frank1538

The official next step will be the receipt of the P3 forms. You can get an idea of what those forms are by going here: http://home.comcast.net/~donahso/P3index.htm (from the Links and Resources Section). The faster you get the forms in, the faster the interview will be scheduled. Will you have the interview by February? If history is any indicator, I'd say yes (P3-->interview is running about 5 months). You can get a feel for the length of time it's been taking by looking at the excellent statistics that "Timeline" has produced: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12613

I take it you mean that the DHL tracking indicates that it was delivered to GZ. If so, like fine wine, the files will have to age a little before GZ enters the info into the system and sends out the P3. I haven't been following peoples' timelines, but I'd guess a few more weeks. Give it a week or so and then start calling DOS or e-mailing GZ for status updates.

Other than the Hickory to Atlanta leg, my flights tend to follow your itinerary. I have had good luck booking directly with the airlines (Delta to Guangzhou or United to Hong Kong). I used http://www.pacplace.com once and they also booked the local China leg for me, but I'll bet your SO can get a better price locally. Other have used http://www.flychina.com. When I went to Guangzhou for the interview, I went ahead and booked R/T for me on United to Hong Kong and one ways for Jingwen and the kids from Hong Kong back to Atlanta. All local China travel was booked there in China, including travel from Guangzhou to Zhanjiang and Zhanjiang to Shenzhen for the boat trip back to Hong Kong. I booked directly with United.

I don't think DCF would be available in Hong Kong. As a general rule, if USCIS has an office within the consular district, you can't filed directly with the consulate. Having said that, you might contact USCIS (not technically the consulate) in Hong Kong. Here's a link to their website: http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/ove...s.htm#anchor130 If I am reading the information correctly, it appears that US citizens working for private companies in Hong Kong can file the I-130 with the USCIS office in Hong Kong, but I don't know if that also requires residency in Hong Kong. What is your residence status in China? Assuming the appropriate visa category, you might be able to file the I-130 in China. One thing I noticed is that USCIS also has an office in Guangzhou and Beijing. I would be interested in knowing from those that actually filed DCF in China whether they filed directly with the consulate (true DCF) or filed with the USCIS folks located at the consulate. This may be a distinction without a difference, but the knowledge would be good to have. Congatulations on the upcoming birth of your child. Here's another link on what to do when the child is born: http://travel.state.gov/family/family_issu.../birth_593.html . Pay special attention to the apparent requirement that the US citizen parent prove that he/she has been physically present in the US for a certain period of time.

I later found out that the appointment was cancelled because the biometrics were over a year old - not that fingerprints change much in a year. We got another notice earlier this month and had the biometrics done again. I'm almost willing to bet that we'll get another notice requiring an new medical exam since the one my step son had was done is early 2004.

Jingwen and the kids took their IDs with them when they came to the US. They aren't needed here, but we thought they might need them when they fly to China to visit. Jingwen has always tendered her ID (at the Chinese airports connecting to local flights, at ticket check-ins, etc.) I don't know whether her passport would have been sufficient.

A hearty congratulations to you both.

My wife's AOS interview was also cancelled but I took her anyways. Couldn't you have done the same thing? 155954[/snapback] We went on the appointed day and everything looked good until they tried to cross check the name on the print out of scheduled appointments/notices - couldn't find my step son's name. I said it must be a mistake. They didn't buy it.

If you want to buck the system, you can always respond to the RFE with language from this link, http://uscis.gov/graphics/i-693faq.htm , which makes it clear that a medical exam is not needed for a year. The vaccination supplement is another matter. I think ty has a good idea. Find a civil surgeon who knows the rules, get the vaccination supplement in a sealed envelope (maybe have the civil surgeon also insert the info from the USCIS website) and send it in. You can always claim ignorance since the envelope will be sealed. Some offices don't require the vaccination supplement until the interview; others require it as part of the AOS. I guess yours is the latter.

I have always found that DOS is more reliable in providing information. I wouldn't bother with the FBI unless you're stuck in namecheck hell and then I wouldn't be surprised if you got no information. You can access the search function through the "My Assistant" link at the top of the main screen.

Got exactly the same e-mail (even the same date) that my step son's application has been transferred. Maybe it's a good thing, but I don't know. Jingwen and KK (daughter) have already received their green cards, but Minghao's AOS has now been pending since 4/04. He had received an interview notice, but it was promptly cancelled, and USCIS wouldn't honor it. So, we wait. PS, I'm moving the thread to the Immigration Challenges section.

Welcome home. I see the training has already begun.

Congratulations.

On the question of filing the I-485 within the 90 validity period of the K-1, Lee points out some of issues that might arise if you get married within the 90 days, but can't get the AOS paperwork in by then. In other posts, I had said that the individual is technically out of status between the time the K-1 expired and the time the AOS is filed, but again, I have never heard of any downside to not filing the AOS within the 90 days. I went back and looked at the instructions to the I-485, and it seems the instructions may actually contemplate this possibility. First, the instructions say that a K-1 fiance(e) is eligible to file if he/she married the US citizen who filed the petition within 90 days. Then the instructions go on and describe those who are not eligible. Among those not eligible are individuals who failed to maintain their non immigrant status (out of status). While this would technically include fiance(e)s who married within 90 days but who are still in the US on an expired visa, the instructions specifically carve out an exception for such people. By doing so, I think the instructions recognize that some K-1ers won't be filing for AOS until after expiration of the 90 days. If possible, avoid the issue by filing for AOS within the 90 days. If you can't, I don't see a significant problem, but I wouldn't dally too long before I filed.

Have a safe and productive trip Lee. We'll keep the home fires burning.

My guess is that at least the AOS paperwork will eventually end up at the local office where the interview will eventually take place. The next thing that will likely happen after USCIS acknowledges receipt is a notice to go get the biometrics. I believe each of the applications will be processed separately except for possibly getting biometrics for them at the same time. I filed before the lockbox was instituted, so I don't know for certain. Here's a link that gives an example of what might happen to your files: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6334&hl=

...and it only took three years from start to finish. Congratulations.

That slow boat finally docked. Congratulations.

That certainly is encouraging news. I hope all works out for the best. Now go and bring your lady home.

There's actually a grain of truth to this, but you have to distinguish between petition approval which is done by USCIS and visa granting which is done by the Department of State. When I started the process, it was taking 6 or so months for the Texas Service Center to approve fiancee petitions. TSC has speeded up to the point that many such petitions are approved within 2-3 months. The consulate in Guangzhou is one of the slowest in the world, and the National Visa Center, which coordinates the security checks for the Department of State, has problems with screening Chinese names. These two factors contribute to the length of time it takes to actually get a visa once the petition is approved by USCIS. It pains many of us that getting a visa for a fiancee, fiance or spouse from just about any other country is faster, sometimes 11 months faster.

Jesse, you have to distinguish between those consulates that require the USC to be a resident of the foreign country (China) and those consulates that don't. There are a number of consulates that will process the I-130 filed by a non resident of the country if the marriage takes place there. I remember one case where the couple got sick and tired of waiting for TSC. He was a USC; she was from Europe. Both hopped on a plane to Gibraltar, waited a few days as required to get the marriage license, got married, and filed DCF. Total time was less than a month. Unfortunately, our Chinese SOs don't usually have the flexibility of being able to travel to such countries. Take a look at http://www.usaimmigrationattorney.com/DCFa...Fcountries.html which lists those consulates where residency in not required. I caution you though that the list may not be completely accurate.

Vent away. I suspect DOS's lack of information at this stage is by design

Piece of cake - all that worrying for nothing. I know you're glad it's over. Congraulations and have a wonderful life together.

Now that's a happy ending!!!! Congratulations and best wishes.

I sense a war wills brewing here. :banned: Roger and Dan, take note.