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Ok! Thanks! That is good information to have. Now, to link the information to the i-864, it seems to state that they *want* w2 forms and other forms (such as 1099-int) forms. If this is the case, then would I be able to get the w2's and the 1099's from the responsible employers/banks and the tax forms from the free service, or would the pay service be better, since it includes ALL of the information. I just want to meet the requirements of the i-864 (I will re-read it another 10 times too right now). Thanks everyone!!!

You are absolutely right! She applies. I read that just last night! For us, it is an interesting story. I currently have two bank accounts, one with the address in Boston, and one with the address in the other state. I could easily switch the address to either, since it is only where my statements are sent. We will do all of our banking online or at a local branch office anyway. In terms of a home, we will be *renting* a house in Boston. However, the only permanent address (one which may not change every 6 months, as leases end and need to be renewed, with a possibility of moving) is the one not in Boston, but for at least the next 2 years, we will stay in rented apartments in Boston. Yes, you are right, the EAD/AP are the important things here (from what I have read on those documents). However, if she wants to obtain in-state tuition for a public school in MA (to save big bucks), even if I have lived here for more than 1 year now, it is no good, unless she has a green card (with proof of being in state). Hence, the location of where we live will not help us to save money. In terms of employment, she will likely work here in Boston (based on what she is interested in working as), but the possibility of doing much work on a consulting basis for her jobs of interest mean that it is even flexible too. I know that we *should* file here, but with things being flexible this way, I wonder if we could save ourselves a year of hassle and file in the other location? Or is this a bad idea... Thanks again!!!

Hello. If you are a forgetful person, like myself, and you do not retain copies of your old tax documents, is there a way to obtain copies of the forms filed from 2 and 3 years ago (clearly, I have copies of the one that I am filling out right now for this year (2004))? It seems that on the i-864 they require this. Thanks for your help!

Hello. I have a question. Currently, I live in Boston, where it seems that they are processing i-485 applications for AOS from June of 2003. However, my permenant ID (both passport and driver's license) show that my address is still in the location that my parents live and I lived before (in a location which processes applications from September of 2004 right now). Although we *indend* to live in the Boston area for at least the next few years, is there a *possible* way to apply in the *other* location instead, using my parent's address as the registered address? If this is the case, what implications would it have when we go into the interview and they see that some docs point to that address (like bank documents), but others point to a Boston address? Thanks for your help! (I know, I know, I am thinking about 1 month into the future, but obtaining these documents is a time consuming process)

I have never registered at a US consulate when I was in China. However, it would have been tough to, considering that we have never spent more than 7 consecutive days in any one location (Beijing) together. We enjoy traveling, and I have never thought of it as being important to do so, especially as I traveled there during the SARS infection (a great time to travel, as there were practically no lines). However, had I thought about it some more, for documentation reasons, it could have been an idea, although I am not sure if anything will help (such as original train/plane tickets that my darling is taking to the interview, for us both, with adjacent seats, etc.).

Tony, I am really sorry to hear about this. Which SSA office did you go to? We were planning to go to the one in Somerville, right next to Davis Square. If it was that one, thanks for the warning to stay away! If it was not that one, maybe you can try it out too. If you want the exact address, send me a PM and I can send it to you. Good Luck!

One thing to look for in the response from GZ is the quality of the written grammar. They seem to have two different quality levels, one seeming to be that of a native English speaker and the other of a non-native English speaker. I am not sure when each is assigned, but it seems that the canned responses come from one (possibly clerks or other employees who are not VOs) and the others from the other. Hang in there, good luck, and do not give up!! Have you *asked* them what date they are using for your interview queue location?

Well, it depends on the service center. I filed in June and got the NOA 2 four weeks later... However, I am in Boston and VSC is really fast. Too bad when it comes time for AOS Boston is so darn slow... But at least we will be together!!!!! --- I am so sorry to hear about your situation and hope that it can resolve itself soon. Do not give up hope, and keep on trying your best...

Why is it *so* fast where you all live? And can we apply through there too??? Does anyone know exactly how long Boston is taking? Can I apply, instead, through a different city's office if I have a different type of official document which says that I live there (ie. passport/driver's license)?

That is why she is arriving as her POE in JFK in nyc. The officers there told me when I came back from China a few weeks ago (I told them about my fiancee on the K1) that they will give her an EAD stamp, and she will not even have to ask them for it. plus, the direct beijing to nyc flight is pretty cheap!

Thanks all! Your experiences have helped greatly... I just checked and my bank said it would not be a problem (maybe because it is through my university which has tons of international students, they have seen this before).

Hello everyone. Since everything has taken *so* long, and since we may finally be together really soon, we have started to plan what to do next. Right now, we are looking at wanting to get married as soon as possible, to start the paperwork as soon as possible. However, I have two questions about this: 1. can you get married if your K1 fiancee does not yet have a SSN? I called the town clerk who said it was ok, if on a K1 visa, but on the paperwork, it says that it is not allowed 2. can you apply for AOS before a SSN is issued, so long as you are already married? We are hoping to save at least 2-3 weeks by doing this...and since AOS is so slow in Boston, a few weeks can really make a difference, we hope! Lastly, is there the option to file for AOS in a different district of the nation (currently my driver's license and passport have addresses different from my Boston address)? Thanks to all for your help!

Congrats! but, it proves true again: If married, and only *one* person in the marriage applies for the visa they are much more likely to grant it. I am already thinking of this as an option, although it is not ideal. Enjoy your time together!

I *used* to use one which was only 1.1c/min, and it kept good records. The problem is that the local access number was in western mass, and that their service was terrible, we would often hear a ringing which was louder than we could scream, if we could hear anything at all... today, I use dynasky. it is not great 100% of the time, but it is reliable most of the time.

I have looked into this, and since the parent is a chinese citizen, the child can easily get a visa which is good for 1 year, and renewable, ad inifiitum, for 1 year at a time, so long as the parent remains a chinese citizen (and does not get a US passport/citizenship). Please correct me though if the rules have recently changed (which I suspect they may any day).

Yes, maybe in a perfect world, and we know that this will never happen. I have seen just myself that when I was going through the internet doing the searching that I was doing and all of my travels to China, many friends could not believe that I was doing this, and then the more that they talked to me and really found out what it was like over in China, and started to also find out that what our media shows is not really what it is like, but then again, just what their media shows. Then when Ling arrived in this small little town that I live in, they met her, everything changed. They enjoy seeing her, they do everything that they can to help, and low and behold, small minds started to expand a little, and now they are learning. I guess that this is what it takes. Good Job!!!

This week Beijing changed the visa requirements for foreignors allowing international visitors to extend their visa for six to twelve months as many times as you want. I think the 2008 Olympics had to do with the change. This change is true, if you are married to a chinese citizen, or if you are a large investor, or employed in a certain fashion. Since your wife, I presume, is Chinese, you should be ok. Have you also considered giving up and moving to another, neutral country? I know that it sounds bad, but after all that she and you have been through, maybe the US will just add to her and your pain. Good luck and keep on trying!!!

$175 for EAD! The fees are steep. That's why I had to get my stepdaughter's I-485 in the mail before she turned 14. The fee jumps $100 after 14! This is only the beginning. Wait 'til you get to naturalization and citizenship! N-400...$320 N-600...$240 Not only does it cost to live in America...it cost just to be an American!...... I am glad that we will never have to fork over the money for the citizenship!!!

Is it a visa/master card? I was too...but the chinese cards I was talking about (that you can get issued in those cities) also carry a visa or master label, and hence should be usable in the US (although they act like a debit card).

I can identify with the haircut... we paid a huge 20rmb and I got what was the best haircut I have ever had (for its style and design). A few days later, on the beach at sanya, people approached us for autographs asking if we were some fameous people...um... But I am certainly glad now, since I can wash my hair in under 15 seconds and it looks good still, without any other work!

There are *many* stores that you can use those credit cards in, however, they are *only* in large cities. I found many in the following cities (at least 10 stores in each city I am posting): Beijing Shanghai Nanjing Wuxi Hangzhou Guangzhou Qingdao Yantai Sanya (ok, this one is not big, but it is filled with tourists) and this was just from this trip alone. However, I again think that the best thing to do is just to carry the money. Or wait, better yet, purchase some gold/platinum. I think that it is OK to take that out of the country, and then just re-sell it when here. Or do what the other people do, go to the people in Nanjing who seem to be able to trade anything (there was a post about this a long time ago from what I remember)... and it is not China which prevents the money from being wired, but it is instead the US which is preventing it on this side (and all of the OECD working under the US's desire to "control money")...

I have a solution. On the train that my darling and I took from shaoshing to wuxi (it was a ningbo to nanjing train) in the ruanzou section, the train staff were selling Euros at a really good price (since the dollar is sliding faster than the China Banks can keep up with it, I think that the employees make a profit)). I saw someone take out at least 10 wan and trade it right then and there. I do believe that the US will let you carry an unlimited amount of Euros into the US, and that they are easy to spend here.

You can *only* go to school if you have one of the following: 1. A green card 2. A passport 3. A F/J/H visa (I think that H also qualifies) ... there may be other visa types, but K is definitely not one of them!

Right on! I crave coffee even more when I travel. The coffee in Vietnam is far better than any in the states (I think that they still use a french recipe, combined with the better water and sunshine of growing the beans locally). My guess is that you can also get this in any Dong (ethnic vietnamese) area of SW China too.

She will likely need those certificates. However, given that you will likely not get an interview before June or July, you have plenty of time to obtain them before hand (rather than being told you need them and then waiting and going back to GZ for another interview). Good Luck!