Lisa&Clare

Just a follow up on my progress. I've tried many things so far and I'm still not happy. I even went as far as downloading a pirated copy of the Chinese edition of Windows and as someone pointed out, it's very difficult to maintain. I've been around computers now for 23 years and built numerous computers successfully, but this is a challenge. When something goes wrong I can't readily fix the problem. First I can't read the prompts and while she can read the prompts her computer knowledge is limited in this area and she can't determine the issues. She is a very proficient user though from years of office work in GZ. But she always had tech people to call if there was a problem. The next thing I did was install my licensed copy of Windows XP Pro with all the language packs and selected the location as China and default language as Chinese Simplified. At first this looked and acted exactly like we wanted. Her software (mostly English learning tools) installed and worked perfectly and the pinyin to Chinese worked perfectly but….. Pretty soon the keyboard started acting up. Some of my software I installed actually installed with Chinese menu’s, I figured ok but eventually didn’t like it because the software I installed was support software to keep her computer clean and bug free and optimized, and now I couldn’t read it. Even when I would switch back to English (EN on the language bar) it would mysteriously keep reverting back to “CH” Maybe when I installed Microsoft Office I or the machine determined to default to CH as the location was set as China but it made it difficult to type in English if it was desired, even when I changed the location to United Stated it still keeps reverting to CH. I mentioned keyboard oddities, well I don’t know what it’s doing but when I just try to type the numbers it goofs up. 1 is a 1 and 2 is a 2 but after that it starts entering two numbers for one a 3 is a 34 a 4 is a 45 and a 0 is an asterisk * etc. and down on the keyboard some of the letters are numbers. I’m not sure what’s going on there or how to fix it. I’m about to reinstall XP Pro and choose everything as American English and add in all the language packs again and tweak it from there, at least then I can read the prompts. Not sure but some of the keyboard issues may be attributed to my installing a wireless keyboard from Logitech. After installing the drivers from Logitech is seems goofy now. Maybe it’s interpreting some undesirables due to the language or location. I’m going to mess around some more with the keyboard then switch if I can’t iron it out. Hope this help someone in the future, at least with knowledge of some of the future hurtles. Oh Ya, yes the keyboard was selected on all choices as US 101

I figured that's what I needed to do. But it's hard to find a cost effective Chinese edition of Windows XP. They're all pretty expensive. It's almost worth buying a whole computer to get the proper set up. Thank you all for your answers.

I have an extra PC and want to turn it into a computer just like my SO would have used in China. I've reformatted the HDD and reinstalled Windows XP Media 2005 and selected China PRC as the default language and installed all of the language sets but this doesn't meet my goals. How do I set this computer up to be asian only? What OS do I need? I've seen her computer while I was in China and all menu's and tabs from Windows and Office are in Chinese. What do I need to do this?

Great News! I'm happy for you both. I completely understand the mixed feelings. These wonderful ladies don't come to America because they don't like it in China. They come because they love us very much. I constantly feel honored.

and what was your wife thinking at this same time... glad it all worked out... She can't read all of the nightmares that couples go through, so she was oblivious. Kinda like, what you don't know doesn't hurt you. Sweet bliss!

Wow, I got off cheap. Me and Lisa waited 2 1/2 hours before the nurse saw us at the CS office in Toledo, OH. The whole time I sat there with nothing but negative thoughts running through my mind. There couldn't have been too many as it's small. Anyway I figured they'd find something wrong and reschedule another appointment delaying our submittal and making it dangerously close to the new fee structure. Well all she did was ask a few questions pertaining to me knowing what I¡¯m doing (she didn¡¯t want me to have to come back because I did something wrong). I pointed out the procedure from page 3 of the I-485 instructions depicting that the physical isn¡¯t necessary if done within one year of her last physical. I told her that Lisa just had a physical in China in March 07, she said OK then reminded me that we¡¯ll need to follow up on the second shot for varicella (she marked the I-693A as shot not complete on the VAR) then went off for the signature from the CS. She returned with a sealed envelope and a copy for me and a bill for $29.00 then she gave me a gift card to Kroger¡¯s for $10 because we waited so long. I told her it wasn¡¯t necessary but she insisted. So it only cost us $19 to get our supplemental form I-693A completed. This was a shot in the arm as I never expected them to be so nice and friendly. I give them an A+

Thanks Randy, you answered my question. I was also almost certain of this but wanted to clarify it to my wife. A green card also serves as a work permit. The EAD is only a quicker way to a work permit (Job card). In response to your statement about wasting money on the EAD. If the GC would for some reason arrive prior to the EAD it most certainly would be a waste of money on the EAD. In your case you haven't wasted any money on the EAD, because your still waiting for your GC. I'm not sure what you were implying about the two weeks. I was in frustration towards my wife's persistence of the job card being sarcastic about me now being compliant with her wishes of acquiring the EAD. Even if the EAD arrived only two weeks prior to the GC. I hope those two sentences weren't too confusing. Be thankful you can't look in my head right now, it's a screwed up mess right now due to the convoluted mess our .gov has created. No, it's the same wastage, just twice as much! And necessary, as you are pointing out. But we paid for our green card - they just get a guaranteed annual income of $180 while we're waiting. I think the bottom line is don't count on getting a fast green card. There's nothing wrong with waiting to see if maybe you get it, but I think that's been WAY over-emphasized here and elsewhere. If your wife wants to work NOW, apply for the EAD. If you want to see if maybe you can save a few bucks, wait and see. If it doesn't come, you've lost 90 days. By the way, most employers will hire her with the I-797C as proof that she will have the EAD within 90 days. Very well put. for peace of mind and home I'm filling out the I-765 and I-131 right now. Nice tip on the I-797C, I'll be searching out that info right after I've got my I-485 package (G-325A, I-864, I-765, I-131, I YI I and I Kee Yumba) post marked. Thanks All I can't express how much your efforts are appriciated. It's a wonderful thing how you all provide this information long after your processes are completed.

Thanks Randy, you answered my question. I was also almost certain of this but wanted to clarify it to my wife. A green card also serves as a work permit. The EAD is only a quicker way to a work permit (Job card). In response to your statement about wasting money on the EAD. If the GC would for some reason arrive prior to the EAD it most certainly would be a waste of money on the EAD. In your case you haven't wasted any money on the EAD, because your still waiting for your GC. I'm not sure what you were implying about the two weeks. I was in frustration towards my wife's persistence of the job card being sarcastic about me now being compliant with her wishes of acquiring the EAD. Even if the EAD arrived only two weeks prior to the GC. I hope those two sentences weren't too confusing. Be thankful you can't look in my head right now, it's a screwed up mess right now due to the convoluted mess our .gov has created.

OK, Thank you all for your responses. But nobody answered the question. I'm going to file the I-765 and the I-131 along with the I-485 as we plan on returning to China in 2008 for the Chinese New Year. Originally I was going to omit the I-765 as I've heard that the GC process is fairly quick in my area. But I can no longer take the stress from my wife. I'm now at the point that if the GC would come only 2 weeks later than the EAD that's too long.

I'm ready to file my SO's I-485 but I'm weighing the facts first to see if I also need to file an I-765 at the same time. I need to get some information correct. First off my wife wants to work very badly and it's the only friction and or stress we face (I'll add it doesn't matter to me but it's very high on her priority list, as in #1). She tells me that she must have a Job card before she can work. I interpret the Job card that she refers to as the EAD (I-765). So my question is do I have to file the EAD so she can work? Or is the EAD only a faster way for her to acquire a work permit. Would the I-485 process also be a way to a work permit? I'm trying to avoid the words Green Card because I¡¯ve read there isn't really a green card anymore. I'm confused and tired of her persistence in this matter. I'm not just trying to tell her I told you so because I may be wrong too, but the important issue is that I do what's right for her. Thanks for your help. Clare & Lisa

FAQ = Frequently Asked Question there is no "I-693 FAQ" form, David is referring to the I-693 Frequently Asked Question page, on USCIS old website from before their upgrade last fall. Dead link: http://uscis.gov/graphics/i-693faq.htm USCIS kept the old site up, just no domain name just, an IP to refer to the site. SEE: http://149.101.23.2/graphics/i-693faq.htm Ah Ha, i figured it was with USCIS but I couldn't find it. Last time David referenced it to me I felt dumb because I couldn't find it, so I never asked that time. This time I was pulling hair trying to find the FAQ, so I asked. Thanks dnoblett

Thanks David; I've got everything prepared with the exception of the I-693 FAQ. I can't find it. It's not with the I-693 instructions. I've looked on the Visa Journey, USCIS and Google'd it. I'm sure it's out there but it's evading me. Visit a US Civil surgeon to get the vaccination info transfered from vaccination book to an I-693A (Supplement) SEE: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD Look on the right side of that page for Vaccination Supplement, and where to find a Civil Surgeon. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/ti-03/appdx-a_693vacc.pdf Yup I've seen both of these links and I'm taking the form with me today, but neither depicts the I-693 FAQ that David has referenced to me twice now. I can't find the verbatim FAQ.

Thanks David; I've got everything prepared with the exception of the I-693 FAQ. I can't find it. It's not with the I-693 instructions. I've looked on the Visa Journey, USCIS and Google'd it. I'm sure it's out there but it's evading me.

Just checking to make sure all my ducks are in a row. Tomorrow at 2:30 PM me and Lisa have an appointment with the CS nurse in Toledo. Last week I took Lisa to the local health department to get her inoculations (Tdap, Vari vax and MMR) I then called the CS in Toledo and told them that Lisa didn't need a physical nor did she need any of the inoculations and that she only needed the I-693A filled out for us. She said that we will probably only see a staff nurse to get the supplement filled out. I then asked her what papers we'd need when we arrive to see the nurse. She said we'd need a paper that shows that we need a CS physical (probably referring to the 693) So, the paperwork I'm taking to the appointment tomorrow is her sealed physical papers from GZ, the filled out I-485 papers that haven¡¯t been submitted yet and her Adult Immunization Record. Am I making any mistakes here? Will I need any other paperwork as a just in case? I can¡¯t make any mistakes at this stage of the game, because times running out to get the AOS filed prior to the expensive deadline. Thanks; Clare & Lisa

The latest; Today I took my wife Lisa to the Henry County Health Department. I got all three shots for Lisa (MMR, VAR & TDAP) I now have her health record depicting her immunizations. It was brought to my attantion that the MMR and VAR are both two part injections. The first now and the next in 28 days. The receptionist was unclear about the details but when we saw the lady who gave the shots she told me that the second part of each isn't required unless the somebody instructs to follow up. In fact nobody there had even heard of a CS. They were not aware of any of the requirements/procedures of the I-485 or the I-693/A. She freely discussed that Lisa probably had all of her immunizations in China as a child (yes she did) and that these shots now are superficial in the fact that she only required them to fulfill some requirements for the green card. She felt it wouldn't be necessary to return for the second parts of the shots unless 1. we wanted to follow up as a precaution or 2. if we were instructed to do so. My concern was that I've never read about the fact that the shots were given in two parts. I'm guessing that the reason it's not discussed much is that the first shot fulfills the USCIS/CS requirements.