rogerinca

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/100q.pdf

Congratulations on getting through this finally !!! I think you are the last of the group who went through the big log-jam at the NOA-2 stage of the visa process in 2007!? Best wishes !!

If you just take it step by step, and follow the guide, it is a piece of cake! Also, I used the search mode and reviewed threads of others with recent AOS history. You already have most of the info/data you need from your visa filing, which can be moved over to the new AOS forms. Again, just go through each step and keep your file organized and double check it all and supply a lot of info up front and you will be just fine. Here is the link, if you don't already have it: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1k3aos

I agree 100% !! Before my first visit to the PRC back in early 2004, to Nanning and Guangzhou, I saw a list like this on another website (before I knew about CFL) and it really concerned me about my upcoming China experience. Now, ten (mostly month long trips) and five + years later, I have never had a single problem or issue. I have always just been myself; and after trip number one, I completely forgot about these kinds of lists, from the 'experts' in China culture. I just used common sense and drew on my life experience as my understanding of China and the culture grew. Hey, I was at one business conference dinner in Suzhou, werein one of the businessmen seated next to me at a large table suddenly turned and hocked a 'lung'er' on the floor behind us, just as the food was being served. My wife just smiled at me.

Wonder Full.

the POE experience was great a very friendly woman helped us we wnet through the line together she tore into the brown envelope and noted some stuff and stamped stuff and took about 5 minutes to finish everything then said congratulations and we went through to claim luggage that we waited forever for it looked like it was going to take forever to get through the huge line until a customs agent said hey you guys know there is no waiting at line 3 right so we all rushed over and left within minutes ...the guy took the forms from us and said ni hao asked me sayign K1 huh? i said yup he said hen piao liang good choice. congratulations to you both welcome to the US ....he didnt ask about our bags or anyhting just let us right through i like that he used a little chinese considering he was hispanic lol great experience Hey congratulations on a safe trip back to the great CA !!! And your POE experience at LAX was the same as ours...very friendly and helpful people !! Hey, you talk about the traffic in LA; the last time I was through I-15 in Temecula on a Friday evening, the traffic was backed up half a mile, onto the freeway, from each of the two or three major off-ramps into town !!! We were going to stop for dinner, but kept on going all the way into San Diego, before we stopped. And compared to downtown GZ, LA is a piece of cake !!!

Maybe the VO does want to see a love story, "Bonafide Relationship" Maybe. Anyway, that was my approach to this aspect. From my view, I wanted to [humanize] what I had to say, and wrote 2.5 type written pages from my heart and with love and warmth directed toward my wife. Many of the reviewers, along the way, at USCIS and at DOS, are women....need I say more! However, as was stated previously, each must do what they feel is right for them and what makes them comfortable.

She may look at any time - some employers (at least here in Houston) will hire simply based on the knowledge that she is eligible for EAD, others may require the actual card It is between her and the employer. Be careful that she doesn't go into a situation where illegals are openly working - that is no good either before or after she gets the card. It is the employer that is taking a risk, the I-9 form that the employer needs to fill out has recently been updated ti specifically requre the photo ID EAD card. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD Many employers hire illegal aliens illegally - it is dangerous even for someone with valid documentation to work for these companies, as has been reported on CFL. In addition, working conditions can be less than ideal. Right-on Randy !!!

Hello my friend !! (In reply to post #11) Mine was about 2.5 pages, to cover multi-visits and our marriage in China. I could never convey, what it was I wished to leave with a reader, in only one page. I had absolutely no problem/issues with my approach; and again, the VO complimented my wife on the preparation of our entire package at interview time. I was charged just one flat fee, for the notary to verify my signature on the document. That is what it is about, if it is to be turned in by the applicant at interview time. This, so they know the USC produced it, and not someone else, with a forged signature. The version that I included with my I-129F filings, did not have to be notarized, as it was included within my larger filing, as submitted my me. The one I gave my wife at interview time, was an updated version, to cover the visits since the time I had mailed the original petition. And again, even at AOS time, I filed still a more updated version, that was about four pages long, to further establish the bona fides of the marriage/relationship. Best wishes to you both !!

At each step in the process, I always looked at the timelines of others in a similar or recently similar circumstance. This is why it is nice to have a timeline available for others to compare and gain knowledge from.

Dittos. My wife and daughter's envelope also had the right side corner cut off with a portion of the contents of the brown envelope visible. So don't worry. Now, if the cut was on the 'left' corner, then I would be concerned !!

It is interesting when one expresses their point of view, which is not that of attacking the government and is supportive of the Consulate in Guangzhou, that is labled as 'fighting' with a suggestion that one should cease any further comment of this kind. I have read the comments of the OP as well as mine, and I do not see any fighting or personal attacking therein. It is interesting that others are allowed to post very negative comments towards GUZ almost incessantly, without any comment/observation from a 'moderator'. Luck has absolutely nothing to do with this process. That is my opinion and I should feel free to express it.

Congratulations to you both !!! I concur with your assessment and have always supported the thesis of what you have expressed here. Most who post here, and have been members for most of the process, are successful, the same as you and me. And yes, it is nothing about 'luck' or the rolling of the 'dice' !! It is about being prepared, and having sufficient financial resources, coupled with a clean background on the part of both the USC and the Foreign National applicant. It is about the USC having no IMBRA issues, or some other things in their past such as not paying Federal Income Taxes, or being behind in child support, or even having active arrest warrants in the NCIC system. Likewise, on the FN applicant side, many times there are histories of previous petitions being filed, and or police files or other misrepresentations that a naive USC may not be aware of. Therefore, when things go tilt, the folks at GUZ always get the blame and most here, will never really understand the true story, only the one side of it. You are also correct in your statement about other member assumptions and opinions. As I have reported, in my multiple visits to the 5th floor, (ACH and ACS) I have always been treated with respect and kindness by the Consulate staff. Moreover, my wife and young daughter were treated the same at their interview last year. Last, it is interesting to note that the staff were aware of your CFL membership. I understood from day one, that a site like this is a gold mine of information and data, for any government agency tasked with the prevention of visa fraud. Moreover, it is not that difficult for them to connect the dots and understand who is who here. Again, good observations and best wishes to you both !!!

I agree with Charles, as stressful/frustrating as the additonal wait can be, you are at the end, so just try and be patient. Anger at GUZ or at the system, will only increase your stress and those of others in queue. You might note, right on the paperwork with the Pink slip, is a statement: "Although your Visa has been approved, you should not purchase tickets until you have received and inspected your Visa...." with a further statement to the effect, it is not really final, until it is final. I have been told, that just prior to the visa being printed, they conduct an audit of the entire file, to ensure nothing was missed along the way. Furthermore, the P-4 paperwork, submitted on the day of the interview, is subject to further review/verification and this also can lead to a delay in what is the 'final' approval and production of the visa itself. Also keep in mind, they are processing/adjudicating up to 400 visa applications (all types) a day at GUZ. Every visa that requires extra handling or extra review, increases their work load. While some will never agree, this is never personal with them. A case file is a case file. Furthermore, fraudulent visa applications (of all types) submitted to the Consulate in Guangzhou, are among the highest, within the entire worldwide DOS system. I forgot to add, in addition to what I outlined earlier (above) with respect to the process after the interview. The GUZ staff must not only recheck/audit the case file and produce the actual visas for attachment to the passports, they must also produce, prepare, and organize all of the important documents for that 'infamous' sealed brown envelope, for the POE officers to review and forward; and then they must enter/update all of the pertinent info to actually activate the visas and update the record/file in the DOS computer data base. I was told that the preparation of the sealed envelope and the data entry into the system alone, takes the better part of a day. Also, right now is student visa season; there are a tremendous number of student visas being processed, along with the K series and CR series, as well as all the family visas, tourism visas and a whole bunch of adoptions going on right now, which also require visa processing. With every interaction I have had on the 5th floor with various employees of this Consulate, I have always been treated well. But then, I have always communicated my questions/issues to them in a non-emotional and never a confrontational or demanding manner. I went to ACS and asked for help in getting my visa a little faster, as I too, had airline tickets booked. I knew the rules but was hoping for a two day turn-around. It ended up being three days and I was feeling the pressure to have to wait for EMS processing. I plead humble pie to the woman, and was very appologetic and told her I understood their work load, but asked for some flexibility in picking up my visas in person. At no time did I get arrogant, snippy, or demanding with her. She looked at her computer screen, sighed, and told me to come back at 5:00 pm, "we will have your visa package ready for you, as you are now clear in the computer". Had she not assisted me in this manner, I would have just sucked it up and made new airline reservations, because I knew what it says on the Pink slip form about not making plans before the visa is in hand, well before my airline booking time. However, in this case, I thanked this woman profusely and kissed her hand !!! I could not have asked for more, as well as previous to that at an ACH when I was stressed over the status of my step-daughter, wherein the VO, after hearing my concerns, in a very compassionate manner, told me not to worry about it...."we see your situation often here." I have many times shaken my head in amazement at some of the highly inflamed rhetoric directed at GUZ. We always hear only one side of any story; they are never able to respond in kind. Therefore, I offer my experience.

Awesome! People need to learn when they can and cannot use a cell phone, I guess that moron learned the hard way. anyone knows why no cell phones and recording devices can be turned on in the custom area of jfk? is this the same for all international arrival termial airport? i don't see it in china or hong kong's custom area, kinda puzzled me right now since i make 5 trips to china and seeing it on every return trip. Yes, it is that way at LAX, in the TBI Terminal, at the first (primary) Immigration Portal, prior to picking up the bags. There are large signs on the walls and on mobile posts, which speak to this. It has to do with basic internal security wherein the bad guys may use 'spotters' and pass on information as to the staffing and movements of the officers, and/or use phones to take photos/videos of personnel performing their duties within the secure area. You may notice it is the same when you go for Biometrics and also for the AOS interview....no phones and no cameras within the facility. Once at the baggage pickup area, you can turn on your mobile phone, but good luck at LAX if your carrier is AT&T, the reception is nearly absent within the bagage area. Not sure how it is with other providers.

Mrs. Yang says she can't do it. They will ask for an ID card. The Yangs had 8 people saying with them who had their interview Monday. Of the 6 that received pink, 4 got their visa Wednesday. One has her visa scheduled for Thursday. We have nothing. Just bad luck, I guess. It's a sorry excuse for a consulate that they refuse to provide better information. That's odd Ms Yang said this as they have done this for several CFL people. GUZ is probably checking on a few extra things about your case. Just be patient and the visa will come. I agree with Charles, as stressful/frustrating as the additonal wait can be, you are at the end, so just try and be patient. Anger at GUZ or at the system, will only increase your stress and those of others in queue. You might note, right on the paperwork with the Pink slip, is a statement: "Although your Visa has been approved, you should not purchase tickets until you have received and inspected your Visa...." with a further statement to the effect, it is not really final, until it is final. I have been told, that just prior to the visa being printed, they conduct an audit of the entire file, to ensure nothing was missed along the way. Furthermore, the P-4 paperwork, submitted on the day of the interview, is subject to further review/verification and this also can lead to a delay in what is the 'final' approval and production of the visa itself. Also keep in mind, they are processing/adjudicating up to 400 visa applications (all types) a day at GUZ. Every visa that requires extra handling or extra review, increases their work load. While some will never agree, this is never personal with them. A case file is a case file. Furthermore, fraudulent visa applications (of all types) submitted to the Consulate in Guangzhou, are among the highest, within the entire worldwide DOS system.

Thanks for your reply. I see that your wife is from Nanning. So is my wife, Hongxia....she arrived here in 2001, 18 months after we where married in Nanning (took this long to process the visa). Now we have 4 and 6 year old boys. Her 11 year old daughter should be here very soon. At 53 years old I sometimes wonder what I've done to myself but it's all worth it. I see you live in the Portland area....we live in North central Washington in a town called Chelan, on a large lake, tourists love to visit. If your ever in the area give me a call at xxx-xxx-xxxx Thanks again, Willie Edited by warpedbored Not a good idea to post personal information in an open forum. Very interesting to see your wife arrived in 2001, and that apparently you were married in the PRC in 1999 !! That makes you a true 'veteran' of this process !! As to your comment about your age...I am age 60 and have an 11 year old and a 14 year old from my previous marriage and now a just turned 13 year old provided by my wife...so don't feel like you are alone, there are many of us in the same situation !! BTW, my wife is also named Hongxia (sunset glow). I love her name. 42. The Red Guards did not use the term "sunset" (Riluo) itself. During the Cultural Revolution it was generally avoided because it could be interpreted as a counter-revolutionary attack on the Chairman. Hence it was wise to replace Riluo with the Chinese word for "sunset glow" (Hongxia).

Yes, the slot is not all that high and it is recessed, down and back up, through the thick glass. I gave my wife two folders, one with photos and one with the financials, i.e., I-134 file with tax forms and employment records. Each was a very flexible 1" thick (Avery Flexi-view) three ring binder, which I purchased at WalMart. I made my decision, at the time of my wife's interview last year, based on multiple post-interview feedback reports here at CFL. It seemed that all they were interested in were photos and/or the financials....I-134 and current year tax statement. After multiple 'recon' visits to the windows, for ACH and also ACS (prior to appointments being required) I realized that it was not easy to slide even a few pages through the slot, and I wanted to reduce the stress on my wife. Therefore, I ditched the more stiff 2" binders I had prepared at first, and went with the flexible 1" versions. Again, I had front-loaded the hell out of my files, so I did not anticipate them asking for other info, other than what they ulitmately did ask for...photos and current tax year Form 1040. Good luck !!!

I have been through LAX many times and also with my K-3/4 wife and daughter upon their entry to the US. I also have had many friends (K-1's) arrive at the LAX POE and none of us have had any significant issues to report. Chances are, depending on her arrival flight, she will arrive at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBI). The only negative is that this terminal serves multiple airlines, including China Southern, and it can get very busy. The CIS lines can be very long, depending on time of day and day of week. The good aspect is that they are used to dealing with these type visas on a daily basis. So it should go smooth for her. Have her hold the Consulate File out in plain sight, for Customs Officers to see. If she is in anyway confused, she can approach any uniformed officer, CIS or federal security, to get directions. Usually they have a couple of Chinese fluent officers on duty. I have on multiple trips, experienced baggage delays of up to one hour or more, after clearing the immigration portal, and just prior to going through the final Customs portal, just before walking out to the waiting area close to the street, where you will be waiting. So do not be alarmed if she is running behind. Also, within the baggage area of TBI, cell phone reception is dismal. She may not be able to call you if there is a baggage delay. This is the most exciting time of the process, best wishes !!

I guess I should have checked my PO Box yesterday?? (Like Mike P. did.) I checked today and at the bottom of the stack, postmarked July 1st, at Lee's Summit, MO, were two non-descript envelopes, each containing a beautiful 10 Year Green Card, for wife and daughter. The card poduction notice was dated June 18th; and at interview time, the ISO stated it might be as long as two months for receipt of the cards. So much for that. Now, I will rapidly complete the adoption process for my daughter and get her Citizenship app' filed very soon; and hopefully, she will have her USC status and new American Passport by year's end. Then the 2 year 8 month (from now) wait for filing for Lao Po. I have waited a long time for this day.

Mike, congratulations on the GC !!! You can kick back now !!! BTW, I rechecked our Welcome/GC approval letters tonight, and it doesn't say 30 days, as I reported earlier, it actually states "you should receive your new Green Card within 3 weeks" !! The letter was dated June 18th.

Hi Mike, The first I heard of the potential production delay, was at our AOS interview about three weeks ago, on June 16th. The ISO advised us that she had recently viewed an internal document which spoke to GC production delays, up to two months, due to equipment issues. However, on about the 19th of June, I received my wife and daughter's welcome letters and they both said to expect the GC's within 30 days. Most likely, the computer generated form letters were not changed to reflect the immediate situation with respect to the card production issues. My guess is, we will see the GC's in less than the two months they are indicating. And, since they will have been produced on the new equipment, and contain the lastest anti-fraud features, they most likely will be even more beautiful, than those produced previously!? It sure will be nice to have that Permanent GC in hand after all we have been through in this regard !!! I can still remember tracking your progress through the system back in very early 2007, when you were ahead of me by a few months.

I can speak directly to this situation. Yes, the HPV shots are not cheap. The USCS quoted us $165.00 for our daughter, before they realized my Blue Cross covered the procedure. When we first visited the Chinese/American CS in Sacramento (fluent in Mandarin) wherein they told us we had to have a complete exam for my wife and daughter. I then produced the rules, which said no exam if less than one year, so they conferred and said ok. Even on the HPV, my daughter was exempt, as it was within the 30 day grace period established last year. I did not argue this point with them and I went ahead and had her get shot #1, because I thought it was important for her health. We did shot #2 locally at her pediatrician's office a few months ago, and will get her the final shot #3, in August. It does pay to know the rules/regs and have them in hand. I think most who come to the CS's office have language barriers and are mostly ignorant of the rules at any given time; therefore, the doctor and his staff can have [their] way.

"The temporary green card is the I-551 stamp in the passport (good for one year with all privileges of the real thing), is it not?" The stamp is the only "card" you can get during an interview ?????!? Why would there be any confusion? Yes Randy, you are correct in your post. Having just went through this last week, there is nothing to guess/speculate about this part of the process. The ISO drew a line across the K-visa and wrote CWOP. Then she removed the I-94. Finally, she took the visas to another room, and another ISO stamped the red [temporary] I-551 on one of the pages of the passport. It reads as follows: Upon endorsement, serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residency for one year. Issue Date: xxxxxxxx Officer: --- ------ EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZED Valid Until: xxxxxxxxxxxx The ISO then hand printed their A #'s and new designation, IR-6/7 This stamp is the same as the actual GC, until it arrives, and has all the privileges of the GC; albeit not as pretty.

Only photos sent were 5 pictures of Yu and my self in China, one of them was of me and her family. This was for the I-129F. We did not send any pictures other than 2"x2" passport photos when adjusting status (I-485) because AOS does not require any relationship evidence other than a photocopy of marriage cert showing that the K-1 visa was satisfied. Relationship evidence like photos together comes into play again when filing to remove conditions (I-751) As has been discussed in this forum at length over the past several months, is that what they 'require' vs. what they 'like' to see, are two different animals. Moreover, in our specific case I knew this would be our [only] interview, as a K-3 married over two years, so I loaded both files up. I think this is why we went from NOA-1 to interview in such a short time frame. This was verified by the ISO, as I asked some direct questions about the process, at the conclusion of the interview. Again, not one single question over bona-fides, just the standard, must-ask questions off the check list to close out the file. I have always fallen back to the USCIS on-line instructions (RE: Filing a complete package) in this regard. Bottom line, we are each responsible for how we approach this important process.