Kyle

Good for you! Thanks for the update.

You can call the below number to check if your appointment has been scheduled. In our case we found out several days prior to receiving the actual letter. See below: DOS - (USA) 12026631225 Hit 1 to bypass the first automated message, then 0 to speak to someone who can help you. in case you're interested. We called them through Skype (from China). No problems.

Nope, never met but we sure need to.

Ours were not that formal either. It was simply a letter that was notarized at the bank for free (a US bank). The Beijing embassy took them when I filed out I-130 petition. There were no problems.

Dan all of these posts make me quite nostalgic as they remind me of the intro writing classes I took in China. I do enjoy this thead. Thanks for posting.

The stamp is valid for one year

I have noticed that my wife has picked up american slang/idioms through a couple of different shows that she watches. Ultimately, it depends on the individual; if you want to use the television to learn and fine tune your English (and you have the dedication to do so) then sure, I can see how television could help. While I was in China, I often watched television shows to challenge myself. I noticed that the more I watched Chinese television the better my ear for the language developed. I know that's kind of a "duh" statement . . .

For those of you waiting in Guangzhou: To pass the time you could take the D train (75 RMB - 1 hr trip) or bus (60 RMB 2 hr trip) to Shenzhen for a day trip. or go to Dongguan (bus 30 RMB) for a day trip. Shenzhen http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/guangdong/shenzhen/ Dongguan http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/guangdong/dongguan/

Glad to hear she made it alright!

Congrats on successfully making the long journey! Good luck getting over jet lag

I also believe that you can find a cheaper computer in America. The only issue with that would be finding one that has a Chinese version of Windows.

It's good to hear that she's adjusting well to life abroad. I know for Jingjing, having a job that allows her to contribute to our finances is a big boost for her.

If I remember right, for #4, Kyle just applied for a bunch of jobs on Monster.com. They don't need to be jobs you want or would even consider taking. Just a job that would pay enough to cover the minimum poverty level (~$20k) and you are reasonably qualified for. And for the police ceritificate, what I was told is what Dan said, unless your wife has lived outside Mailalnd China, one police certificate from the location of her Hokou is all that is required. Yeah, I had a few leads. They weren't serious leads but I wouldn't go as far to say that I wouldn't of considered them if the price was right; nothing panned out. That being said, the act of actually securing interviews and exchanging email correspondence w/ potential employers seemed to prove helpful. I actually had the following: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/topic/39544-off-to-see-the-wizard-of-guz/page__view__findpost__p__536147

I'm pulling for you buddy. How sweet it will be. . .

Yup, In fact, the majority of your fees are paid when submitting the I-130.

Speedy recovery, Griz

No real macho man, jes a good multi-tasker, especially when it comes to playin' with this here very willing lil' rabbit. While I may be pissin' Chinese water my internal clock is still a bit off...add in the fact that I don't need a lot of sleep (and have severe PTSD sleep related issues) and I am up at all kinds of weird times, nothin' new. tsap seui Well Tsapper, I hate that jet lag - waking up at weird times. If only there was something there to help you get back to sleep. . . Enjoy yer time in Chinertucky. Boy I do miss it.

We submitted about 12 pictures with the I-130, the Micorsoft Word document I prepared had those pictures plus about 30 others. The P4 documentation is very exact about bringing pictures. They expect you to bring them. You don't hand them in at document intake but it seems almost every interview the next day they look at the pictures and hand them back. My wife brought pictures to the interview and the VO said that she didn't need them b/c they already had them. I understand what you're saying about the P4, however, the P4 documents assume you didn't have the foresight to hand them in at the time of your I-130. The fact that they accept them (as well as other supporting docs) at the time of your I-130 allows the VO to make a stronger decision by the time of your interview as opposed to forcing the VO to make a snap judgement based on 3 minutes of conversation/presentation during the interview itself. The documents are "required" listed in the OF-171, if the VO deems they are necessary. The OF-171 is more of a blanket statement of required items. That being said, Jingjing had several items on that list that the VO didn't ask for. It's my impression that the VO interview is more of a fruition of preparation as it sometimes seems that the VO analyzes what you don't have then asks for that particular item. Of course, this is simply speculation based on my readings and discussions with people who have tried to tackle the GUZ machine. When Jingjing entered the US for the first time after the interview we noticed that the packet of documents that we gave the the Stateside border agent contained all of the documents/pictures that were previously submitted w/ the I-130.

We submitted roughly 40 pictures A4 paper @ the time of our I-130 submission in Beijing, two pictures per side. We organized our pictures into two categories "Before marriage" and "After Marriage" When I was in GUZ I noticed some folks trying to submit these huge photo albums and they weren't able to fit them through the VO window. If you've ever been to a bank in CHina, think of the teller window and you'll have an accurate idea of what to expect. Now, whether they will take pictures at your interview, well, who knows? Personally, I suspect that they would, but maybe not. Actually, now that I think of it, I think Jingjing was able to submit more photos at the time of the interview. We used the same method as above. I simply wrote captions under the pictures and put mm/yyyy as the date. If you have chicken scratch for handwritting, you might want to go the extra mile and type captions. As for me, I took the lazy way out This isn't so much for you, but for future people reading this - it's always better to submit your photos/supporting docs when turning in your I-130.

I agree, the notary fee is excessive.

American Citizen Bulletin June 2011 JULY 4 HOLIDAY CLOSING American Citizens Services will be closed on Monday, July 4, in commemoration of Independence Day. NEED TO VERIFY YOUR NEW PASSPORT NUMBER FOR A BANK OR REAL ESTATE OFFICE? When you receive a new passport, the number in that new passport is different from the number of your previous passport. This differs from Chinese passports, in which the passport number remains unchanged. As a result, U.S. citizens at times experience difficulties with their banks when they present the new passport. To address this problem, the Embassy now offers a new document that states your previous passport number has been replaced by your current passport number. A notarial fee of $50, or the RMB equivalent, applies to this service. Make a notarial appointment for this service on our website and, if possible, bring your old passport with you to the appointment. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE A NEW PASSPORT? CAN THAT BE EXPEDITED? Because of the security features of U.S. passports, full validity U.S. passports are all printed in the United States. U.S. embassies and consulates cannot print U.S. passports. As a result, it takes a minimum of ten days to receive a new passport when applying overseas. When you apply at the Embassy for a new passport, we electronically send your passport application to a Passport Center in the United States. The Passport Center prints the book and sends it by FedEx to the Embassy. Upon receipt of your passport, we email you to let you know it is ready for pickup. The process is as streamlined as possible and cannot be expedited further. If you do have an emergency and cannot wait ten days for a new passport, the Embassy can issue you a temporary, limited-validity passport. This limited validity passport is much thinner than the full-validity passport, and does not contain the important security features of the larger book. It is only valid for the length of your emergency trip. CHANGES AFFECTING THE CHINESE VISA APPLICATION PROCESS On January 1, the Chinese embassies and consulates in the United States and elsewhere in the world started using a new visa application form; the old version can be used until June 30. Note that the form changes only apply to applications for entry visas issued at Chinese embassies and consulates. The forms used at the PSB Entry/Exit Bureau in China for the extension or renewal of visas will not change. Applicants must print the double-sided form after downloading. Fill in the form clearly and completely according to the instructions. Visit the Chinese Embassy in the United States' website <http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywzn/lsyw/vpna/> for more information regarding the updated forms. SUMMER TRAVEL TO TIBET American Citizens Services has received reports that foreign citizens are not receiving approval to travel to the Tibet Autonomous Region this summer. Although the Embassy has not received any official confirmation of this policy, if you are planning to travel to Tibet, we recommend you check with the permit issuing travel agents about any possible restrictions. JUNE (and other) WEDDINGS Marriages in China are administered by the Marriage Registration Office of the Civil Affairs Bureau (Minzheng Ju) of each province. The appropriate Civil Affairs Office will be the one in the jurisdiction in which the Chinese citizen is registered (the location of their hukou), and persons planning to marry should visit or call that office for specific information. The Civil Affairs Office will ascertain that both parties are of minimum marriageability age (generally 22 for men and 20 for women, although a higher minimum may be established by the local Civil Affairs Office) and that both parties are single and otherwise free to marry. Persons who have been married previously will be asked to submit original or certified copies of final divorce or annulment decrees, or of death certificates, if widowed. The U.S. citizen partner to a marriage in China will generally be asked to submit the following: * A valid U.S. passport with valid Chinese visa (If both parties are foreigners, one side should present a Chinese residence permit); * An "affidavit of marriageability" in which the U.S. citizen swears or affirms before a Consul that he or she is legally eligible to marry. (You can make an appointment on the Embassy website to schedule this affidavit. Some marriage registration offices may require a Chinese translation of the affidavit.); * If a previous marriage ended in divorce or death, a photocopy of the divorce decree or death certificate; * Three photos (5 x 3.8 cm) of the marrying couple, taken together; and * A registration fee (currently RMB 9 for two certificates). Inquiries on what the Chinese partner must submit to the marriage office should be directed to the local marriage registration office (Hunyin Dengji Chu). Normally, marriage certificate are issued by the Marriage Registration Office of the Bureau of Civil Affairs on the same day. American diplomatic and consular officers do not have the authority to perform marriages of American citizens. Marriages that are legal in China are also legal in the United States. It is not necessary to re-marry or otherwise register your Chinese marriage in the United States to make it valid. APPLYING FOR AN IMMIGRANT VISA TO THE UNITED STATES FOR YOUR CHINESE SPOUSE A U.S. citizen who marries a Chinese citizen may file an immigrant visa petition on behalf of his or her non-U.S. citizen spouse. Citizens living in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan provinces should file their immigrant relative petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou; all others should file with the USCIS office at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Please be aware only couples intending to reside in the United States long term should file. For more information about the process, go to www.uscis.gov <http://www.uscis.gov> . This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

Dan, I've rather enjoyed these

Yup, Jingjing's in China right now watching the Dragon boats, eating zongzi, and living the high life.

Jingjing had just the first three on Dan's list.