Emery

Hey all, Nancy applied for her SSN, and got a card in 2 weeks. We haven't even sent her AOS application in yet, as we are waiting for an official marriage certificate from Vegas. On her SS card, it says "valid for work only with INS authorization." So I assume that means she can't work until she gets her EAD. However, on the EM-00154 memo it says: "A nonimmigrant alien in K-1 alien status is authorized to work based on that status..." "When an alien K-1 status applies for an original or replacement SSN card, accept as proof of employment authorization either an unexpired: I-94 showing the alien is admitted as a K-1 for a 90-day period; or..." Anyway, what this seems to say is that she should be able to get a work-authorized SSN right away. Has any one had any luck in getting the SSA office to issue a work-authorized SSN without EAD? Thanks. -Emery

Thanks, we'll wait for our official copy then. Regarding the I-693, which is the "Supplemental" form? All I remember is the carbon copy one we gave the doc, which is now in the sealed envelope, so I can't check to see if it says supplemental on it. I guess I'll just have to turn in the whole envelope? Thanks. -Emery

Hi guys. Couple questions on the AOS: 1. We got married in Vegas too, do you think INS will accept the marriage license they give you on the spot, that the chapel fills out? It looks official, with state signatures and everything. Or, do we have to wait for the "official" one you send in the 10 bucks for? 2. I'm filing from Austin, TX, and am trying to figure out if we need to send in the sealed physical exam envelope containing the I-693 form. I've been told by other Texans who've interviewed recently to only bring it to the interview, but the instructions I got with the whole AOS packet seem to indicate otherwise. They say: "For some BCIS locations the I-693 is not required to be submitted until your interview for adjustment has been set. If you did not receive a form I-693 in this packet, your address indicates a location where it is not required with initial submission of I-485. If you received a form I-693, you should go for your medical examination as soon as possible. You will have to choose from a list of doctors..." I did receive an I-693, so we went and got her physical, and got a sealed envelope back from the doctor. Even though the instructions don't explicitly say to submit the sealed envelope with the I-485 app, it seems they want you to, based on the above. However, the instructions are not clear, and I'm worried they may lose the sealed envelope if I send it in. Any ideas? Thanks a lot! -Emery & Nancy

Hey guys, one small question about this: What is the visa number? Is it the control number on the upper right, or the red number lower down? Thanks! -Emery

Thanks, everyone. I'm actually at a hotel right outside LAX now. Nancy is in Beijing, awaiting a flight out this afternoon, her time. I will pick her up from the airport at 11:30 am tomorrow, California time. From what I can tell, her travel has gone smoothly so far, although there is a lot of SARS hysteria in China now. On her way from Sichuan to Beijing, they did check all passengers' temperatures once before boarding, on the plane, and after they got off. And everyone's wearing face masks. She has been in the Sichuan countryside, and incidents of SARS there are very low. She got her visa in GZ 12 days ago, and shows no symptoms. So unless she catches it at the Beijing airport, she should be in the clear. Still, she is paranoid about possibly bringing SARS to America, and infecting everyone in the Southwest. She said that America would hate her then. I told her if her luck is that good, then we should bet big on the craps table in Vegas. The chances of her having it are so miniscule that it's not worth putting her in any sort of quarantine, in my opinion. She will, however, be careful not to cough or sneeze in anyone's direction. Anyway, thanks for everyone's help, I will go to terminal 2, and then it's a fun and romantic drive back thru the great American Southwest. -Emery

Thanks, guys. She's flying Air China in from Beijing, so I guess I'll go to the TBI terminal. Now for the 25 hour drive.... -Emery

Hi all. Well, at long last, Nancy will be hitting U.S. shores this Saturday. It's been a long 14 months since we started this K-1 thing. I'm driving from Texas to go pick her up at LAX, and we'll take a small vacation thru the southwest on our way back to Austin. My question is about the international arrival point in the Los Angeles airport. I'm assuming all international passengers must enter at the same place, and as long as I wait there, I should see Nancy. Is anyone familiar with LAX, and do you know if this is true? I'm hoping there are not multiple places to come in. If anyone else has picked up someone coming from China at LAX, I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks! -Emery

Hi all. I mean y'all. I'm in Austin, and I think we file all our stuff in San Antonio. I've heard you can file your AOS and AP at the same time, and I need to get Nancy an AP as soon as possible. So does anyone know: 1) Does San Antonio allow us to file in person, and would that be quicker than going by mail? 2) I've heard 1.5 months between application and interview, from a couple in Austin. I'm hoping to get Nancy an AP in 3 weeks. Are we SOL? Thanks! -Emery

What happens in Texas if the fiancee just signs a new first name on the marriage certificate? -Emery

Thanks, guys. I'll tell Nancy the news, I think China Eastern, who should be her carrier, ought to know this. I'll ask her to call them.

Hey everyone. First, Nancy got her EMS last weekend, she has since flown to GZ, picked up her visa, and is in Shanghai, getting her medical records transferred to the yellow form. It's been a long 13 months. Her namecheck clearance took almost exactly 4 months. We're excited. Anyway, at the Shanghai hospital yesterday, she was told that she must get tested for SARS before she can enter the U.S. They said that the test must be done within 10 days of travel, and costs 150 RMB. Has anyone else heard this? She will be flying from Chengdu, and hopes she can get a SARS test there. If not, she may have to fly to Shanghai first, get the test, and go from Shanghai to L.A. the next day. This may be a load of B.S. from the hospital, but I'd hate to find out I'm wrong, and she gets stuck in L.A., or sent back. Thanks! -Emery

>>MCI has an international calling plan where it is 17 cents per minute to China. The reason I especially like MCI is that they have a feature where China can call you collect for the SAME amount as when you call direct. This has been good for me to know that my wife can call me any time whether she has a phone card or not.<< I use MCI too. Is this an automatic feature, or do you have to call MCI to activate it? Also, are there local MCI access numbers in China she has to use to call collect, or does she just dial the local operator? Thanks! -Emery

Thanks for the info, guys. From your posts, I gather 2 things: 1) 3 months isn't that long, Chinese visas are supposed to take longer 2) keep putting pressure on the INS et. al, squeeky wheel gets the grease. I'm wondering, however, that if it is justified to delay Chinese visas more, because of numbers/fraud/etc., then on what basis do we complain? Is it only those in the black whole that should complain? Should I wait 3 more months before I start pestering them? Thanks. -Emery

Hi guys. In trying to make a case for my congressman's aide to look into this matter more deeply, it would help if I could show him that Chinese K-visas are being held up far more than Russian or other ones, in the security namecheck phase. His contact at DOS keeps telling him that my 3 months of waiting for a security namecheck is not all that long. I think it is, but I don't have data to back it up. Do any of you have this info, or know where I can look for it? Thanks! -Emery

Hi guys. I've never contacted Consular Affairs before. I've just called the DOS namecheck hotline (202-663-1225 ext.1,6), is there another phone number for Consular Affairs? How do I contact them? Do they have different information than the DOS namecheck hotlline? Thanks. -Emery, a.k.a. Nancy's main squeeze http://www.havanastreet.com/china

Thanks for writing the letter, AZ. I will forward a copy to my congressman's aide, who has been trying to help my case. It will give him an idea of how bad things have become. BTW, I think you mean "beseech," not "besiege." -Emery