hlguan

Well, it's been a long road. Today the wife and stepchild got thier cards. Thanks for all of your help and so on. I'm off to celebrate and enjoy. Still havn't decided if they are going to get citizenship yet. Good luck to you all................

Hi all. This may not be an appropriate subject for this site? The wife and I are wanting to sponser a live-in nursemaid. I think the INS number is I-140. Anybody have any experience with these?

I too think this an excellent post. Maybe it has strayed from the original question. Culturaly, how do the Chinese step children percieve us? Are they as willing to accept an American step father as "father"?

Well, we were married on Valentine's Day. Yippie. I sent in the AOS papers a couple of weeks ago, including I-765 and I-131. But recently discovered I forgot the I-693. OOPS. The question is, do I try to send them now or wait for INS to request them? Also, I used the visajourney guide for AOS dummies. I think the people here do a much better job with the guides. Maybe someone can write a kitchen sink AOS guide and pin it here? May save some other idiot from my dilema. Thanks.

I E-Mailed GZ this very question. Their reply was "all Visa recipiants need a passport". Period. Sorry.

I too had this problem my first Visa. I also used an agency, traveldocs. I also called them about the spelling. They also told me as long as the passport number and DOB are correct there is nothing to worry about. I was verry apprehensive at immigrations but had no problems at all. But I did not volunteer that there was a problem. From my experience I would say you should have no problem, good luck.

This is really helpful, hlguan. The father's name IS on the birth certificate and also on the hospital birth medical certificate. Thanks for your informations. 185482[/snapback] OK then. Here's how I prepared. As I stated, I could not get my document notatized. So I wrote out a statement that my SO is not and has never been married and that the biological father has not been part of the child's upbringing etc. Then in case GZ asked for it I would have them notarize it. It may have worked, maybe not. But I had no choice. Those others of you who's SO was married and are replying about divorce decree's, no offence, you are confusing the issue.

You asked the question about single mothers. This is very important. I too was in the same boat. SO single mother and no way to contact the father. I went to GZ and asked them. The first question they asked, is the father on the birth certificate. If no, there will be no problem. If yes, they can ask for a notarized statement from the mother that she is not and has not ever been married. Yes that's all. The problem, we could find no notary that would sign without DNA proof. We went to the interview and were lucky it did not come up. Good luck.

Wahoo........OOps. That is someone else's job. Well, she got it. Long day for her, long lines and all. Just three questions, how many times was I in China, has she ever been out of China and what do I do for a living. I asked her to describe the VO. Black woman was all I could get. I asked if she was nice........long pause.....SO SO. But I coached my SO on confidence. Her English is marginal so she memorized several responses to distract from it like Im sorry, would you please repeat the question. Thank you all for the support. I'm sure I will be needing more assistance in the future with the AOS.

My SO's interview is almost here. I, we, have done everything we can to prepare. I can tell you that the most valuble decision we made is to arrange lodging at Mr. Xie's. He has gone over our papers with a fine tooth comb and corrected many errors. And is now coaching my SO on interview questions. What a confidence builder. I know you are all behind us and our collective good thoughts will prevail. Thanks.

Hello all, just returned from China. I went to GZ for the Friday open forum meeting 2:30 at the Embassy. There is a new procedure. They are no longer conducting an open forum meeteng. Now when you go through security you take a number and wait. Each person is called in turn and meets with a VO at the same windows our SO's go to for their interviews. From what I understand the VO's are answering case specific questions concerning their cases. The VO I talked to was very nice and helpful, I hope my SO gets him Dec 30 for her interview.

Just got off the phone with DOS. They say we are sheduled for Dec. 30 at 0730. I am so excited. I would like to thank you all for the help so far and with the preperation for the upcoming interview. I will not be there for the interview. I will be in Shenzhen from Aug. 22 to Dec. 6 though. If any of you are there during that time PM me.

OK. A question I have an answer for. I included my SO's son on the 129. After the P-3 went in, GZ requested a OF-230-1 and a 169 for him. Also, GZ said all Visa recipients are required to have a passport. My SO's son is 7 years old. I hope this helps after all the help I have gotten from CFL.

Oops about the dependant/exemption thing. You did answer all of my questions. Thanks.

I have not seen any threads here that deal with the IRS. I am curious if or what documentation is needed to claim my SO and her son as depaendants. It would make a sizable difference on my 2005 taxes if we are married before Dec 31 and I can claim them.