rogerinca

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/100q.pdf

Congratulations on getting through this finally !!! I think you are the last of the group who went through the big log-jam at the NOA-2 stage of the visa process in 2007!? Best wishes !!

If you just take it step by step, and follow the guide, it is a piece of cake! Also, I used the search mode and reviewed threads of others with recent AOS history. You already have most of the info/data you need from your visa filing, which can be moved over to the new AOS forms. Again, just go through each step and keep your file organized and double check it all and supply a lot of info up front and you will be just fine. Here is the link, if you don't already have it: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1k3aos

I agree 100% !! Before my first visit to the PRC back in early 2004, to Nanning and Guangzhou, I saw a list like this on another website (before I knew about CFL) and it really concerned me about my upcoming China experience. Now, ten (mostly month long trips) and five + years later, I have never had a single problem or issue. I have always just been myself; and after trip number one, I completely forgot about these kinds of lists, from the 'experts' in China culture. I just used common sense and drew on my life experience as my understanding of China and the culture grew. Hey, I was at one business conference dinner in Suzhou, werein one of the businessmen seated next to me at a large table suddenly turned and hocked a 'lung'er' on the floor behind us, just as the food was being served. My wife just smiled at me.

Wonder Full.

the POE experience was great a very friendly woman helped us we wnet through the line together she tore into the brown envelope and noted some stuff and stamped stuff and took about 5 minutes to finish everything then said congratulations and we went through to claim luggage that we waited forever for it looked like it was going to take forever to get through the huge line until a customs agent said hey you guys know there is no waiting at line 3 right so we all rushed over and left within minutes ...the guy took the forms from us and said ni hao asked me sayign K1 huh? i said yup he said hen piao liang good choice. congratulations to you both welcome to the US ....he didnt ask about our bags or anyhting just let us right through i like that he used a little chinese considering he was hispanic lol great experience Hey congratulations on a safe trip back to the great CA !!! And your POE experience at LAX was the same as ours...very friendly and helpful people !! Hey, you talk about the traffic in LA; the last time I was through I-15 in Temecula on a Friday evening, the traffic was backed up half a mile, onto the freeway, from each of the two or three major off-ramps into town !!! We were going to stop for dinner, but kept on going all the way into San Diego, before we stopped. And compared to downtown GZ, LA is a piece of cake !!!

Maybe the VO does want to see a love story, "Bonafide Relationship" Maybe. Anyway, that was my approach to this aspect. From my view, I wanted to [humanize] what I had to say, and wrote 2.5 type written pages from my heart and with love and warmth directed toward my wife. Many of the reviewers, along the way, at USCIS and at DOS, are women....need I say more! However, as was stated previously, each must do what they feel is right for them and what makes them comfortable.

She may look at any time - some employers (at least here in Houston) will hire simply based on the knowledge that she is eligible for EAD, others may require the actual card It is between her and the employer. Be careful that she doesn't go into a situation where illegals are openly working - that is no good either before or after she gets the card. It is the employer that is taking a risk, the I-9 form that the employer needs to fill out has recently been updated ti specifically requre the photo ID EAD card. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD Many employers hire illegal aliens illegally - it is dangerous even for someone with valid documentation to work for these companies, as has been reported on CFL. In addition, working conditions can be less than ideal. Right-on Randy !!!

Hello my friend !! (In reply to post #11) Mine was about 2.5 pages, to cover multi-visits and our marriage in China. I could never convey, what it was I wished to leave with a reader, in only one page. I had absolutely no problem/issues with my approach; and again, the VO complimented my wife on the preparation of our entire package at interview time. I was charged just one flat fee, for the notary to verify my signature on the document. That is what it is about, if it is to be turned in by the applicant at interview time. This, so they know the USC produced it, and not someone else, with a forged signature. The version that I included with my I-129F filings, did not have to be notarized, as it was included within my larger filing, as submitted my me. The one I gave my wife at interview time, was an updated version, to cover the visits since the time I had mailed the original petition. And again, even at AOS time, I filed still a more updated version, that was about four pages long, to further establish the bona fides of the marriage/relationship. Best wishes to you both !!

At each step in the process, I always looked at the timelines of others in a similar or recently similar circumstance. This is why it is nice to have a timeline available for others to compare and gain knowledge from.

Dittos. My wife and daughter's envelope also had the right side corner cut off with a portion of the contents of the brown envelope visible. So don't worry. Now, if the cut was on the 'left' corner, then I would be concerned !!

It is interesting when one expresses their point of view, which is not that of attacking the government and is supportive of the Consulate in Guangzhou, that is labled as 'fighting' with a suggestion that one should cease any further comment of this kind. I have read the comments of the OP as well as mine, and I do not see any fighting or personal attacking therein. It is interesting that others are allowed to post very negative comments towards GUZ almost incessantly, without any comment/observation from a 'moderator'. Luck has absolutely nothing to do with this process. That is my opinion and I should feel free to express it.

Congratulations to you both !!! I concur with your assessment and have always supported the thesis of what you have expressed here. Most who post here, and have been members for most of the process, are successful, the same as you and me. And yes, it is nothing about 'luck' or the rolling of the 'dice' !! It is about being prepared, and having sufficient financial resources, coupled with a clean background on the part of both the USC and the Foreign National applicant. It is about the USC having no IMBRA issues, or some other things in their past such as not paying Federal Income Taxes, or being behind in child support, or even having active arrest warrants in the NCIC system. Likewise, on the FN applicant side, many times there are histories of previous petitions being filed, and or police files or other misrepresentations that a naive USC may not be aware of. Therefore, when things go tilt, the folks at GUZ always get the blame and most here, will never really understand the true story, only the one side of it. You are also correct in your statement about other member assumptions and opinions. As I have reported, in my multiple visits to the 5th floor, (ACH and ACS) I have always been treated with respect and kindness by the Consulate staff. Moreover, my wife and young daughter were treated the same at their interview last year. Last, it is interesting to note that the staff were aware of your CFL membership. I understood from day one, that a site like this is a gold mine of information and data, for any government agency tasked with the prevention of visa fraud. Moreover, it is not that difficult for them to connect the dots and understand who is who here. Again, good observations and best wishes to you both !!!

I agree with Charles, as stressful/frustrating as the additonal wait can be, you are at the end, so just try and be patient. Anger at GUZ or at the system, will only increase your stress and those of others in queue. You might note, right on the paperwork with the Pink slip, is a statement: "Although your Visa has been approved, you should not purchase tickets until you have received and inspected your Visa...." with a further statement to the effect, it is not really final, until it is final. I have been told, that just prior to the visa being printed, they conduct an audit of the entire file, to ensure nothing was missed along the way. Furthermore, the P-4 paperwork, submitted on the day of the interview, is subject to further review/verification and this also can lead to a delay in what is the 'final' approval and production of the visa itself. Also keep in mind, they are processing/adjudicating up to 400 visa applications (all types) a day at GUZ. Every visa that requires extra handling or extra review, increases their work load. While some will never agree, this is never personal with them. A case file is a case file. Furthermore, fraudulent visa applications (of all types) submitted to the Consulate in Guangzhou, are among the highest, within the entire worldwide DOS system. I forgot to add, in addition to what I outlined earlier (above) with respect to the process after the interview. The GUZ staff must not only recheck/audit the case file and produce the actual visas for attachment to the passports, they must also produce, prepare, and organize all of the important documents for that 'infamous' sealed brown envelope, for the POE officers to review and forward; and then they must enter/update all of the pertinent info to actually activate the visas and update the record/file in the DOS computer data base. I was told that the preparation of the sealed envelope and the data entry into the system alone, takes the better part of a day. Also, right now is student visa season; there are a tremendous number of student visas being processed, along with the K series and CR series, as well as all the family visas, tourism visas and a whole bunch of adoptions going on right now, which also require visa processing. With every interaction I have had on the 5th floor with various employees of this Consulate, I have always been treated well. But then, I have always communicated my questions/issues to them in a non-emotional and never a confrontational or demanding manner. I went to ACS and asked for help in getting my visa a little faster, as I too, had airline tickets booked. I knew the rules but was hoping for a two day turn-around. It ended up being three days and I was feeling the pressure to have to wait for EMS processing. I plead humble pie to the woman, and was very appologetic and told her I understood their work load, but asked for some flexibility in picking up my visas in person. At no time did I get arrogant, snippy, or demanding with her. She looked at her computer screen, sighed, and told me to come back at 5:00 pm, "we will have your visa package ready for you, as you are now clear in the computer". Had she not assisted me in this manner, I would have just sucked it up and made new airline reservations, because I knew what it says on the Pink slip form about not making plans before the visa is in hand, well before my airline booking time. However, in this case, I thanked this woman profusely and kissed her hand !!! I could not have asked for more, as well as previous to that at an ACH when I was stressed over the status of my step-daughter, wherein the VO, after hearing my concerns, in a very compassionate manner, told me not to worry about it...."we see your situation often here." I have many times shaken my head in amazement at some of the highly inflamed rhetoric directed at GUZ. We always hear only one side of any story; they are never able to respond in kind. Therefore, I offer my experience.

Awesome! People need to learn when they can and cannot use a cell phone, I guess that moron learned the hard way. anyone knows why no cell phones and recording devices can be turned on in the custom area of jfk? is this the same for all international arrival termial airport? i don't see it in china or hong kong's custom area, kinda puzzled me right now since i make 5 trips to china and seeing it on every return trip. Yes, it is that way at LAX, in the TBI Terminal, at the first (primary) Immigration Portal, prior to picking up the bags. There are large signs on the walls and on mobile posts, which speak to this. It has to do with basic internal security wherein the bad guys may use 'spotters' and pass on information as to the staffing and movements of the officers, and/or use phones to take photos/videos of personnel performing their duties within the secure area. You may notice it is the same when you go for Biometrics and also for the AOS interview....no phones and no cameras within the facility. Once at the baggage pickup area, you can turn on your mobile phone, but good luck at LAX if your carrier is AT&T, the reception is nearly absent within the bagage area. Not sure how it is with other providers.