djwalker60

So, I guess soon we should be receiving her GreenCard. Thanks Dan

We'll for the fun of it,, yeah real fun I went to the USCIS website and put in our receipt number to find out about "case status" Got this returned when I did the inquiry: Post Decision Activity On August 13, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this OS155A IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 So, what does it really mean? GC mailed? Another Welcome letter to come? or just a nice notice saying all good and soon a GC will come? Anyone else ever see this one? Dan

We'll it took the wonderful USCIS / DHS three weeks to get my wife's entry packet to the USCIS. Finally got the welcome letter and now another month ( or so ) before she gets her GC. Does this sound like a normal time frame? I did call our wonderful contractors at USCS and 1st, don't miss that part of the process, and 2nd was told yet another 30 days... Arghhh Dan

My wife's never came and we ended up going to the SSN Office and filled out the documents to get a Social Security Number... Can't do anything with out here .. Argh !!!!

We'll after waiting over three weeks now, no SSN Card / Numbers. So, today we went to the local social security office and had a nice "chat" with them. According to them (Social Security) she was NOT in the system as we first were told by the Department of Homeland Security and the Wonderful people at the POE. So, we applied directly in the office and will have the social security numbers in three - four days. With the cards to follow. Just a note, if your wife comes on a CR1, go to the Social security office soon after arrival and just apply there. I wish I knew this and would have done this nearly a month ago. But alias, another life lesson learned with our Wonderful Social Security office. Dan & Yonghua

We'll it appears my selection of a WOK has failed... Twice now... Anyone know a good online store to buy a good flat bottom WOK? Dan

Thanks not too far of a drive.. Oh.. Arrived at 1300 Local Seattle time.. Took about 1 hour 30 minutes to clear customs.. Busy I guess but they did ask her a few question. All good, the put a stamp in her passport and then wrote "CR1 Visa" . Also stapled a piece of paper saying about the two year removal of conditions.. Will report more later.. time for shopping ....

Been there done that, my wife took an English nick-name "Rosemary" it is NOT on any legal docs or her DL. Her Given name is Yu ìÏ Which is 4th tone and means Brilliant or Bright, very tricky for us westerners to get correct they habit is to say "you" which is fish, my mother attempted to use her given name for a year or so, but has switched to using "Rosemary". If Chinese name is easy to pronounce, then go on using it! We are good friends with a couple Tingchung & Nancy Wang, bothe Chinese, Tingchung goes by Ting, and Nancy is her nick name! It is what ever you find to be comfortable. As Always I want to thank everyone. As i write this I have about 3 hours and 57 minutes.. but who's counting Living alone for many years and now a big life change. Really wish there were more couples in the Seattle Area. Can't seem to find any now. I will hope that she can find some soon. She has a drivers license in Guangzhou and I am sure the transition to Driving here in Seattle won't be too bad. ( I hope ) Also, in three months she will be very busy with our new little one on it's way. No idea if boy or girl, I guess it's against the law in China for a doctor to tell the mother the sex of a child. We'll I guess I'll shut up and not ramble on... Guess my nerves are getting the best of me. Even came into work this morning... it's closer to the airport.... Sleep last night.......... Yeah Right !!! We'll I guess next time I post, I need to post in another forum.. which is best? Cheers Dan & Yonghua..

So far she is neat...... very neat... oh.. always need to make sure you flush... !!!

My wife's name is Ying. Always has been and always will. I never quite got the need to change to an English name. Chinese names are meaningful, i.e. Steve = Steve, while Ying = hero, lucky one, to win. Let people learn her name and respect her for being Asian, not who they might think she oughta be. Why does everybody clean, clean, clean? My wife's about as unorganized, messy and un-Donna Reed as they come. And, aa . . . keep the porn, ya never know B) I'll just clear the history out of my internet browsers.. I also feel that people will just need to learn to pronounce her name.. thanks for the input.. I'm watching the weather and maybe a bit odd, but found a website www.flightaware.com where I can track her flight from the time it leaves until it is about to arrive at seatac.. D-

I've been cleaning for a week, if I vacuum anymore I'll burn out the vaccuum. New sheets, heck even purchased a new mattress (according to her specifications of course) A few last minute items to do before tomorrow AM when she arrives. Lastly a "twist" to my post. As many people have asked me what my wife's name is, I of course tell them her Chinese name.. then they say.. "what is her English name?" We'll I respond, she doesn't have one. We've decided that we will not do that. I can say her name so I guess people can learn. Any thoughts on this ? Dan

We'll Tomorrow, 17 July is the long awaited date for the wife to arrive. I have been reading a lot as to the "Do's" and "Don'ts". I have come across a post with the following website: http://www.fromchinatousa.net/froum/ This does site focus more on postive or negative aspects of moving here? I really do not want her to read a site where all the women complain about how bad everything is.. Just looking for some postive input for the wife. Addtionally, what are (if any) good websites for her to visit? Thanks Dan

I hope all goes well then. My wife is also in her 3rd trimester so it wouldn't be a good thing for her to go through more after sitting in the airplane for 10+ hours. All should be good....... Thanks again... Oh, I guess now the wait will begin for her green card and SSN# ... Dan

Thank You again. The reasoning for my question(s) is that I know another individual here in the Seattle area where it is clamed it took 4 hours to process through the SETAC POE. Thank You Dan

We'll First I apologize if this is not the correct place to post this question. 2nd, sorry if this has been answered but my search criteria returned no results. Therefore, I am going to ask here.. The Mysterious "Brown Sealed Envelope". Does this contain financials? Medical Information? or ???? Addtionally, why does GUZ and other Consulates "Seal" this Envelope? Wife will Be arrving Saturday, as long as there are no weather issues in Guangzhou. I've also heard that some go through very long "interviews" at the POE, what is really expected? I would like to say thank you to those on this forum for their knowledge and assitance. There is a lot of very good information here, information that only the experience of going through the process can provide. Thank You Again Dan Seattle

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? 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? Sorry if this has been answered before... Dan The moment she passes through the US POE in the States She WILL be a green-card holder, the passport WILL be stampted I-551. A green-card holder can visit Canada without need for a visa, so yes can visit Canada the same day if you wanted, the Canadians recognize the I-551 stamp as a green-card, and the US POE will allow re-entry based on the I-551 stamp. Thank you for the reply. I also want to thank everyone Again for all of the help, advise and support during these times. The Visa process is not easy and can be very confusing, frustrating and emotionally draining. Once my wife get's here the next big event in our life is the birth of our new one........ Due October. A Big Thank You to Everyone Dan & Yonghua

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? 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? Sorry if this has been answered before... Dan

1. Yes, your wife is the applicant. 2. You will not be able to get a police report from any other source than her hukou. This one police report covers ALL OF CHINA, so don't worry. This is all you need. My wife lived in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other places. She only got the police report from her hukou in Nanning. 3. I would check that you have the police report. As long as you know you will have it by the interview. 4. The $355 is the filing fee for the I-130. The $400 + 45 is the fee for the DS-230 and visa. 5. There are others her who know a little more about taxes and domicile. We have had a few come back from living in China. I am sure they can enlighten you on what is necessary. My Wife DID get a different police report from the time she lived in Nanning and from the time she lived in Guangzhou. We had to go to Nanning and get that report, then she went to and got a Police Report from Guangzhou.. We passed the Interview.. So..... Dan

I actually arrived in Guangzhou on Sunday the 13th of June, prior to my wife¡¯s interview. I came a few days early because I wanted to go to both the American Citizen Services and to the American Citizens hour on Monday afternoon between 1400 and 1530, they let you in at 1400 but do not actually start talking to people until around 1430hrs. I had hand written an updated Evolution of Marriage or Evolution of Relationship letter and wanted to get it notarized at the US Consulate. Why there? So they could see it and understand I am there for my wife. I realize that it did cost me the $30. USD, but I also believe that they did read this letter prior to giving it back to me because they took about 20 ¨C 25 minutes to get it back to me because I told them I was here to get this notarized for my wife¡¯s interview on Tuesday Morning. Once I did get this done, I went back to the consulate about 1400 that afternoon. You are allowed to go upstairs and then you wait in the ¡°immigrant¡± visa line that get¡¯s you into the actual room where your wife (fianc¨¦e) will be interviewed. Once in this room, you are directed to a window and they ask you why you are here and then you are given a form to fill out with some information about your wife¡¯s case and given a number. We¡¯ll you then sit and wait until 1430, then they start calling numbers for the ACH. There were only 4 of us there for the purpose of talking to the Visa Officer about our wife¡¯s (fiancee¡¯s) case. So, those who say do not go if you are in Guangzhou, I say wrong. Go,, let it be known to the VO that you are here to support your wife (fianc¨¦e) as it has been said here the person you are talking to may well be the person who will interview your wife. Tell them why you are here, tell them a little about you and your case, even bring a photo or two to ask them any thing relavant to your case. I did and I was asked a few questions about my wife and daughter. I saw him bring up our case on the computer as i was talking to the VO. I answered them and the man was very polite and professional but yet not to personable. My wife¡¯s interview was set for Tuesday, 15th of June at 0730. We got there at 0715 and there was a nice long line already, plus it looked as if it was school day as there must have been about 150+ students there alone. We¡¯ll we waited in the Very Hot and very humid Guangzhou morning air that was so thick and stood there sweating very much. If going to Guangzhou in Summer, wear Shorts !!!! Finally, at 0730 they did start letting people going in. Oh, they line you up by time and by visa type. Facing the consulate building the earliest are on the left then proceeding by time to the right. They do check the interview appointment letter and the wife¡¯s passport. Then we were allowed in. I was allowed to go up to the fourth floor with her, at which point I was not allowed to go up. It was about 0845 at that time and then I proceeded to go to the real expensive, bad tasting coffee shop on the fourth floor where everyone must pass on the way out. We¡¯ll as it was reported the first cup is expensive, about 55 RMB or 8.00 USD. After that it is cheap,, only 5 RMB, around .75 cents. I waited with another man from Wyoming and we talked and waited for our wife¡¯s. Before my wife came down, a few other¡¯s came down all approved. One CR1 another K1. Then my wife came down about 1130 or so. That makes it about 4 hours or there about. She stood there and teased me.. saying "what do you think happend?" with a big smile.. then Finally showed me the Pink/Orange colored paper... She told me the procedure as it has been told here many times. But to give our two cents: She went up to the 5th Floor, through security where they take your cell phone. Enters and goes to the Right for the "immigrant visa" section. Going to the left is for "non-immigrant visa's" First thing is they take all documents, all translations and our finanical documents. We were told to bring her x-rays but they did not take them. She will need to hand them over when she enters the US on the 16th or so. Along with that nice brown envelope. However, because I did file electronically I was surprised that they only took the financial documents, ALL White Book documents, meaning all translations, birth certificates, Marriage certificates, Financial Documents (I-864) and yes the medicals. She was not asked for any other documents at this point, not even the DS-230. Once that is done, she sits ¡­. Waits and then gets finger printed, given a number and waits. After this, they sat and waited. Where called up by name, finger printed and then give that nice number like you get when you go to any other government building. Then she waited, and waited and then more waiting. Room is not very big, has a water cooler and toliets. Then the moment came and she was called to the "banker window" for her interview. Yes she was nervous. Here are the questions they asked about us / me: is this your first Marriage? How did you meet your husband? How Many Times has he come to see you? What does he do for work? So, Your husband is waiting for you downstaris today? (more like a statment, they knew I was here becuase of ACH.. That was it for me. But becuse she has an adopted Daughter more questions there, and very tough on that subject. They actually called in a different interviewer for that part. She had all documents and even documents from All other parties concered about child. If your wife / financee has a child adopted or natural have letters from all others saying it is ok to have child leave country. If you don't you will probably get told to bring it back later.. So have these letters, oringinal, translated and notrazied. After those battery of questions the non-chinese interviewer took over again, made an few entries into the computer and gave my wife the approval letter. She said you have passed, gave the wife the the pink / orange paper and the interview letters back. Told her to go to the EMS desk outside the interview room to arrange for delivery of the Passports and visa. Oh, before I finish this part. I DID front load our petition and I also sent a lot more documents to the NVC when I emailed in the wife¡¯s DS-230. All documents are forwarded to the US Consulate, ALL documents even those not needed by the NVC. Now on Wednesday, there was the ¡°Dragon Boat Festival¡± because of this the majority of the delivery of the passports were delayed an extra 5 days. So , if you are going to the interview or even if you are not, check to see if there is a holiday after your interview date. If there is, plan on another week or so before you get the visa. We¡¯ll that is it. Other than that most of the staff was very nice to me. But beware of the Guards, they are Chinese and not very nice. Have a badge that says ¡°Diplomatic Security¡± and just not very nice. In the End, I would recommend to ¡°Front Load¡± give a lot up front, but not too much. DO Electronic processing and email a lot more, even another EOR, they will forward all documents to the Consulate. DO Go, if you can. DO Go to the ACS and ACH before your wifes interview if you can. It does help. My wife has her visa and passport in hand and will arrive in a short few weeks.. Finally.. All Is great.. !!! This site and those like this are so very helpful, unless you have any odd situations with your case or your life you do not need a lawyer. Just read, take your time, be percise on all of your documentation. Bug the crap out of USCIS and the NVC, you can call as much as you want. If you feel you are not getting the right answers call more and more and ask for supervisors. This is your wife, your Finance' the most important person in your life. Take the investment of time and if necessary money. It has not been cheap, it is a "life" investment. Treat your wife with the utmost love, care and attention. She is a real person who is leaving all for you. put her on that pedistel. Cheers Dan & Yonghua

Michael; Did they ask your wife any questions when she came in? I guess about a week after she arrives, I'll starting to call the USCIS about the Permanent Resident Card and also about SSN Card. Thank You, just trying to find a decent fair for her. Seems as that is not going to happen. She lives in Guangzhou, so I think she will be taking a bus to Hong Kong Airport. More flights from Hong Kong to Seattle, but still about $1000.00 USD for a one way ticket this time of year. I am counting on her being here No Later than the 18th, I am trying for the 16th.... Dan

Recent topic same question answered here: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...c=41818&hl= As for POE, While on plane don't bother filling out an I-94 (Entry/Exit record), this is only for NON-Immigrants. Only need to do customs declaration form. At POE will go through Immigrants/Visitor's line, not Citizen's/Resident's line unless directed to. POE officer will take thumb print, and Immigrations packet, stamp passport with I-551 stamp and welcome to the USA, not many questions. Proceed to Customs with baggage for inspection. Well you should know the drill, not much different than a citizen returning to the USA other than the taking of fingerprints and immigrations packet. Don't forget that nice brown envelope that is sealed.

I want to thank everyone here for their very nice congratulations.. Thank You again.. Now that I have all of this,, starting to look for a good price on tickets. Found one website: uschinatrip.com So far may have the best fairs going. dan

Ok, Now that we are past that point. What to Expect at the POE? Because she has a CR1 Visa, how long will it take for her to get her Permenant Resident Card? SSN Card? I guess this is something I will need to be proactive on, correct? I mean calling our buddies at the USCIS on a daily basis asking for updates, etc.. Dan

Got back last night and today begins the big organzing. Yes, She gave details and i will write about the entire interview process that particular day. Oh, Guangzhou in Summer ...... Hot and very Humid..

15 June 2010, at around 11:30 AM Guangzhou time the wife came down from the "5th" Floor with Orangy / Pink Form .. Interview Passed !!! Now Will get tickets next Friday and she will arrive on or around the 16th of July.. A few last things to take care of before she comes.. This has been a heck of an experience, this site and sites like this are in-valuable. I hope I can help those starting out as I have a few suggestions.. Dan