Beermann

So, I have to wait 3 months for them to realize it shouldn't be there and send it back to me? OMG! What if her I-94 expires before they send it back to me? Did they alter the package or just keep it the way it was, including the sealed medical envelope? I really wish there was a way to intercept the mail and have it returned. This just sucks!!

Last night I was up very late finishing assembly of the I-485 package for my wife. When reading the filing address in the I-485 Instructions, I wrote down the Nebraska Service Center's address when it was supposed to be the Lockbox address in Chicago. I mailed it out today at lunch-time, but felt funny about it all day as though something wasn't right, so I came home and verified my gut feeling. Can someone please tell me what is going to happen with this now? I'm afraid I'm going to have to start this all over again.

Thanks all for your responses. Unfortunately we have to completely forgo our trip to China now because the processing time for both I-131 and I-539 is close to 6 months from what I can see. We were supposed to leave Feb. 1st, which doesn't allow enough time for either. No way would I purchase airline tickets not even knowing when things are getting processed. I was mis-informed and didn't believe my wife when she kept telling me she wouldn't be able to come back to the states. I guess I put WAY too much stock in the I-94. I feel horrible now, as we will now just have to wait until her AOS is complete before setting sail. Live and learn as they say.

I have an interesting situation that I'm hoping others have experienced. My wife's K3 Visa was issued on February 14, 2006 and expires on February 13, 2008. She didn't enter the POA until July 17, 2006, so her I-94 obviously has that day and doesn't expire until July 16, 2008. The part that I'm very worried about here is that we are heading back to China February 1, 2008 - March 2, 2008 to see her family for Chinese New Year and her K3 Visa will expire while we are in China. We are both very scared that when we come back to the States, they won't let her back in because of this. Does this even matter anymore so long as her I-94 is still good? FYI, we are filing her I-485 tomorrow. Please someone tell me I'm worrying about NOTHING. Thanks in advance!

I hate to jump in here when the others are telling you you need a lawyer (they're right), but ask the lawyer: Would it stay off her record for the probationary period? What are her chances at trial? (My guess is there would be no witnesses against her and that the trial would be after your interview) I'm going to guess that she will need to accept the deferred judgment. Consult with an attorney TOMORROW if AT ALL possible. Here's my dilemma. I just finally got my Pre-paid legal membership so I could get a lawyer to guide us. However, today and tomorrow the law office will be closed because of the blizzard here. Our pre-trial is set for Friday. I don't know how I can get help for Friday. Do I need a Criminal Lawyer or an Immigration Lawyer? Colorado law states that domestic violence charges(3rd degree assault in our case) are grounds for deportation and she's going to get convicted almost either way as the police have evidence with photos of scratches. If she accepts the deferred judgement, she has to plead guilty. To me it sounds like a trap. What tricks do you know of that lawyers can use to get this whole thing dropped without anything? Ultimately this was a result of her medical condition, losing a baby to ectopic pregnancy, so don't know if there is anything there. Her AOS is due in a little over a year, while the deferred judgement does go on her record until finished and is for a 2 year period. Also, for immigration purposes, this charge can be considered a FELONY as it's an "act of violence". Thank you again so much!

In February, my wife passed her interview and moved together back to the states. We arrived in July and had some trouble in October. My wife had an ectopic pregnancy that started a flurry of unfortunate events. With the trauma of the surgery, the culture shock, hormonal imbalance, etc., she got very irritable and angry after the surgery. She lost her temper terribly one night about something and began yelling at me in the wee hours of the night and even scratched me up pretty good. The neighbors heard her yelling and called 911. The police came and saw blood on my neck and took her to jail for 2 nights. The D.A. pressed 3rd degree assault charges on her even though I said did not want anything to happen to her. Her last court hearing, the D.A. offered her a deferred judgement, 2 years of domestic violence classes, and then the case would be dropped. Her translator and the D.A. advised her to not make a decision that day as it may have an impact on her AOS that is due well before the judgement would even be dropped from class completion. My wife is terrified right now as she vehimenantly said she doesn't want to go to these classes for 2 years and also believes now that she cannot get her Green Card and will be sent back to China away from me. Can someone first tell me how bad our situation is immigration wise, and second what should we do as she has to tell the judge Friday what her decision is. She can either go to trial or take the deferred judgement. What impact would a decision either way have on her AOS? Thank you so much in advance! -Brent

If your wife has or can get an ATM card for her account at Bank of China, you can simply withdraw the cash at an ATM in the US. If not, then open an account at a bank that will issue such a card and have the rent deposited there. Wire transfers are expensive. 216889[/snapback] She has the Great Wall card at Bank of China. It is an international debit/credit card/ATM card. But, the catch is it cannot be tied to your bank account. You must specifically put money/credit on the card to access any funds. I'm not sure if a tenant can deposit money directly onto the card versus depositing into her account...hmmm

Before my wife and I leave for the States, we will be renting out her apartment. Most likely will give the tenant her Bank of China bank book to deposit the rent money on. So, my question is, what is the best way to get the money back in the U.S. each month? Is it possible to do an online bank transfer to a U.S. account using Bank of China's Online Banking or is there a better way? We can rent the apartment for a quite significant amount, so it would be very useful to us bank in the States. Thanks! -Brent

Bring as much as you want. If you bring more than $10k each in US Currency, you'll need to declare it. The paperwork takes only a few minutes. There is not tax or duty of any kind. If you lie and they catch you, the money is subject to siezure. However, there are limits to how much you can convert at a time. Check with the Bank of China on that so you don't run out of time before you complete the conversion. 215244[/snapback] Thank you SOOO much for the reply! This is GREAT news for us as we didn't want to risk sending electronically overseas. -Brent

My parents are coming to Shanghai soon to help us move and we are trying to see what is the best way to take my wife's money with us. Ideally we would like to convert the money to USD before we go and then split it up 4 ways and put it in our carry-on bags. Or can we get Traveler's Checks issued at a Chinese bank? Does anyone know what the maximum per person is we can get through Customs? Also, is there anything else we should know about such as taxation or anything? I couldn't imagine being taxed as it is already our money and has been taxed in China. Thanks!

Thank you so much for the help and replies! I believe i have a handle on this now. CFL is so wonderful to me and I can honestly say we wouldn't have passed the interview if it wasn't for CFL.

I have a what seems to be difficult question to get an answer for. I've been residing with my wife and her family in China since October of last year. I registered with the local police and obtained a temporary residence permit. So, all seems well as long as I remain at that residence. My wife and I are trying to see all of China before she comes to the U.S. so we are traveling on a cheap budget and are often staying in youth hostels and places that cannot even be called a "hotel", maybe just a room with a bed at best. The problem is everywhere we go, the issue keeps arising about me being a foreigner and getting the landlord in trouble. I refuse to sleep in a 4-star hotel every night for month after month of traveling around China while neither of us are working and funds are tight. Who knows the law in China concerning this particular situation? Currently we are in Lhasa and having troubles AGAIN. Yes, we are carrying both of our passports and Chinese marriage license. Thank you!!! -Brent

You can amend ours as interview passed as well...

Would you be kind enough to share what you learned from the answers to your questions? 190301[/snapback] Basically, we mostly talked about the financial side of our case. I was worried because I don't have a co-sponsor and have been an intern for the last 3 years and only recenly got a job offer, so technically, I don't meet the AOS requirements. The end result of this conversation was that I was encouraged to start preparing for the worst, but if she answered the initial questions well enough and showed conclusive evidence of a bonefide relationship that the VO will likely overlook the financial side of our case. She said that if she was the VO handling my case, she would likely approve it because we have been living together in China since last October. Additionally, I mentioned that we had a photo album and she told me to bring it, but inform my wife to be prepared to remove any pictures she may ask for and slide under the window. Hope this helps!

I went to GUZ Friday to get my I-134 notarized at about 2:30pm and waited at American Citizen Services until about 3:05pm to get my notarized form back. Having been very friendly and making the man laugh while talking with him, I asked him about ACH and he said it was over at 3:00pm. However, he was extremely kind to me and walked over to one of the VO's, asked for a favor and then told me to go to her window to get a number. It was the last number issued for the day and I didn't get out of the Consulate until almost 5:00pm after talking for over 30 minutes to what everyone seems to refer to as the "Black Pearl." I will note here that she is extremely kind and friendly. I really enjoyed talking with her as she answered even minor questions about organizing my paperwork.