baobeizhu

Thanks !!! Yeah, I'm glad too! Interesting timing b/c I was just starting to wonder when we might get some news...and then the letter suddenly arrives The finks did pretty good in processing my post blue slip paperwork. It took me 2 months to compile it and then just 1 month for them to process. Not unreasonable, since they had requested several items. I just hope things go well on this trip to get the visa*. fingers crossed...fingers crossed. On that note, question, does he need to take his x-ray back to GUZ? OR is that just needed for POE? Ok, I really need to start doing some POE homework now...hmm

Oh my, Happy Thanksgiving indeed! My husband just got the letter with the congrats box checked that he has now been approved for the visa! The only bit that is interesting is that he must enter the US by such and such a date b/c his medical exam will expire. Wow, now we are both happy and a bit panicked at all the preparations and trip back south to be made asap...but we are not complaining that's for sure. GUZ actually processed my additional documents after the blue slip quite quickly....around a month. That exceeded my expectations for sure...just hope everything goes smoothly from here on!!! B) Thank you everyone for your help so far!! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Hmmm, so no news from the GUZ front yet after submitting my RFE info...tic...toc...tic....toc... However, I did had a good experience w/ the Chinese Embassy the other day and now have a 2 year multiple entry visa to China in hand , which, fyi for all you CFL members, the embassy really doesn't seem to advertise this 24 month visa (well, it is listed online, but the visa pdf form doesn't seem to have that as a checkable option), but it's worth saving 130 buckaroos for the two year deal . Since you are all experts on paperwork, just be sure to provide what they ask for here ENG CHI

Thanks! Yeah, I'll be givin it to 'em! ________________Inteview Details: For more random info, my husband said they started using English with him and THEN they kept trying to use English with him and even after he kept saying (in Chinese) he requested the interview to be conducted in Chinese. He could sort of understand the VO's Chinese (tan, dark haired women, not Black, but not pale white), but that she kept throwing in English so he was kinda annoyed. Ask questions about if he had met my mother, my sister, if he went to college and a slew of others that he can't remember. Basically he said she had to talk to the VO next her quite a bit, was typing up a storm and looking at our photos quite intensely and then she kept those, and our phone records, and all of my Chinese-related diplomas/certificates. Then they didn't even request to look at ANY financial information. But in the laundry list they want proof of employment, which he told them he has, but then they just said to submit it w/ the other stuff they are requesting. (again, cue whisper "if you bring it they don't look at it") Other things they want:a notorized EOR, ceremony photos (but we had a chinese banquet in the countryside, read= you register, there are fireworks and you eat together and then the neighbors come over to watch the festivities next store, so other than what we already submitted there are no more wedding-day photos, so I need to provide an explanation for this as well}. PLUS a list of my trips to China and what where we go/how we spend our time together, a list of my residency & employment over the last 5 years and proof..etc. And of course there's all the post-high school transcripts they want. Whatever, I'll write it up, collect the other things, and ship it all off. I have a nice fat fresh ream of paper all set and ready to go!

haha, yeah I remember your advice, but if I wanted to plays devil's advocate (ie the VO), how can you prove a petitioner actually wrote a letter since he/she has a Chinese spouse?* So I included other things instead that were through my schools~but I guess copies just didn't cut it. Actually the transcripts and even a video sort of do make sense to me to address GUZ's language concern since you can't fake those, so no biggie. Maybe I'll throw a video in for the fun of it too since I usually have to practice recording myself speaking Chinese anyway for exam practice/accent correction anway. I am not to worried about this part of the RFE. (*actually, now that I think about it though, I told my husband to bring my handwritten letters with him, but it's possible he ignored me on this point ) BUT here is where I get confused. So now they want our text message & email records...which are all in Chinese. So do I need to translate all of these or what? This was the original reason I didn't include them, besides the fact they are fairly personal anyway and I would have to 'sanitize' or block out a portion of each email. Now I don't care what they read, let'em have a ball. But translating them is going to be...interesting to say the least. As far as the EOR letter, actually I considered it, but then decided against it~so I guess I made the wrong bet here. Oops! I tend to belong to the less is more until they really ask for it school of thought...which turns out they really asked for it. So, there you have it ladies and gentlemen, the ultimate lesson learned: If you didn't bring it, they will ask for it & if you brought it, they don't wanna see it Yes, I will have fun in China~maybe long term to if things really don't work out with GUZ. So it's ultimately a win-win situation I suppose...it's just how many hassles and how much time apart it's going to take to get to get us back on the same continent!

very interesting...I thought for sure we were due for a blue on somewhat similar issues... I sent the EOR and my transcripts of language ahead of time anticipating the bonafide relationship and language barrier things, resp. I'm not exactly sure what worked but I still think it was close call, because they asked her about some chinese I had written. I am far from proficient and her interview details are still sketchy. best wishes for blue to pink Thank you all for your kind wishes! We will indeed try our best to overcome this hurdle. So, I guess, trying to make the most of all of this, here are a few of my lessons learned that perhaps other members can benefit from: Future kitchen sink lists may want to include official college (or other transcripts) of any language training you have. Copies of diplomas and such do not hold much weight. Another note: if you live abroad for extended periods of time, register at the consulate or embassy. I think in my case, some other things are going on too. Here I just thought I'd encounter security clearance problems at work since I never registered (but really since I have a foreign spouse, that was a no go anyway, so I wasn't overly concerened)...Now I think I've come to realize the US gov gets nervous if you stay off their radar for too long.....*sigh*...(this is also obvious if you've come back into the US after several months, or year+ abroad and get a brief interrogation as you go through customs...) Still optimistic...for now~

My SO doesn't speak English. I have a 2nd degree in Chinese though and just gave copies of my diplomas for when he interviewed. I guess they want to see I actually passed my classes . Lucky for them/me I just happen to have official sealed transcripts here PLUS a stoopid ACTFL OPI proficiency certificate from a government scholarship I received to study the language years ago as well. Also they want more proof of addresses and work history and even more photos.

So the good news is...it's not white. But then it basically ends there. Well other than the fact if this drags out I can apply for the IR type...and if it really drags out then the heck with it, I'm gettin back out of the US before it just collapses in on itself anyway. Apparently there is a whole laundry list of items they are demanding including an EOR and even my college transcripts! My hubby is going to mail me this crazy arse list soon. More details will be forthcoming... Ok, now I need to book a ticket for me...not him...funny how one day can bring about a 180 degree turn. Whatever, I'm taking it all in stride. I actually knew it was going to be bad when I calculated the time difference and he didn't get out until 12pm. Apparently he was the very last one interviewed. Guz does save the messy ones for last. I just feel bad for him having to jump through so many hoops and spending 20 hrs on a train each way (He's never flown before and wants to save money ) only to be put through such an ordeal. They're the government, they need what they need. I can give it to them, I just hope we don't get thrown into a RFE blackhole though!

Wow, this is totally off the subject, but you guys seem to have such a romantic and interesting timeline and story! Sorry I cannot help on the POE info, but I hope everything goes smoothly for your wife upon arrival in the US

One more thing to add to the list: If you have phone call records, your SO in China should bring their SIM card to prove you are calling him or her. As you probably know SIM cards are just sold on every other street corner in China, so it's not like you can really look up whose phone number you are actually calling... Apparently this was in the instructions that my husband received so he's super paranoid about losing his phone this week! {edit} Fix broken quote tags.

Financial Stuff 1) Original, Signed I-864 Affidavit of Support 2) 2008 tax returns, W2's + Official transcripts (ordered directly from IRS) 3) Official 2006 IRS tax transcripts (ordered directly from IRS) 4) Official 2007 IRS tax transcripts (ordered directly from IRS) 5) pay stubs: 2008-present 6) Letter of Employment Verification from current employer (more recent than when AOS was submitted) 7) Updated Letter of deposit verification from primary account (more recent than when AOS was submitted) 8) Bank statement and ATM records for account for the debit card he uses for emergencies, or visa related expenses (ie. medical exam, whitebooks) Relationship Stuff 9) Air tickets copies 10) Receipts of letters sent w/ address 11) Copy of Passport with Chinese visa and Entry/Exit stamps 12) Pictures of us during trips 13) Phone records 14) Various proof of my own Chinese proficiency Beneficiary Part (DCF) 1) Interview Appointment Letter 2) Form DS-230 Part II (well, copies, see #10) 3) Passport & 2 copies of passport 4) Passport photos 5) Medical Exam Report with X-ray (umm...in the works) 6) Marriage Certificate notarized 7) Birth Certificates notarized 8) Police Certificate notarized from China 9) Photos covering 3 years 10) Copies of everything previously submitted, including I-130 evidence, AOS, whitebook copies, forms, etc.

Congrats to you and Jing! !!!

My case (CR-1) seemed to go pretty quickly, at least I thought it was quick. 2 months from outta NVC to physical letter arriving notifying my SO of interview (refer to timeline below). Maybe it is indeed a result of some sort of hybrid email/snail mail processing~or e-snail if you will B) Anway, somewhat off topic, but, here we go: In regard to the case loads not getting smaller, I wonder if this is really the case recently. The economy is really going down the toilet, and I am curious if the number of people losing jobs and such has caused a small dip in applications. As long as I get to my interview with up to date paystubs I'll be happy, but gosh darnit, I'll admit things aren't looking good for alot of people these days. Between lay offs and hour reductions, I wouldn't be surprised if now really wasn't really peak husband/wife importing season!

Mine left the end of May and my SO just got the P4 yesterday (see timeline). Hope this helps.

Niho baobeizhu, My wife Jing sent and email to GUZ on 6/26/09 inquiring about her interview date. She received their reply on 6/28/09 stating her interview was scheduled for 7:30am 7/30/09. She received her P4 on 7/2/09. xie xie, Ron & Jing Ahh, I see. Thanks for the (super quick) response Now bring home the pink and the wife!

Hi kodokanron, quick question (since you are a bit ahead of us on the timeline), did you call to get the appt date (if so was it the number on the notification that your package was being sent to GUZ?), were you emailed, and/or did your wife just receive the p4 package via mail? (I always like to know what exactly to expect...as much is possible of course ) Thanks!!

Good Luck Ron & Jing!!!!!

I dunno if this is related: Permanent Resident Card Production Delays http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD USCIS is announcing that applicants may experience up to an eight week delay in the delivery of their permanent resident card while we are in the process of upgrading our card production equipment. USCIS Field Offices will be issuing temporary evidence of permanent residence in the form of an I-551 stamp to applicants approved for permanent residence at the time of their interview. You will need to take your passport to your appointment. If you do not have a passport, you must bring a passport style photo and government issued photo identification to receive temporary evidence of permanent residence. If the application is approved subsequent to your interview or by a Service Center or the National Benefit Center, the applicant should bring the above documents to an INFOPASS appointment to be issued temporary evidence of permanent residence in the form of an I-551 stamp. Last updated:05/29/2009 But its an interesting alert anyway...

I received this notification via email, I also called the NVC daily and the AVR said my case was complete and forwarded to GUZ prior to receiving the email. Best of luck to you, think pink!! Ron & Jing Thanks for the updates! I just received my email notification that my CR1 is off to GUZ on 5/21.

here's an example of a sham marriage... I guess that's one of the many reasons they are interested in knowing about relationships with ex's... http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/050809b.html

hi, what type of notification do you receive when your case is complete at NVC? is it via email or regular mail?

Ok, so as a follow up, I never got a specific reply from the NVC on my envelope question before I mailed the documents*, but just today I did receive this reply w/ my question at the bottom of the email: So...Does this mean my case is complete and being shipped off to GUZ or am I still waiting on some other sort of formal approval from NVC? I'm leaving for China this week and will likely be stuck in quarantine for a while if my recent luck continues...but I just like to know what I should be expecting in snail or email. ------- *tangent: priority mail is really not processed any faster than regular mail. I mailed the visa docs on a Thursday via priority (5 buckaroos). I mailed my AOS docs via express the FOLLOWING Thursday ($17). Both packages arrived on the exact same Friday morning in NH.

Thanks! in anycase, my AOS is in the mail....phewwwwwww

haha, sorry, I hope you didn't get that impression...I was just getting myself all confused, and trying to get sorted out. ("Sometimes it takes a while for me to get something pounded into my hard head hehe. ) Thank you everyone for you answers!!!

no, sadly, I think I just missed that pilot program, but maybe my case was partially handled via email if my timeline is a bit different. I never received a physical package in the mail with instructions for applicant processing after NVC received the completed DS-3032, just an email with instructions and the link to the immigrantvisas.state.gov website. (which was interesting b/c I intentionally DID NOT put email info on the DS-3032 b/c I like to physically receive mail, and the email address they used to bill me for the applicant processing was just one of the 2 email addresses I listed as 'my mail receipt/coversheet to' email addresses following payment of the AOS bill...) no, actually that envelope I received with my first and only mailing for the 70USD AOS fee does not have AOS in the address. Just ATTN CMR In terms of billing, yes I received the AOS bill first but that is when I received that CMR envelope, and then the applicant processing bill came via email right after NVC received the completed DS-3032 form from China. Even more confusing is the email attachment said attachment 'envelope' but since it was an email, there actually was no attached envelope....so I just mailed that one to the address on the coversheet, which, probably actually is the same as the address on that envelope I received with the AOS bill. (Confusing huh?) Yes, I think so too.. Anyway I also emailed NVC, but I think that if it goes to the address on the coversheet, and says AOS (as it does on the coversheet) then it should be 'ok'.