Thank you all for your support and help! Today I was at US embassy here in Romania to take my visa for dixie meet. Visa denied. Motivations from US Consular Officer: 1: My invitation for dixie hadn't heading color with Donald company logo. 2: She ask me about my business card of my company. I really don't had one at that time with me. She gave me all papers and told: "Sorry Mister Dretcanu, but I can't let you go to USA" and told motivations above. She also told me that I want to reapply for visa I will must to pay again 100USD for interview, by the way, all my interview time with this consular officer was about 5 minute. I don't know what can I say about US embassy stuff. I guess they want our money for nothing(5 minutes, sorry). I stayed on embassy to call me someone for interview for about 5 hours with no water and in my feets without a chair to stay down. I'm really sad and angry for not going to dixie and not meet nice people like you. I'll try to obtain a business visa for ISA Orlando show. Can anyone of you offer me accomodation ? I will pay for that. I can't afford 100 USD/night at hotel.
Thanks again for your help and support, Catalin Dretcanu
Posted by Ron Costa (Member # 3366) on :
Really sorry to hear the news. I was looking forward to meeting you. nuroc
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
I am really disappointed that you had to go through this ordeal. I was also looking forward to meeting you. Maybe another time, Cat-man. Love...JILL Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hey Catalin, Is there an email address, a web site we can visit or a person that we can contact and voice our disappointment about you not being able to attend? A snail-mail address is too late but maybe we as a community can somehow help.
Checkers
Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
Catalin...Sorry to hear about your bad luck...
You are welcome to stay with me for the Orlando show (I don't know when that is). I'm about an hour away from the convention center, but you can use my Jeep to go over there if you would like. I'll probably go over one of the days with you.
Email me if you are interested...
Posted by CJ Allan (Member # 52) on :
Good Idea Brian............
I'll be happy to kick in something, if it's still possible to get ya over here..........
Leave it to all of our wonderful Govt. beurocrats to screw up a good party..
....cj
Posted by Catalin Dretcanu (Member # 4136) on :
Thank you for your post. Here are informations about this F%$#@& Embassy:
Maybe will work and worth! I think maybe Ryan or Donald talk with him it's possible to change something. MAYBE!
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
I don't know if many folks know this, but Donald was on a mission trip a few weeks back and visited Catalin in Romania.
It speaks volumes to me about Donald's character.
I wonder if there is a higher-up out there somewhere in Letterville or beyond who could help? It would be so great. Love...Jill
Posted by DONALD THOMPSON (Member # 3726) on :
Because of the time difference, I will e-mail them first thing in the morning. Sorry to hear about this. I thought you had already been approved.
Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
Hi Catalin, I'm Terry Baird's wife, Chris. I am a secretary for an immigration lawyer at a law firm in Rochester, NY. I can't give you any legal advice, but can check into some government websites to see what's going on with visas from Romania. Immigration is very serious about business visitors visas. Invitations do have to be on company letterhead and proof of your business identity is required. I'll let you know what I find out. Chris Baird
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
Never, ever assume that anything is "all set" with visas for US immigration, especially since 9/11. In the best of times they will screw up a two-car funeral; with the current paranoia, their first reaction is to refuse a visa automatically, lest they catch hell for letting someone in who might do something naughty.
I too was looking forward to meeting Catalin. I've had the pleasure of meeting a number of people from Eastern Europe, both here and there, and they have a sometimes surprising POV on Americans, life and the world.
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Think I will join in the governmental"spam-scam" for one of our fellow letterheads!
What IF it were NOT business related?
Posted by rene st-pierre (Member # 4116) on :
hi mr i know how you can feel i have the same problem in pass custom is heavy somme time try again in advance can be good for another meet c-ya sory for you its bad
Posted by faye welsh (Member # 2524) on :
catalin, so sorry for you, maybe things will still work out. do not lose faith."with God ,all things are possible". even government red tape removal. i will also try an e-mail. deluge the consulate!! Posted by Catalin Dretcanu (Member # 4136) on :
thanks you all for your support!! That consular officer ask me 3 questions: 1 who is Donald and what i will do there 2.why donald invitation not had a heading with his company logo 3do you have a business card of your company from romania who will sponsorship you in your trip to usa? That's was all they ask. Never ask me to show they any other evidence.
Posted by DONALD THOMPSON (Member # 3726) on :
Just e-mailed the embassy. Hopefully Catalin can contact them for some other news.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Perhaps you might get a visa allowing you into Mexico. Then you could walk into this country with the thousands a day that cross the border to work in California. I'm not getting down on them, I'm commenting on the discrepancy with INS.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
I know what you are going through. My brother-in-law is from Romania. He's been trying to get his parents here for the last couple years to visit and meet their little granddaughter for the first time and they keep getting denied. They have even had state representatives and other officials try to contact the idiots at that embassy.
Ticks me off. I won't make this political but what a crock of s***!
Best of luck to ya.
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
Catalin, I just got back from Amsterdam today and read about your problem. I will e-mail both the addresses you posted and let them know that I was planning to pick you up in Atlanta and take you to the meet. I don't know if it will help, but at least they'll know you have local accommodations and transportation. If there's anything else I can do, please let me know.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Heads, I did manage to get a contact name from the Bucharest-visas visasbucharest@state.gov email address. His name is Jay T. Smith, Consul General. Please direct any emails to his attention. Catalin, don't give up hope yet!
Havin' fun,
Checkers
[ March 20, 2004, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Checkers ]
Posted by Catalin Dretcanu (Member # 4136) on :
Hi you all! I never imagined that I will see so many letterheads willing to help and support an alien like me. I wish to thank you all for what you do for me.
Thanks and I love you all! Catalin Dretcanu
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
quote:I never imagined that I will see so many letterheads willing to help and support
That's what this whole Letterhead thing is all about. Isn't it cool? Welcome to your new family. As you can see, it's as dysfunctional as most "regular" families but we sure have fun.
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
Catalin, Just wondered if our e-mails had any difference on the consulate's descision to decline your visa. I received a response from Jay T. Smith,Consul General, but it wasn't favorable. Good Luck! Judy
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)