Consulate Review: Guangzhou, China
Review Topic: General Review
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
June 22, 2010 |
| Embassy Review : |
This site and those who have shared their experiences were very helpful to myself and my fiance to navigate the K-1 visa process.... knowledge is power and all of that. We reached a happy milestone in getting a K-1 Visa (the interview was on June 10), and we wanted to share the information in case it would be helpful to others. Unfortunately, I was not able to be with my fiance Lucy when she went to Guangzhou for the interview, but did what I could to help her prepare and get her the materials that we felt were needed to be successful in getting a Visa. Though our experience with the interview was like that of some others, in that the interview was pretty short and the questions not too difficult, I think that is partly due to putting in the time and paying attention to details from the very beginning, from the time of preparing the application and all the materials that went with it for the USCIS, through preparing well for the interview. Though I feel good about the work that we did, I am not claiming to be unique in this, as I have read accounts of many others who were very detail oriented and were successful. Reading accounts here to prepare for the interview was very useful. For example, I would have never thought that the question of if Lucy had ever been a communist would be a potential question. I learned about that here, communicated to Lucy that it might be asked, and lo and behold, it was.. and she was prepared for it. As far as the embassy goes, I would give it a 4 star review, not 5 just because of the toughness of the long waits and such for the interviewee, but that is not a criticism of the employees there who I am sure are swamped with work, and the woman who interviewed Lucy seemed to be polite and professional, but more of the system or process. A specific tip: I think that the printouts of screenshots were helpful. A picture is worth a thousand words and all that... The interviewer (and the folks at USCIS) can not only see bits of your conversations, but see how you appear (hopefully happy and enjoying each other) interacting with each other. Well, I will quit going on.. below is the account of my lovely Lucy about her interview experience:
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First, need read carefully about the interview letter and notice from embassy and prepare all the document one by one according to the notice.
Second, prepare all the documents in person. (can ask others to help, but still need be very familiar to all the information). Then can answer all kinds of questions which the VO will ask.
Third, collect all the proofs for every meeting when fiancé came to visit and sort according to time. It is helpful for VO to review.
Forth, pictures are very import! I suggest paste them on A4 paper. (I put the pictures which were taken at same time on one page, then wrote down the taken date and place in English. I put the most recent ones on top. Can pick the pictures with fiancé in, also with some pictures that you or fiancé in alone.)
Fifth, it is very important to have I-134 from fiancé and property statement.
Sixth, print some emails and chatting records. No need too much. I think it is more important to cut the web chatting record while have webcam on. Thank you dear to send me many web chats. It really helped a lot.
I sort all documents in 3 paper bags and remember well about them.
One bag has passport and copies, the forms which need be filled, 3 notarization, fiancé ‘s I-134 form and finical statement.
One bag has all the pictures.
One bag has all the proofs for the relationship: I put all the copies of visas with stamps which fiancé came to visit China and the visa I went to HK and hotels receipts together, print some emails, web chatting records with webcam, text messages records.
It is very important to have good sleep on interview eve and have full energy for the next day. No need get up too early on that day, just need be there a little earlier than the requested time. I was requested to be there at 7:15am, I arrived there at around 7. There were lots of people waiting, but no mean they can have interview earlier.
One thing is important. K-1 applicants need wait in the immigration line. ( I thought I was one of the un-immigrations, and waited in the wrong line. So need ask before stand in the right line or would waste time).
After passing the security inspection and entering to the hall, I waited about half hour and heard my name.
First a Chinese let me hand in the documents.(I just hand in the bag 1) He checked my passport and kept the copies. Also checked the forms I filled and let me signed in few forms. (at same time I need go to pay up visa fee because the price rise since June 4th). She also kept I-134 form, financial statement and notarizations. Then gave me a number and wait. After a while, I was called to have finger prints.
After another 2 hours, finally it was my turn. The American visa officer said hello in Chinese when I stood in front of the window. I smiled and said good morning to her. She said oh you can speak English. I said yes.
She checked the information in the computer, then asked me some questions.
She asked me first question: how did you met Roger.? I was a little nervous and answered the first meeting time. She repeated the question in English again. Then I noticed I was wrong and said I am sorry and answered right again.
She asked me second question with Chinese: how many times my fiancé came to visit me?
I answered immediately with English.
I saw her checked the I-134 form and input something in the computer.
Then she asked me the third question: how many years your fiancé is older than me?
I think a little then answered immediately.
Then she said show your pictures. I said ok, she said : thank you. I handed in to her at once.
She asked me fourth question: when was the last time I met my fiancé?
I also asked smoothly because there was time on the before pictures.
Then She asked me fifth question: how you communicate?. I answered that we communicate though E-mails, online web chats (forgot to say text messages).
She said show web chats. (it was very helpful to have all the pictures when had webcam while chatting).
She asked me sixth question: if I never marry ? wow, so simple. I answered all no never married. fluently in English.
She asked me last question if I was communist? Hahhha, more simple,Of course no!.
I recollect the interview was just about 10 minutes and very simple. I am so lucky that she asked me in Chinese, and I reply question with fluently in English!
Finally she said one word that I never will forget: congratulations! Wow, I was so exciting and said thank you so much! She said good luck!
I think it is very important to have fiancé prepare well. Actually before interview, VO already checked fiancé information. So all the questions are from the information they checked and won’t be too hard. No need print too many emails. VO did not check lots of information I prepared hard. She just checked pictures and web chats. It is most important to keep smile, keep calm and look at VO while interview.
No pain, No gain. Hard work finally turned to be beautiful result and successful! Thank God to care for me, let me have a VO can speak Chinese. She asked questions in Chinese and I answer in English. it is very nice for me! That was I expected. Thank my fiancé Roger prepared all the information careful! Thanks my friends to help to fill and print information. Thank friends in the church to pray for me and they asked other sisters to pray together. I am very touched. I would like to share my experience with others and hope can help some.
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| Rating : |
Good |
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ver 5.0