Bizarre, bad interview experience...

[unsmiley 111]

For some reason, my wife's recent GZO interview started with grilling about Hong Kong - before any of our documents were reviewed. First question: "Have you ever been to Hong Kong?" She answered yes, as she and I vacationed there about one year ago. Then was asked: "Were you in Hong Kong (for a couple of specific years in the 1990s)?" First she answered yes, because she did vacation in Hong Kong many years ago for about a week, but did not specifically remember the dates. Then she corrected herself, saying she was not sure when but she was there.

At the end of the interview she was handed a white sheet and told they cannot give her a visa until she submits a Notarized police certificate from Hong Kong!! Why in the world would they want this? She was only there for a few days, I thought you had to be in some place for an extended period of time to necessitate another police clearance. Did they make a mistake? Can we question this unexpected "requirement"?

So now it looks like we have to figure out how to get a police clearance from Hong Kong. Will she have to travel there just for this? How long will this delay us?

I will give more detail later about other topics covered but we wanted other's thoughts on this Hong Kong matter since we need to deal with this as soon as possible.

[Darnell 8,478]

you can certainly email the IV and question this decision.

If you're there in Guangzhou, consider getting an ACS appointment and talking with a VICE CONSUL there, as it may be a huge misunderstanding from the person doing the interviewing.

[unsmiley 111]

you can certainly email the IV and question this decision.

If you're there in Guangzhou, consider getting an ACS appointment and talking with a VICE CONSUL there, as it may be a huge misunderstanding from the person doing the interviewing.

We are back in Shanghai but could go back if necessary tomorrow (Friday), or my wife can go next week. What does ACS stand for? And do you mean email the embassy through the GZO website inquiry page? (With that method, they say they can take up to 5 days for a reply.) And how would one *politely* question this decision without offending them???

[RandyW 149]

For some reason, my wife's recent GZO interview started with grilling about Hong Kong - before any of our documents were reviewed. First question: "Have you ever been to Hong Kong?" She answered yes, as she and I vacationed there about one year ago. Then was asked: "Were you in Hong Kong (for a couple of specific years in the 1990s)?" First she answered yes, because she did vacation in Hong Kong many years ago for about a week, but did not specifically remember the dates. Then she corrected herself, saying she was not sure when but she was there.

At the end of the interview she was handed a white sheet and told they cannot give her a visa until she submits a Notarized police certificate from Hong Kong!! Why in the world would they want this? She was only there for a few days, I thought you had to be in some place for an extended period of time to necessitate another police clearance. Did they make a mistake? Can we question this unexpected "requirement"?

So now it looks like we have to figure out how to get a police clearance from Hong Kong. Will she have to travel there just for this? How long will this delay us?

I will give more detail later about other topics covered but we wanted other's thoughts on this Hong Kong matter since we need to deal with this as soon as possible.

This MAY indicate that she was mistaken for another person, with some sort of a specific issue (drug-related? who knows). If contacting the consulate doesn't pan out, you may need to make an effort to get the police report. Document whatever effort you make in this regard, including the answer if they refuse. If she can document her dates of travel, that might be the ideal response. Perhaps she can get this information from the PSB

[SennaBrigante 92]

My initial thought is that maybe the CO was looking at somebody else's application? That's so strange! Definitely do what Darnell advised because that's just unnecessary.

[unsmiley 111]

This MAY indicate that she was mistaken for another person, with some sort of a specific issue (drug-related? who knows). If contacting the consulate doesn't pan out, you may need to make an effort to get the police report. Document whatever effort you make in this regard, including the answer if they refuse. If she can document her dates of travel, that might be the ideal response. Perhaps she can get this information from the PSB

We were thinking the same thing about being confused for someone else... She has a common Chinese name, and we just found her old passport showing she was not even in Hong Kong during the specific years she was asked about. But please tell me, what is the "PSB"?

[RandyW 149]

We were thinking the same thing about being confused for someone else... She has a common Chinese name, and we just found her old passport showing she was not even in Hong Kong during the specific years she was asked about. But please tell me, what is the "PSB"?

Public Security Bureau - basically, the police. The Exit/Entry Bureau would have issued a permit (NOT a visa which would be placed in the passport) for travel to Hong Kong, and may (or may not) still have a record on file.

But the old passport may be exactly the evidence you need - does it contain entry and exit stamps showing the dates of her actual trip? I believe travel to Hong Kong is possible without a passport, though, so contacting the PSB may still be a good idea.

But, yes - try to straighten it out with the Consulate first.

[cat_lovers 0]

Okay, now this worries me a lot again. I used to work in Thailand for approximately six months. I posted this concern here 3 months ago and one of the members said, I don't need to worry about this. Now, I am getting worried again. I don't want to go back to Thailand just to get a police certificate my interview will be in January!

[unsmiley 111]

Public Security Bureau - basically, the police. The Exit/Entry Bureau would have issued a permit (NOT a visa which would be placed in the passport) for travel to Hong Kong, and may (or may not) still have a record on file.

But the old passport may be exactly the evidence you need - does it contain entry and exit stamps showing the dates of her actual trip? I believe travel to Hong Kong is possible without a passport, though, so contacting the PSB may still be a good idea.

But, yes - try to straighten it out with the Consulate first.

OK.. But as an update-- We contacted the department in HK who does police clearances. they laughed and said this happens all the time with GZO embassy, sometimes even with people who have never been to HK! So do u still

think we should question the decision at the embassy level first as a possible error?

[RandyW 149]

OK.. But as an update-- We contacted the department in HK who does police clearances. they laughed and said this happens all the time with GZO embassy, sometimes even with people who have never been to HK! So do u still

think we should question the decision at the embassy level first as a possible error?

Of course! Yes! If that doesn't clear it up, though, make a REASONABLE (and documented) effort to get the police statement from HK - unless YOU think it's easier to just get the statement from HK. Your choice, here.

The four possibilities are:

1) GUZ admits their mistake, and withdraws the request for a HK police report - YOU'RE DONE!

2) They INSIST you get one, but HK says No, that they can't give you one. Just document the date and time of the contact, what you asked for, and what they said - submit that in lieu of the police report - you're probably done (they can't demand the impossible)

3)They INSIST you get one, AND HK complies - YOU'RE DONE!

4) You just go ahead and get the HK police report, if you decide it's easier than trying to deal with the Goons at GUZ - YOU'RE DONE!

[DJ&L 83]

Okay, now this worries me a lot again. I used to work in Thailand for approximately six months. I posted this concern here 3 months ago and one of the members said, I don't need to worry about this. Now, I am getting worried again. I don't want to go back to Thailand just to get a police certificate my interview will be in January!

My girlfriend lived in Norway and then again in Austria for right around 6 months each. We were not required to provide a police certificate for either location. I wouldn't worry, cat_lovers.

[cat_lovers 0]

Thank you DJ&L.
That's helpful. I am always nervous of my upcoming interview.

My girlfriend lived in Norway and then again in Austria for right around 6 months each. We were not required to provide a police certificate for either location. I wouldn't worry, cat_lovers.

[Daveykins 17]

Sorry, but just wanted to share my experience with police certificates. My wife lived in Singapore for about 7 years and was required to get a police certificate, but the VO didn't even ask for it during the interview. I believe it's 6 months or less you don't need one if you stayed in a country. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

My girlfriend lived in Norway and then again in Austria for right around 6 months each. We were not required to provide a police certificate for either location. I wouldn't worry, cat_lovers.

[DJ&L 83]

Sorry, but just wanted to share my experience with police certificates. My wife lived in Singapore for about 7 years and was required to get a police certificate, but the VO didn't even ask for it during the interview. I believe it's 6 months or less you don't need one if you stayed in a country. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

What the Consulate instructions actually say is:

(3) from all countries where the applicant has resided for at least one year,

[Daveykins 17]

Thanks for the correction.

What the Consulate instructions actually say is:

(3) from all countries where the applicant has resided for at least one year,