bob

Legal name change is done when he becomes a US citizen. We asked this at our AOS interview. He can use whatever alias he likes, but all his legal papers for INS and federal government must be in his legal name.

When you get to the Federal Building in LA stand in front looking at the 2 entry doors. DO NOT GET IN THE LINE AT THE LEFT. That line is for people without appointments, they are going to stand there for hours. Get in the line to the right, it may be long, but it goes quickly. You have to go through a metal detector, so no sharp objects. Once you are inside take the elevator downstairs (thats right, B232 means Basement Room 232). Appointments are for every half hour, be in line downstairs about 15 minutes before your appointment. They let everyone in at the same time, then line up to show your appointment letter and passport, then photograph, then get your EAD card. Takes about 30 minutes once you are inside. After you leave walk over to Chinatown for lunch, but don't atop at the first place, go down a couple of blocks for a great $2 lunch.

It's $110 for each checked bag over 2. LiNing paid $440 for extra baggage.

Thanks, Bob! Do you mean that you received the receipt(or notice of action) 6 weeks after you sent the application? Thank you so much! We received the receipt staoled to the appointment letter for EAD appointment 6 weeks after we mailed the application to them. The fingerprint appointment letter arrived the same day

It took us 6 weeks to receive notice from the Los Angeles office, they schedule your employment interview for 3 weeks later. Also, your fingerprinting appointment letter (ours was 3 days before the interview).

LiNing got her EAD card yesterday in Los Angeles, good for 1 year. Amy(our daughter) also got hers, but only good for 3 months. We applied 2 months ago.

I was told that for the initial AOS request no medical examination was required. They only asked for a photocopy the the Immunization Documents given to them at their Chinese medical examination. They told me that they may require a medical examination prior to their appointment in 2 years.

Don't forget to include the $50 Fingerprint fee with your I-485 AOS

They did accomplish one thing! They raised the fees for all the INS applications today! New fees for filing AOS and EAD went up $100 today!

In my opinion Tokyo Narita is the worst airport in the world, crowded and unfriendly. ShangHai Pudong is the nicest large airport I have ever been in. I have been in both of these airports 6 times.

Mark, By dialing 185 in each city you can track EMS so GuangZhou would be 020-185

LiNing and I took Amy to her first day of high school yesterday. The administrators in the office thought that LiNing was a student. Now she thinks she can go to the high school and sneak into English classes.

BUT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT USC IS THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW!!

I don't know where Nanning is, but if you can fly from ShangHai PuDong I would advise it. As far as I am concerned it is the nicest airport I have ever been in, it is huge, clean and ecxeptionally organized. I wanted a nonstop flight for her because I especially didn't want her to have to change planes in Tokyo Narita, that airport sucks.

Hello Bob, She purchased one way tickets from a local travel agent for only $380 (3150 RMB) each, nonstop China Eastern ShangHai Pudong (PVG) to Los Angeles (LAX). This was a better deal than anything I could find, the best was at $460. When she went to the travel agent in August, they wanted $2000 each for business class, I got her tickets then for $540. At that time I think they were just trying to get more money from her, they told her only business class was available.

Finally! LiNing and Amy arrived from ShangHai Saturday at 1:00PM, the plane was 3 hours late. She brought even more luggage than she originally told me, spent $330 for extra luggage allowance. We could barely fit everything in my friends Suburban. She was very impressed by by the heated passenger seat. Anyway, got home and they spent the entire first day unpacking suitcases and putting clothes away. Day 2 was spent "ordering" the house and the computer. We now have Chinese symbols over every door and on all the windows. My computer now speaks Chinese, she brought 100 computer programs, cds and dvds. Yesterday we went to the courthouse in Santa Barbara, got the "marry papers" and had a judge re-marry us. Then spent the rest of the afternoon showing her the tourist attractions. She had her first "Chinese" meal at a local restaurant. I am totally surprised that she liked it, but the people spoke Chinese to her so that helped. This morning she got up with me at 5:30AM to make my lunch and start the washing machine. Luckily I was there to prevent bleach being poured in the washer on colored clothes. All in all, I think that we are having a successful transition. She has pretty much taken over everything, but I knew she would, so everyone is happy.

LiNing got her visa!! She arrived at the consulate this morning at 9:00AM, gave them her passport and Min's. They told her they were closing early, to come back at 11:00. She did and their visas were ready! She will return to ChangZhou tomorrow, then to ShangHai Friday and leave for LAX Saturday. Six days from EMS to USA. What a great Christmas present!

LiNing is in GuangZhou already, she will take her passport in first thing tomorrow, hopefully she will have it back on Thursday because she already booked a flight ShangHai to LAX on Saturday.

Hopefully they will be here by year end. If they arrive in the U S this year it will save us $7000 in taxes! But the important thing is that she will be here. She has had her bags packed for a year. I am so nervous that I can't sleep.

LiNing finally got her EMS letter this morning at 10:00AM (Sunday). She got the Monday to Thursday letter. She is at the travel agent right now getting tickets to GuangZhou for tomorrow. She is taking her daughter and their passports. She will be at the consulate Tuesday morning, hopefully they will not close early for Christmas Eve and they will get the visas the same day. On Thursday it will be 1 year since we applied. Her interview was August 28.

LiNing says that you can only track international EMS by computer, not mail within China. She called the local office first thing this morning and they had no idea when her letter would arrive, and the tracking number meant nothing to them. Only 3 planes a week from GuangZhou to ChangZhou, hopefully it will be there tomorrow. BOB

Thanks Bob, I just sent her the link. I know that will be the first thing she does when she wakes up. Bob

I called DoS this morning, they say GuangZhou sent EMS letter to LiNing on 12/12. They gave me a tracking number. Does anyone know how to access EMS? Can she do it on her computer or is there a number she should call? Do they deliver on Saturday? Thanks, Bob Wolf

Jim, I think that you also signed that letter that Victoria wrote that we sent to GuangZhou. They think that those of us who signed it are responsible for much of their Congressional inquiries.

I didn't mention that they also are not happy with the "Gang of 43", those of us who sent the letter to Linda Donahue. Somehow they are under the impression that each of us also had 4 Congresspeople call them. What is that all about? I will admit to one since we sent the letter.