nousername

do you all know if i can bring my parents passports to the interview? i am mainly wondering if it simply is illegal to carry someone else's passport? they came to meet edith and her mother in dec 04, and i was wondering if i can/should bring their passports to show the VO the stamps? Or, should i just makes copies of them?

from my experience you need to be careful with DOS too. my SO had received her p4, and we had only a two week notice for our interview. just to double check, i called DOS the next day to confirm the interview date. As soon as i got someone on the line, the first things she told me about my case was that "we are not yet able to schedule an interview. it will take few months." What??? i said that cannot be right. she said "yes, it is". Then i said the my SO just got p4, and i wanted to just want to confirm our interview date so i called you guys. at that point she said no again! she said "all i can see is that she was denied her visa on.... hmm, just a minute... oh, wait, that's was for a tourist visa..." all i can say was this lady at DOS was totally confused. my SO had applied for a tourist visa the year before (before we knew it was impossible.), but why was that the first thing she saw about our case??? She eventually found the info about our interview, but not until she messed around on her computer for a while. so, in the end take anything GZ or DOS says like a grain of sale. Don't feel bad to bug them either! I never was able to get any info from DOS about P3 or our name check, but maybe it's just cause i didn't push them to do a little searching.

FYI, i actually went ahead and called the guys at the border inspection. he almost chuckled and laughed when i asked, and he said "It's no big deal". he even said i didn't need to declare anything. i suggested declaring "used clothing" or "personal items" on the back of the customers form and he said "yeah, sure you could do that..."

Congrats!!! thanks for sharing your story, it's definitely good to hear your story. sure, is reassuring for us!

i believe that Guangzhou is the only consulate in china that processes family based visas.

i am wondering how do i declare my fiancee's belongings when i bring them into the US? the CBP website here says that you must "get an estimate of the fair retail value in the contry of origin". how does this apply for used articles? is the "fair retail value" the original price, or the "fair" used price? thanks guys Ryan

my SO... the later, like your's. LOL that exact quote "your going to be there, right?". i can hear it now. yep, in the end, i will just do what i think is right. i do have all the info i need. i just have to mull it over in my mind for a little while, and then decide. aaaaaand..... according to NWA's policy... "a little while" gives me just until tomorrow by midnight!!

i think with her work schedule it's today, or it's next wednesday. i just called her, and she already said it's too late to go today... it was a little after 7AM when i called. i guess she thinks the lines are too long by then??? FYI, she in GZ, so she is going to one of the two there.

good point about the safety issue... also, when it comes to it, money isn't really the issue. the main reason i don't want to go is considering how it will look at my work... i just took off twice in one month! i have a relatively new job, so i just want to run as tight a ship as possible. secondly, like i said in the last post... i can use my vacation more efficiently if i go later. i have 2 measly little weeks.... i value it greatly. it's like gold to me. but, yes, yes, yes... vacation days pale in comparison to my SO...

David, yeah, i think that's a great idea.... put the family photos up first. i thought about it before, but i never really mentioned it. as for the plane ticket, right now i am taking advantage of NWA's "customer first policy"... i have two tickets purchased!! :D you have till the end of the next day to get a refund with no penalties... one is scheduled for me to arrive before the interview, and one scheduled for me to arrive after the interview. At the very least, i will keep the one for after the interview. here's my take on it: 1) going before the interview Pros -- get to see her/support her during interview, VO will see i am there, and i get to see her come out smiling Cons -- don't have much time after interview, should we run into problems... 2) going after the interview Pros -- can be there with a better time frame to solve any issues. or, will be there to celebrate our success! Cons -- won't be there during interview... VO will know. 3) not going for the interview... going at a later date: i get to use my work vacation time more efficiently, so i'll be able to spend more time with her. i also maybe can meet her, and fly back with her... but of course, i could do all this EVEN if i go to the interview... and, if my boss allows it....

my SO was going to go to her medical exam today, but she feels sick... a sore throat. Should this stop her from going? i assumed the medical exam was more of a general physical, and that a little sore throat wouldn't affect anything. right now, she is planning on going next wednesday, but what if she gets more sick? is this a problem? Ryan

i was stopped in Hong Kong airport ... they did the same to me, but i was NOT able to get my bag inside the bin... it's was just sitting on top! but... the just waved me by, no problem....

Hey Guys, I am preparing for my SO's upcoming interview got a couple questions: 1. If initially denied and asked to for additional evidence, what is the time frame for providing this evidence? (one week???) 2. I recall hearing that the color code for the slip now has a new meaning, can someone update me with what the colors mean? (i want to prepare my SO, so she's not mislead when handed the slip.) 3. Should i go for the interview? (i know this i ultimately my decision, but i just want to hear some brief thoughts... thanks)... some quick facts about our case: a. i have been to china 4 times b. my parents have come to china to meet her and her mother. i have visited my SO's hometown 2x c. her english is excellent, she is a college english teacher in china d. i am newly employed (<1 year, finished grad shool 1yr ago), but it's a very good, stable job... i have a decent amount of saving and have letter's from employer and bank. e. we have the typical huge mounds of photos, phone records, emails, and chat history from what i understand about the interview, we seem to be able to present a "strong" case, but with GZ i know anything can happen. what do you guys think? Also, i have already bought a plane ticket to visit her one day AFTER the interview, just in case something goes wrong. if she passes, then i will cancel it and use it later. this kind of seems like the best option for me for now. it that ridiculous? should i just leave a couple days earlier? as always, thanks guys... ryan

WOW! CONGRATS!! :D GZ really seems to be liking this short notice for the interviews... but, it's a good thing for all of us. Also, i am in nealy the exactly same boat as you... i just got back from a visit on May 10th, and i was expecting a July interview too. We got P4 on the 17th, with a June 1 interview. Now, i am torn as to whether i need to go back... tough to leave work so much in a short time and then also wondering how much being there will really help... in addition to the fact that tickets aren't cheap now.

yeah, i guess i should've been calling DOS more frequently... and to be honest, the only benefit of our early appointment, is that the agony and stress of the interview will be over sooner... BUT, as far as us being together, nothing changes. she doesn't finish teaching until the end of june, and she will be spending time in her hometown with her family for a while before she comes. in the end, we are thankful for the early appointment... better sooner than later!! :D

i thought at best you might get a few days notice... i thought DOS might now the interview date around the time GZ sent out P4. if i knew it could have gained us a few weeks i certainly would have been calling DOS more frequently. my SO is in GZ, and she said the date that package was shipped was May 13th... she received it May 17th. Do you think we could have known much sooner than we did? well, i think we have time. it's just a little tight, and my plans to join her at the interview probably won't happen.

is it safe to assume that OF-171 has not changed? i guess i hear the GZ like to *shake things up* once in a while to prevent the whole process from being predictable. we did receive a letter similar, but not the same as the "P4 letter". i wish i could see her forms, mabe this is item #1 or #2... i tend to over-analyze things, so maybe everything is in order. edith seems to think everything is fine. i never expected that we'd have to do a rush-job for our interview prep... now we do, and it's going to annoy the heck out of me... things won't be neat and perfect, and that i fear is what GZ expects... so many little details we won't have time for now... well, thanks for the advice... i think i'll send GZ an email and ask them about OF-171 Ryan

Ok guys, i have checked Don's list of K1 P4 forms here: Don's P4 page and i have checked DavidZixuan's list from this thread: see list a few posts into the thread we are missing the form OF-171 and the "P4 Letter" from Don's list (maybe #1 or 2 from David's list??). Are these important? Or, has P4 changed slightly for K1s? I should mention that Edith says that packet does appear complete, even in the absence of these forms. She says she has instructions for both her medical exam and the interview. This seemed to be asked twice before in the last couple months, but no one responded. Thanks Ryan

just got word, this minute, that my baby got P4!!! Our interview date is June 2nd.... wow, that seems a little too quick... we're gonna have a ton of questions. at least we've been preparing. GZ here we come!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! :D :D B) Ryan

thanks for the info, and to follow up.... i fly out May 10th. We were planning (*hoping*) on going to HK on the 8th or 9th. We were hoping that there may be some sort of visa available to her at the border, or something like that. no? we thought maybe the fact that she had gotten a HK visa before would help??? i am not sure exactly what makes something a "provincial dept". she works for a technical institute in Nanhai-Foshan.

hello everyone... i am in GZ right now with my SO. last week i showed up in GZ for a surprise visit during her may vacation. thanks to the help of my american friends here in GZ who know both edith and i, we were able pull it off without a hitch. i don't think i'll ever see her that surprised or excited again. it was great.... but anyway... to my question. i fly out of HK and we are in GZ now, we are wondering if she can get a HK visa really fast, so that we can spend a day or two in HK before i leave? What are her options? She has a guangdong hukou, and has been to HK 2 times with me before (both visits where on the same HK visa). i know that we do NOT have enough time to apply for the regular HK visa (as she did for her previous trips). thanks guys. ryan

just curious... why the "although" K-1??? is there a difference in processing for K1 vs K3? i thought eveyone got in the same line once P3 was sent back to GZ? just wondering if i have complaining rights yet.... i'm sure i probably don't b/c regardless of K1/K3, my P3 date is after you guys. oh well, i'll just be impatiently waiting with the rest of you.

i have yet to get information about my case by directly contactin GZ.... is the only way to get info from GZ to the pay for the "visa information call center" service? (i.e 86-21-3881-4611) secondly, is it worth it to pay for this phone service? i can get through to DOS by phone and to GZ by email... but only receive limited info, will i get more than this from the visa information call center? thanks guys, ryan

ok, everyone, i was a little more active on the board last fall/winter. then there was a "lull" in our relationship (i.e. a break up ), but to spare you the details... things are back on track and it's full-speed ahead, we couldn't be happier. now, my questions about the I-134: getting things notarized: 1.a) - do i need to have all supporting documents (i.e. bank statements, employment letters, tax returns, etc.) with the I-134 when I get it notarized? 1.b ) - do i need to notarize the supporting documents notarized separately? tax statements: 2.a) filed online last 3 years, the only records i have have large "DO NOT FILE. COPY ONLY" watermarks on them, will these be ok? 2.b ) someone once mentioned including the "schedules", as i always do this online, i am not sure what this is or if i have it. is it necessary? 3.c) also, i have heard about tax "transcripts", what are these? are they necessary? thanks again everyone... Ryan

first of all... this was hilarious. i am still laughing. i think in china as long as something was at one time or another alive and that if eating it doesn't kill you then.... it is in some way it must be "good for your health".... that is of course, unless it is served cold. secondly, i don't thinik i deserve to be posting on this thread. see my blue thingies... not to many of em.