Going to China to accompany my spouse's interview

[fting 0]

I am going to Guangzhou China to accompany my spouse's interview. I am the US citizen. I only have limited vacation days for my trip so I have to plan my trip carefully.

The main question is basically how long do we need to stay in Guangzhou? If on the interview day all went well, we can leave on the same day? (and wait for the passport+visa in EMS mail at her home address)? And, god forbid, just in case, what if the interview went bad? Should I stay in Guangzhou few more days and maybe I can manage to talk to the people in the GUZ consular or talk to some local lawyers?

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Visalessbob 0]

I am going to Guangzhou China to accompany my spouse's interview. I am the US citizen. I only have limited vacation days for my trip so I have to plan my trip carefully.

The main question is basically how long do we need to stay in Guangzhou? If on the interview day all went well, we can leave on the same day? (and wait for the passport+visa in EMS mail at her home address)? And, god forbid, just in case, what if the interview went bad? Should I stay in Guangzhou few more days and maybe I can manage to talk to the people in the GUZ consular or talk to some local lawyers?

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Visalessbob 0]

As a heads up. I (US citizen) went last month to my wife's interview in Rio (Brazil). I had like you limited vacation time. I did anticipate a one week delivery time for the visa so I could accompany her and my stepson back to the US. But there was a glitch in the paperwork and this did not happen. Do not bank on everything working in your favor during the interview process. It could happen or it could not happen. We were missing a single document that we were not aware of prior to the interview. This was brought up at the interview and now we are working towards getting the correct document sent to the embassy. Once this is approved I will return to bring them into the US. You cannot take anything for granted that the interview will all be perfect. In your case it very well could be. But there are circumstances that it also might not be. And totally unanticipated. As and FYI and as a friend.

Not to be negative but I hope this helps!

[unlockingsky 94]

I am going to Guangzhou China to accompany my spouse's interview. I am the US citizen. I only have limited vacation days for my trip so I have to plan my trip carefully.

1. The main question is basically how long do we need to stay in Guangzhou?

2. If on the interview day all went well, we can leave on the same day? (and wait for the passport+visa in EMS mail at her home address)?

3. And, god forbid, just in case, what if the interview went bad?

4. Should I stay in Guangzhou few more days and maybe I can manage to talk to the people in the GUZ consular or talk to some local lawyers?

Thanks for any suggestions!

1. two nights at minimum; 1 night before document submission and 1 night before interview. you can leave asap after interview.

2. if they took beneficiary's passport, it mean things went well. if not, you still have to return to wait longer (not sure how long). yes wait for the ems mail if interview went well.

3. keep checking with dos visa specialist for updates and get your congressman/senator's help.

4. don't bother with the lawyers, its not like they can lift the bad situation miraculously. the consular would just tell you need to wait for administrative review. at this point, you are at the mercy of the officer reviewing your case.

my advice is to start buying a ticket asap after she receives her visa in mail. in the meantime keep an eye on the airline prices.

darnell also suggested to get a two copies of vaccination records from the medical checkup. 1 for embassy to keep and 1 for personal use at state side.

Edited August 10, 2012 by unlockingsky

[fting 0]

Thanks guys!

In the Medical exam, can you request 2 copy of vaccination paperworks? isn't everything returned to you in a sealed envelop??

anyway I will ask my spouse to ask about it.

btw how early can the applicant go do the medical exam? for example, can she do it tomorrow? (like a month ahead of the interview date)

Edited August 10, 2012 by fting

[unlockingsky 94]

Thanks guys!

In the Medical exam, can you request 2 copy of vaccination paperworks? isn't everything returned to you in a sealed envelop??

anyway I will ask my spouse to ask about it.

btw how early can the applicant go do the medical exam? for example, can she do it tomorrow? (like a month ahead of the interview date)

according to darnell, you just pay a few extra bucks for the second copy. you would want to keep 1 for personal purpose when she gets here. eg. enroll in college/job/physician/personalrecord.

she should contact the hospital assigned by the embassy http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/cr1/ir1_and_cr2/ir2.html and make appointments etc.

[fting 0]

Thanks man! I will ask her to ask when she gets there.

hope your case goes smooth as well.

[unlockingsky 94]

Thanks man! I will ask her to ask when she gets there.

hope your case goes smooth as well.

call in advance before going to guz

[Darnell 8,479]

ya, at the medical exam, the place where you get your shots. ...

a shot record is made, put into the medical file.

for an addtitional 20 rmb, they will make another original, this resembles a 'yellow book' and is printed, also handwritten, in English.

If medical done in Guangzhou -

1. one full day for medical, GO EARLY IN THE MORNING, leave yer hotel, get at the hospital early, ask for 'same day service'.

2. one day for document intake day

3. one day for interview day.

so 3 nights, 3.5 days, minimum with no hitches or weekends.

Good Luck !

[Ryan H 3,819]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to China regional forum.

[fting 0]

ya, at the medical exam, the place where you get your shots. ...

a shot record is made, put into the medical file.

for an addtitional 20 rmb, they will make another original, this resembles a 'yellow book' and is printed, also handwritten, in English.

If medical done in Guangzhou -

1. one full day for medical, GO EARLY IN THE MORNING, leave yer hotel, get at the hospital early, ask for 'same day service'.

2. one day for document intake day

3. one day for interview day.

so 3 nights, 3.5 days, minimum with no hitches or weekends.

Good Luck !

Thanks Darnell!

[stevo222 18]

Hi Darnell.

Can she call days ahead and make an appointment for first thing in the morning, ahead of time?

Thanks!

BTW, fting - best wishes for you and yours

I mean the medical exam, of course.

That is, concerning the "early in the morning"

[unlockingsky 94]

ya, at the medical exam, the place where you get your shots. ...

a shot record is made, put into the medical file.

for an addtitional 20 rmb, they will make another original, this resembles a 'yellow book' and is printed, also handwritten, in English.

If medical done in Guangzhou -

1. one full day for medical, GO EARLY IN THE MORNING, leave yer hotel, get at the hospital early, ask for 'same day service'.

2. one day for document intake day

3. one day for interview day.

so 3 nights, 3.5 days, minimum with no hitches or weekends.

Good Luck !

i think is it just too much risk for the medical part. what happens if they cannot complete the process in one day? then the medical documents would be missing for the other day.

[fting 0]

i think is it just too much risk for the medical part. what happens if they cannot complete the process in one day? then the medical documents would be missing for the other day.

I told my wife to do it earlier. There are 4 locations in China. You don't have to do it in Guangzhou. You can travel to the closest one and get it done there.

[stevo222 18]

Unlockingsky, since ZhuHai is not far from Guangzhou, my Fiancee is going to get the medical done the week before. She doesn't want the stress to get it all done on the Monday before.