet 3. However, my Chinese lawyer in the USA instructed us to email the completed packet 3 form with the DS-230. (for CR1 visa). It also seems illogical because our names are not Chinese and there is no purpose in translating our name and address into Chinese characters , due to the electronic processing. (We reside in China and the interview will be scheduled in Guangzhou)