frank1538

Rick, I think this is very good news. It sounds like both Yanlan and Lulu can be interviewed together and that GUZ will issue Lulu's visa when then namecheck is completed. I'm assuming that GUZ would issue Yanlan's visa after the interview, but I'm a little unclear about that from your post. If my assumption is correct, it also sounds like this is shaping up to be a "follow to join" situation, so I would make sure that GUZ knows this. In this way, they should take care of the paperwork separation if it's required. Just a couple of dates to remember. Once a visa is issued, the beneficiary has six months to use it. So, if Yanlan gets her visa after the interview, she can wait for up to six months before having to come to the US if she wants to wait for Lulu to get hers. The other date is a one year date meaning that Lulu has up to one year to get her visa after her mom's. Since Lulu is 18, she may be old enough to travel on her own. If you feel comfortable with this, you and Yanlan can return to the US as planned, and Lulu can come when she gets her visa. Of course, if you want, after marriage and AOS filing, Yanlan can apply for AP and return to China to accompany her daughter to the US. Good luck.

USCONGUZ provided some guidance on this question: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16104

The University of Georgia requires credential evaluations for international transfer students and lists 6 services (and links) that it deems acceptable: http://www.admissions.uga.edu/9_intl_adm_criteria.html Josef Silny, Inc., World Education Services, Inc., Education Credential Evaluators, Inc., International Education Research Foundation, Inc., American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and Lisano International.

Welcome Mike and Rong. Settle in and enjoy the ride. Thumb twiddling is not allowed here at CFL but there are many things you can do to help pass the time between the filing of the I-129F and that glorious piece of paper in your SO's passport. Good luck on your journey.

Now, that's an idea. Maybe it would be possible to conclude the interview as scheduled, so the consulate can issue the visa immediately upon receipt of the namecheck. Make some inquiries and see if it's possible.

I am really sorry to hear this Rick. change2marrow also had a birth date problem and I feared that it would trigger another namecheck. What a let down. Maybe the consulate will move you to the front of the line after the namecheck is completed...we can hope. Your medical reports are good for a year, so maybe you won't have to redo them. The airline tickets might be useable still with a change fee. I know how disappointed this must be, but it will end one day. Hang in there.

You can, but it may not be worth the effort. While you are in K-1 status, you can apply for an EAD (work permission), but I believe this EAD will expire when your K-1 expires (90 days) and can't be renewed, and the earliest you'll be able to file again is when you file your AOS. Given the length of time it takes to get an EAD, your K-1 status may run out before you actually receive this temporary non renewable work permission. Further, if it does expire before you get the normal EAD, you'll be in limbo if you've got a job - working with an expired EAD. I don't know if things have changed, but the best way to get the temporary work permission while you are in K-1 status used to be to enter the US through JFK (New York) where they would stamp your I-94 showing that you are work authorized. Again, I don't know if they still do this. I think DavidZixuan's wife recently came through JFK, so maybe he can confirm whether the IO is still stamping the I-94. Most people don't bother with the temporary EAD and just file at the same time they file for AOS.

I'm going to move your post into the General Visa Discussion Forum. Congratulations on getting the interview date. If I'm not mistaken, everybody's appointment is for 7:30, but all that means is that your SO will enter the building at around 7:30 along with the rest of the applicants/interviewees. Good luck.

Don, My question would be, can you file for a I-130 without filing for the CR1 in order to file the K3/K4? My thought is that the expense of filing for the K3/K4 in addition to the CR1 might be too much for me to afford. Which can I avoid if at all possible? My thought is that filing CR1/K3/K4 would end up costing me about $4000 and I haven't even bought them airline tickets yet. Also , does anything change in my responsibility if some was not to work out between us as opposed to the K1 marriage? 205888[/snapback] The short answer is yes. You can file the I-130 and pay the $190 filing fee and not pursue the CR/IR-1 immigrant visa. Once the NOA1 is received on the I-130, then you can but don't have to file for the K-3. That's another $170 filing fee. You will be able to control the flow on the I-130 and may choose to let it languish if you want to go with just the K-3, but remember this. While you will be paying more up front if you pursue the I-130-->CR/IR-1, you won't have to pay the current $325 to adjust her status after her arrival in the US which is something you'll have to do if she comes on a K-3.

Sorry, I think a K-3 is a multi-entry visa and should be sufficient for re-entry into the US. From http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/hdiknonimm.htm#travel "If you are in K-3 or K-4 status, you may travel using your unexpired K-3/K-4 nonimmigrant visa to travel outside of the United States and return, even if you are applying for adjustment of status simultaneously."

Me too. Hang in there. It will end one day.

I hope they dusted the files before uploading the information. Good news indeed. Hope the P3 arrives soon. Woops. Just read your timeline. Change P3 to P4.

All right!!!. Good luck at the interview. Do you know if the interview is for the K-3 or CR-1?

I can see it now. Papers and documents spread out on the bed as they prepare for the big day. "Lao Po, where is the I-134?" "Well, the WC didn't have any paper..." "Lao Gong, should I speak English at the interview?" "No, speak American." "Lao Po, do you have your appointment letter?" "Sure, but the hairdresser said I could come anytime." "Lao Gong, should I wear my engagement ring to the interview?" "Only if the VO is wearing sunglasses." "Lao Gong, why do we have so many pictures?" "Because I want the VO to see how beautiful you are." Good luck

Short, sweet, and to the point.

You should have the legal marriage ONLY in the US. I would strongly advise against trying to have anything other than a ceremonial wedding in China. I'll say this about the ceremonial wedding. It may not be legally binding in the eyes of our respective countries, but in the eyes of Jingwen's family, friends, and Jingwen and me, it was a "done deal". Go for the ceremonial wedding and have the banquest feast, celebrate to your heart's content, but get the legal paperwork done in the US.

Congratulations. Now you can add your name to the "no interview hall of fame." http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...ndpost&p=178451

Wait Lee, I thought blood was required only if the relative lived in Transylvania, not Romania. 205502[/snapback] Transylvania is PART of Romania! -James 205509[/snapback]

Wait Lee, I thought blood was required only if the relative lived in Transylvania, not Romania.

Welcome to Candle and congratulations on your marriage. Since you didn't mention the I-130, I'm going to assume that you only have the receipt notice (NOA1) and that the I-129F is ahead in the race to the consulate. For all intents and purposes, you're finished with USCIS for the K-3. Your files have been or will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC - part of the Department of State) where namechecks will be initiated - FBI actually does the namecheck. Once this is completed, the files will be sent to the consulate and, after an appropriate amount of aging, the file information will be entered into the computers. After a bit of additional aging, you wife will then receive her P3. There is not much you or your wife need to do at this phase of the process. You can do a search here and get the DOS phone number and check in periodically with them to see how the namecheck is going, but don't be disappointed if you hear the same answer for a month or longer. Unfortunately, the namecheck phase is the most uncertain in terms of timing, taking anywhere from less than 30 days to upwards of a year or even longer - keep your fingers crossed. If she hasn't done so, now might be a good time for your wife to make sure she has her notarial birth certificate, marriage certificate and prior divorce certificate (if applicable). She will need certain other documents like her police clearance, but I would recommend waiting until you're closer to the interview to get these since they are valid for only a year. Also, I think it is a bit premature for you to start gathering your documents, primarily the I-134 and financial records. I'd be inclined to wait until I was a little closer to the actual interview. The I-134 is used in conjunction with the K-3 while the I-864 is used in conjunction with the I-130 (CR-1). Both are designed to ensure that your wife will not become a "public charge" when she comes to the US. The I-864 is more formal and seems to have teeth, while the I-134 is less so. All of this is premised on the assumption the the K-3 files will process faster than the I-130, but this is not always the case. If your I-130 catches up, a whole different process is used, and your and her involvement while the files are at NVC will be greater. If you want, go to "My Controls" and then "Edit Signature" and add your timeline. This will often help when you ask a question - it'll let us know which visa you are seeking and where you are in the process. You can also upload a picture in the "Edit Avatar Settings" while you're at it. Again, welcome to CFL and good luck during the process.

I just got an update notice from Adobe, asking if I wanted to add the Chinese Simplified fonts (alf_chs.exe) which I did. After I did, I noticed that you can input the Chinese characters directly into a fillable pfd using Microsoft Pinyin IME, and the characters look just fine. But, as soon as I switch from the CH (Chinese input) to EN (English input), the characters are cut by more than half.

I'm not so sure about that Charles. There's a long future ahead, and I'm certain you'll be sharing a lot of your good times in the months and years that follow. Glad things are moving to closure.

Glad that one had a happy ending. I've heard of instances where the consulate inquires as to the whereabouts of the Chinese ex, but I've never heard about having to document who the ex is. Interesting and strange. I certainly hope that this was something unique to this couple's situation and not another "crazy Ivan" by the consulate.

And he's off, heading out of the gate to a quick start. Folks, this horse has legs and should be fast. Good luck. Not to rain on your parade, but take a luck at hunter's recent post about a child in the custody of the ex. http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17100

Hmmm... a tough one. China's national law is silent (I think) on restrictions and only requires a passport or residence permit and completion of a temporary lodging form for foreigners wanting to stay in temporary lodging. http://www.china.com.cn/english/travel/40344.htm (Article 29) As is often the case though, where the national law is silent, local governments usually fill the gap, and there are still some cities and provinces that restrict foreigners to only certain lodging. For example, Beijing had restricted foreign lodging up until late 2003. http://www.china.org.cn/english/kuaixun/76419.htm My sense is that the farther you travel from the major metropolitan areas, the more likely it is that you will still encounter restricted lodging. But, like many things in China, enforcement is likely to be spotty and sometimes a small "gratuity" will take care of the problem.