Appaullo

Congratulations!

I hope you are not checking the status every other hour and driving yourself nuts It took 7.5 months for my case to clear VSC. Many who filed at VSC months later flew by me because toward the end of 2008 USCIS started diverting those VSC cases to CSC. Sadly I am quite the idiot and yes ... I am checking for my NOA2 every spare second I have. I know its foolish and is only driving me slowly insane, but it is my curse. I check my E-Mail every break at work wih my cell phone, and then I check again on my computer when I get home, then I check the mailbox also ... you know ... just in case ... hehehehe. I got excited when I first mailed mine in and told my wife and family here in the States "It should only take a month, it looks like everyone is getting NOA2 in one month now" ... boy did that bite me in the butt. I am trying to keep myself grounded with my workouts, but sadly I am getting so intense in the gym that I have dropped 5 pounds without meaning to. Anyways ... I need to just calm down about it. I knew going in it would be a lengthy process. I just have to get the head and the heart to align and meet in the middle.

When I did this I followed the following process : 1. Went to my county records office and had them do a search on me for marriages, when none came up they gave me a "Letter of no record". Meaning they had no record of me being married. 2. Went to my local State authorized Secretary of State and had them notarize the record with the State seal. 3. Mailed this to the local Chinese Consulate and had them review it and then notarize it with their seal. Once my wife and I got to Wuhan the Marriage office sent us to the local translating place, we waited a little less than an hour, got it translated, returned to the marriage office and got married. If you do not have enough time here in the States before your trip to China, then go the American Consulate route that others here have suggested.

My wife and I are CR1 also. Sent my I-130 to CSC and they recieved it on March 24th. Still waiting on NOA2. Going by the timelines on VJ it seems there is a stack of papers simply not moving, it looks like the window is from March 21 to April 4 that people are still waiting on NOA2. Filers before and after have gotten NOA2 since then. I'm hoping this is not a bad sign.

Good luck to those interviewing in May!!

Sounds like you are having a blast, Christopher. Make sure to get several pictures of Ni and yourself at all the places you go ... if its possible that is. Also, try to have them be as candid as possible, you know the two of you laughing together, things like that. I envy you your experiences right now. When you get back you wont stop talking about it for 3 months

I sure hope my reply is not too selfish, but ... what sort of procedure did you go through at the airport in China in regards to flu? I have a trip coming up at the end of June and am still wondering wether to postpone or not ... I just dont want to go and be put in a week long quarantine simply because I am American. Although someone in my family told me this would be considered 'medical emergency' and I could postpone my return flight by a week. Any truth to this does anyone know? Again, so sorry to be thinking of myself while you are on your first wonderful adventure in China (You will have a great time!) but I am very concerned about this. Anyways, Grats on the trip and take LOTS of pictures ... some nights thats all that gets me through to the next morning are the photos I took while I was there.

Congratulations! I am in touch with that feeling. I too am checking my online status every day. My cell phone alerts me to new e-mail and I scramble every break at work to check my e-mail ... to no avail yet. I also have tried calling, only to be told by the recording NOT to enquire about my case status as anyone I talk to will be quite unable to help me. I knew from the start that the wait would eat away at me, and it is. Anyways, glad to hear you got your NOA2!

Well, I'll chime in here. My wife is obsessed with my saving money. If I send her flowers she is gracious, followed quickly by "But you should really just put that money in your savings!" I tell her I want to fly to Beijing when I get there at the end of next month, she tells me "We'll take the train, that way you will have money to put in your savings when you get home." We discuss money I say to her "Honey, its only 12 dollars ..." she cuts me off flat with "Thats 12 dollars you can put in your savings!" She wants our every spare penny to go into savings. And I can understand that, I've been single my whole life with the exception of a few close calls and I adopted the habit of spending first, and considering saving 4 days later

Fantastic news! Congratulations!

i am not afraid of catching the flu, i am afraid that i will be held up in a "hotel" for a few days and miss everything i have to do in GUZ.... Thats my concern also. I am leaving for China at the end of June. This has gotten me on my toes. I have NO idea what to do ... cancel my trip until later - but then how much later? Go and hope for the best? Taking it one day at a time. *EDIT* I am not going to Guz, but the rest of my post stands about spending time with my wife.

Point taken

Good luck you two!!

Going back at the end of June. Well ... provided China is letting Air traffic in from the USA at the end of June. The days cant pass fast enough. I'm also hoarding my personal time at work in an effort to be able to go there for her interview. I know its *WAY* early for me to be anxious yet ... but I just cant help it. I know I'm being irrational. Thanks all for the helpful replies. Appaullo

OK ... so I guess a better way to ask this is : Have I made an error in *not* filing an I-129F? Appaullo

Mine was filed at CSC.

Congratulations!!

Hey all ... I know the 'standard' of time from NOA1 to NOA2 is 3 months, and the USCIS site says it is 6 months. But I have noted lately that some are done in one month. I do not have mine yet ( I know, by the book it is still too early) and am wondering if it is because I have filed an I-130 but not an I-129F. The reason for this is my wife and I have decided to file for CR1. Am I causing a slow down by not filing an I-129F? Again, I know by the statistics it is too early yet, but I seem to recall seeing 2 recently that were approved in a month. Sorry for asking, and I know I need to get used to the waiting, but now I am wondering if I shot myself in the foot so to speak. Appaullo

My Mother in law did my laundry for me, she enjoys it and insists. As to changing money, try to do it in a large, well established bank. I changed mine in a relatively large bank in Shenzhen, and it was like pulling teeth. They called the Consulate in Chicago to verify my identity. I never had any issue with the food at all, my mother in law cooked for me a LOT and it was GREAT. None of the food we had when we ate out gave my stomach any problems. But I DID bring immodium with me just in case, and I will do so again this June/July when I go back. You will have a GREAT time. Enjoy!! Appaullo

What is a passport biographic page? Please forgive my ignorance. I do not recall seeing any such page in my passport. Or is this what we call the page that has my name, photo, date of passport issue, etc? Again, please forgive my lack of knowledge. Appaullo

Well ... it was 'fodder' but not for the initial filing. I thought I might slip it into the folder with my employer note, tax transcripts, paycheck stubs, etc as evidence that my wife will not be a burden of the state or Country. On the other hand, I would breath just a little bit easier knowing that when she eventually lands here in the USA that she can slip and fall and she will be covered. I guess its a matter of me wanting my cake and to eat it too. ;P

I'm sure others here will answer quickly and far better than I, but I'll take my first crack at dispensing advice. As to the address concern : Make an attachment on a seperate sheet of paper and label it as such including the part of the form, the question number and the line and put her address there. Sign and date it. Then on the I-130 when it asks for her address fill in "See attachment". As to the blanks, I think the general consensus is to put N/A. Appaullo

Sorry, Chilton, Medical Insurance. I should have specified. And I will ask, Randy, thanks.

I had my wife added to my insurance through work. I was told upon doing this that without an SSN she'd be removed in 6 months. Got paperwork in the mail today, they want an SSN or will remove her 6 months from effective date of insurance. So in June shes off again. I know I need to talk to work again and ask them, but just want to run it by you all here first ... Would a temporary tax number work if an SSN is not available? I know this is for tax purposes, and likely wont work here. Just thinking on what I can do. I have the paperwork with her on my insurance and her card now, was planning on copying them and sending them to interview with her maybe in the tax folder .... just in case. Any thoughts?

Nuworld and George Lee .... Many thanks! This is the information I was looking for! Much appreciated! Appaullo