shaffja

...I apologize. I was on the site every day for 8 months - then Li arrived and I haven't been back since. But now I need you (all) again. I would like her mother to come and visit. Can anyone help me?

Thank you so much for this information. I am very surprised that there is not more people inquiring about this on CFL. I have a doctor from the local health department suggesting the 9 month pill a day treatment. This is not a cure, but supposedly decreases the chances from the TB going active from 1 in 10 to 1 in 1000. Call me paranoid, but I am worried this doctor is being recruited by a drug company to find people to use in studies (maybe by the drug manufacturers). I asked about alternate drugs and he blew me off. He did the same this when I asked about a more definative test. He didn't even mention the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Test. My wife's step mother is a doctor in China and she told her not to take the medication. I am going to contact the CDC and also get more information about her getting the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Test and go from there. Anyone else out there with more info?

Two weeks ago my wife tested positive for Tb (the test required for her employment)... I was very confused because she had passed her physical to come to the US only 3 months prior and I had the understanding that she had had a vaccine when she was a teenager. So I did some research and found out that the BCG vaccine often used in the past in China can cause a false positive reading. So we go to the doctor today and take the chest X-ray. He tells us that she has inactive TB. I mention BCG, but he say the 18mm reaction to the Tb test is too big to be a false positive from the BCG!! So, he suggest she begins a regimen of INH (isoniazid). One pill per day for 9 months! I don't know what to do!? All medications have side effects and this one has a medication induced hepatitis as a side effect. However, the doctor said most likely this Hep is reversable and they would do a liver panel every month. I don't want to be in denial and put my wife at risk for active Tb some day, but at the same time I don't want to put my wife at risk by taking the medications for 9 months and getting a form of hepatitis and who knows what other side effect either! Does anyone else have any experience with this? Help please.

I know you can get a hard copy of a California Driving Manual in Chinese... but we don't live in California. The Cali DMV offers the manual in English in pdf format, but not in Chinese. Does anyone have an pdf (electronic) copy? Any state will do.

I don't want to misquote her, but I think she said something like - "because he is an honest and kind man", and "I know he loves me"

Thank you everyone for your advice and support. My wife passed her interview and will be here (in the U.S.) at the end of the week. She was only asked 3 interview questions... 1. How did you meet? 2. Why do you love him? 3. Can I see some pictures? She told me the interview took 2 minutes.

http://z.about.com/d/chineseculture/1/0/z/m/congratulations.gif Congratulations!

http://z.about.com/d/chineseculture/1/0/z/m/congratulations.gif Congratulations!!

Does anyone have any knowledge of SO's having any health problem stemming from coming to the U.S.? For example many American's traveling abroad get struck with Montezuma's Revenge or get a foreign strain of a bacterial or viral infection. Or on the contrary, will our SO's come here with an extremely high tolerance/immunity due to their higher level of exposure in relation to their standard of living and hygiene practices (personal and communal) and have less illness until they acclimate? Maybe some of you out there know of particular food and/or drug allergies in which Asians are more prone. For example, supposedly over 90% of people of Asian descent are lactate intolerant. So going out and getting a chocolate milk shake every night when your SO first arrives might not be the best idea until you find out if she falls into this category. Anyone have any health and safety tips to offer?

It ended up taking a week (7 days). From Guangzhou to Baoji (Shaanxi Province)

I am also interested in the time it takes... My wife will be flying into Chicago on March 24th. Also, what should she expect? Are they going to take her into the immigration wing of the airport and sit her down for an interview? Or is it going to be two hours waiting in line to have her passport stamped - and then prodded down toward the X-ray machines hearing "Next!" in the background?

Nevermind... I found the answer on an old post. http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8756

My wife's P-4 was mailed February 22nd. She has still not received it. I thought the P-4's were mailed China Post EMS and that EMS only took 3-4 days? Is there a way to track the P-4? I called the DOS and they were not able to help. I don't want to waste my time and money if the GUZ customer service people aren't going to be able to tell me anything.

http://z.about.com/d/chineseculture/1/0/z/m/congratulations.gif

http://z.about.com/d/chineseculture/1/0/z/m/congratulations.gif

http://z.about.com/d/chineseculture/1/0/z/m/congratulations.gif

I am looking for a one way ticket from Beijing (PEK) or Guangzhou (CAN) to Charleston, WV (CRW). Most of the website that have been listed only offer flights that originate in the United States.

I have read the old posts about fees regarding the CR-1, but I am still a little unclear. We have paid the $380. She will more than likely have her medical exam in Beijing... I expect at least $130. But, does she need to take any money to the Embassy with her besides the 20RMB for the Visa pickup fee? I saw a $45 Biometrics fee mentioned on one of the posts... have I already paid the fee? Or is the $45 for fingerprinting? Also, does anyone know how much flights from Guangzhou to Beijing are running these days?

2 Days ago I called the DOS and got the great news that our interview date was scheduled for March 20th and that the P-4 was mailed out February 22nd. I also spoke with my Senator's office yesterday and they got a confirmation e-mail from the consulate confirming a March 20th Interview. Last night my wife called the Guangzhou "USA Visa Information Service"... You know the one.... "Users can go to https://www.usavisainformation.com.cn/schi/welcome.aspx to use credit/debit cards to pay for the service. Users pay 54 RMB or 36 RMB and receive a PIN number which can be used for 12 minutes or 8 minutes, respectively." They told her that she does not have an interview and no P-4 has been mailed. She called me crying. I assured her there was a mistake and then called the consulate myself. The lady told me the same thing. Has anyone else out there in CFL land had the same experience? Do the USA information representatives not have the proper clearance to see what they need to in the system? Do they even have access to the system? Maybe they just have a book of canned messages they have been instructed to use? Anyway... I now think the Information line is a waste of money and time. Once my wife get's her VISA I am definately complaining to the appropriate Ombudsman and requesting a refund from the Embassy for the service (lack thereof).

We were hoping for an April Interview... I guess we will have to settle for an April arrival in the states

You can add us to your timeline....

No, we did not apply for the K-3 visa at all, and until today I thought I had made a mistake by not doing so. I feel really fortunate that the process will have only took 9 months (Assuming she passes the Interview). The Interviewer will have 3 letters on his or her desk... one from my congresswoman, and one from each of my Senators. Hopefully this will help a little.

I called the DOS this morning and they told me that my wife is scheduled for an interview on March 20th !!!!!!! They said that the P-4 was mailed out February 22nd (today). Funny thing - my wife called the embassy yesterday and they told her "it will be at least 5 months". We are both so excited!

What do you mean by all bets are off for CR1 visas?

Anyone have an April interview yet?