Chinese customs

[Operator 1,927]

After a month sitting in a clearance delay in Guangzhou it looks like our petition is going to make to the embassy after all. There is a rumor that July appointments are full...so maybe August?

[bobbyA 20]

After a month sitting in a clearance delay in Guangzhou it looks like our petition is going to make to the embassy after all. There is a rumor that July appointments are full...so maybe August?

Chris,

It's good to know that your petition cleared custom. How did you find out? Was it through DHL's website?

I'm waiting for an interview date, was hoping for mid to late July. I'll post here if I hear something.

[Operator 1,927]

Hi Bobby,

Yeah my daily DHL check. I guess I'll start to call DOS at the end of the week once I've seen it was delivered. Jane has all her packet 3 stuff ready to ship since she has had plenty of time to get it ready.

I've got my fingers crossed for you guys, I've got a feeling you'll be hearing something soon.

[sichuan red 5]

Hi Bobby,

Yeah my daily DHL check. I guess I'll start to call DOS at the end of the week once I've seen it was delivered. Jane has all her packet 3 stuff ready to ship since she has had plenty of time to get it ready.

I've got my fingers crossed for you guys, I've got a feeling you'll be hearing something soon.

Not to rain on your parade, Operator, but are you sure it's your file you see moving? It is usually 2 - 4 months to clear Chinese customs. I hope for you and Jane that it is your file and you get a speedy interview date.

[bobbyA 20]

Hi Bobby,

Yeah my daily DHL check. I guess I'll start to call DOS at the end of the week once I've seen it was delivered. Jane has all her packet 3 stuff ready to ship since she has had plenty of time to get it ready.

I've got my fingers crossed for you guys, I've got a feeling you'll be hearing something soon.

Chris,

I hope your call to DOS will bring you good news this week.

Thanks for cheering us on!!

[Operator 1,927]

Not to rain on your parade, Operator, but are you sure it's your file you see moving? It is usually 2 - 4 months to clear Chinese customs. I hope for you and Jane that it is your file and you get a speedy interview date.

Red I don't know for sure if our petition is in that DHL package. We tracked it based on the date we were told it left NVC and the numerous posts here on obtaining the DHL tracking number. Hopefully we'll know soon.

[Operator 1,927]

OK so Red got me thinking. Maybe I have been watching the wrong package. So since I get paid to do nothing (not really) I decided to do some more DHL research.

NVC told me the package left NVC on May 19th. Maybe...maybe not, who knows. I received the letter dated May 20 that said it would be sent to GUZ within a week. I will conclude that it was shipped sometime between the 18th of May and the 30th.

I decided to check all of the May shipments using the shippers reference going to China. My search showed up six shipments to Guangzhou

1. 04 May - still not delivered (ouch)

2. 06 May - Delivered 18 May

3. 13 May - Delivered 20 May

4. 18 May - Delivered 26 May

5. 20 May - Cleared customs 22 June but not delivered yet (could be ours)

6. 24 May - Delivered 03 June (could be ours also)

It's possible they send it in June but I hope not so I'm going with either 5 or 6.

What do you folks think? Should I start calling DOS? Jane is still finding inner peace in Kathmandu so I know she hasn't heard anything but she's supposed to surface today (I hope).

[bobbyA 20]

What do you folks think? Should I start calling DOS? Jane is still finding inner peace in Kathmandu so I know she hasn't heard anything but she's supposed to surface today (I hope).

Chris,

I think you should call DOS if you have never called them

From my experience, once our case left NVC, NVC couldn't tell me anything but "please contact your consulate"

I was going to call DOS this afternoon, but couldn't resist calling this morning, and I got GOOD NEWS

To my surprise, my hold time was just a few minutes at around 8:40am EDT. The DOS lady must be new; she was a little slow, but she told me my interview is July 18th at 12:30pm, which I assume is actually the document in-take date and time.

So your prediction that I'll hear something soon is right on the money!! Thank you!!!!

So the "rumor" about "July appointments are full" is incorrect. I guess it's just the boilerplate DOS response when they couldn't give me a date

Please call DOS and let us know what they tell you

Thanks!!

[Operator 1,927]

Chris,

I think you should call DOS if you have never called them

From my experience, once our case left NVC, NVC couldn't tell me anything but "please contact your consulate"

I was going to call DOS this afternoon, but couldn't resist calling this morning, and I got GOOD NEWS

To my surprise, my hold time was just a few minutes at around 8:40am EDT. The DOS lady must be new; she was a little slow, but she told me my interview is July 18th at 12:30pm, which I assume is actually the document in-take date and time.

So your prediction that I'll hear something soon is right on the money!! Thank you!!!!

So the "rumor" about "July appointments are full" is incorrect. I guess it's just the boilerplate DOS response when they couldn't give me a date

Please call DOS and let us know what they tell you

Thanks!!

Great news! Wow, July 18th thats wonderful!

I'll call and let you know what they say.

Edited June 23, 2011 by Operator

[pushbrk 12,898]

Chris,

I think you should call DOS if you have never called them

From my experience, once our case left NVC, NVC couldn't tell me anything but "please contact your consulate"

I was going to call DOS this afternoon, but couldn't resist calling this morning, and I got GOOD NEWS

To my surprise, my hold time was just a few minutes at around 8:40am EDT. The DOS lady must be new; she was a little slow, but she told me my interview is July 18th at 12:30pm, which I assume is actually the document in-take date and time.

So your prediction that I'll hear something soon is right on the money!! Thank you!!!!

So the "rumor" about "July appointments are full" is incorrect. I guess it's just the boilerplate DOS response when they couldn't give me a date

Please call DOS and let us know what they tell you

Thanks!!

Yes that would be document intake time with the interview the next day. Paper case files sent from NVC to GUZ clear customs when the Consulate wants them too. They simply use the DHL customs warehouse as storage until they are ready to actually work the cases. Most clear on a Thursday or Friday, so they can be processed on Saturday. Don't blame DHL or China customs. This issue is on the Consulate.

[sichuan red 5]

OK so Red got me thinking. Maybe I have been watching the wrong package. So since I get paid to do nothing (not really) I decided to do some more DHL research.

NVC told me the package left NVC on May 19th. Maybe...maybe not, who knows. I received the letter dated May 20 that said it would be sent to GUZ within a week. I will conclude that it was shipped sometime between the 18th of May and the 30th.

I decided to check all of the May shipments using the shippers reference going to China. My search showed up six shipments to Guangzhou

1. 04 May - still not delivered (ouch)

2. 06 May - Delivered 18 May

3. 13 May - Delivered 20 May

4. 18 May - Delivered 26 May

5. 20 May - Cleared customs 22 June but not delivered yet (could be ours)

6. 24 May - Delivered 03 June (could be ours also)

It's possible they send it in June but I hope not so I'm going with either 5 or 6.

What do you folks think? Should I start calling DOS? Jane is still finding inner peace in Kathmandu so I know she hasn't heard anything but she's supposed to surface today (I hope).

Not sure where you got the 30 day clearance delay that you have in your signature.

Have you seen this page? GUZ K1 Procedures

It discusses the delay and they indicate a 3 to 4 month hold before the documents can be released to the consulate.

Perhaps things have changed and they release them after 30 days.

[Operator 1,927]

Not sure where you got the 30 day clearance delay that you have in your signature.

Have you seen this page? GUZ K1 Procedures

It discusses the delay and they indicate a 3 to 4 month hold before the documents can be released to the consulate.

Perhaps things have changed and they release them after 30 days.

I have been watching what I believe to be our petition through the DHL's website. It has been sitting in "Clearance Delay" for the past 30 days and has recently been released. I didn't intend to imply that we had passed some procedural milestone.

[sichuan red 5]

I have been watching what I believe to be our petition through the DHL's website. It has been sitting in "Clearance Delay" for the past 30 days and has recently been released. I didn't intend to imply that we had passed some procedural milestone.

My intention was to only make you aware and not get any false hopes. I know quite well how it feels to be on this ride.

I hope that things go quickly for you and that you are not stuck there any longer than you already have been.

[Operator 1,927]

Paper case files sent from NVC to GUZ clear customs when the Consulate wants them too. They simply use the DHL customs warehouse as storage until they are ready to actually work the cases. Most clear on a Thursday or Friday, so they can be processed on Saturday. Don't blame DHL or China customs. This issue is on the Consulate.

pushbrk please know that I mean this with all due respect. Is this a fact? You say it with such authority that I assume you have first hand knowlege that this is consular procedure. I come back to this site because veterans like yourself seem to give very helpful advice. To help me process what I get from this site can you tell me if this is your experienced opinion or is it fact.

My intention was to only make you aware and not get any false hopes. I know quite well how it feels to be on this ride.

I hope that things go quickly for you and that you are not stuck there any longer than you already have been.

I absolutely appreciate your input. Just looking for any glimmer of hope.

[bobbyA 20]

Great news! Wow, July 18th thats wonderful!

I'll call and let you know what they say.

Chris,

I called a second time this morning and was on hold for 5 minutes. I wanted to make sure I got a different visa specialist to give me a second confirmation I didn't trust the first specialist whom I feel is new at her job

I called DOS at 202-663-1225, press '1', waited 1 or 2 seconds, then press '0' and waited for someone to answer the phone. It kept ringing while I waited until a specialist answered.

Hope to hear good news from you!!