Kyle

@ David, Here is a link listing the various cities the consulate will deliver directly to. Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou, Changle, Nanjing, Wenzhou, Tianjin, Shenyang and Changchun http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/china-post-delivery-throughout-china.html When Jingjing and I went through this, we had them (the consulate) mail her passport to Mr. Yang who repackaged her packet (put the unopened package from the consulate into a larger EMS envelope) and mailed it to us in Wuhan. After going through a successful interview, the applicant will fill out an ems label at the China Post located inside the consulate.

Cool! Congratulations to you both.

Most people (Stateside filers) pay NVC their fees before their case is transferred to Guangzhou. Personally, I do not believe you have any more visa fees coming your way, unless you count the vaccination (which are required to get started before entering the US, in her case) and medical part of the visa fee. In Guangzhou, you're going to get tagged with a 30 RMB fee (or a little higher) for China Post to handle her passport (assuming you guys are awarded the visa). Other than that, I can't think of anything else. The fees have recently went up this past July. Thankfully you do not have to pay a differential.

Speaking from a married perspective. We wrote one up and had it notarized while in Guangzhou. They didn't look at it during my wife's interview. In our case, I'm not certain how much it would have helped, especially since we front loaded the crap out of our I-130 application in Beijing. I suspect though if we didn't lay out our case in great detail in the beginning, that it may have come into play during the interview. Is it required? Not necessarily, but unless you're throwing out fictional details or raising red flags that don't need to be raised, I'm not sure how it'd hurt. When I wrote mine, I made sure that all of our details/dates listed in the EOR were backed up with the pictures and other information previously provided at the time of our I-130 submission in Beijing. Some write one up just to get it notarized in Guangzhou and swear by it's usefulness (making a consulate officer read over it). I'm not quite sold on that, but if for anything else it could show two things: one, you were in Guangzhou with your woman, and two, you care about the outcome (both of which can't hurt you). I tend to agree with ZZ and Sam, that it's probably not going to come into play but in the case that they do ask for it, you'll be prepared for their request. In the end it's your responsibility to lay everything out in clear detail, not the consulate's. I'd probably err on the side of caution and have one in your pocket just-in-case.

Typically in three business days if you wait in Guangzhou and pick it up at the China Post located within the consulate. http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/iv_faqs.html#A1

Photos of your two trips to China would be helpful. Pictures of the two of you, you with her family, etc.

Good to see you back! Thanks for the update; I'm glad you guys are doing well.

Cool! Congrats to you both!

You only got one welcome letter?! We got two!

Sorry to hear this! I remember being hospitalized for a couple of months with mono when I was young (20 years ago). I hope he gets better soon. I remember feeling week all of the time, not really wanting to do anything other than sleep!

Cool! Congrats

Nothing you can do except wait for it to come in the mail. It is automatic.

No need to worry about this. Technically speaking, your wife already has one. The stamp in her passport serves as a temp I-551 (good for one year). We got Jingjing's I-551 a little less than a month after entering the States. She received her social security card in the mail about a week prior to receiving her I-551.

I got the latest forms off of their website: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/forms_and_packets.htm If you get the visa: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/visa_issuance.htmm The Yang's link: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41830&st=0 http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41830&view=findpost&p=556382

I think we got ours at Dillards. It's a flat bottom wok that works well on our glass stove top.

We paid well over 1000 RMB for ours. Not sure exactly how much, but I do remember having a similar reaction as yours. They're not cheap; don't lose them.

Congratulations!

Split off from this thread: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=42010 Ok guys, carry on!

I simply wanted to make this information available to those who might find it useful. I split the discussion off into another thread, found here: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=42012

Instead of making a new thread, I'll simply submit another post outlining the updated fees for various consular services. See below: On June 28, 2010, the Department of State published its Schedule of Fees for Consular Services in the Federal Register. The schedule includes fees for passports, immigrant visas and other consular services. The changes will take effect on July 13, 15 days after publication in the Federal Register. The revised fees will cover actual operating expenses for the 301 overseas consular posts, 23 domestic passport agencies and other centers that provide these consular services to U.S. and foreign citizens. The 27 adjusted fees are based on a Cost of Service Study completed by the Bureau of Consular Affairs in June 2009. The study, which was the most detailed and exhaustive ever conducted by the Department of State, established the true cost of providing these consular services, which by law must be recovered through collection of fees. Under the new fee schedule, fees for passport services and other ACS services are set as follows. For a complete listing of all consular fees and changes, please see the Bureau of Consular Affairs? public website. Effective July 13, 2010, the following fees will be charged for these services. All fees are stated in U.S. dollars. Passport Book - Adult $ 135.00** Passport Book - Minor $ 105.00** Passport Book Renewal - Adult $ 110.00 Additional passport visa pages $ 82.00 Passport Card - Adult $ 55.00** Passport Card - Child $ 40.00** Consular Report of Birth Abroad $ 100.00 Renunciation of U.S. Citizenship $ 450.00 File Search and Verification of U.S. Citizenship $ 150.00 Documentary Services Notarials, Certifications of True Copies, Authentications, provision of Department of State records $ 50.00 **This includes a $25 Execution fee not retained by Department of State.

On July 20, 2010, American Citizen Services (ACS) at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing launched our first Facebook page. On this page, Americans traveling or residing in China can find information about the services ACS Beijing offers, hours of operation, location, and miscellaneous updates from the Department of State. If you have a Facebook account and would like to receive regular updates on the Embassy and Expatriate communities in Beijing, we invite you to visit our page. **Please note that this Facebook page is intended as a supplement to, not a replacement for, the American Citizen Services webpage http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html and warden message system. How to Join: From your Facebook page, search for ?U.S. Embassy Beijing American Citizen Services? and click the ?like? button at the top right of the page. This will allow you to access the page and receive updates. If you do not have a Facebook account, you can go to www.facebook.com and follow the registration procedures. This is a free service.

Nothing is needed until after 1 year. http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1333.html She may have to prove after 6 months (with the POE officer) that she did not give up her intent to immigrate to the United States. Having that documentation from the hospital may help you there. Obviously there are other things she can use to document that she in fact haven't given up your immigration intent (employment letters, school enrollment, joint assets, etc). The 6 month rule is for keeping continuous residence in the US (important for naturalization) Let's say the immigrant had two years continuous residence in the States, then took a 8 month trip home to China. This in effect, would presume to break her continuous residence in the States, which means that her two previous years may not be counted toward the naturalization requirements (she'd have to start over - three years of continuous residence before being eligible for naturalization). It seems from what I've read and discussed with others is that trips shorter than six months the burden to prove immigration intent has been given up falls with the POE officer. For trips longer than six months, it falls on the immigrant. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...000082ca60aRCRD

A lot of that 4 hours he waited may have been because there were many new immigrants on his flight. On our flight, there weren't many. Jingjing was first in line to be processed as a new immigrant. You guys are married (CR-1), so I don't foresee her POE experience being too difficult, unless as Dan mentioned, you throw an unexpected curve ball at the time of entry. Simply answer what they ask, if anything, and go along for the ride. This shouldn't be overly stressful, especially after completing the hard part in Guangzhou.

The brown envelope contains her file from Guangzhou. Basically, all of their (Guangzhou's) paperwork that they accumulated during her application and interview process (forms you submitted, mailed in stuff, - including medical - EVERYTHING). POE varies. Ours was quick, done in five minutes. EWR Newark.

My Wife will be arriving next week on a CR1, and since I have a typcial question.. How Long Will it take to get her Green Card? It took Jingjing about 4 or 5 weeks to get hers. Addtionally, I live in Seattle. Can she go to Canada with just the stamp in her passport and come back with the stamp, or it would probably be a better idea to just wait for the GC to do this? She can go to Canada with the stamp in her passport. It is also advisable to have an additional photo ID (ie. driver's permit/license) http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/washi...ng=eng#CITIZENS Sorry if this has been answered before... Dan Text in bold are my responses.