And I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed too that I'll be able to get mine too.

Heh, I kena counter no.3, on my first try. Lol = \

Chapree was kind enough to write a short article about my situation:

http://multiplay.lowyat.net/2007/09/25/wcg...m-visa-problem/

Thank you everyone for the calls/msn of emotional support over the last 24 hours or so. Much appreciated =]

I dont think its hit me yet, maybe come next week when I'm supposed to be in Seattle, then I'll start feeling emo.

Well this basically what happened the second time round with my visa application:

When my number was called and stepped up to Counter 6, the Consular Officer said, "I see that you were here last week, so whats different from 7 days ago and today? Lets make this fast and get done and over with."

I showed him all my documents, the invitational letters from ICM Korea & Seattle Sports Commission, my employment letter from Online e-Club Malaysia (which stated my salary, the dates I'll be in Seattle, leaving Seattle and when I will resume my work in Malaysia) and even support letters from Valve.

It didnt work.

It seems that if you get denied once, you shouldnt even bother applying again. The reasons given for my rejection was that my salary was too low and that I had limited overseas travel experience, therefore I was marked as having a higher possibility that I will not return to Malaysia. (Basically, according to them, I'm too poor to go visit the United States of America.)

I even showed them my Certificates of Appreciation from ICM Korea, for the WCG Grand Finals 2005 & 2006. Hell, I even showed them the Certificate of Appreciation from the very 1st WCG.MY Championship, which I got way back in 2001.

It didnt work either.

The Consular Officer said, "I have no doubt that you might be the best at being a cyber games referee, or for that matter, a Chief Referee at this World Cyber Games. I also have no doubt that you are going Seattle for your said intended purposes. But unfortunately, you do not meet the criteria that has been set by the United States government and I cannot make an exception and I must be fair across the board and have no choice but to reject your application."

As a referee myself, the irony of this situation, for being "fair", for the lack of a better word, was ironic.

In a last ditch attempt to change the decision, I asked if showing him my bank books would make a difference ...

The Consular Officer said, "Unless you have a 1 million bucks in savings, I'm not even gonna bother."

At least he had the good grace not to laugh when he saw my bank books, and saw just how far off my savings were from "a million bucks".

Heh.

This post has been edited by Auricom: Sep 29 2007, 05:11 PM