The Chinese put up with a lot living in the world's most populous country: standing on over-crowded trains for 40 hours; sleeping outside hospitals to secure a doctor's appointment; waiting more than a year to earn a driver's license. 

Add getting a U.S. entry visa to the list. Applicants here have waited as long as 60 days to secure an appointment at one of five U.S. consular locations in China that process visas. There, they're often greeted by long lines, followed by a face-to-face interview that can end badly in a matter of seconds. 

Now there are only about 100 U.S. visa officers in China, facing considerable challenges during the summer when tourists and students travel the most. "It's not easy work," Charles Bennett, minister-counselor for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, said to his staff. "You're making, in some cases, life-changing decisions many times a day, and that can cause great tiredness." 

To adapt, US consular services expanded their hours, took on about a dozen additional staff and hope to have another 20 officers by spring. More facilities are also being expanded. 

Despite the shocking numbers, the embassy remains troubled by charges that it rejects applicants unreasonably and that the process is unfairly burdensome. "I'm fed up," said Wendy Liu, 24. The single woman from Beijing said she was recently refused a visa and told to re-apply when her personal life and finances were more stable. "I'll go anywhere but the U.S. now," she said. "I thought America was supposed to be a country of freedom." 

To visit the US, Chinese nationals must prove that they have enough money and family or business ties that make it likely they'll return to China. The Department of Homeland Security said it did not keep records on how many Chinese overstay their visas. 

Student visas can be refused on grounds of national security. Beijing native Tan Ge, 25, believes he was not accepted after he stated his interests in infrared technology and nanoelectronics on his application. He now studies in Canada after being forced to abandon a full scholarship to Arizona State University. 

By its very nature, the on-the-spot process at the U.S. Embassy can feel unbearable to Chinese applicants, who are asked to take their bank statements, property deeds , marriage licenses and HUKOU, a Chinese household ID. 

"It made me feel very uncomfortable," said Xu Yong, 28, a journalist who needed a business visa last month to cover a conference in New York. "They made me feel like someone from a Third World country up to no good." 

After giving his fingerprints, Xu waited to be called for his interview, sitting in an area that was as quiet as a library. Each passing minute seemed to be as long as a century. 

After an hour, Xu was called with three other people to a window for their interview. Two were rejected before his turn. Then the American officer, speaking fluent Chinese, reached for Xu's paperwork, asked some simple questions and said, "Congratulations." 

"I was so nervous. The first thing I did when I got out was to call my mom and tell her I passed," Xu said. "She was the one who warned me it wasn't going to be easy." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. How many US visa officers are in China?
2. Who is Charles Bennett?
3. What does he make that causes tiredness?
4. What documents does a Chinese applicant need to bring to the US Embassy?
5. Who is Xu Yong?
6. How old is he?
7. What happened with his application?
8. What did Wendly Liu say about the application process?
9. What do the Chinese have to do to get a doctor's appointment?
10. How long does it take to get a driver's license?
11. Why was Lucy's application rejected?
12. Why was Wendy's application rejected?
13. Where's she going to go now?
14. How old is she?
15. Is she married?
16. Who is Tan Ge?
17. Where is he now?
18. What are his interests?
19. What did he have to give up when his application was rejected?
20. To which school?
Answer: 1. 100
2. minister-counselor for Consular Affairs
3. life-changing decisions
4. bank statements, property deeds , marriage licenses and HUKOU, a Chinese household ID.
5. a journalist
6. 28
7. he passed
8. she's fed up
9. sleeping outside hospitals
10. more than a year
11. unknown
12. her personal life and finances were not stable
13. anywhere but the U.S.
14. 24
15. no
16. Beijing native
17. Canada
18. infrared technology and nanoelectronics
19. a full scholarship
20. Arizona State University.

CHAPTER VI 

FAREWELL 

D'Aguilar came to supper that night as he had promised, and this time not on foot and unattended, but with pomp and circumstance as befitted a great lord. First appeared two running footmen to clear the way; then followed D'Aguilar, mounted on a fine white horse, and splendidly apparelled in a velvet cloak and a hat with nodding ostrich plumes, while after him rode four men-at-arms in his livery. 

"We asked one guest, or rather he asked himself, and we have got seven, to say nothing of their horses," grumbled Castell, watching their approach from an upper window. "Well, we must make the best of it. Peter, go, see that man and beast are fed, and fully, that they may not grumble at our hospitality. The guard can eat in the little hall with our own folk. Margaret, put on your richest robe and your jewels, those which you wore when I took you to that city feast last summer. We will show these fine, foreign birds that we London merchants have brave feathers also." 

Peter hesitated, misdoubting him of the wisdom of this display, who, if he could have his will, would have sent the Spaniard's following to the tavern, and received him in sober garments to a simple meal. 

But Castell, who seemed somewhat disturbed that night, who loved, moreover, to show his wealth at times after the fashion of a Jew, began to fume and ask if he must go himself. So the end of it was that Peter went, shaking his head, while, urged to it by her father, Margaret departed also to array herself.  What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Did D'Aguilar arrive by walking?
2. Was he alone?
3. which meal was he arriving to?
4. what color was D'Aguilar's horse?
5. how many people were with him?
6. Was Castell happy to see so many people?
7. How many people was he expecting?
8. What is Castell's profession?
9. From where?
10. Is D'Aguilar also British?
11. Where's he from?
12. Was Castell poor?
13. What did Margaret wear?
14. Had she worn the jewels before?
15. when?
16. Did Peter think a big display of hospitality was a good idea?
17. What would he prefer?
18. What was D'Aguilar wearing?
19. What color was the cloak?
20. What time of day did D'Aguilar arrive?
Answer:
1. No
2. No
3. supper
4. white
5. six
6. No
7. Only one
8. He's a merchant
9. London
10. no
11. Spain
12. No
13. a robe and jewels
14. Yes
15. last summer
16. No
17. a simple meal
18. a velvet cloak and a hat with nodding ostrich plumes
19. unknown
20. Night