cjr818

I have used two travel agencies in previous travels. One was Nova Travel in Seattle I think, and the other is Travel Pack or Travel Pak in Boston. Ask for Sansan at Nova Travel or Peter at Travel Pak. I have always travelled to JFK, HKG and arriving CKG.

Congrats and welcome. That's how it should be.

I might be able to shed some light on the subject for you. I myself am a dual citizen, a national of Canada and the US. I do sometimes travel with two passports, when crossing between the US and Canada. This works to my advantage, as everything I carry back and forth in unlimited value is brought back to the other country as duty free. But your questions are more about the advantages of holding dual nationality to be used in China. As far as I know this can't be done in China, holding a Chinese Passport and a US Passport. When one enters China, and clear customs you will need to present your Chinese National Passport or Foreign Passport with valid visa, with the exception of Hong Kong, Hong Kong residents will provide their border crossing booklet, it looks much like a passport, but is only valid for crossing to/from Hong Kong and PRC. When departing China, during check-in at the airlines, you are to present your valid Chinese Passport with valid visa to the US. If you use your Chinese Passport without a valid visa issued in it, you won't be allowed to board the aircraft, unless you provide them with your valid Chinese Passport and valid US greencard. You won't be able to pass China's customs without a valid visa or US greencard. I don't see how others have been able to use both a Chinese Passport and US Passport simultaneously. If someone has done this before, please let me know, I'd be very interested since my wife is still holding her Chinese Passport, it will be very useful to know once she becomes a US Citizen. Thanks, cjr818

I believe as long as the duration is less than one year out of the country it won't be an issue, however this was information from a few years ago.

Thanks Dan. Did this as you suggested and I was able to pull our case up. Unfortunately it has not been updated since July 13 when they received the petition. I guess I will just have to wait it out... Thanks to everyone for all of your support. I am sure everything will be fine, I just want it to be over with already so that I don't have to think about it! Nothing proves a marriage better than showing a birth certificate for your children with both parents names on it.

Concert, at this moment this is nothing that can be done to change what happened at the consulate interview. How they treated your wife from your post certainly raises an issue of the Visa Officers that they are not courteous and sometimes downright obnoxious and rude. That aside, they are holding all the cards, so it's best to play by their rules. As you said, in time you shall prevail, and I believe you will. The wait for a response and the next action to be taken will seem to be forever. In my opinion, if your personal situation permits, and if I was in your shoes, I'd be on a flight to be with my beloved as of this writing. The denial can and sometimes do bring on depression, so I think you should look into and talk with your wife about this issues before it snowballs into something bigger. As I previously stated, my wife and I had been very fortunate to have been approved twice for visas, the first one being a Fiancee visa which we let it expire and then applying for a IR-1, after being married in China. That is one thing that I read about from previously obtaining visas, is that they want to see a history of normal life, and what demonstrates that is everyday pictures over a period of time. Consider what was said in the post so far, if a sham marriage was to happen, it is very easily to obtain wedding photos and professionally shot pictures over a period of days, while this will help others who can demonstrate a long history relationship, it can sometimes work against you as well, just as in your case. I'm just going to give you some tips which I believe will help substantiate your case when you do hear from the USCIS and NVC once your case is returned to the US. You should start gathering the information now if it is available, as the older the documentation the better it is and having dated materials will work best. If you get Christmas cards, letters addressed to you both as Mr and Mrs. XXXX, show copies of those, this will show that others are aware of your marriage and your willingness to make your marriage public and known, if you were to enter a marriage for monetary gains, you obviously would want to keep it a secret, so you can marry the woman of your choice. Any legal documents that contain both you and your wife, ideally jointly, as my previous comment stated, filing a joint tax return with your wife, you'll need to get an ITIN for your wife to do so. You can legally do this as long as you financially support her. The fact that you stated that your wife paid for all the wedding expenses, that my friend works against you, as it is very typical of sham marriages to work that way, that the US Citizen gains financially while having no expenses to bring the immigranr to the US. If you are able to get your relatives to fly over to China and meet your wife, take lots of pictures, with different family members in the pictures and in different settings, different outfits, over a time period, this will show that the two families has meet with one another and been formally introduced, think about a large family that gathers over the holidays, when a friend sees those pictures, does any of them every think that something is wrong in the family? The more trips you can take to visit her, the better, it shows that you cannot bear to be without your loved one. Short courtships are a red flag, so it not having a common language, as I said before, my wife and I, when we first met, she had beginner English skills and I had nearly non-existence Mandarin skills. Over the course of a year or so, her English has improved significantly from us speaking to one another on a daily basis, for about 2 hours at a time. We never had to use any langauge translating software or website to understand one another. If you can gather things now and get more as it is available, I don't think you'll have any problems in being together in say half a year, I believe this is the time frame that it takes for cases to be returned to the USCIS, of course I'm not sure, I've never been down this road before, just from what I read. Good luck and keep us posted on how things go. Best wishes to you and your wife.

For my wife, before we got married in China, we had filed a K-1 visa for her to come to the US as a Fiancee and get married here in the states. However due to circumstances with her family, we had to abandon her K-1 visa after it was issued and just let it sit and expire, because she had to stay with her family during their time of need. We later got married in China and we applied for the IR-1 visa, and was also issued the visa on the first try from Guangzhou. What I submitted with the applications provided substantial proof of a long and developed relationship with my wife. I believe this was the evidence that made it successful with obtaining the visa. I'll provide you with a run down of what we provided. I also visited China every year since first meeting my wife, some years I visited twice a year. For the first K-1 visa, what I submitted: A 10 page letter stating how we met, what my first feelings were for her and her for me. The stronger feelings we had for one another after our first meeting. It also stated in detail how I was thinking of her constantly on my mind and how we talked about having a family later after our marriage. Three years of my individual tax returns, at the time of submitting the K-1 application, I had shown on my W-2, five times the income requirement for proverty levels, so I never needed a co-sponsor. A detailed description of where we went on our first meeting, what was experienced together, documented by pictures, ticket stubs, mpeg videos taken with a digital camera burned on a VCD with us lovingly filming each other as we saw tourist spots together. My wife and I are only 4 years apart in age, so that is good, the greater the age difference the more red flags it raises. With the evidence in the application, we had an easy approval. From the time of submission to approval of the K-1, it took only 6 months. I did not attend her interview in Guangzhou with her the first time, which I regretted after she described the anxiety she felt waiting, knowing that our future together is at stake. With the K-1 approval behind us, we were ready to get married in the US, a family issue arised and she was not able to make use of travel before the K-1 expired. I contacted Guangzhou and asked if the visa could be extended, they replied that under certain circumstance, visa officers are able to extend the validity of the visa. Two years later, this was the time it took for the family issues to be resolved, I made the decision to marry her in China and stay with her and her family. I've spent the next two years in China with her, now while I stayed in China before for a month or two at a time, three at the most per trip, staying long term was a challenge, I am an ABC, so my Chinese is very limited, in fact I could not speak Mandarin, my parents spoke Cantonese. So I had to learn the langauge and navigate the new culture, while the experience gave me a new language to add to my individuality, it was also very trying. In 2006, we submitted the application for the IR-1 visa, on the second anniversay of our marriage in China. With that application the, I've included: Three years of tax returns, from 2004 onward, I filed a Married filing joint return, I applied for an ITIN for my wife, as she was not able to get a SSN, until she arrived the US. This shows to the USCIS and Guangzhou a true and lasting relationship and will put any thoughts of a Non Bona Fide relationship to rest. A joint savings account with both her name and my name on it. Additional pictures of us and family together on various trips in China, pictures from her family and my family. Another letter stating how our relationship grew over the years and how we got married and life together as a family. Copies of my entire passports, the first one had been damaged, the spline binding came lose. This passport had 6 Chinese Visas and stamps from my trips to China to visit her. My new passport had a couple of Chinese visas as well. Copies of fund remittance forms, this shows that I was supporting her as my wife, when I was not in China with her. Copies of credit cards with both our names on it, I got her added as additional user on my credit cards. Copies of debit cards with both our names on it. Selected about 50 most relevant emails that we sent each other that was related to how we would plan our life together, have children and the love for each other. Copies of phone bills showing long distance calls to her. Copies of receipts that showed that we bought "set watches" that shows a man's watch and woman's watch set. Copy of her two diamond rings' receipts. With all the information and support provided when I sent the IR-1 visa application in, I believe this made it an easy day for us at the Guangzhou interview. During her interview the Visa Officer did not ask her much only three questions and approved her visa. I of course carried with me all the evidence with me, as I scanned them and emailed pdf versions to myself that I could access them anywhere, at the interview I provided her with my US Passport so that was presented to the Visa Officer as well to let them know I was supporting her and waiting for her downstairs on the fourth floor coffee shop. When you get notice from the USCIS about your case, answer them and give them as much evidence as you can to show a true relationship as a husband and wife. If you need any help or have questions about how we did things, contact me. I wish you all the best and good luck. - Chris

Where are you now on the process of getting the visa? What was it that your wife received, a white denial or a blue? I'd give you suggesions and ideas that might help but I need to know the circumstances if you want some ideas on how to make the visa become approved for you and your wife.

I do feel sorry for you, but having a relationship with a Chinese national has obstacles, and quite a lot I may add, with getting visas to go visit, the distance, the time difference, the language and culture and the US visa process in itself. When my wife went to get her visa at the GUZ consulate, we had prepared ourselves with the possibility of being denied a visa. I have agreed that if she could not come join me in the US, that I'd join her in China. While this may not work for everyone, I just wanted to share my thoughts and that perhaps this is an option for you. I wish you good luck in being able to be together.

Congratulations

Probably 6 months to a year if you're lucky, they may end up denying the visa on a non bonafide relationship, have contigency plans in place. Can you please tell me what AP is. I feel for you and your finace, hang in there, I think my finace is going to get blue on the 28, because of this CCP thing she belongs to because of her work. I haven't read anthing about your AP blue issues as of yet. Did they ever tell you why you had to wait 32 days in NVC? What was the reson? AP is additional processing. They will not say exactly what it is and they always say there is no time frame for AP. My fianc¨¦ said at interview the person told her everything looked fine with the paperwork but needed AP. We had pics, e-mails ,phone records , letters etc. She is pretty good with her english also ( she helped a few people at the Yangs by doing a little translating for a couple people while she was there) The Yangs and everyone that was staying there said they thought she had a very solid case and they were all shocked as well that she got blue. I've read if your spouse Is CCP she can write a letter about why she is. I think it is something you can overcome but they may put you in AP also. I have read that it is name check sometimes like FBI check's and background check's but it still mostly a mystery Administrative Processing is just a term they use as a catch all, the same as Non Bonafide relationship. Sometimes during an interview the interviewer will catch a detail that the NVC in the US did not and will send it back to the US for additional review, it's never a good sign because the interviewer caught something that the NVC did not. Now that doesn't mean that your beneficiary, your fiancee has done anything wrong or will destined to be denied the visa but they want to double check everything to be sure. Sometimes it's a name check that requires additonal review. If your fiancee has a common family name in China that could be a cause, another is a CCP member, but it's best to be honest about the CCP membership. My wife was also a CCP member at the time of her interview and she was given the visa on the first try. What I'm thinking is that and this may be completely wrong, is that your fiancee has the same name of someone who has committed fraud or illegal activities before. So they sent it back to the US for additional clearance on the name. Good luck to you both, it can put you through an emotional rollercoaster to say the least to be denied the visa. Actually she has a last name that nobody else has in China other than her family. And no she is not CCP because i have asked and we talk about anything and everything and have never one time caught her in even a white lie. I do thank you for your thoughts. Yes it is a rollercoaster ride. We are just really hoping that it is just name check thing or verifying documents. If they are going to white slip us for not bonafide relationship i wish they would have just done it at the interview. We do have contingent plan (marry in China and go CR-1)but till we know final result of blue slip everything is in limbo. I just hope that them not needing any more information and interviewer telling her everything looked fine but, is a sign it is name check problem with hers being very unique and mine being a pretty common name. That's good that you have a plan, you can always withdraw the K visa and get married in China and begin filing for the CR-1 visa. You will more than likely, but it's not always the case that she can have her interview in about 6 months or so from the time the NVC receives your application and fees. You may want to consider this sooner rather than later, I've heard somewhere and I can't remember where, so the source may not be accurate that they will be raising the application and processing fees. If this isn't an issue, then no rush but of course it helps you in the end, if the two of you are married for more than 2 years the day the she arrives at a US Port of Entry, she will get a 10 year green card. With a conditional 2 year green card, which she will get for being married less than 2 years, you will need to file to remove restrictions on her green card, you do that about 3 months prior 2 years I believe. We didn't do that, so it's coming from memory, you can take a look at www.uscis.gov if you're considering that route. If you do decide to get married sooner rather than later, things that will help her pass the interview and speed the process is providing lots of details to support the bona fide relationship issue. If you do this while applying, she will have an easy and quick interview. What you want to do is provide lots of pictures over a long period of time, years worth of pictures if you have it. They are looking to be sure that a developing relationship will stand the test of time, if you can show that you two grow and age in the pictures that's all the better. Write a detailed summary of, how you met, where you met, when you met in person, how long was the stay, any places you two travelled together, show pictures if you have them, pictures of relatives in the pictures if they are in any. Do that and it shows that the family welcomes the relationship and substantiates the relationship as real if others know about it. Have copies of emails, letters, chat logs, phone bill copies submitted, anything that will prove a consistent way to communicate and also having a common language that you two speak is very important. Good luck on your journey to be together.

I don't know much without more details but it sounds like that there was not enough evidence supporting a true relationship and you got the non bonafide relationship catch all. Tell us more and maybe we all can offer you some advice.

Probably 6 months to a year if you're lucky, they may end up denying the visa on a non bonafide relationship, have contigency plans in place. Can you please tell me what AP is. I feel for you and your finace, hang in there, I think my finace is going to get blue on the 28, because of this CCP thing she belongs to because of her work. I haven't read anthing about your AP blue issues as of yet. Did they ever tell you why you had to wait 32 days in NVC? What was the reson? AP is additional processing. They will not say exactly what it is and they always say there is no time frame for AP. My fianc¨¦ said at interview the person told her everything looked fine with the paperwork but needed AP. We had pics, e-mails ,phone records , letters etc. She is pretty good with her english also ( she helped a few people at the Yangs by doing a little translating for a couple people while she was there) The Yangs and everyone that was staying there said they thought she had a very solid case and they were all shocked as well that she got blue. I've read if your spouse Is CCP she can write a letter about why she is. I think it is something you can overcome but they may put you in AP also. I have read that it is name check sometimes like FBI check's and background check's but it still mostly a mystery Administrative Processing is just a term they use as a catch all, the same as Non Bonafide relationship. Sometimes during an interview the interviewer will catch a detail that the NVC in the US did not and will send it back to the US for additional review, it's never a good sign because the interviewer caught something that the NVC did not. Now that doesn't mean that your beneficiary, your fiancee has done anything wrong or will destined to be denied the visa but they want to double check everything to be sure. Sometimes it's a name check that requires additonal review. If your fiancee has a common family name in China that could be a cause, another is a CCP member, but it's best to be honest about the CCP membership. My wife was also a CCP member at the time of her interview and she was given the visa on the first try. What I'm thinking is that and this may be completely wrong, is that your fiancee has the same name of someone who has committed fraud or illegal activities before. So they sent it back to the US for additional clearance on the name. Good luck to you both, it can put you through an emotional rollercoaster to say the least to be denied the visa.

Probably 6 months to a year if you're lucky, they may end up denying the visa on a non bonafide relationship, have contigency plans in place.

She should speak some English, conversational at the least or show that you can communicate to her in Chinese at the interview. There has been visas denied because applicants cannot show that they speak one common language, and with most cases you'll end up getting a non bona fide relationship. If you have anything to show your fluency in Chinese, make it available at the interview. The interview can be given in English or Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese), but be sure to make support ready that you two speak atleast one common language.

I have some thoughts on your situation. First, how long do you know the girl? Have you ever met the girl in person? If you don't know each other for very long yet, you will have this issue brought up even if you get married in China and file for a CR-1. What they are looking for is a development of a relationship that stands the test of time. Most relationships that develop quickly are seen as a way obtain a visa fradualently and will most likely be denied and requiring additional review.

Great, congratulations.

I think it is very important to show the development of a relationship over a period of time. If you can show a strong relationship it is easy to get approved in one shot. We did.

My wife was a CCP member, we stated so on the forms and was given pink with our very strong history and very strong supporting information.

What kind of visa are you applying for? I read of a situation like yours before, the woman was interviewing for a fiancee visa and was denied reason being was that she was presently married. Hope that's not your case, good luck.

Usually within 30 days after entry.

Barry, First and foremost, congratulations on successfully getting the visa. Your wife won't need to apply for a green card, you said that you filed at I-130, which means that you were married to her and upon entry to the US, at a Port Of Entry, POE, they will stamp her visa with a stamp making her visa valid for permanent residence, it will serve as a temporary proof, her greencard will be issued and mailed to her, just make sure that USCIS has your most current and up to date information if you moved while you two were waiting for her visa. Chris

I see alot of red flags that raises concerns over issuing a visa here. One of the things is the short time frame in which the meeting for the first time took place and wedding without ceremony, another issue with his low income, even well below the poverty guidelines, third is the short period of pictures taken, it appears to the VO that pictures were taken to rush and cram of pictures taken together for the purposes of only demonstrating it for the visa interview. Here's a suggestion for the pictures, if you are going to take pictures, take them over a long period of time, you don't need to take 50 pictures a day during a 3 month vacation. Let's say you meet your SO online, and he/she sends you a first picture, great save that and print it. On your first trip to meet each other, take some more pictures together. If you happen to travel around China together that will be better, take some more pictures a few of each will be fine. If you have family together, get together and take a few of those, and on your return home, have some taken as well. On your additional trips, take more pictures of your trip, on arrival, family dinners/lunch/parties/gatherings, it will be better to have the same people in the pictures, in random poses, so it is not rehearsed. When it is time to file your visa application, you will already have a concrete case of a real relationship. The pictures that you took will already show a good time of when and how you met. Your VO will look through the pictures and it will show two single people, two people meeting pictures taken together, acceptance by the family, i.e., family gathering/dinner pictures, tours around China, vacation pictures will demonstrate the ability and acceptance of one another into each other's lives, that you two do get along together. Also in your pictures taken over a long period of time, it will show how you two and the family has aged and matured, this will help you ensure a troublefree interview and avoid the dreaded blue/white slips. Good luck.

I am so sorry to hear this for you guys. I'm not sure I understand however. When you printed these emails, did you print the entire page, including the "header?" The header contains: From: To: Date: Time of Day, ...and so on Did that appear on these copies? Yes, on the actual email it did have the header. When we would use yahoo email, I printed the letter I received from Qingyun and behide it would be the mechanical translation. I think this is what the VO is questioning, because the translation page would just have the date at the top and nothing at the bottom. Thanks, Jeff I can give you some ideas on what happened here, it appears to the VO that you and your SO have communication issues that you either cannot read/write/speak Chinese and for her the issue is that she cannot read/write/speak English. One issue that crosses the mind of the VOs is that, since they don't have good communications how is it possible that they have a true relationship? How can any two people who don't speak and understand each other maintain a true relationship, which is why you may have received the white slip. The fact that you used a translation service/website only further indicates that you two have communication problems. I do hope you are able to resolve the issue, and IMHO it's your best interests to stay with your SO after the denial. Good luck.

If you travel together, they won't ask much, however if you travel alone, they may ask about your destination and flip through your visa packet. Good luck and congratulations.