johnd Posted October 17, 2006 at 08:41 AM Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 at 08:41 AM We want to visit the US for Christmas. I need a US visa because my passport is not machine readable (thanks UK Embassy), and my wife has a Chinese passport. I've already spent half a day trying to understand the application procedure from the US Embassy website, and now I've got a headache. America seems to be ahead in the bureaucratic arms race! First you need to pre-pay RMB54 for 12 minutes just to phone them to ask questions and make an appointment. Then you need to pay $100 application fee (not including visa fee). I'm not sure if I should pay the $100 before I phone for an appointment. Also not sure if both English and Chinese application forms should be completed, or just English. Ay-aa. Maybe it would be easier for me to get a new UK passport and China residency permit, or maybe not! Does anyone have any tips to share? How long did it take to get your visa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSO Posted October 17, 2006 at 02:40 PM Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 at 02:40 PM If you're in Shenzhen, you live in the Guangzhou consulate district, so you will need to go here for information. Just start at the top of the page, and work your way down. To determine the projected processing time, there is a nifty State Department resource to do so. The English version of the application should be sufficient for you. You might want to contact the information center (see the consulate's website, above) to determine if your wife needs a specific version of the application. Best of luck to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnd Posted October 18, 2006 at 01:08 AM Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 at 01:08 AM Thanks FSO. That nifty State Department resource wasn't working yesterday (for me anyway). It's good to see that the wait time is only one week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CW_Angel Posted October 27, 2006 at 02:55 AM Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 at 02:55 AM I just got my visa to the US last month. In fact RMB36 for 8 minutes is enough to make an appointment. the $100 should be paid BEFORE you GO FOR the visa interview. if you go to Guangzhou for your visa, English application forms is OK. you can get your passport back with the visa 2 or 3 days later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnd Posted October 27, 2006 at 03:57 AM Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 at 03:57 AM Thanks for your reply. I decided to get a new passport instead of apply for the visa. My wife got the appointment in 2 days, and has just been refused. We prepaired so many documents, then she met a shitty faced officer and got rejected in one minute. I'm so f###ed off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
md1101 Posted October 27, 2006 at 04:06 AM Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 at 04:06 AM what was the reason for being rejected? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnd Posted October 27, 2006 at 04:14 AM Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 at 04:14 AM They don't believe her salary documents. She runs her family company so I'd say that she is not payed in the "normal" way. In her Chinese family money is often shared this way and that. And she had lost her old passport that contained all the visas of the other places she'd been. To be honest, I thought the fact we were married would be enough. I'm still spitting with rage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnd Posted October 27, 2006 at 04:22 AM Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 at 04:22 AM What do they think? That I will take my baby and myself with UK passports and go to US to become illegal immigrants. Or leave my wife behind to work in a Chinese restaurant. I really can't understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gchodorow Posted October 28, 2006 at 07:05 AM Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 at 07:05 AM Hi: If your wife has been refused a U.S. visa but really wants to go to the U.S., consider seeing a qualified U.S. immigration lawyer: www.fwhonglaw.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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