Bill & Angel

Is that picture your fiancee? She looks like a model or a movie star.

I believe that (or something like it) applies if the child is 14 years old (or under). Our son is 20. Yes, you are correct. Our son is 7, so fortunately we get the discount.

Jim, thanks you for your post... that has been very helpful!

Same reason why my fiancee wants to stick with the English first name. Does not pronounce as you would think looking at the pinyin, plus the tones are difficult even when you know how it should be pronounced. Maybe we will go the nickname route afterall, and wait until the citizenship step.

We also discussed it, and she said she definitely wants the name change, and I don't know if she wants to wait the 3 years + to do it during the citizen thing (I'm not even sure she's in a hurry to be a citizen). I'm looking for an immediate name change method.

I'm talking about her first name, not her last (aka, family) name. I'm guessing that Jin kept her Chinese first name as well. The thing is, my fiancee has been going by her English first name for almost 2 years (she just never made in legal changes within China). She definitely wants to use her English first name as her legal name, but in the most hassle-free way possible.

I thought I had a good plan at first. My fiancee's passport name is her Chinese name, but when filling out the SSN application, this appears to allow her to specify her English name. By doing this, we hoped to make the name change process simple. However, I just realized that we will need to use her Chinese name (pinyin version) on the marriage license application since her proof of identity is her passport, and her passport does not specify her English name. If we are married under her Chinese name, and she fills out an SSN application with her English name, would that invalidate the marriage certificate? I heard that using the Chinese name on the SSN application, and then trying to change it later is a more complicated task (takes more time and probably another fee). What do others suggest? What is the best sequence of events to make this process of changing from her Chinese name to her English name fast and easy?

To be specific, someone from VisaJourney.com wrote: "After she arrives you will file for AOS and that is $1010.00..." "The fee for her son is $600 IF you file both at the same time."

Thank you. This is very helpful since we also have the K1/K2 visa situation. However, I seem to recall that the AOS for the son was less than the AOS for the mother. Was I misinformed?

1. please re-read this thread and you will see exactly what documents to sumit 2. please read this thread http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32841 3. you need to fill out a new one. her current address will be different as will the date she signs the form. With regard to #1, yes, I realize the prior post was in answer to a K1, so my question #1 makes me appear dumber than I really am. It was a typo. I meant to ask, which of these forms, if any, must be submit for a K2 recipient (7 year old son)? With regards to #2 & #3, thank you.

That's great, thanks! I just have a few follow-up questions. 1. Which of these forms, if any, must be submit for K1 recipient? 2. I've been told that since we already had medical performed in Guangzhou, we only needed vaccinations records (I-693A). Any insight on that? 3. Is the G-325 form only needed for K1 recipient? Is it not exactly the same G-325 that was submit with the K1 P4 package? Could I simply just re-submit the same document? Thanks, Bill

I wish I had known about the McDonalds when we were there. Ah well, maybe next time... Now I need to figure out where we are going to get married, and now she says she wants to bring her parents over for the wedding. I've heard this is very difficult...

Note, the foreign citizen in this case is the petitioner they can get information about the case at any time with or without the G-28. The G-28 allows US citizen spouse act as a representitive and allows the US citizen spouse to communicate with USCIS on the behalf of the foreign citizen "petitioner" I-131 and I-765 can be filed after filing I-485, a copy of I-485 NOA1 letter needs to be attached to the I-131, and/or I-765. Again if you don't intend on traveling in a while you may wait until ate least 3 months before a planed international trip to file the I-131. G-28.... that's a new one to me. Do I need to add this to the list, or should I just proceed without it?

Actualy I-130 and G-325A for US citizen is only used when the alien had entered the USA on some other type of non-immigrant visa like F-1 student. In the K-3, the I-130 is the first petition filed long before AOS, long before getting the K-3. I-485 has a check box for K-1 and K-2 adjustment, the visa holder adjusts directly from the K-1/2 visas. VJ has very detailed guides. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1k3aos http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1k3ead http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=ssn A few notes: Treat the I-485, I-765, and I-131 as separate petitions, that is no sharing of evidence, each needs it's own set of evidence and passport pics. If you don't plan on traveling out of the country for a while, you can hold on filing the I-131. I-693 has been discussed in great detail lately: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...st&p=430732 David has guides at the top of this forum: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=29538 Thank you, this was very helpful!

That is a relief (and a savings of $355).

the uscis can be confusing at times. your list is good, however you need to delete the i-130 and g-325a for yourself off the list. you would only submit these if applying for a cr-1 or k-3 visa. Thanks. So I don't need the G-325A for myself, just my fiancee. But this was already submit with P4. Why do I have to submit another one?

My fiancee and her son just received their K1/K2 visas, and they'll be joining me in November. We'll apply for Marriage License, get married, then apply for SSN for both my wife and son. This much seems pretty simply. However, for the AOS, I get kind of confused. I've been reading several sources of information, both on this site, and the USCIS website. According to the USCIS, the following forms must be submit after marrying in the US: • I-130 Petition for Alien Relative • G-325A Biographic Data Form - U.S. Citizen • G-325A Biographic Data Form - Alien Spouse • I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status • I-765 Application for Employment Authorization • I-864 Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act • I-131 Application for Travel Document • I-693 Medical Examinations of Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status • The appropriate supporting documents • The appropriate USCIS filing fees Am I misunderstanding the process? I-130 seems redundant since we already submit I-129F, and G-325A definitely seems redundant as those were submitted in P4 for the K1 visa interview. I'm totally confused. Likewise, I have not heard of anyone talking about needing the I-130 or G-325A on this website, only the I-485, etc., etc.. The amount of red tape is maddening, which is okay when I know what I'm doing. But currently, I'm not sure what I'm doing, which makes is really crazy. Any help is greatly appreciated. Bill

I just looked at a USCIS document which stated the following forms to be submitted after marrying my K1 fiancee in the US: • I-130 Petition for Alien Relative • G-325A Biographic Data Form - U.S. Citizen • G-325A Biographic Data Form - Alien Spouse • I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status • I-765 Application for Employment Authorization • I-864 Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act • I-131 Application for Travel Document • I-693 Medical Examinations of Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status • The appropriate supporting documents • The appropriate USCIS filing fees Am I misunderstanding the process? I-130 seems redundant since we already submit I-129F, and G-325A definitely seems redundant as those were submitted in P4 for the K1 visa interview. I'm totally confused.

Ah, no... I'm back in the USA now, and will fly back to China (trip #8) on Nov 3 to spend time with her parents and help her pack, and then the 3 of us head back together to the US. She'll be using the next 2 months to spend time with her parents and get some things in order, and I have more than my share of stuff I need to finish before she gets her.

Just bought the plane tickets... Will be arriving to the US on Nov 10.

Upon the advice of countless posters here on CFL the provided great reviews, and ignoring the apprehensive response of my fiancee, I suggested that we stay at Mr and Mrs Yang apartments, just around the corner from the US Consulate. After assuring her that many people said this was a great option, she agreed, and so we booked a night for Sep 2nd, the eve of Angel's interview. The train ride from Shenzhen to Guangzhou was smooth and comfortable. Before we knew it, we were back in Guangzhou, the same place I attended American Citizen Day 2 weeks before, and the same place her and Peter had their medical exams the prior week (it should be added that the hospital really botched the blood taking on Angel, as her arm was now horribly bruised and in pain, something apparently that is common in China). We took the short walk from the train station to the Yang's, went to floor 29, but then called because no one was there. We were told to go back down to floor 9, and Mr Yang met us and brought us to our room. The room was a two-bedroom apartment, the 2nd bedroom apparently converted from the main living room with a low wall that doesn't reach the ceiling. There was a water cooler on the right, next to a sofa, across the way was a TV that we never turned on. Behind the TV was the converted bedroom, and to the left was the main bedroom. Also to the left, closer to the entrance, was a door to a kitchen, and then a door to a bathroom. The kitchen was small, and we never used it. The bathroom had a sink and toilet, side by side, and the shower arm on the wall (no shower stall, no bathtub). You could basically take a poop and a shower at the same time. The rooms were hot, and Angel was tired from walking in her new shoes that were not yet broken in (and she was still coming out of a cold). She attributes AC to the source of her being sick, so she laid down in the main bedroom to rest with the AC off. We immediately turned on Peter's AC to cool the place down. While Angel rested, I called Mrs Yang to help with the internet (it did not immediately work, although my computer saw 3 available wireless networks, 2 requiring a password, and the 3rd with not enough bars to generate a decent signal). She came down with an extension cord and ethernet cable, and after wiring the computer directly to the router, we were up on the internet. Peter and I played games for a short while, and then Angel got up and we were off to look for a place to eat. She was still tired, so we went to the restaurant across the street. The menu was not quite the Shenzhen menu we were accustomed to. Between the frogs and chicken balls, there really wasn't much on the menu that appealed to me. We opted for cold sweet ribs, chicken, some kind of very salty fish, an egg dish that could be described as an egg-adilla (replace the cheese with egg in a quesadilla), and a bowl of hot vegetables. I didn't recognize the vegetables, but tried the green looking ones. It had the look of cooked spinach on a thick stem, and tasted like asparagus, pretty good. The egg dish and chicken was also pretty good. We had some cream cheese puffs for dessert that had a small chunk of mango inside. Peter loved these. After the bowls of rice Angel and I had, I was simply too full at this point. The whole meal was about 350 yuan (about $50USD, pretty expensive as Chinese restaurants go). Back at the room, we were beginning to realize (and perhaps it was just myself that was "beginning", as I think Angel had already come to this conclusion earlier) that the room was sub-standard for what we were used to. The air circulation was very poor, the AC unit in the master bedroom had no temperature reading and was very loud, taking a shower in the same place you take a poop was less than desirable, one of the cabinet doors in our bedroom was on only one hinge (the other 2 broken). The towels were thin and obviously very old, perhaps handed down from someone's grandparents, and the floor seem to be always wet (not carpeted). I could imagine Angel's thoughts, but I went with it because, well, there wasn't much we could do at this point. At bedtime, Peter asked that I lay down with him for 10 minutes to help him sleep, which I did. He was very restless, and this helps him calm down. Before long, we were both asleep. In retrospect, his room had both the best circulation and the best AC. I got up and went to our bedroom to join Angel, and the AC was off. The air was stifling, hot and humid. I thought I might be able to sleep through it, but then I started with a coughing attack, which then kept Angel up. The snowball effect continued, as she decided to turn on the AC to help me with my breathing problems, and then I tried to cover her because the AC had made the room very cold (not to mention noisy). In her flurry state of mind and still being sick, she didn't want the covers, even though I knew the cold couldn't be good for her. I turned off the AC, and prayed for sleep. Then I began another coughing attack. Now, both of us wide awake, and the time just passing by like the cold unfeeling bastard that time can be sometimes, Angel could no longer hold inside her dissatisfaction with my adhering to the advice of a strangers on a website. She reminded me that the side of the conversation I was listening to was the Americans who don't know China, and she added that many of these couples probably stayed in Guangzhou a few nights beforehand and probably became accustomed to the environment by the night before their interview. I was convinced she was right, but being right didn't seem to help the situation. After profusely apologizing, and providing no excuses for my choice of dwelling space, I finally suggested we crash Peter's sleep heaven. Her initial response was stubborn refusal, but she later conceded that it may be our best shot at some sleep. We towed our blankets and pillows, and joined Peter in his room, Angel on one side, and me on the other side. Peter was sound asleep, which did not change at all from the commotion of us joining him. For Angel, Peter has always been the best sleep medicine for when she has trouble sleeping, and for me, the better air circulation and the AC allowed me to finally knock out. Answered a little late, but my sleep prayer from earlier was finally answered. This was our experience. It should be stated that Mr and Mrs Yang are truly nice people, and the price is simply unbeatable, but from our perspective, I think they should raise the price so that they can renovate the place, as it desperately needs it.

I see you have gotten many replies, and the replies are indicative of the pro's and con's. I plan upon writing a detailed experience when I get back home to the states, but just to give you a quick summary of our experience (we stayed there 3 nights ago): Pros: - Mr and Mrs Yang are very nice people, no doubt about it. - They can answer questions for your Chinese speaking fiance/e. - It is very close, exit the building, walk around corner, there you are. - Excellent price - Comes with internet access Cons: - Their English is not so good (e.g., I couldn't hold a conversation with them) - The room standards are far below what my fiancee and I have come to expect (we like comfort) - Mr and Mrs Yang are very young (I guess I was expecting old wise people that would ooze wisdom on us just by being in their presence, but they were younger than us) - I talked my fiancee into staying here (based upon positive posts here), against her initial suggestion that we stayed in a nice hotel, and the one night we stayed, we were up most of the night in a dispute which eventually turned into me apologizing profusely and repeatedly telling her she was right. What can I say? We're both waterfish. She concluded that those that liked staying here either needed the extra help the Yangs provided (we already had all of our documentation in hand, and medical was already completed), and/or they stayed multiple nights to adjust to the substandard comfort, and/or they couldn't afford more, and/or they just are not spoiled by the comforts of our everyday living (including 4/5 star hotels when we travel). Depending upon your own needs/personalities/comforts, YMMV! One thing I'd like to repeat, Mr and Mrs Yang are very nice and helpful. We wish them the very best with their newborn baby.

Our Interview Experience: We arrived at 7:00 AM to a see of umbrellas waiting in line to get into the building. I waited with my fiancee's son, Peter, up on the steps while my fiancee, Angel, waited in the queue. After about 20 minutes, they started letting people through the queue (the 1st three lines were for the visa office, which were let through first). One at a time, they checked the visa invitation letter and passports of the people, so the line came through slowly. Once they let Angel through, Peter and I joined her up to the 4th floor, where there was a short fast-moving queue through a checkpoint. This is where I left them, to my place in the coffee shop on the other side of the wall. As Angel and Peter went up to the 5th floor, they first went through security (no cell phones are allowed in at all). Then they sat in the area where there were rows of chairs, waiting for her name to be called. After 15 minutes, they called her name, she went to the window and provided the sealed medical results. They opened the package and checked the records, then they added these records to the original I-129F package we had originally submit for the petition (send from California to DOS to Guangzhou). Then they gave her a number, and she sat down again. The numbers are called in random order, not numeric order (similar to how it's done at the ACH). After about 30 minutes, Angel's number was called. At this time, they only called her up for fingerprinting (using a fingerprint scan, not ink). She then went back to her seat, with the same number, to wait to be called again. After the fingerprints were done, everyone was asked to stand up to take the US oath. Angel and her son waiter another 35 minutes before their number was called again. Angel was engaged in conversation with her fellow applicants, and Peter was in deep reading (he loves to read). When she noticed her number had been called a few times already, she quickly grabbed the bag of forms and documents we had put together, woke Peter out of his "reading" bliss, and stammered to her assigned window. She was greeted by an American Visa Officer, blue eyes and blonde hair. At this time, he was very serious looking, no smile at all. She was asked to scan her left and right forefingers for fingerprint verification (pretty snazzy system for ensuring there is no pass-up to a different person). And so the interview began, first in English, but later changed to Chinese (see notes): 1. When did you first meet? Angel asked, "In person, or on internet?" VO responded, "Internet, then in person." Angel provided the exact date we met on the internet, and then provided the exact date we first met on my first trip to China. 2. When did you get engaged? Angel was not sure of the English word "engaged", but she was thinking maybe she knew. I told her not to assume anything, and if she was unsure, to ask. She showed the VO her engagement ring, and asked, "Do you mean this?" The VO responded, "Yes." Angel has trouble remembering the month of October, which is when I gave her the ring. She stuttered an "August", quickly followed by a mis-pronounced "September", then quickly corrected again, "October, October." NOTE: This is the point at which the VO changed to speaking Chinese. Angel then also changed her answers to Chinese, except where noted. The VO's command of the Chinese language was decent for an American, but not flawless, as the following notes will show. 3. Did you fiance get divorce? Sensing a trick question, Angel smiled and retorted "He has never been married." Her attitude coupled with her correct response appeared to have changed his dimeaner at this stage, as a smile gleamed over his face as well. 4. How many times did your fiance come to China? Angel responded, "Including this time trip, 7 times." VO responded, "Did he come to the interview with you?" She answered, "Yes". He then replied, "Can you show me his passport?" She give him my passport, and while he flipped through the many stamped pages, she also told him about how she met me in Hong Kong once to help me renew my Chinese visa when my first visa had expired and I couldn't enter the mainland (note, I probably provided more details here than she actually provided to the VO). 5. What is your fiance's job? Angel responded that I was a "Computer Programmer", but as I indicated earlier, her answers were all in Chinese at this point, and he didn't understand this particular Chinese. He asked for the English translation, but Angel could not remember the English for my job. There were native Chinese speakers on-call for all of the VO's, so he consorted with the one standing behind him, and this is how he came to understand what my job was. 6. What is your job? After the last question, Angel decided to answer this question in English, and stated "Police." 7. He asked for the I-134. Angel gave him the I-134 forms (one for her and one for Peter). He did not want any of the documents we had put together supporting the I-134 (such as letter from employee, paycheck receipts, deed to house, tax forms, etc.). 8. He then specifically asked for a copy of my 2007 income taxes. Angel quickly provided this (we had organized all of the documentation by category in 7 different bags, and she knew the tax forms were in the same bag as the I-134). 8. Do you have any pictures of you and your fiance together? Angel handed him the pictures of us together. As he feathered through all pictures relatively fast, Angel was preoccupied trying to chase down Peter who, now restless, was wondering off in various directions. 9. Where does your Peter's father live? Still speaking in Chinese, Angel responded, "Yunan, very far away." The VO replied, "Is that in China?" "Yes," she answered. 10. Do you have pictures of you and your son since he was a baby? Angel handed him a different stack of pictures showing her and her son together since he was a baby up until now. 11. Now the VO wanted to ask Peter a question. The VO's Chinese pronunciation was not spot on (what American's is?), so what Peter heard is "Ni xihuan chi mang guo?" (translates to "Do you like to eat Mango?" Peter was confused by this question, and just looked to his mother for guidance. She quickly corrected the Chinese for him, "Ni xihuan qu Meiguo? ("Do you want to go to America?") Once he understood the question, he replied, "Yes." The VO smiled some more. Angel noted that the VO had a very nice smile, as he starting working on some of the paperwork. As she anticipated another question, she was also trying to corale Peter as he continued to get restless. She then heard him staple some papers together and say something in English to her. She did not understand the English. He then switched back to Chinese, "Ni de mian shi tong guo la." ("You passed your interview.") Then he handed Anger her P4 package with the red paper stapled to it. Thinking only of ensuring completion rather than running like the win with the red paper, she bravely asked, "You forget something?" As she said this, she handed him the notarized agreement she had obtained from Peter's father agreeing to let Peter go to the US. She didn't want any issues to arise later from not providing this. The VO looked at the document, and said "okay" as he included it with the documents that the VO kept. Now she feels the fire of "run like the wind" before he changed his mind. "Thank you, thank you, bye bye," and off she went with most of the documents still in the bag, along with the red paper. Meeting me down on the 4th floor coffee shop, she walked up with a serious smile. Of course, as soon as I see Peter break out in a smile after being told not to laugh, I immediately knew she was also trying to hide her smile as she tried to tell me she got the white paper (handing me an arbitrary piece of paper that happened to be white). I quickly rifled through the bag to find the red paper that had Chinese and English writing, the key phrase being "You have been approved." We checked out of the hotel and took a train back home. I think we were in a dream state for a day or two, as the culmination of all this documentation and paperwork finally came to a head. She and her son would soon be on a plane to the US. She was still reserving some excitement until she actually saw the visa show up in her mail. A quick check of the EMS tracking website (they provide the EMS receipt) shows that it was just dispatched from Guangzhou (about 2 days after the interview). We expect to see it arrive either today or tomorrow. Lastly, I just want to thank everyone for their advice and help during this process. I will be here to help others as much as I can while I start planning for this huge life-changing adjustment.

Thank you all for your prayers. My family and friends also sent theirs, and we learned today that her mother went to a shrine to offer many prayers and donations to the shrine. It seems all the prayers were answered, including my own. I'll post the details in a separate post.

Is the ACH still only on Fridays? Or is it a different day also? Our interview is on Wed, and I'll be there on Monday before the interview. Crap... my flight doesn't get in until 6PM in Hong Kong, and it's at least 3 hours to Guangzhou. Crap.