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Bert

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Posts posted by Bert

  1. We got our interview date & time: July 15th, 7:30am. We'll arrive in Guangzhou midday on the 13th (we couldn't go earlier because I'm still teaching the preceding weekend). Staying at the Yangs' place. I'm also going to try to squeeze in an ACH on Monday to make sure we're getting the Ir-1 10 year greencard instead of 2 year conditional (just passed our 2 year anniversary)

    Since I'll be in Guangzhou a week before most of you, I can fill you in on how the interview went and hopefully it'll help you!

     

    Our interview is two days before your interview. If I see you around, I let you know how it went.

  2. We have used skype before, and have skype phones/handsets. We have a call asia plan with vonage, so we are able to get in touch with her parents.

     

    What we want to do is provide this as a way for her mom/dad to call America. We registered the Magic Jack and have a USA number. Sending it to her parents in China, will provide them an opportunity to pick up the phone and call us fairly easily (ok, the computer has to be on, and the Magic Jack has to be plugged in).

     

    Does anyone know though if Chinese land line phones use an RJ-11 connector or not?

     

    i was in china last week and looking at the phone line it is RJ-11, but if you are sending the MJ anyawy why not just buy them a phone?

     

    I don't know my RJ connectors very well, but I can confirm that I have used my laptop modem for dialup access using an existing phone line, so I conclude that it is the same as it is in the US or at least close enough.

  3. I had just found this forum and been reading many posts. I was in the process of preparing my package to be sent to my congressman due to the long wait. I had patience to spare, but, also knew that there was no reason for such a long wait. Things were complicated by the fact that she (My fiance, Jinky) had been a member of the Communist Party. Sort of stupid, considering we have the Communist Party in America. Also, she had worked for a company for 18.5 years. In the last two years of her employment there, the government bought the business. So, to be considered for any position, she had to join. And, it was only part of the "Tourism" business that China is trying to develop.

     

    I had been to China 3 times to be with Jinky. I loved being there and it was a joy to be with her and her family and friends. Sadly, I lost most of my speaking Cantonese when I came back and was not around it very long. She can understand me. But, my accent and pronunciation has gone bad and hardly anybody else can understand me. During the entire process, I was in constant contact with GUZ (mostly form replies...grrrrrr) and the DOS. I also kept every chat log since I applied (over 700 since January 2008) separate from my previous chat logs too.

     

    But, on June 15, she received her notice of approval and when to go to show her papers one more time. We are waiting on her new Police Certificate and then she will go with her papers to show. We are looking for her arrival in America on July 23. My whole family and I are ready to welcome Jinky to our family. Once her son graduates from College (I insisted that he complete his education before coming to America. He is studying Business, Japanese and English) we will apply again for him to come too. Fortunately, he says he will not join the Communist Party. He has seen how that delays everything.

     

    My heart is grateful for her approval and that soon we will be together again. Most of our delays were from her not having her papers completely ready. We lost 3 months due to this. But, soon, we will be together, and, that is all that matters.

     

    Congratulations! Our day is coming soon.

  4. I certainly don't know how normal it is; I can only relate my experience with the two Chinese women that I have known. My first girlfriend had a younger sister. When she got married, the apartment that her parents inherited from her grandparents was transferred to her younger sister. Her parents moved to Shanghai from Wuhan long ago. The apartment in Wuhan was transferred to my ex girlfriend. I don't know when, but she has never been married.

     

    My fiancee was supposed to be given an apartment in Wuhan when she got married. Now that she is marrying a foreigner, that seems to be off the table. She said it would probably go to her younger sister now.

     

    My fiancee also says it is normal for the groom to give his wife a new house once they are married. We'll see how that works out.

  5.  

    I don't know what is normal for an I-130, but GUZ sat on our I-129F petition for about a month after it was delivered to the consulate. I have seen some take two months. You're likely to get a better response by calling DOS.

     

    What is the DOS and how do I contact them? :blink:

     

    DOS is the Department of State. You can call them at 202 663-1225, then press 1-0. They can give you the status such as when GUZ enters it in the computer or when a package is mailed. Even if you are in China, it is worth calling them in the US. They are always courteous and I have never waited more than 2 minutes.

  6. Hello Everyone:

     

    Our DCF I-130 was approved at the Beijing embassy on May 21st and sent to GUZ on May 21st. As of Friday, the GUZ office still has no record of receiving it.

     

    This is the reply I received after my second inquiry:

     

    Thank you for your inquiry! To this day, we have not received the subject mentioned case from the USCIS in Beijing. Please rest assured that we will notify your beneficiary by mailing an instruction packet after we receive the case file. Please note that mail and fax are processed in the order received, due to the large volume we have to processed daily, our response sometimes may not be instantaneous. Your patience would be hightly appreciately.

     

    Sincerely,

    Immigrant Visa Unit U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou 1 Shamian South Street Guangzhou, Guangdong 510133 PRC Fax: 86-20-38844412

     

    It will soon be a month since the Beijing embassy sent the file to GUZ, is this a normal legnth of time? I always thought it was less than a week.

     

    Thanks for your replies.

     

    I don't know what is normal for an I-130, but GUZ sat on our I-129F petition for about a month after it was delivered to the consulate. I have seen some take two months. You're likely to get a better response by calling DOS.

  7. One thing I don't get is how the English subtitles on English speaking movies get so fowled up. They don't have to translate anything, just put the word that is said. I imagine that a lot of Chinese buy the English speaking movies to improve their English, but it is so incomprehensible a lot of times, that it is worse than useless. My fiancee always asks me if the English subtitles are good or not. The ones that are fowled up are the pirated movies for which English subtitles have been added.

  8. Just received the P2.5 only 8 days after P2. It has the GUZ number, where and how do I track it?

     

    Thanks

     

    You call DOS (dial 202 663-1225, then select 1-0) to monitor the status. I used it to know when they sent the P3, which allowed us to return it before we received it in the mail. You can also use it to find out the interview date, once it is set. If you email GUZ, you will also need this number.

  9. That's good to know. We bought one in Suzhou where there is a similar area. Someone said they liked her wedding dress, so she gave it to them. We need to buy another one and I was afraid we wouldn't have time to go to Suzhou. That sounds like a good option.

     

    I bought a complete tux for 600 RMB in Suzhou. My fiancee bargained the price down to 800 RMB for the dress. They goofed it up when they altered it, so she had to select another one. She refused to pay the same price and ended up getting it for 500 or 600 RMB. It was a beautiful dress.

  10. It took 3 days after my fiancee was deemed eligible (qualified was the word DOS used with me) for an interview date to be set.

     

    Someone here said the interview dates were set twice a month, towards the beginning and end. This seems to be true. A wave of people received their interview date at the same time. Assuming this is true, my guess is the interview date will be given out towards the end of the month, since the beginning has past. The date will likely be 3 to 5 weeks from when they give you the date.

  11. I agree with ShaQuaNew.

     

    I always got a kick in Romania. As soon as you closed the door to leave, the maid was in your room checking it out to make sure you didn't steal anything. By the time you got to the checkout desk, they will have called the front desk, the only time you got such speedy service. The rooms had nothing you would want to take. The towels were threadbare. The ashtrays and bathrobes were stolen from somewhere else, usually with a logo of a New York hotel, each one different. A colleague had trouble with the bathrobe staying of the hanger, so he folded it up and put it on the top shelf. The front desk got a stolen robe alert before he could checkout.

  12. I called GUZ to check on the progress and the woman (although polite) basically laughed at me and told me that it would be another 3-4 months before it clears customs, and that the interview would follow in another 2 months or so... bringing us to an October/November interview date.

     

    I tried to track the package on the DHL site. I didn't find anything referenced to May 19, but I did find a package referenced to May 20 (tracking number 9332836752). It was a 1 pound package that cleared Customs quickly. It was delivered the the Consulate on June 01. Hopefully, this was your package.

     

    I know it took one month for the Consulate to acknowledge receipt of our package, once it was delivered to the Consulate. When I contacted them, they gave me the same old garbage of 3-4 months for Custom clearance. It's a stock answer.

  13. I had some discussion with my lady regarding gifts to bring for my upcoming trip. Looks like perfume is the gift of choice for the ladies. The gift for the father appears to be Cigarettes.

     

    I recalls seeing on a posting on CFL someone suggesting a Red-Box brand of Cigarettes usually obtained at the duty free shop. The posting didn't name the brand, and I cannot find the posting now.

     

    Does anyone happen to know what that brand is, or have a another suggestion for Cigarettes for the Father?

     

    Please advise.

     

    Thanks

     

    Just make sure he smokes. My fiancee made it clear that I shouldn't give her father anything to encourage him to smoke or gamble.

     

    Here's some advice given me concerning cigarettes: "American cigarettes actually packaged in America are also a hit. Be sure to get them in duty free (12-15$ a carton) on your next trip. Marlboro red is considered too strong, and menthols are thought of as for women. Marlboro lights are good choice, and by the carton (2-3)." I was also advised not to give anything is sets of 4.

     

    As alternatives, I have also heard that some good, imported alcohol such as a French brandy, a zippo lighter or pouch with logo, chocolate (not too sweet), or a decent watch would make a good gift.

  14. It isn't going to be easy. Sounds like your father is not in a position to support you, already struggling to make it on social security. His investments have probably taken a big hit over the last year or so. Your mother obviously can't do it. Any sibling is probably just starting out, possibly with a family and a fair amount of debt. You're likely in the awkward situation of having to ask someone outside the family to help you.

     

    Sounds like you might have trouble even buying a ticket back to the US. The visa process can take a long time and there doesn't seem to be much of a travel budget. If you return to the US, I would prepare your gf for a long wait and long intervals before seeing each other. The process isn't cheap either. There are costs well beyond the visa.

     

    It does sound like you have a bonafide relationship, but make sure that you can prove it with pictures, receipts, ticket stubs, etc.

     

    It's going to be tough even if you have good sponsors until you settle yourself into a decent job. It's a tough job market now. I wish you the best of luck and I hope I don't sound overly pessimistic.

  15. Importing a computer into China is a big no no, especially if the computer was made in China.

     

    I've exported equipment to China. As long as the computer is part of an integrated system, no problem. Quite frequently, the packager will package the computer separately. It holds up the shipment in Customs for weeks every time. In the end, Customs has never refused to release it. But, if it stays in Customs too long, they will charge extra fees. If the problem is not resolved in a timely manner, they will auction it off, I am told. I don't know exactly what the Custom fees are, but I believe it is upwards of 25%.

     

    I would never try shipping a laptop.

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