frank1538

Don't know the answer to your hukou question, but I still wanted to congratulate you two on your marriage.

A good place to start is http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/enter...s.htm#household As a general rule, personal effects do not have to be listed.

Close the chapter!!! It's done. Just a preview of the next chapter: It'll knock your socks off. Congratulations and best wishes.

Eric, this will all end favorably despite the fact that GZ is making you jump through more hoops. Keep a level head. As to "what went wrong", let me play a scenario. Before I do, I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not suggesting or insinuating anything. In reading your past posts, it is clear that a valid relationship exists, but GZ has been known to tag a case every now an then for an in-depth review. Let's say GZ suspects a scam. What could have caused this? Sometimes, it's third party gossip. Remember some of your previous posts? Maybe, the service Lucy used is less than reputable: So, let's say somehow a red flag was raised. Can you understand why GZ would want more information about the e-mails, telephone records, and travel? Without a red flag, none of your posts and none of what most of us post here would take on any added significance. But, once a red flag is raised, everything we all post could be interpreted as corroborative. If GZ suspected that someone else was writing the emails, say an ex-spouse, knowing where the ex was would be important. Consider this quote: If GZ has already become suspicious, seeing a bunch of e-mails between "husband" and "wife" might just add fuel to the fire. Again, if a red flag has already been raised, GZ might want to know who was making all the travel plans: If GZ thought that all the travel arrangements were being made in China, they want want some more information related to this. So, here you are, having done everything that you could, and GZ still wants more. No use in arguing with them. Give it to them in spades. Prove to them that gossip or some jealous person cannot and will not stop you and Lucy from being together.

My 8, soon to be 9 year old son, has not been a happy camper. Like a typical kid, his tastes in food run the gamut from McDonald's to Burger King. I made a deal with him. Every time Jingwen eats American food, he'll eat Chinese food. Believe me, this was more of a concession on Jingwen's part than his, but he's starting to come around. He also has not adjusted well to having three new family members, but finding common ground with them, for example, video games, has helped. Now that the family is speaking a little better English, he is actually communicating with them. Also, a little more one on one time, like with Little League and Cub Scouts, seems to be helping him understand that he is just as important now as he was before Jingwen and the kids arrived.

Yeah, it's certainly hard leaving, but I'm glad you had a great time. A good place to start the visa process is here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?pg=k1guide. It will give you an overview. Just remember, now matter how much you read and study the process, something will always come up, so don't be afraid to ask questions. The collective wisdom here at CFL ranks up there with the best. Good luck.

Not to confuse you, but if you are not married for two years at the time of AOS her green card will be of the conditional two year variety. I don't think you can remove the conditions until 90 days before the expiration of the conditional card. So, if your wife gets a conditional green card, you'll have to wait one year and 9 months from issuance before you can remove the conditions. But, once she gets her green card (2 year or 10 year), she doesn't need an EAD. The green card is enough. I think the real question is how long it will take her to adjust status from K-3 to legal permanent resident.

Just a couple of thoughts. I can't remember if your wife came over on a K-3, but it sounds like she was CR-1. If so, I believe you can file an I-130 for your step son if you got married before he turned 18. If not, you probably cannot file the I-130. Your wife, assuming she's a legal permanent resident, can also file for her son. I think the main difference is the priorty. If you file, I think the step son has "immediate relative of a US citizen" status. If your wife files, I think her son would be subject to numeric limitations on visas. Take a look at: http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/childproc.htm. It should give you some additional guidance.

Jingwen included a copy. I'm not sure it was needed, but I'm a kitchen sink kind of guy.

Details man, details. A US passport? A Chinese passport? Wife's citizenship? New? Renewed? Replaced?

Without getting too technical, such a form exists. It's called an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Office: http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/repealdenial.htm

Jesse posted a link to the decisions: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...topic=12848&hl= My notes related to those cases that were actually appealed to the next level.

I once did a quick search of the appeals from K-1 petition denials. The search revealed only a handful of cases that went up to the Administrative Appeals Unit - maybe 20 or so. I just went back an pulled my notes. Most of the cases dealt with the two year rule and possible hardship waivers for not having met the fiance(e). A couple of the cases dealt with the ability to marry (whether the parties were properly divorced). One dealt with legal capacity (the fiancee was under age 16, the legal age in the petitioner's state). One dealt with the bona fide intent to marry (the Service Center thought the evidence was scant). None of the cases dealt with whether the petitioner was a criminal, etc.

Ty's right. Don't be surprised if you find that some of the delays are with the lawyer.

Here's my two cents. Unless there is another statute out there that specifically prohibits a USC from petitioning USCIS for a visa, I don't see how or why any of the items Jesse listed, in and of themselves, would prevent approval of the I-129F petition. The statutes are very specific about the requirements: 1. The beneficiary is the fiancee or fiance (evidence of intent) of... 2. A citizen of the US (proof of citizenship). 3. The beneficiary seeks to enter solely to conclude a valid marriage... 4. With the petitioner within 90 days. 5. The petitioner and beneficiary have met in person within 2 years before the date of the filing of the petition... and 6. Have a bona fide intent to marry... and 7. Are legally able to conclude the marriage. The statutes also say that if the requirements are met, the petition shall be approved. Having said this, I can certainly see how a USC's conviction, say for smuggling illegal aliens into the country, would bear on his "bona fide intent to marry". I could see how a USC's conviction on a pimping/prostitution charge would bear on "bona fide intent to marry." I could see how someone's mental condition that severely curtails mental functions might bear on the USC's ability to legally conclude a marriage. I could see how a previous conviction for visa fraud would bear on "bona fide intent". By the same token, I don't see how a conviction for auto theft would bear on the requirements. I don't see how a drug or traffic violation would necessarily bear on the requirements. And, I guess that a child molester's conviction doesn't necessarily bear on the requirements either.

My own view is that the incompetence at SSA is hard to beat. I would recommend arming yourself with the guidance related to K-1 visa holders and Social Security cards: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10720

This is what I've heard. I have no idea if the information is accurate, but it sounds plausible. Chinese customs officials apparently require certain documentation before they will release packages from customs. What I have heard is that for these types of shipments, DHL won't deliver until the recipient produces the appropriate paperwork. Now here's the rub, if personnel from the consulate don't produce the paperwork, the packages don't get released from customs, hence "customs delays", but if this information is correct, what is the real reason for the delay?

Looking forward to seeing Alex's summary. I'm on board.

That's consistent with my understanding about filing in Hong Kong, and it's good to know that you just have to work in Hong Kong and not also be a resident. But, I would be interested in knowing whether you filed the I-130 with consular personnel or with the USCIS personnel at the consulate (maybe they're one and the same). I know this really doesn't make a difference, but I trying to understand if it's really possible to file directly with the consulate even if USCIS maintains a presence. You've saved some time. Too bad Hong Kong couldn't see it all the way through. Best of luck.

Glad that's over. Despite the visa, she won't be a legal permanent resident until she physically enters the US and gets her passport stamped.

Since you've already been approved by USCIS as having met the threshold requirements (marriage, an filed I-130, etc.), I wouldn't give it a second thought. You'll have plenty of time between now and the interview to gather evidence to show a bona fide marriage.

Damnation Alex. Maybe if someone would get off his butt and either go the the DHL facility if the file is there or enter the data if the file is yellowing at GZ, you could put this all behind you. Hang in there.

1. DO NOT BREAK THE SEAL. 2. The instructions to the I-864 require all sponsors have to provide proof of employment - either with a letter from the employer OR pay stubbs: "Evidence of current employment or self-employment, such as a recent pay statement, or a statement from your employer on business stationery, showing beginning date of employment, type of work performed, and salary or wages paid." 3. Copies are okay.

Carl, it certainly sounds like the consulate is now making an effort. Here's hoping for a speeding resolution.

The great debate begins. Feb.06 = February 6th? Feb.06 = February, 2006? Where are my Trigg-o-metric tables?