Hi! My name is Gerry Gannon, and I'm the architect of Apex Visa Service which evolved from Life-Mates Introduction Service that almost immediately evolved into a K and Relative visa service, which began on Aug. 24, 1984. The K3 visa came to life in 2001.
Having worked with resettlement of the Vietnamese exodus in 1975, I met a lot of INS immigration people at Camp Pendleton Marine base in California because I could read and write Vietnamese. They were trying to get these new immigrants registered and requested my help in translations. Eventually I did the same at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Fort Dix, New Jersey, and taught them English under the Gov. CETA program in New York.
While they were using me as a volunteer to do translations for registration, I constantly nagged them about the many servicemen at these bases that were already married to Vietnamese ladies and couldn't get k1 visas or relative visas to bring them home to the U.S. I suggested attempting to have the Thai government recognize them as refugees after they snuck across the border, then process them through Bangkok. They laughed at me except for one guy. He went to Congress and raised hell. Eventually the Viet wives and fiancees were processed through Bangkok, following my guidelines almost exactly.
While dealing with these INS characters, I collected names and phone numbers to call on this issue. As of today, I still have many of these connections, who have connections in the ADJUDICATION section. While they've rotated out, the old guys have introduced "newbies" to me. From this kind of feedback connection, I've learned much about human attitudes, prejudices, biases and egos of these adjudicators. I was also surprised at how many did not like their job and injustices. Now they call me with tips and bitches. While that's a small percentage, they nevertheless do get to me. Apparently my phone number floats around the system. While I never get the caller's phone number or name, as that could get them into trouble, I know what the call is about when they say, "John sent me." That phrase started with a retired case adjudicator I met years ago who claimed to have had the dirtiest job on the planet.
I started my professional life as an industrial photographer, and being a ham radio operator, was attracted to Electrical Engineering where I'm still an I-EEE member. While an EE, I gave semiconductor and design seminars all over the English speaking world including 47 states. When the world changed from transistors to "chips," and designs where done by computers, I bailed out and went into law.
I'm a graduate of California Western School of Law of San Diego and have a degree in law. I do NOT belong to any Bar Associations that are instituted by lawyers to protect lawyers, nor to AILA, nor the Commission on Immigration, nor the Immigration Portal, nor any other lawyer income promoting organization. If there's any integrity left in this profession, I'm having a hard time finding it.
I was born a hayseed and still remain a hayseed at heart. I'm just "Gerry." I use toilet paper just like you, and prefer to deal informally on a one to one basis. This is an emotionally wrapped business from the client's point of view where emotional pain can be much greater than physical pain. Been there, done that, and learned that helping someone honestly makes sleeping a lot easier. So by NOT looking down on my clients, I gain a lot more friends and the cases go much smoother.
In 23 years I've never lost a visa case or any case, nor had to appeal one, because I know adjudicators and how they think. God blessed me with being in the right place at the right time and I was wise enough to know how to nurture that relationship with case adjudicators (immigration case judges) as though I were working with them. I thoroughly enjoy taking on the powers that be. After all, aren't they supposed to be our SERVANTS??
My endeavor and personal goal is to see that you don't make mistakes that cause undue delays and visa denials. These obstacles have nothing to do with law, but instead, the ultimate interview with the case adjudicator at the U.S. Consulate visa interview. Problems begin in the way cases are filed, working like snowballs that end up at the interview with all kinds of surprise questioning.
My father taught me the word "why" was the most important word in the English language. "If so, why so, if not, why not," he'd rant. In short order I learned the importance of that word, and grew up with the curiosity of a cat.
Before and during my teens I lived on a farm. It was there I learned the value of hard work, self esteem earned through accomplishment, respect for others and responsibility.
The farm was an excellent place to grow up as I look back, because I learned self discipline and was happy. We were a tight, religious, and happy family. I am the oldest of 5 boys, no sisters. Always wished I had a sister because girls scared me to death. I was so shy of them but fearless of anything else.
In the picture below, that's me on the cutter-binder. We were cutting and binding wheat into shocks to stand and dry before threshing. That farm is about 50 miles from Pelican Rapids where we live now after having sweating it out in Phoenix, Arizona for 27 years, and many other places before that.
I've lived in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley area (Palo Alto), Minneapolis, Long Island, NY, Chicago, Phoenix, and Puerto Rico. I've traveled to major cities on all continents except Africa and Antarctica. I've also been to all states of our union except Alaska, Idaho and Florida. But I had to return to the famous Red River Valley of that song you hear so often in Western movies. We love it here! This is the heartland.
My success is simply based on attitude, common sense, and a lot of hard work. I'm blessed with a lot of inside knowledge that puts things in perspective. Follow the MONEY and EGOs!! There you will find the power mongers who live off society.
I married my lovely Filipina wife Maria 15 years ago, who thinks like I do. We are both deeply religious, honest, never call each other names, never fight, and both are cerebral types. We both love fishing. Living in the heart of Minnesota's best lake region, we do a lot of fishing - we also eat a lot of nice fresh fish. We're both a couple of kooks, or certified nuts, extremely happy, and don't know what the fuss is about cold winters. So it's -18 degrees on the wall of the garage, that's only 4 degrees warmer than the outside air which measured -22. Not bad until it gets down to -35 or -40. Then your nostrils twinkle with each breath. But we have simple solutions for that too. Push a button and the garage door opens. Push another button on a key-chain gizmo and the car starts. After 10 minutes, her car or my Silverado are about 60 degrees inside. Does she look like she minds it the Winter here? If you have half the marriage we do, you'll be one very happy couple.
Neither of us are status climbers. We just like hard work to be active and able to support our families. Our comforts are measured in simple satisfaction; we are happy folks. Maria is the comptroller for a major travel agency which affords her frequent trips to the Philippines where she runs a family business we created to get the family out of poverty and educate the children. Of course it's a success. Hanging over our bed is a cross and a sign, "Failure is NOT and Option." Forgive me Lord, I turned her into a capitalist bitch with wings. Oh well, she'll slow down some day... maybe. Our wealth is found in each other - problems only drive us closer together. Seems really strange to some people. But we think it's the only way to live. We are truly blessed and thank God for it.
God bless you all and be good to yourself. - - Gerry & Maria Gannon.
Back to top of page
