Zingaro

I will ditto all the items already listed by other posters, and I'll second the idea of buying basic clothing in China. Most items are much cheaper than in the US. I don't know your SO's level of English skill, but here's an item she should purchase in quantity for the transition: feminine sanitary products. It took me and my wife a while to figure out which of the dozens of choices were correct for her. While my Chinese is (barely) adequate, my knowledge of those things is very limited, so I really couldn't advise very well. Fortunately, she is a packrat, and had brought about a year's supply with her. They're great to use as padding in the suitcases, too. Here's another item for the checklist: make sure she has all the telephone numbers and email addresses of her friends and family in China so she can stay in touch with them. Things like Yahoo messenger with voice make daily conversations incredibly easy and cheap/free, but only if you have the email addresses. And another: Photographs you've taken in China. Make sure you have them, too. Don't feel too restricted in what you send/bring. You'll have your suitcases, and shipping from China to the US is relatively painless and inexpensive. About the suitcases: Just be sure that your luggage doesn't exceed the airline maximum weight per piece. Weight limits vary at different airlines, so check online or telephone the airline you plan to use. We lucked out as Cathay Pacific (at that time) had higher weight limits than most other airlines - and it was my favorite airline to fly trans-Pacific. It's a little bit more expensive than others, but worth it in terms of comfort and service. Good luck to you both!!

I wish calling DOS constantly would help. But in my case, apparently it doesn't. Anything else I can do? 227486[/snapback] There isn't much else you can do except communicate. If the US petitioner keeps calling - GZ, DOS, senator, congressman, etc. - it might not produce immediate, observable results. BUT, it will help. It keeps your case alive, and it also shows a higher level of personal involvement and stake at GUZ's end. My SO and I were delayed for nearly a year at name check. I telephoned DOS, GZ, emailed GZ, asked my senator to help, regularly for months. The senator didn't directly help, but her office did telephone DOS - and that did make them sit up and take notice. Remember, every phone call and email is logged into their computers. Everytime you call, all the previous calls are displayed. When we finally got out of name check hell, DOS and GZ expedited the whole thing, and we went from name check completion to interview and visa approval in less than a month. I didn't even request this - but the record was clear that I had called and written for nearly a year. Hang in there and keep communicating.

If you have already submitted the old I-864, you do not need to (re)submit the new one. What the new rule means is that all AOS applications considered after the July date will use the newer criteria, regardless of what forms were submitted. AFAIK, the new I-864 isn't yet available anyway. So don't sweat it. If you look at the link posted by the OP ( http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffair...pp_062106QA.pdf ) I think it covers all the basic questions.

I don't recall anyplace in the required documents that asks if the SO's parents or other family are CCP members. And I don't recall a specific instance where a VO asked that question. The concern seems to be with the beneficiary (SO), so you shouldn't have a problem. My wife's father also was a provincial governor, now retired, and she has other family and in-laws who are CCP. The question never came up at interview, and was never asked anywhere in the documents.

The posts here have lots of good suggestions. The fundamental thing is communication. Create as many lines of communication as possible. When my SO (now my wife) and I were waiting - for 18 months - I telephoned her everyday. Sometimes we only talked for 10 minutes. We emailed every day, and we have thousands of emails to prove it. We never let a day pass without an email and a phone call. I was able to visit her in China 3-4 times a year, which helped enormously. I'd also suggest you visit at least one or two more times BEFORE the interview, then again for the interview. It makes all the difference to GUZ to see that you're really serious. As others did here, I bought my SO a notebook computer, used and in very good condition for not a ton of money. Brought it with me. (She had a computer in her office, but not in her home.) She had a computer-wise friend install Chinese language software. This helped, although her apartment building wasn't set up for higher speed connections. Also sent her flowers and cards ... The more communication the better - for you, for her and even for GUZ.

That is quick! Our AOS, from filing to interview, took 19 months. 222674[/snapback] Whoa, 19 months?? Did you have any specific delays, RFEs, lost files, etc? Just curious ... Our K-1 took 18 months but it was in name check hell for 10 of those months.

Just to be clear: A physical is required for the I-485... but K#s do not need to submit one themselves (if one was done in the last year as part of the visa process), the one done in china is submitted on their behalf; we just get the I-693 supplemental done. The instructions for the I-485 has the comments that a K# does not need the physical and 'may' submit the supplemental (which leads to yet another confusion on whether to submit with the package or at the interview ). If nobody (ie: Civil Surgeons) contradicted the instructions, I think all would be ok... I see them as the source of the problem. --- good to see you richard 225725[/snapback] Good to see you, too, David! I'm a little tardy, for a whole stack of reasons, in submitting the AOS package. (Still awaiting the marraige certificate - my screw up.) I'll follow the advice in this and other threads - call the whole list of civil surgeons until I find one that will fill out the I-693A without an exam. My wife had her exam within the last year, so no problem. I agree that the civil surgeons do tend to throw a spanner in the works. Best bet is to walk in with the I-485 instructions in hand, and to pre-qualify the civil surgeon before making an appointment.

Seems to me that a big part of the confusion is in the form(s) themselvs. The I-693 basically requires the doctor to sign and swear to have examined a particular individual. And the I-485 package (as far as I can tell) requires a completed form I-693. However, the regulations state that a K visa applicant who had a medical exam within a year prior to filing for AOS does not need a new medical exam, only the I-693 supplemental vaccination form - which is not the same as the I-693. So it's something of a catch 22. Or am I missing something??

If you have your marriage certificate, translated into English, you can go to the SSA (Social Security Administration) and request a replacement card that shows your married name. Also, go to your state's department of motor vehicles, and do the same to change your name on your driver's license. If you don't have a driver's license, most (if not all) states issue a photo ID. It's the same process. Once you have those pieces of ID, you're pretty much good to go. Simply use your married name. Since you married in China, I assume your marriage documents are written in Chinese. You MUST have them translated into English with a certification by the translator. That's your only way to prove the marriage in the US.

So sending the certificate that I was issued (not officially certified) isn't a good idea? I know the requirement is to marry within 90 - and to then file for AOS immediately. What I'm wondering is if it is better to file with the existing certificate rather than to let her be out of status for 4-5 weeks, and to risk the whole thing being rejected on those grounds. 218130[/snapback] I am in the exact same situation as you are. We were married in Vegas and got the regular cert, and have ordered the certified copy, and with Vegas it takes 4-6 weeks to get it. I intend to use the regular copy. They only ask for a copy of the marriage certificiate and do not say anything about it being certified. Also, the application states that copies of original documents are ok. Even with the original certificate we would only be sending the copy. So, I intend to use the certificate we got when we were married. 218194[/snapback] Initially, that was my thought - to use the certificate I was handed after the ceremony. I'll have to go back and re-read the instructions to see if that word "certified" appears in the requirements. My concern is that the marriage certificate is the single most important document in the I-485 package, so I want to be cautious about what I include in the application. In California, and also with the SSA, the "customer copy" (not yet certified and recorded) cannot be used for things like name changes, obtaining or changing ID's, etc. That's what has me a bit concerned about using it for the AOS.

You're right, of course. In my experience, the time estimates by city and county agencies are exaggerated. However ... In Los Angeles county, you cannot order an expedited marriage certificate online if the wedding date was within the previous three months. And you can't order one in person if the wedding date was within the previous six weeks. The certificate sitting on a desk within plain sight, but you aren't permitted to order one in less than the prescribed time. Had I not preferred to be romantic instead of immediately standing in line and taking care of paperwork, I would have had the cert "within" four weeks. I'm sure you're right, it probably would have been much sooner. What I wasn't told/didn't understand was that was my one and only shot to speed up the certificate. A lesson learned: do things sooner than later.

Thanks for all the input, folks. It's my own fault - shoulda gone right to the (long) line to order the certified copy directly after the wedding. I was a bit misinformed that I could simply order it a few days later and all would be well. However (for those in Los Angeles county) it takes approximately six weeks for the marriage to be recorded, then you can order a copy in person and receive it same day. If you request the copy immediately after the wedding, you only have to wait four weeks. You can order copies online - but you must wait three months before you can request an expedited copy. I know, it defies logic, but this city is as large as some countries and it's not very well run.

So sending the certificate that I was issued (not officially certified) isn't a good idea? I know the requirement is to marry within 90 - and to then file for AOS immediately. What I'm wondering is if it is better to file with the existing certificate rather than to let her be out of status for 4-5 weeks, and to risk the whole thing being rejected on those grounds.

I might have screwed up the timing on the I-485. The SO and I were married last week, and were' approaching expiration of her K-1 two weeks from now. I hadn't realized that getting a certified copy of the marriage certificate in Los Angeles county took so bloody long - 4 weeks if you go stand in line and request the certificate immediately after the wedding, 3 months if you don't. This means I won't have a certified copy of the marriage certificate for the I-485. What I DO have is the "customer copy" of the certificate, filled out, witnessed, and signed by the deputy commissioner who performed the ceremony. The only missing signature is the rubber stamp of the county registrar and the certification seal. So - this is what I'll have to use with the I-485. What are the chances of either the I-485 being rejected or getting an RFE some months down the road? Anyone have any experience with this?

We bought one of Martin Yan's rice cookers, also. We tried the transformer thing for a couple of appliances my SO insisted on bringing from China. A proper transformer (one that can adjust up or down, 50Hz or 60Hz, etc.) is expensive - much more expensive than a decent rice cooker.

to answer [belatedly] ... yes the IO stamped her I-94 as "Authorized to work" , or something similar on the back side... 209960[/snapback] Going through LAX was much different. Liuqing's I-94 was not stamped "authorized to work". We applied for her SSN right away - not for work, but rather to start building an identity. When the SS card arrived in the mail, it was stamped "not valid for work without Homeland Security authorization." Or words to that effect. Not a big deal, really. We'll request a duplicate SS card and hopefully get that strange little qualifier removed.

It's that really big state just across the river from New York City.

As others have already said here, everything in your timeline indicates that you're on track. While communication NEVER hurts, save the congressman/senator for problems or delays. You can call DOS. You can contact GUZ. None of that will hurt.

You have my sympathies, truly. My SO and I were stuck in name check hell for 10 months, after which our visa process was expedited to an unexpected degree. The rest was smooth, and very rapid sailing. It isn't hopeless. Continue communicating. If you have not yet written to your US senator, I'd advise that. His office will probably tell you there's not much they can do, but they will make an inquiry for you. DOS does notice that, at least they did in our case even though my senator's office told me nothing could be done. And hang in here. There are quite a few of us who experienced ridiculous delays.

The best, least expensive, and easiest translation software I've found is Systran. You can buy the Systran Personal version with one language pair (English/Chinese) for about $49.00. You highlight the word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, page you want to translate, copy it, click translate, then you can paste the translation anywhere you want. It works in Word, Outlook, and other MS software as well as other programs. What my SO and I did is to write our letters in our native languages, translate one paragraph at a time, and paste the translation below the original paragraph. This not only helps with language skills, it also gives the original text to cross check when there are the inevitable translator errors. Systran Personal also allows you to store up to 100 words in a user dictionary. I use this for words that absolutely won't translate, such as person names and other proper nouns. Once they're in the user dictionary, Systran routinely will translate them in context. Systran has other higher end options - Professional, Enterprise, etc. - but the Personal version is plenty adequate for letters and such. BTW, Babelfish uses the Systran engine for its translations. No machine translator is perfect, but Systran seems to make fewer mistakes than other translation software I've tried. You can add to your toolbox with Kingsoft's Chiniese-English computer dictionary. It is a VERY complete dictionary (not a translator) but you can mouse-over an English word to display and hear a pronunciation of the Chinese. You can mouse-over a Chinese word to display and hear a pronunciation of the English. It works across virtually all Windows-based applications. Powerword 2006 is the latest, and it is excellent. One additional resource is the MDBG free online Chinese dictionary. You can translate like Babelfish, look up words, Chinese characters, input Pinyin, Chinese, English -- it's really a marvelous website. There's plenty there for anyone studying or translating Chinese-English. The URL is: http://www.xuezhongwen.net/chindict/chindi...%2Fchindict.php . I highly recommend it.

Excellent news! Congrats and good luck to you both! My SO also had some work-related and famiily-related loose ends to tie up, so I'll fly to China in January/February, spend the Spring Festival with her and her family & friends, then pack her up and bring her home. (Well, she won't actually be IN my luggage ... ) So, I'm busy painting, refinishing wood floors, emptyiing out closet space and all that ...

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!!!!!!!!!!! Best of luck to you!!!

Interesting stories ... I don't know of any road in Shenzhen that is officially off limits to foreigners and/or children, and I'm not even sure Shenzhen actually has a "downtown" in the pattern of most American cities. That said, there are areas which seem to be more attractive to criminal types. As with any city anywhere in the world, it pays to develop some internal radar - and to use common sense. I've traveled extensively (mostly Europe, South America and Africa before traveling to China) and I've always had a policy of living like a local as much as possible. I've never been a tourist. I've been remarkably lucky, despite a few really hairy incidents. In China, I've had only one instance where my internal radar really set off alarms. Other than that one time, I've not had a problem. My SO is very cautious and very aware that poor people (of which China has more than a few) are capable of some pretty nasty things. On the other hand, China is a fascinating and beautiful country, struggling to awaken from a very long sleep - and to recover from a very bloody, tumultuous century.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!!!!!!! All the best to you both!!!!

How far back are you tracking the trends? Just curious if there's been a shift in the "average" times. Of course, our case was something of an anomaly (10 months from P3 - P4, 11 months from P3 - Interview), but I'm curious if things are speeding up or staying relatively the same over the last two years or so.