mikeymark

SPEC - TAC- YOU- LAR Thanks for the ring side seats. Since I missed the local show last night, you made my day. GREAT JOB !!!!!

Congratulations !!!

Very cool ! :D :D

My wife recently had her successful interview and I also had more than two divorces including one that was officially finalized the day before my first trip to China to meet her. At the interview she was asked how many times was I divorced, did she know about all the divorces, were there any children and why my last marriage ended in divorce? I made sure my wife knew all my history and especially the details of my last relationship. I also had prepared a letter for her to bring to the interview explaining the details of my last divorce. She did not need to show the letter probably because she was able to verbalize the details sufficiently. I hope this helps. Mike

Once the paperwork reaches Guangzhou it is hed in a customs hold before being released to the consulate. As you can see by my timelines below, you may have a 3 to 4 months wait to get an interview date. On 1/26/11 I contacted the NVC and they just posted my interview date that morning so I quickly started booking my flight to China for best ticket prices. I think I read where some people's paperwork was released quicker than mine. BTW, my application was for a CR1 and was not electronically processed. Good luck for fast processing! 09/16/10 - NVC sent case to Guangzhou 09/20/10 - Case arrived in Guangzhou/Customs Delay 01/26/11 - Interview scheduled for 3/2/11 Mike

Your wife is from Guilin? We are thinking of relocating there in a few years. Do you know if there are quality Western doctors/facilities in Guilin?

Bring passport, green-card, if have not received CG yet the passport with visa should do, the visa should have an I-551 notation on it indicating green card. Bring foreign Birth cert, and translation. Bring copy of marriage license. Good information, I probably would have forgotten to bring the marriage documents. Thanks again !!!!

Give it 2 to 4 weeks after arrival, then go to SSA and apply for a "replacement" card. Thanks, I guess that's what I'll have to do tomorrow since it has been over 6 weeks now.

I tried to search for Social Security Card on the forum but keep getting a database error so here's my question. On the CR1 application the box was checked to receive a Social Security Card. Does anyone have a clue as to how long it takes to receive after entering the US?

CONGRATULATIONS !!! So happy to hear you finally can now spint to the finish line!!!! Best of Luck for a speedy "Happy Ending" (Beginning ) I remember when I got the good news after calling one day and later in the day the status had just changed. The happy factor was just indescribable. Almost couldn't believe it and I couldn't wait for my laopo to wake up and hear the great news. Exciting terlet trip for the Ll Rabbit!. Holy Sh*t Mike and Liping

Yes, the 12:30 document submission is the day before your interview. There will be a line outside the consulate and when you get to the 5th floor you will submit the documents requested in your P4 instructions. You will also submit your medical examination sealed envelope and have your finger prints taken. FYI, they did not ask for any documents from my wife other than the medical report because we front loaded all the required materials. Good luck with your interview.

Mike, Congratulations and thank you for sharing your wife's interview experience. I had a divorce and filing for k-1. When you have a moment, could you please share some of the questions the VO or CO asked your wife about your ex-wives. I hope to gain some knowledge from your wife's experience in order to prepare my fiancee for her interview. Thank you! bobby, It is important for you to communicate all aspects of the divorce including why you decided to get the divorce, when you stopped living together, when you filed for the divorce and when the divorce was finalized. I had also prepared a letter explaining the above details including the following information about my ex-wife; her last known address, birthdate, last known phone number and social security number, however the CO never requested the document and my wife only provided requested information to the CO. She did however explain all the circumstances mentioned above to the CO when asked about my last marriage. I think that if you were married to a foreigner before it would provoke a big red flag. From all my reading here on CFL, I learned that the most important thing is to communicate thoroughly with your wife/fiance so she can answer any and all questions asked by the CO. Also, she must always tell the truth! Read as much as you can here and prepare the "kitchen sink" and hopefully you will not need the abundance of materials. I owe so much to the great people and support here on CFL. Good Luck! Mike

Today my wife had her interview and it took 20 minutes before hearing the happy words "you passed". I want to thank everyone here at CFL for all the help and great suggestions. Our journey took about 14 months for the CR1 visa for which my wife had the kitchen sink ready for all challenges. I am 67 and my wife is 48 and this is my 4th marriage. Being retired was not a problem with the form 864 and I didn't need a co-sponsor. The interview was longer than others because she had to overcome the questions about my 3 other divorces. The Yang's were such a great help and I highly recommend staying at their aparments. Mrs. Yang spent a few hours going over our documents and made many valuable suggestions. Awesome couple! (Thanks to CFL members for the heads up on the Yangs) I waited for my wife in the coffe shop on the 4th floor and when she came down she had a VERY sad look on her face and was shaking her head. I was worried about the divorce issue and feared the worse. Then she broke out the big smile and said "I got you!" I suggest everyone front load as much information as possible before your interview and heed the great suggestions here on CFL for preparations. Best of luck for all with your up coming interviews! Mike

SUCCESS !!!

Hi, My wife finally got the P4 packet as soon as the Spring Festival ended and EMS went back to work. You are correct, the March 1 date we got was for submission of documents and the interview will be March 2nd. I took a chance and booked a flight to Los Angeles for her and I pray for pink. I wish you and your fiance much luck for a successful interview. Mike

I was told on the telephone that my wife's interview is scheduled for March 1 at 12:30. Now we are waiting for the confirmation letter with the P4 packet. I hope the interview is truly on the stated date because we have made all of our flight reservation and booked a reservation at the Yang's.

Hi Dan. I Just called the Visa center and they posted the interview date today for Tuesday, March 1st. Soooo excited! When should we arrive in Guangzhou in order to allow time for the medical exams and vaccinations plus anything else required before the interview? If, God willing, she is approved for her CR1 Visa we will wait in Guangzhou to pick it up. When do you think would be it would be advisable to schedule the flight out of Guangzhou? Again, based on your recommendations, we will book lodging with the Yangs. Thanks, Mike

Thanks for the info. You are such a great help to everyone here. Kudos!

Dan, Is the medical center open on Sunday? I plan to stay at the Yang's apartments and hope he can help us if we have the same issues as you had. I am surprised that they did the interview on Monday. I also seemed to have heard that some paperwork is required to be submitted to the consulate the day before the interview.

Hey Dan, Thanks for the "anytime now", you must be good luck. My wife was very cool about the expected delay and said don't worry. Wouldn't you know, This morning (Saturday in China) she got a call from the consulate asking her to confirm her contact information. Yipeeee! I assume that means she will get her letter shortly. I am now hoping that the interview is scheduled for just after the Spring Festival so air travel will be easier. One more big hurdle to overcome. Thanks. Mike

Hi! I am wondering if anyone has discovered any online games that would be easy to play with laopo? This would help during the long visa process. Mike

Aaaargh I called the telephone number you gave me and they said the package sent on September 16, 2010 has not been received yet by the consulate. I was tracking a DHL number that I thought was the package and thouht it was released from customs on Dec 8th. Boy was I wrong. I was referred to a telephone number at the NVC and when I spoke to a live person there they said the petition was send by boat to China. Now I have no idea what to expect in the way of timing. I wonder how long it takes to get to China by boat from the NVC. Anyone have a clue what to expect? My wife keeps reading on a site "001" about people getting their visa interview much quicker than us and can't understand why our process is taking so long.

What information can be obtained from calling this number? They will tell you if and when the consulate mails out P3 and P4. They will also tell you if and when an interview is scheduled. Thank you very much !!!!

What information can be obtained from calling this number?