Culture Quiz 259could pull some strings at the consulate to help him get a
visa. He has applied once but has been declined. The future of
their family is at stake. You think about how nice this family
has been to you. They invited you over for Spring Festival
dinner, shared their fireworks with you, and helped you the
day you got locked out of your apartment. They bring treats
like fragrant tea and special snacks by every other week.
You respond by:
Promising to go down to the visa office with Junior and
discuss his situation with the visa officer.
Suggest that they call Harvard and ask for it to try to work
with the Consulate to get a visa issued.
Offer to act as a personal referee for Junior and write a letter
to that effect that can be presented at the Consulate.
Explain that the visa approval system is a transparent
process and that although you would like to help their family,
you have no influence over the process and that Junior needs
to follow the advise the visa officer gave him.
Comments
Because relationships, or guanxi, is so prevalent in influencing
outcomes in China it is difficult for Chinese people to
understand that foreign country visa processes cannot
be influenced through connections. Chances are if Junior
was turned down for a visa once, he is unlikely to do any
better a second time. The correct answer is . Unless you
are frank upfront, in a very constructive way, there will be
expectations that you will be able to pull strings and get Junior
a visa, which is highly unlikely. The family has been carefully
building the relationship with you since you first moved in
because they knew that they may need your support in this
situation. The relationship is sincere, but they expect some
kind of return. The best that you can do to help Junior is
something which is within your control, like arrange for him
to get an internship with your company if he is unable to
find a way to get approval on his visa. You are demonstrating
goodwill while keeping it to something reasonable and within
your authority.