LanBa

I think filing the K3 in addition to the CR-1 was beneficial for us. Last year, the CR-1 was moving faster at VCS than the K3 process. We ran into a four month delay with the CR-1 and the K3 actually moved ahead. The K3 package 3 arrived at GZ about a month ahead of the CR-1. After both the K3 and CR-1 were at the consulate, I contacted GZ and asked them if they would proceed with only the CR-1 now? They said they would drop the K3 and proceed with the CR-1. I am not absolutely sure, but I think them having the K3 a month sooner saved about a month on my wife's interview date. I have a feeling they were doing some preliminary work on her K3 when the CR1 arrived from the NVC. I suspect, if we had just filed for the CR-1, she would still be waiting for her interview date.

Yes, I agree. It was the same for our K3.

Cody, I feel your pain. I had similar experiences. Even if you were finally lucky enough to speak to a human being, they might have given you incorrect information. Some cfl members have had the good fortune to connect with helpful and reliable telephone representatives. Hopefully, you will have better luck next time!

Of course, it was the first time I met my beautiful wife at the Chongqing Airport. Her kindness, smile and flowers melted my heart. I can still close my eyes now and relive the moment almost two years later. The second thing happened at the Beijing Airport when you still had to pay the Airport Construction Tax. I had all my luggage and I was trying to get to the counter with hundreds of Chinese people pushing and shoving around me. A young Chinese man saw my dilemma and let me cut in front of him. After I paid the tax, I was running late for my connecting flight and was not sure of the correct check-in counter. He took my ticket up to the front of the counter and motioned me to bring my luggage. He gave me the boarding pass and pointed me to the right gate. I will never forget his act of kindness.

My 11 year old great-nephew asked his mother last week, "Why is it taking so long for Uncle's wife to come to America?" "Why is our government so afraid of a little Chinese lady when the terrorists can just walk across the border?"

CONGRATULATIONS! B)

Last nite Ling was reading about this on 001, and she told me that it is not a bad place, just a little ways from Shamian. This is also a hotel right there in the same building, and from what she told, the room are 180RMB/nite 135757[/snapback] Squeaky, would your wife know the name of the hotel??

how different is the I-129f from the I-130, is there no P-3 for that? 136116[/snapback] Hank, I see you are a straight CR-1. If you had also sought the K3, you would have filed an I-129F in addition to the I-130. They both have a P3. The difference is you will receive the P3 from the NVC for the CR-1. Your wife would have received the P3 from GZ for the K3.

Jim, I can tell you that an RFE requesting supporting documents on my wife's I-130 petition cost us a four month delay. Couples were getting married three months after our supporting documents were resubmitted and they were farther ahead of us in the visa process. So, maybe you will not lose anytime waiting the extra two months rather than risking a long RFE delay.

Thanks Doug! Yes, I think someone at the VSC making a simple office mistake cost us about five months together. They kept the I-130 and photos and returned the supporting documents. I said, "wait a minute, don't you need them to process the application?" I tried calling the National Customer Service number and they said we were all set. I wrote to the Asst. Director of the VSC asking if they were needed. Never got a reply. To be safe, I sent the documents again, A MONTH BEFORE THE RFE. Believe me, there were flames coming out the top of my head when that RFE arrived! Unfortunately, we can't talk to a human being at the service center which is processing our applications. The delay was totally unnecessary. So, don't mind me asking a lot of nervous questions, because I have been burned before. So far, everything seems to be moving smoothly with DOS. We have our fingers crossed.

Lee, thanks for the SSN reminder, we have everything completed to Line 34. I suppose they will walk her through it, but I never read anything about it before. I guess I will have her mention the form at the end of the interview, if the VO forgets to have her sign it.

I have read many things about other S.O.'s experiences with the GZ interview like the questions asked, financial papers, photos, cards, letters and videos, but I have not read anything about the DS-230 Part2. It says, "DO NOT SIGN this form until instructed to do so by the consular officer". Have any other wives with a CR-1 interview had any experience with this form? Will the V.O. automatically remember to ask my wife to sign it? Sorry, I have not read any threads where the wife was asked to sign anything. If there was one, maybe I missed it??

Good luck! Alex

Good luck JFong988, welcome to the Bay State! P.S. Thanks Tony, I am in central mass, near Worcester? Are you in Bean Town? Welcome to CFL Lanba! Grew up in Southbridge and Woodstock, Ct.- MANY moons ago! acw Thanks CR1togo! Oh, I have relatives near there in Sturbridge. Woodstock,CT is well known, I think they have one of the oldest fairs in the country?

I know I am a newbie here and I don't want to step on anyone's toes, but I have lived in Massachusetts all my life and I thought I would try to be helpful and steer JFong988 in the right direction. The County Court Houses don't issued marriage licenses in Massachusetts. The licenses are issued by either a Town or City Clerk. Both husband and wife must appear before the clerk to obtain a license. They should have a proper ID and will pay a fee of about $20. There is a three day waiting period before you can marry, but you can obtain a waiver of the three day rule if you want to sit in a courthouse for eight housrs waiting for a District or Probate Court Judge. Effective January 28,2005, Massachusetts no longer requires a blood test or medical certificate before you can obtain the license. Once you are married, it is the duty of the Clergy or the Justice of the Peace to complete and sign the license and return it to the city or town where it was issued. A town or city clerk also has legal authority to perform marriages. If you would like to do it a little different and don't mind paying a $25.00 fee, you can be married by anyone in Massachusetts, like a family member or friend. They can call the Governor's Office at (617) 727-5787 to obtain an application for a "one time special appointment to solemnize a marriage". Massachusetts does have a requirement which should be of interest to K1 visa holders. If one of the couple is an immigrant, the immigrant should be in the USA for five days before applying for a marriage license. Good luck JFong988, welcome to the Bay State! P.S. Thanks Tony, I am in central mass, near Worcester? Are you in Bean Town?

You can obtain a marriage license in Mass. by going to either a Town Clerk's Office or City Clerk's Office. I would avoid the Courthouse.