Ant & Lu

Yah, just received it. Wow lots to do after that. Oct will be a busyyyy month. B)

Yeah I guess so. I will update my timeline.

Hi squirty, Nope, we are doing an IR-1. We walked into the Shanghai consulate to pay for the I-130 form and sent our I-130 along with the G325 to the Beijing consulate at the same day. The P3 came in late August. I guess it will be another 1-2 month of waiting till I receive my P4 after I send out our P3 according to most of other CFL's timeline. For the whole process, we expected it to be 9 month long or longer because that's what happened to my friends back in 2007. Seems that the procedure is greatly reduced lately. Are you doing a CR-1? I don't know how to DCF, is it electronic filing? Seems like it's faster than a regular mail? I don't know if my explanation helps. Kat

Hi Joe, When is your interview date? Have you received your P4? I called DOS last night and the lady gave me a date, it's in Oct. Guess the P4 is on its way. Gotta go kitch sink. A little nervous now. Kat

Is it the 4008 number you called? I called them on Thursday and they suggested me call again in 2 weeks.... Will try our luck with DOS tonight, hopefully we can know our interview date.

My nubby was taught to say " kan shen me kan " (what r u staring at) when he first came here. Now we just kind of ignoring that ...

I used ChinaMobile international calling plan. It costs me 1 RMB monthly fee and 0.40 RMB / min calling from China to US. You simply log onto the chinamobile.com website and apply for the service 12593̨¸Û°Ä¼°¹ú¼ÊиÉÏß (I only know the chinese name for it, you may ask your gf/wife to help find it on the site) online. It is activated instantly after you apply. You dial the number 12593 then 00 then country code then the area code then the phone number. I used it for calling to the DOS and it works pretty well. Just slightly more expensive than you expected.

My friends registered in the US and they never did the registration in China. She got her green card from Guangzhou with no problem.

My husband had to register his port of entry at the local police station every single time after he traveled back to China. We didn't know that in the first place until we did it for the first time, and of course we paid for the fine RMB 100. Now we heard they'd changed the laws so that we only need to register my husband every time we move to a new apartment. I guess in your case, you might have to report to the local police since you are traveling here as a tourist. And some hotels will do that for you without asking you. PS: we are in Shanghai, my husband has a work permit here, maybe a little different from other cases.

Crowded, Bureaucracy [ I know how hard it is to get anything done here because the crowds everywhere, hard to catch a taxi, hard to go out on any national holidays, hard to get a job, hard to.... lots of things here need a governmental stamp to get done.. bureaucratic... But still lots to sing high of this place, convenience, night life, safety, etc. After all, this is a place where I live and grow up. ]

How to find out if your case is open? Kat Call the DOS. The number I call is: 202-663-1225 Then press number 1,5,0 in that order so you don't have to listen to all of the messages. Hi Chilton747, I called the 4008 872 333 number and they told me they'd finished my background checks. Does this mean my case is now open? Kat

How to find out if your case is open? Kat

Hi Joe, I don't know how to check if my P3 is at NVC or not? I received the package from GUZ consulate by EMS on Aug 22nd, 2009 and it said Packet 3 which contains a OF-169 form, DS-230 form and a I-864 form. Kat Hello Kat, Then I am assuming you are doing a K3 and not a CR1 correct? Joe Hi Joe, On my forms, it said IR-1. Do they process this a little different from the others? I never got any notice other than the approval of my I-130 before the P3 came. I guess the next step is to wait for the P4 and the interview, right? Kat Kat, IR1 is after getting married for 2 year. I am not sure how they are processing that. I am doing a CR1. Joe Joe, Yes, we've been married for almost 3 years(by this Dec). Just called 4008 number today, I was told GUZ had finished the background checks but no interview had been set yet. Will try calling them again before the end of Sep. Kat

Hi Joe, I don't know how to check if my P3 is at NVC or not? I received the package from GUZ consulate by EMS on Aug 22nd, 2009 and it said Packet 3 which contains a OF-169 form, DS-230 form and a I-864 form. Kat Hello Kat, Then I am assuming you are doing a K3 and not a CR1 correct? Joe Hi Joe, On my forms, it said IR-1. Do they process this a little different from the others? I never got any notice other than the approval of my I-130 before the P3 came. I guess the next step is to wait for the P4 and the interview, right? Kat

I was told 6 month after you passed your interview for K-1. I guess it's the same for K-3 or I/CR-1s.

Hi Joe, I don't know how to check if my P3 is at NVC or not? I received the package from GUZ consulate by EMS on Aug 22nd, 2009 and it said Packet 3 which contains a OF-169 form, DS-230 form and a I-864 form. Kat

Thanks Joe, Called DOS's number but heard nothing from them, will just be patient and wait. Kat

Can somebody post me the number to call to find out the interview date? My P3 was signed by White Swan Hotel on Sep 6th, I called this number 4008-872-333 today, the receptionist told me that my case number was not in the tracking system yet, pending for security checks? What shall I do next? Many thanks