SirLancelot
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Posts posted by SirLancelot
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Costco has the lowest price: $4.99 for 2 passport photos.
I make them myself now. And a good ink-jet printer with HIGH quality glossy photo paper will suffice. For our AOS submission, we used the photos I shot at home and printed at home. They worked fine. No problems. We passed our interview last month and my wife has her Green Card now. So I know it can work if done correctly. Make sure the photo paper is the HIGH quality (thick stock) kind.
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It's really quite disappointing that this sort of thing not only goes on, but goes on with alarming regularity. Last year when Sarah was experiencing some challenges with her green card I began to discuss the issues with a few local attorneys. Almost exclusively, each of these attorneys took the stance to not fight or push, but simply pay and give immigration whatever they ask for, regardless whether they are right or wrong. That bothered me a great deal; it's hard to know what to do in cases like these where the US is in obvious error. They also have one of the worst track records for ever admitting a mistake even in the face of glaring evidence.
Seems there must be a better way of doing battle with them rather than being in constant submission. I just don't know that anyone knows what the method might be.
That is frightening when lawyers for the plaintiff all suggest one acquiesce rather than fight.
That means the law itself needs changing. -
So let's keep our fingers crossed that we finally got some attention to our case. Hopefully member #153's SO will get a GC in the near distant future.
Crossing my fingers and wishing you lots of luck!
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Congratulations, Jason - nice to hear from you.
Thank you!...Yes, it seems like an eternity since me, you and a few others were all here waiting for our P3's and P4's!...hehehe...
09-06-06--K-1 I-129F sent.
09-15-06--NOA#1.
10-02-06--NOA#2.
10-10-06--Letter from NVC (I-129F Received - Sent To Guz).
12-23-06--P-3.
01-25-06--P-4.
03-01-07--Received K-1 Visa.
Damn Signal, your timeline is hella fast! Even faster than Dnoblett (Dan).
I never realized how fast your K1 went through. I sent out my K-1 app 7/21/07 and my wife had her interview on 2/28/07.
Congrats to your wife on her Welcome letter. It certainly has been a very smooth and speedy process for you guys!
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I am thinking mostly about surf fishing from the beach at Bo'ao...but I'll have to get one of those portable shelters so wifey can stay out of the sun...
Roger, if you set up a crab or lobster shack in Bo'Ao, I'll definitely come for lunch sometimes.
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Happy happy news! Always great to read about another PINK notice.
Congrats!
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But, I think, Ang Lee didn't know. At the end more were cut. Some reported the cut version was only 130 minutes instead of 158.
I see. That's too bad.
Jim_J, I stand corrected.
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I read somewhere that 17 minutes were cut for the Chinese version.
It will make the character development less understandable I'm sure.
Small minds ...
Joanne posted a link to an interview with Ang Lee in an earlier post in this thread. http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...st&p=339857
Ang Lee says it's right around 10 minutes. Some journalist started saying 15-17 minutes were censored and everyone else starting quoting that number. It's actually 10 minutes or less that was cut, according to Ang Lee.
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do you have to file within 90 day,s after marriage date and what will happen if file later
Make very sure you do get married within 90 days. There is no gray area about the marriage. That must take place within 90 days. The actual filing of AOS does have a certain about of gray area grace period.
We filed a few days past 120 days and we were approved 10/30. From time of submission to time the GC was received, it was just a little under 120 days.
Good luck.
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Jackie Chan's 2005 movie San Wa aka The Myth just became available at Blockbuster Oct 30, 2007. I saw it in opening weekend in Shenzhen, China back on Sept 23, 2005.
OMG, Mallika Sherawat, was so hot in that movie! Freaking HOT!
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Thanks Lance. Yes, I very familiar with USCIS. I guess there is just frustration abound here. My wife wants to work and our government won't let her. She keeps asking me "when, when, when?"
I understand fully Ron. It took over a month before my wife's case number made it into the online system. In fact, it was one day after her biometrics appointment when her MSC number was finally online.
Has your wife done her biometrics yet Ron?
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OK Lance, care to share what stocks mom suggests that we invest in?
All our lives--my family--heavily revolve around silicon valley high tech. We lost a shit load of money during the dot com bust. My mom doesn't want that to happen again. This time, she's only investing in mutual funds within China. They also just purchased an apartment outside of Shanghai. I don't recall the name exactly but I believe it's the same city as where Feather's wife is originally from. Kunshan or something like that.
I think Shanghai Tony would probably be the guy to ask about specific stock picks for the Chinese market.
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3. The bank accounts give less than 4% interest. Given inflation ~10%, if you place money in the bank, you lose.
4. Real estate is rising at a similar rate to stocks.
Not quite. GDP/GNP growth rate is not equivalent to inflation rate. While China has been expanding it's GDP at over 10% yearly, inflation has been nowhere near 10%.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/...1670255,00.htmlChina's Next Big Export: Inflation
Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007
Although it may not be evident at the local Wal-Mart yet, these forces may already be in play. Demand from China, along with other fast-growing emerging economies, has driven up the price of oil and a wide range of other commodities for the past several years. But what's really worrying many economists is the sudden appearance of relatively high inflation within China and the ripples that might cause abroad. Despite five interest-rate increases this year by China's central bank, the country's consumer price index has been stubbornly on the rise. In August, inflation climbed to a 6.5% annual rate, the fastest clip in more than 10 years.
In the past 10 years, the inflation rate of China hasn't ever reached 6.5% until now, let alone anywhere near 10%.
But chrisnhong's general thesis is sound. Inflation is going up quicker than the interest rate paid to consumers by the banks, and so one is becoming poorer by putting one's money solely in bank savings/cd accounts. But many people are heavily invested in the stock market now and they've making a killing. Until the bubble bursts, China is minting new millionaires by the day.
My mom has asked that my dad wire more funds to her in China to be more fully invested in China. There is indeed high risk but the rewards are phenomenal.
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Make sure you tell them Kirkland is the best US brand
Too funny.
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As suggested above, pistachios is a good, safe choice. I'd also recommend macadamia nuts. It's called "Hawaii Nut" in China.
Centrum (multivitamin) is always a hit with older folks.
Chocolate is always a good choice as well, but make sure it's dark chocolate. Chinese people like the less sweeter dark chocolate more than the very sweet milk chocolate we're more use to.
I don't know how old Shushu is, but if she's old enough, I'm sure she'd appreciate an i-Pod Mini. ($149)
Mama and Baba are 51. Would Centrum be insulting?
No, it's not insulting.
Even 20-30 year olds would appreciate Centrum. Of course, you can try your luck with giving Centrum Silver and see their reaction. B)
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Actual GC received today. Exactly a week and one day after the interview. B) Name spelled correctly and the A# is correct as well.
Went to the DMV yesterday and applied for a driver's permit for my wife. It took a bit of haggling but they ultimately accepted the I-797 Notice of Action Welcome letter as proof of legal presence. My wife took the written test (in English) and scored 100%! I'm damn proud of her.
So far, we have been pretty lucky. Things have gone very smoothly from initial I-129F submission until this point. I hope we continue to have a smooth process for removal of conditions and ultimately naturalization.
I wish everyone else a smooth and speedy process for their adventure!
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I know this has been discussed before, but I'll bring it up again. When I check USCIS and their "online" case search, I get this message:
"This Receipt Number cannot be found at this time in this automated system. Please check your case receipt number to see if it is correct."
The receipt number is correct. Why do they have this search function if it cannot find the receipt number?
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD
Q : I have received my receipt notice, but when I check my case online it does not appear. How do I get my case added to the system, so I can check on the progress of my case?
We have had an unprecedented number of applications filed in the last few months. Our efforts to enter these applications into our systems have caused a delay in the transfer of information from our case control system to the Case Status Online system. We are seeing delays of up to three to four weeks between receipting of your application and its status being available online. We are reviewing solutions to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
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We don't have that excuse. As you said, we can do better and we should.
I'm with you on that 100% Dave. I'm a tree hugger and damn proud of it.
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Don't try to turn this into a China-bashing thread. No one's bashing China and you know it. This is about pollution in a country we've all come to know and love. I'm certain Lance didn't post the article to show what a bad place China. People post articles here all the time about some negative and positive aspects about life in China. 99.9% of them do it because it's of interest to many of us for obvious reasons. All of our hats are off to the people in China who have to deal with this every day of their lives. And they're off as well to whatever business or governmental entities that are trying to improve those lives. But the fact remains that the problem is huge, globally as well as in China. Pointing that out and having a discussion about it doesn't amount to China bashing.
I'm caught between Dave's points and SQN's points. I certainly don't like to bash on China needlessly, but I certainly will criticize China when I think it deserves criticism--and there are plenty of times and situations where I feel China needs a lot of criticism: free speech and free press are two big criticisms I have. I'm also very concerned with the environment both in the US and China--hell, all around the world.
The reason I'm caught between what Dave and Jesse says is because I have the same lofty goals and ideals that Dave has, but given my economics background, I also understand why practical reality doesn't work out as well as Dave's (or my) ideals. I am an outed liberal Republican.
So at the root, I want less government taxation, but I am nevertheless very concerned about the environment. In that arena, I would like to see more, rather than less, regulations to force unwilling and laggard businesses--especially big business--to cooperate with helping to restore the environment to a more pristine state. When you compare the US with China, the US is so much better, but when you compare the US with Europe, we're pretty much laggards by any definition. I know many Americans don't like to be #2 in anything. Many will perpetually insist we're #1 at anything and everything and that we need to listen to no one. Well, I disagree when it comes to the environment. I think Europe is miles ahead in what they've already implemented, as well as the lofty goals they have set for the future. I think it's absolutely critical for the US to at least follow in Europe's footsteps if it won't progressively lead on the environment issues.
China needs desperately to improve it's environment for it's people to have a better life in general. That's a given. I tend to be little more understanding of why China is in its current state because as a country with 1.3 billion people, it is still very poor. To be sure, there are newly minted billionaires by the month, if not week, but per capita, China is still very poor. It can't compete directly with Europe, Japan or the US when it comes to environmental ideals. It just can't. I'm not trying to make excuses for them; they simply don't have the money to be very progressive about the environment currently. But they are getting richer and richer as a country with each passing year, and so the Chinese people are starting to demand better.
Let me tell you: many, many Chinese people absolutely loathe the fact that much of the products made in China for export is better in quality than those manufactured for domestic consumption. They are livid with anger over this situation. They want change. They are demanding change. And it's coming.
I post some news articles from time to time because I find them interesting. China is so huge and diverse. They now have more billionaires than any other country, except for the US. That's amazing. Yet, per capita, they're still very poor. How does anyone reconcile this extreme difference in their heads? I can't. My parents have friends in Shanghai who are multi millionaires who go through Benz, BMW and Audis every couple of years like one goes through fashionable clothing. Yet, we also know relatives and friends who live very humble--considered subsistence level in the US--lifestyles. One can spend $2000 USD on a couple of pounds of "bird's nest" while the other won't even spend $10 on electricity a month. It's just mind boggling the extreme difference in lifestyle.
I went back to Shanghai in 2004 to see for myself. Having lived in Shanghai from August 2004 to April 2006, I got to see firsthand how things were/are in Shanghai. I've witness firsthand how decadent the rich live and how frugal and meager the poor live. And this is the richest city in China: Shanghai. I can only extrapolate how worse other less well to do cities treat the poor. There is a huge difference between the poor class of China and the poor class of the US.
My point? To expect the poor class--which is huge in China--to zealously care about the environment as much as Europe or the US is just unrealistic. They care about making enough money to feed their children and pay for their schooling and to have a down payment for their children's future home purchase. To worry about clean air and clean water is a luxury right now. Of course they all deserve clear air and clean water, as do all people, but that's just not their priority right now. It's quite evident in the litter/trash that is thrown about by the ordinary people. Every where in China people of all classes throw litter everywhere. All streets are dumping grounds for everyone. So this kind of mentality isn't just pervasive in business, it's everywhere, endorse and condoned by practically all. Until the Chinese people themselves change to demand better of themselves, "big business" certainly isn't going to change. But I think Chinese people are starting to change and demand better, especially the younger generation. It is a fact the youth litter less than the older generation in China. So I do see a brighter future for China eventually.
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As suggested above, pistachios is a good, safe choice. I'd also recommend macadamia nuts. It's called "Hawaii Nut" in China.
Centrum (multivitamin) is always a hit with older folks.
Chocolate is always a good choice as well, but make sure it's dark chocolate. Chinese people like the less sweeter dark chocolate more than the very sweet milk chocolate we're more use to.
I don't know how old Shushu is, but if she's old enough, I'm sure she'd appreciate an i-Pod Mini. ($149)
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So? The environmentalists are wrong? Again??
The non-environmentalists have been equally wrong--if not more--many times.
I just thought it was interesting that the pollution was less than expected due to the sheer amount of water that's flowing but as I-Dave points out, it's still very polluted, just not as expected.
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I was fortunate, last year when I filed I-129F, it was just after the IMBRA RFE mess of Spring 2006, you should have seen the wailing and gnashing of teeth on VJ over that debacle.The time from when you first sent in your paper work has gone up almost every day lately on VJ!!! Ouch!! B)
From the time you sent it in to NOA1 is now 29-32 days.
NOA1 until NOA2 is now around 134-136 days.
I am glad I missed that mess, now just waiting on the backside!!
This one should net be so bad, just a bubble.
Fortunate indeed Dan.
I believe you had the fastest processing time for K-1 NOA2 for China in recent history. I was a bit peeved at the time.
But it's all good now. Your wife and my wife entered the US on the same day but at different PoEs of course.
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Thanks everyone. We appreciate all of your congratulatory posts. B)
Now soon she'll have the green card and then mark 90 day period before the two year anniversary on your calendar. Something you don't want to forget.
Yep, I'll be marking the date as soon as the actual GC arrives. I'll mark exactly 21 months from the date the GC is received. C4Racer, good luck with your wife's removal of conditions!
What? you only got one welcome letter? My wife got two. The green card usually comes shortly after the letter. Congratulations Lance.
Well ain't your wife special Carl.
Am hoping the GC arrives sometimes later this week. Crossing my fingers. now I hope it will be my stepdaughter's turn after waiting 39 months.
I took her last week to do biometrics, (again). I hope to see a GC in the mail real soon!
TY_99, I'm crossing my fingers for your step-daughter as well! Here's to hoping she gets her card this week!
Thanks again everyone for your good wishes. We appreciate the positive vibes.
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Beware of your humor--particularly sarcasm--as your SO will most likely not get it.
http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print...8009682064.htmlManaging
Plain English
Gets Harder
In Global Era
By PHRED DVORAK
November 5, 2007; Page B1
Computer Sciences Corp., a U.S. technology consultancy with offices in 49 countries, last year made a peculiar request to the company that teaches English to its employees around the world. CSC wanted the company to give them lessons on detecting sarcasm.
Bente Holm Skov, CSC's European director of learning, says even employees who understand their colleagues' English are often stumped by their senses of humor. One French worker took offense when a British colleague jokingly referred to a fellow Brit as "not too clever" on a conference call.
"Softball" questions for ACH?
in Interview Results
Posted
Just tell it like it is. Tell them you have no questions but wanted to come to ACH to register the fact that you've come this long way from the US to be with your SO at her time of interview to offer her moral support.