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It is almost one month ago that we arrived in the States. (CR-1 & 2) Today my wifes and daughters welcome letters, two each, arrived and their PR cards came also. She had checked box on 230 form for Social Security # to be sent also. Any Guesses as to when it will arrive? Todd

Now comes the hard part SUGGESTING what we should pack to bring back to Maine.

I hope this may help those who will go with thier SO to the interview.Here is my side. We arrived at GZ airport from Shanghai the day before the interview. Medical,papers and arrangment to stay at Mr Yangs were allready done. Nice flight to GZ we left plane and at 1:00 took #6 bus(cost 20 rmb each) nice new clean and air conditioned bus. The bus took 1hr and we got off at Tianhe building. Mr Yangs associate met us there and we took taxi to his office(14rmb). There were some other women there and as we talked my wife realized she knew them from 001 (all of a sudden it was like Old Home Days) We waited around a bit and then we were brought to our room. We got unpacked and went to eat ect. The room was right downtown convienent to eveything and the consulate. Next morning the alarm went off at 6:00. I had been up since 4:30. At 7:00 my wife and daughter are eating with no apparent concerns. I am paceing the floor. At 7:20 we take the elevator to the street and walk around the corner to the consulate entrance. There are people in line maybe 150 to 200 total (see picture) At 7:40 They start checking IDs and letting people in.(they give you a purple card) I waited in line with my wife and daughter and about 8:15 we are let in to The first floor. We head up to the 4th floor. This is where they line up again and US consulate personal take the purple card ,check papers and admitted my wife and daughter (8:30)to the 5th floor for interview.The coffee shop (see pics) is right next to the line. I bought an Iced Mocha coffee and found a soft chair.(I should have brought a book to read) It seemed that as early as 9:50 some people are coming down from 5th floor.Over the next three hours I see people coming back from interviews. Some very happy(red slip) and some unhappy and confused (blue slips) It is 11:45, I am sweating bullets, No wife and daughter yet. The coffee shop is almost cleared out of people. 12:05 they come down and I can not read her face. I said red or blue ? She says give me 20 RMB and tells me she will be right back. Again I ask "Hui did we pass" She looks at me with a smile and says "of course"as though it was a given. She needed the money for daughters fee. I THEN TOOK A VERY DEEP BREATH AND THANKED GOD. Two days later we went to GZ post office took a number, waited for it to be called,went to the counter,picked up EMS packages with their papers and passports inside. Checked them out . All ok. Another deep breath and sigh of relief. Back to Shanghai and then our trip to home to Maine. Todd

GREAT. Say hello to your wife from us when you arrive. Todd & Hui

My Wife had great interview. Very short and only a few questions. we picked up the visas for her and her daughter this morning and just flew back to Shanghai. I will post some details after we decompress Todd & Hui

Hi Mike We just got back to Shanghai. Congrats again. My wife and I enjoyed meeting your wife in GZ. Wish her a smooth trip to the States from both of us. Todd & Hui

18 hours in air,24 hour trip start to finish.But finally back in Sganghai Interview coming we will go to GZ soon. Many butterflies in tummy

Thank You for your thoughts. I will bring package. I feel this is only the begining of many, many YES DEAR YOU ARE CORRECT

In reviewing letter that GZ sent to my wife for interview (gerneric form I think) She says It says you MAY BRING I864 form and then goes on to list things like * current bank statements,deeds,employment letter ect. thesewere all provided with original I864. All info is still relativly the same and current. I was planning to bring a copy of the last 3 years tax transcripts. Is GZ going to need another copy of the I864 and supporting Docs???? It should be on file. Todd

Hopefully we will meet other Candle members while in GZ. B)

I will be going. Interview is late August. Some days I feel as though I am in a DREAM.

My wife heard of high prices here . She had a wisdom tooth and a couple of fillings that needed to be done. She found a dentist that had practiced in the States and recently moved back to Shanghai. $18 per filling . She said to much and he laugh an said maybe you should wait to have done in States . She had them done with him In Maine most fillings are $75 to 125 each

P4 arrived Friday. Wifes getting nervous now

Congratulations! Same Day In GZ maybe we can say Hello

I am cr1/2 and date was given this morning. Hopfully many dates will be given this week.

DOS gives us our interview date this morning Our interview date is just a few days shy of our one year wedding anniversry. I was not sure I heard correctly so I called back 2nd time to confirm. What a great feeling.

I called DOS again today and got same answer. The lady then told me that I should get date soon because GZ releases interview dates only once a month and the next batch should be released soon. Has anyone noticed this pattern?

K3 P3 sent back May 12th but combined to Cr1 on June 10. DOS says every day same thing eligible for interview Maybe all ours will come together at same time

If she used the 'Visa call center' for GZ (the pay center), it is not actually a part of GZ, but a third party service hired by GZ to let people know when their interview is in queue, and what the interview date is. I think their computers are updated every monday, and they are not connected to GZ. DOS, however, is directly connected to the GZ system and can give you more reliable info. Bottom line: DOS is the more reliable information 224590[/snapback] I also am " in queue for interview" as of a couple days ago. It is hard to wait as many plans need to be made. I have been calling DOS every day

YES I remember your comment about our CR1 . I would love all this to happen in time for my stepdaughter to prepare for her new school.

My wife had returned P3 for K3 about 30 days ago so I have been calling DOS lately to check if P4 has been sent. Today I also checked on status of our CR1(K3 arrived at GZ about 30 days before CR1 did) DOS said that K3 and CR1 have been combined and CR1 is "in queu for interview" This is good news I hope?

K3 My wife sent P3 back to GZ May 12. Today I called DOS and the lady said GZ just today (June 2) entered it into computer. Will this generate P4???

I'm sure your wife would compare it to the purring of a Detroit Diesel. 214529[/snapback] Ok I will come out of the closet too. ** I SNORE** there I said it. My ex and Kids said I was very loud at times. I lost some weight and that helped a bit. Funny thing is 2nd time i was in China my Wife recorded my snoring and when she can not sleep she plays it. She says it helps her sleep .

Why is not the name check done with K-3 sufficiant for CR-1???

P3 for our K3/K4 arrives While I was talking with my wife DOS has been telling me it was mailed last of April at same time case was entered into GZ computer but It was only mailed From GZ on the 9th and arrived in Shanghai the 11th. I think that when case is entered into GZ computer that only generates the paperwork for the mailing and then package must go through various stages at the consulate before finally getting to the mailroom and picked up by EMS. Last weeks holiday slowed things I think. She will mail it back on Friday and then we wait for P-4