Jatuke

Good luck!

As for the SSN, it will be much difficult than it looks. They now have a policy, in which you must show proof that you actually need a SSN. So you can't just go to your local SS office and apply. You will need to get a government agency-related reason for a SSN to be given out. For example, you can get proof from a government agency that requires a SSN, like the DMV. Go to the SSN website for more info. There was a thread about this topic last month.

Hang in there. It's going to be a bumpy ride, but you'll make it through just like the rest of us.

Sitting down for 2 hours and bearing the pain of redialing until you get through to a clerk at GZ will be greatly more effective then trying to contact Kathryn Cabral, or even DOS. Remember GZ has your case in their hands. And if you call "enough" you can actually "move" your case. It happened to us. For me, the ratio of calling DOS to calling GZ was 1/20. Remember that GZ has the final control in changing the flag in their database once a name check has cleared. Until GZ directly and officially "clears" a case from their end, will the clerks at DOS see it in DOS' computers. A phone call is greatly more effective than an email, because imagine how many emails a clerk designated to read emails for a particular day has to go through. Even though they request the case number to be in the subject line, I bet that 95% of the time they don't actually look up your case number, because of the high volume of emails they receive. That's why there's a very high number of "templated" replies. However, if you get through and speak to a clerk over the phone, they actually pull up your case from their database and tell you the status. And I'm sure there's a button that they can push to change the status of your case. I was there looking through the windows when I was inside the Consulate during ACS hours and saw a clerk in front of a computer on the phone. I believe they have about 3-5 people handling calls during the inquiry hours. Set aside 2 hours during 2:00-4:00pm GZ time, and dial persistently until you get through. Use a calling card that offers a rapid dial option so you don't have keep dialing the long number. It'll be worth it. Hang in there.

For the aforementioned reasons above that if an envelope was "accidentally" handed to the wrong beneficiary, there would still be some way to check who it actually belongs to. Every envelope had a cut corner, and the only reason that I can think of is since the envelopes are not specifically labeled with any personal information of the beneficiary it's just another cost-saving method of not having to print individual labels. And they are not checked in front of the beneficiaries because the time of the visa pickups, the envelopes for the people designated for pickup have already been prepared and sealed. And then they just call off names from a list depending on the ticket number that you received.

And be careful of the cut corner. The whole time I was worried that the corner would rip open the entire envelope. And the flap is not glued completely, just enough to be sealed. Guard it with your life...

The new annex of the Victory Hotel is nice. Ask for a room on the 7th floor, that's where the best rooms are located. We got a rate of 300 RMB/night. Plus, the hotel is on the island and about a 5 minute walk to Consulate.

Congratulations Mick. What was the turnaround time from the time you submitted the I-485 papers?

Yes you will need the X-ray. Ours was in a cardboard tube.

Congrats to another CFL vet!!!

It took us the next day. It's better to be safe and see if you can pick up the results as early as possible. As for the shots, yes they are for the I-485. But, after researching about the I-485 now, because that's the stage we're at now, I believe that the shots must now be completed by BCIS approved doctors. So I don't know if the shots taken abroad will satisfy. We decided not to take the shots in GZ. I learned about this on the BCIS site for the I-485.

She is right and GZ is right. GZ controls everything. Until GZ changes the data field in their database and sends to DOS, will the clerks at DOS see it on their database.

Thanks for the reply as always Mick.

Is the deadline to mail the I-485 application before the 3-month fiancee visa period, or does BCIS have to process everything before the 3-month period? Or does that 3-month period only require marriage, which we've already done? Anyone who has applied for the I-485, please advise. Thanks.

Congratulations

The key to getting an interview is to consistently "bug" GZ by contacting them through the phone. We never received P4 in the mail, although they stated that it was mailed a month before our interview date. I arrived a week before the interview and actually went in person to pick up P4. We stayed at the new Victory Hotel for a week. It was a nice little rendezvous. Not much to do in Guangzhou though.

You will need the straight-on, and four of them. My fiancee brought in the 3/4's and they told her to go out to the photo shop outside and retake the straight-on pictures.

I don't believe it's required, but when you do apply for the I-485 the beneficiary will need to take the vaccination and immunization shots. The Foreigners hospital on Shamien Island told us that it was 'we should take the shots in China, because it will be cheaper than the U.S.', but we opted not to do it.

I posted this earlier on page 1 of this thread, and it applies to the camcorder as well. "You will not be able to take in a digital camera. Only paper-work, because there are two security checkpoints. First at the manned-gate, and another checkpoint after you enter the Consulate compound. So, it is better to take a dated photo in front of the Consulate. However, any dated photos of the couple will suffice."

The more you contact the Consulate through telephone, fax, email inquiring about your fiancee's case, the easier the interview will be. Especially, through telephone, they keep a tally of the number of times you "bug" them.

Sleepingdragon, How many times did you correspond with the Consulate either through emails, telephone, or fax? I'm just curious.

Congrats

Also, if you contacted GZ numerous times through fax, email, or phone that will help as well. They keep a tally of the number of times you inquire. You will not be able to take in a digital camera. Only paper-work, because there are two security checkpoints. First at the manned-gate, and another checkpoint after you enter the Consulate compound. So, it is better to take a dated photo in front of the Consulate. However, any dated photos of the couple will suffice. Giving your US passport to your fiancee to take in with her will add major evidence points. My US passport was the first thing the Consular officer, who interviewed my fiancee, looked at and that set the tone of the interview. After that he just looked at the first picture, which was a picture of us and her family, in our mini-photo album and that was it. Although, I printed Onesuite call printouts, a few email printouts, Western Union receipts.

I agree. We went to the International Health Care Center, the one for foreigners and it was 700 RMB for the entire exam, and 100 RMB for next day pickup. The hospital was clean, and everything was done in an hour.

The safest and most effective way is for you to fly there and pick it up during American Citizen Services hours. But try the email method and if you don't hear any news within the next 2 days... Two weeks is cutting it very close.