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Ok, I have been thru the process and on Monday my wonderful wife received her approval for her visa. We had a very easy interview. We were married in April 2009. Our case was fairly easy except for the fact that I brought another women from Vietnam about 5 years ago. My wife and I made it thru the process and now I would like to pass along some advice. Contact an attorney named Marc Ellis. Normally I am the type of person that would not hire an attorney for this. My thinking is this is just some forms to fill out and a process to follow. The problem is this process in China is so much more than that. The consulate there wants to find reasons to FAIL FAIL FAIL you. Mr. Ellis lives in Vietnam and travels to the consulate there often. Mr. Ellis stays in the Yang's hotel and has an assistant there named Eunice. Mr. Ellis did shed some light on somethings I did not realize personal to my case. Before I heard about Mr. Ellis I interviewed many attorneys face to face and over the phone. I decided on an attorney in California when someone told me about Mr. Ellis. I was somewhat reluctant since Mr. Ellis did not live in the USA. I came to realize this was to my advantage. I work all hours of the night and weekends. Mr. Ellis is always available during thise hours. Any other attorney is basically 9 to 5. On thise evenings or weekends when I had questions I just picked up my phone and called him and always got the answers I needed. The fact that Mr. Ellis is there fighting to problems of this consulate face to face is also to our advantage. I was not able to be at the interview but my wife stayed in the Yang's hotel, the same place that Eunice lives. She met up with my wife (who was fully prepaired but so nervous she could not sleep of focus) went over everything with her, she helped my wife prepair everything and spent several days helping her get ready. Before my wife went to Guangzhou I told her to give Eunice a couple hundred $$ because I knew she would help her a lot. My wife thought I was nuts for wasting so much money. After my wife had her interview she gave Eunice the money and tole me it was the best money she spent. Just the fact that someone with so much experience is there helping with the things you may not realize is money well spent. Today I was talking to my wife and there is another girl going to her interview in 12 hours. I live in Tampa and this girls husband lives in Florida somewhere. My wife is helping her with her paperwork and found so many mistakes. They also did the electronic process and this girl does not have and financial documents or does not have the I-864. Her husband hired an immigration attorney and spent $7,000.00. This idiot does not even know to tell his client what paperwork his wife needs at her interview. My wife and Eunice are helping them get everything ready at the last hour. I know this post is rambling a bit but if this helps anyone it's good. The price Mr. Ellis charges is well worth the service you will get as well as the piece of mind. You wife will also releived of some of the stress when she gets there and someone with their experience is helping them thru the process.

Interviewed this morning for my wife and she received her pink. Will post more in the morning, very easy interview.

Hello all, I've been off the site for almost a year. It has been about 10 or 11 months since I received my letter to file the P3. I had personal reasons for the delay to file things but am now in the process of filing. First of i hope this delay does not hurt the interview. I am a bit out of touch with what is happening in GUZ. I've heard bits and pieces that things have gotten a bit easier there. I really hope so. Ok, to the questions I need help with. We are doing the electronic thing as by now I am sure it is standard, it had just been introduced when I started my visa app for my wife. I have not filed my 2009 tax returns and am prepairing them now for the visa and to submit with my P3. I have heard some where that the consulate require certified returns from the IRS, is this correct. I have enough income and assets but since I have not filed some taxes I have a co sponser. I was going to send the copies of taxes with the P3 and also to IRS at the same time. Is this going to be an issue or should the fact I have a co sponser help elimate this issue. This thing I heard about having certified copies of taxes is throwing me for a loop. My wife is the one telling me I need this but I really never heard much about it before. Also is anyone still loading the P3 with evidence? I am really out of the loop on this and could use some advice. Thanks

Ok, Sorry for asking the question that will most likley have the answers if I take the time to search. I am leaving for china in a couple of days and have nothing ready. I just got P2 notice of approval. My head is spinning because I want to take care of it ASAP and will try to bring what I need to China and finish it there. My parents are coming to China with me to meet the new daughter -in-law so I am taking on double work getting them ready. I would like to ask if someone can tell me exactly what I need to for the next step. I know I need 3 years tax returns and her birth cert and police report. Can someone help me with the rest. Since getting the approval I am so happy but feel stressed. I am self employeed and I am always busy right before a trip to keep everything going while I am gone and this coming right before I leave adds to the stress. Don't get me wrong, I am more excited than I can imagine but it is more to do with no time to do it. We figured we would have at least a month to go for the P2 but christmas came early. Thanks

After getting an a P2 just moments ago I began to think I may have we may have an interview date before the end of the year. I have began to remember things I have hear about interviews at the end of the year. I can remember if I heard it is better or worse for interviews at the end of the year. It seems to me I remember hearing it is much worse for approvals at the end of the year and much better for approvals in the begenning of the year. I think it has something to do with quoata's. What is the consensus for the. Thanks in advance.

I sent in my application on July 17th and received the P1 on July 24th. My wife just figured out how to sign up for email notice and how to check the USCIS website. We were talking about the P2 and I had just asked here if she checked the P2 status today and she said she did and there was no change. At that moment I heard her email inbox ring with a new email and she started up and down. She said she just got the notice from the USCIS that our application was approved. It was less than 2 months. We were suspossed to go to Vermont but we were sent to California. I have a problem. I am leaving for China in 4 days and cannot do the next step until I return. Well I have something to look forward when I return. It will be bitter sweet, I will be sad and happy to come home thins time. Sad to leave her but happy to get the next stpe done. We could have an interview this year if lucky

Sorry Bryon, I remember back several months ago you were meeting M.E. I thought you hired him.

Does anyone know if the lady called the BLACK PEARL has been sent out of GUZ. She is that black lady there that I hear almost always gives blue or white.

THis is the government handling our marriages. Now imagine them handling our HEALTH CARE. What a joke that would be.

I believe Bryons old attorney is Marc Ellis. I remember when he retained him. Not sure about his situation but M.E. seems to be doing a good job for me. Sometimes a little slow to do something but it is because he is very busy. When he interviewed us, he did bring some things to my attention. If he is your attorney I would suggest calling him and working it out. He is the best one you can have on your side for dealing with Vietnam. And yes to the fact about living in Vietnam. It would probally be the closest thing to living in hell. I've been there many times and it is nothing like China. China is well on its way to being closer to what we are used to. Vietnam is still way back in time.

I have stopped spining so fast. Am now speaking with my wife. My file was to go to the Vermont Service Center. I live in Florida and Florida goes to Vermont. The P1 arrived today and it came from California. I am positive that I mailed it to the correct lockbox in Chicago as I checked it 2 times. I am wondering why my file is in California as it is susposed to be in Vermont. My wife just told me that she checked on 001 and was told that is correct as vermont is behind and files are being sent to California to help Vermont get out of the hole. Not sure but I hope so. My case starts with WAC Thanks

I sent out the I-130 package on 7/17/09. I come home today to open my mailbox and have just received my P1. I am happy for this but I see a potential BIG problem. It could mean 1 of 2 things and I can't figure out which. I see on the envelope the return address on the envelope is USCIS California Service Center Laguna Niguel, Ca, I live in florida and am sure my file needs to go to Vermont. I am sure when I was in the P.O. filling out the address label I put the correct address. When I saw this it is now making me think "Did I put the wrong address". I could mean that or it means they have just sent it to California since they are much faster than Vermont. It is a normal P1. I am thinking 2 ways If I sent it to the wrong address, when they sent me the P1 they would see that I live in Florida and return it to me or If I did send it to the correct address and they sent it to California they would have sent me a notice to tell me my case was sent to California. My mind is now spinning, Anyone else have an experience like this. Thanks, James

Hi, I did hire Marc and he did explain the I-130 process but the electronic process is so new he did not have experience with this process as of yet. I thought what you said was correct but just wanted to confirm. Thanks

Ok, I have everything ready to send in and start the I-130 but on the G325A I have a question that is confussing me. On my wifes G325A is what my question is pertaining to. On the very bottom of the form under where the signature is, there is a statement with a bold black box around it. It says the following: [b]Applicant: Be sure to put your name and Alien registration Number in the box outlined by heavy border below.[/b] There is room for First middle last name I am the petitioner and my wife is the benificary. On my G325A I put my name in that box. On her form are they refering to me as the applicant or her as the applicant. Since it is her G325A I am assuming she is the applicant.

I am about to file my I-130 in the morning and have been reaqding about the electronic processing option. I read some links about it but am just confussed. Do I file the inital I-130 as an electronic file along with all of the evidence or is it filed at a later date after I get a P2. Any help would be great.

I just spoke to my wife and about 15 minutes ago 2 ladies she met who were both doing K1s were interviewed. Both got PINK's. I don't know if their fiance's are on here but the ladies screen names are ROSE IN RAIN and the other is FLORA. If the guys are on here than congrats. She told me they both had the same VO and 1 girl was asked 5 questions and the other was asked 3 questions. She said they both told her the VO looked at the 3 years tax returns very carefully and one of the girls had about 100 pictures looked at. The girl FLORA had a previous man apply for a K1 for her and he quit the process about half way thru. She met the new guy and he applied for her and today got pink. Guess there are a very FEW at GUZ with some common sense. Also, just got off the phone with Marc Ellis, I hired him to do everything even though I know I can do it, but I have some concern because I have a previous marriage thru a K1, anyway, he will be in GUZ to meet people this weekend and first part of next week. If anyone needs him they should get in touch with him.

Thanks David, so far the best month of my life

I guess I am just trying to save money anyway I can, this has been an expensive meeting, engagement and marriage. As for the check thing, I know it is not required to list it and GUZ is not allowed to bring it up since it is not on their list of things that need to be reported to my wife but I have heard of them talking about this to others at the interview. I told her about it soon after I met her. I no longer ashamed about it but just look at it like an experience in my life. I guess time does that. I will mention it in the letter I type about our relationship. I will sorta start with how I started to like asian women to the check than my previous marriage than how I met her. Kinda like a short history of my life than to my meeting and marrying my wife.

Thanks, I will say the reason I added her to my auto policy is to receive the marriage discount. When I apply for auto insurance as single it is really expensive, as married it dropped about 25% even though she is not here I still enjoy the marriage discount. Yes, I am trying to figure the balance of giving them the right amount of info. Figuring to give this and not that is not easy. One thing I am happy to see is it seems the whole process has just speeded up a couple months, we'll see.

I am getting ready to file and am just as nervous as I can be. I have been to china 2 times and married on my second trip. I am assuming this is better since I read they can discriminate again marriage on first trip. When I file I will front load everything. I do have a previous marriage with a lady from vietnam. Three attorneys have different oponions on weather this is a red flag. One says it is no red flag since I am just interested than asian women. I hope it is not a red flag. My ex wife wrote a letter on my behalf for me to turn in with the cr-1 as marc Ellis recommended. Also my parents both wrote letters as they were staying with me on vacation for 4 weeks and spoke to my wife (at the time fiance) often. They along with my sister and niece will travel to china for the wedding reception. We already got married but posponed the reception until they can come over.. They sent copies of their chinese visas along with their letters. My father is retired Dept. of Defense so he has some solid background. My wife speaks near perfect english. We don't have a ton of email because we speak on the phone all the time. I have many many hours of phone call logs. Now, i have the 1 red flag of the previous marriage from a K1. We have been divorced for over 1 year. As I said though, I am hoping this is not a big red flag. My second red flag (I hope it is not) is I was convicted of a felony 18 years ago for writting a bad check. It was a large check and, I was young and stupid and did not bother to take care of it in time. I hope this is not a red flag also since it was so long ago. No other problems since than. Hey, I did it, I admit it, not proud of it, but I was young and stupid. Marc Ellis said it could be a red flag but may not be. That alone has got me confused. My third red flag is I am self employeed and my tax returns are not the greatest as far as what I earn. I do have my father willing to co-sponser but I read sometimes even with co-sponser, guz gives problems to people with co-sponsers. Me and my wife were just married on 4/27/09 so I have not had a lot of time to add my wife to many financial things. Also, it is hard to do when she is in china. I did add her to my geico auto policy. Hopefully this is a start. I will front load everything I can. I have many pictures. I also have letters from my family, her mother and father. Her boss and her mothers boss. He took us out to lunce after the marriage. Her mother has worked for him for many years and he is close to the family. We also have some of our chat logs and emails as well as a whole lot of phone records. Am I missing something and should I worry about my red flags? To me they seem so big but perhaps I am worring for nothing. I just dont know. Also, do I send copies or originals to USCIS?

Jason, Can you give an update on 2 things. 1. Did you find a attorney in GUZ who is able to help you and if so how is he/she helping. Also their name. I ask this because I am starting my I130 now for my wife and I like to see when problems come up what the problem is and how it is handled so if I have problems I have a plan in place. Also do you have a time line or information on what you presented as proof of marriage. Also, how many time did you go to china total and what trip did you get married? I went 2 times and got married on second. thanks, JS

Samsong it does not ask for mailing address. it just asks for address so I am assuming her home address. Is it OK to list the work address in place of home address

Not sure if any of you had this problem but my wife does not and cannot receive mail at her house. Not sure the reason. This is the address listed for her ID card and passport and Hu Kou. SHe said that this is normal. On the I130 and G325A we are listing this address but there is no place to list a mailing address. She said that on the chinese website that many people told her not to list the home address but instead list the mailing address. I am worried if we do this than the interviewer will notice the address do not match and deny for this reason. Any advice?

Thanks so far, We were just married yesterday. I did already get the marriage book translated and stamped. We did not take wedding pictures yet since the wedding party will not be until late June when my family can attend. My parents and sister and niece will come for that. I leave in 2 days but perhaps we will get some wedding pictures in the morning.

Ok I am now filling out the I130 here in China and I have a couple of questions. 1) My wife has and english name she has used since I met her. I do sometimes use her chinese name but my family all know her by her english name as that is how I introduced them on the telephone. All of our email are addressed to and closed with her english name. On the I130 I believe it askes the question does she go by any other name I guess I need to put in her english name. She never uses this name in china for anything but between us only. 2) Let me list what I believe is everything I need to file the paperwork. Also is this the point I front load the docs. I130 G325A for both of us My birth cert Our marriage license translated My divorce record some of our pictures together letters from our families we were just married so we have nothing joint together yet Is there anything I am missing or wrong about? I have read VJ list and just like to put things into my own words to be clear. thanks JS