frank1538

Can you see the light yet? You're picking up speed through the tunnel. Good luck.

Welocme Rob and Ellen. You'll find a wealth of information here. Figure about a year from start to finish for a K-1 visa from the US consulate in Guangzhou - probably the slowest in the world. Post often, ask a lot of questions, and get to know your fiancee, and the time will pass. If you're like most of us, it will be well worth the wait.

Technically, if you file AOS after the 90 day window, your spouse is out of status. I have never heard of any downsides associated with filing after 90 days, but I would encourage you to file as soon as possible. Once the AOS is filed, your spouse is back into an "authorized stay" status.

Here's one of the stories: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050721/ap_on_...bDltBHNlYwM3MTY The cost of everything from China just went up a little.

Definitely talk to a good lawyer. I assume she is already in the US. I have heard of a number of situations where a legitimate marriage takes place after an overstay. The consensus seems to be to file both the I-130 and I-485 simultaneously (checking box 2(a) rather than 2( c) on the I-485). I am also lead to believe that she could stay in the US while the I-485 is being processed.

AAC has good data in their database. Here's another: http://www.marriagebasedvisas.org/visa/k-1/index.php ... and yet another: http://www.k1k3.com/list.php

What VSC gives, GZ takes away. I agree there are exceptions and VSC K-1 petitions may move slightly faster to conclusion, but a one year wait (historically speaking) seems about right for the majority of petitioners using a service center elsewhere. I haven't done a detailed comparison, but I'll bet there is even some slippage with VSC. When I was filing for Jingwen there was at least a 5 month differential between VSC and TSC, but this differential had significantly shrunk such that VSC petitions yielded a visa maybe one or two months more quickly.

As far as I know, that's the way it's done. If she ever leaves the US, they'll remove this "departure record" from the passport.

That certainly sounds like it. Also check the I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) that your wife had stamped when she first entered the country. Most of the immigration officers will hand write the A# on the form.

I'm going to pull a Carl on 'ya and get my happy dance shoes polished and ready to go. Keep the faith and good luck.

While I have seen applicants go into the interviews with jeans and a t-shirt, ask yourself if this would make a good impression on the visa officer. I agree with Don - a formal business suit is probably too much and jeans and a t-shirt are probably too little.

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

This appears to be one of those areas where people legitimately differ on how to define "household size". Gene's view is shared by many and even some IO's (if you believe the posts from other sites like visajourney). I am of the view that household size is not a function of dependency but rather relationship (birth, marriage, or adoption) and residency (sharing the same residence for at least 6 month). My inclination would be to include your parents but only if necessary, consider having them execute an I-864A so that their income/assets can be added to yours when you complete the I-864.

Several members have shared their experiences with tourist visas. Here's one from Tine & Ella: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8469&hl=

This may sound trite and will fall on deaf ears of the younger generations. When I first went to China to visit Jingwen and her family (not my first trip to China), it was like traveling back in time to my childhood - think America in the late 50's. I have such wonderful memories from this time, and spending time in China with Jingwen was like re-living the past. Family was the focus point then as it is now. The elder family member's house was the gathering place, just like it was for me with my grand parents' house. A filled house is a happy house. Food was plentiful, and laughter and multiple generations were always present. The aromas of cooking always filled my grandmother's house then just as they do now in Jingwen's China house. The women cooked, the men drank beer and argued about everything, and the kids played. Uncles and aunts disciplined their nieces and nephews but also took care of them. The pace of life was slower. We didn't drive - we walked. We didn't go out much other than to family dinners. Our living accommodations were smaller in the 50's, just like they were in China. The simple things like card games and chess kept the family together in the 50's just like maijiang and card games do in China. Everything was centered around the family in the 50's. It was a glorious time for me as a child. Today in China with Jingwen's family, everything centers around the family again. It is a wonderful experience whenever I go there.

My bad. No notice was mailed, but the on-line status check gave the update to the effect that biometrics had been completed and processing resumed. Sorry about that.

Thanks, Frank Curve balls?...I sure hope not but I still have my stepdaughter to go. I asked the IO about her case. He said he will look it up and if it is there, he would take care of her too. But her case wasn't on his computor, dog gone it! Her receipt date is Aug. 9, 2004 and she is up to date on all her shots. We will see how it goes with her. But my wife is done, finished, kaput!... 137388[/snapback] Seems like it would make sense that if mom has already been adjusted, the daughter should be adjusted without another interview. Why have to go through the hassle again? I'm in the same boat (at least three of us now - you, Gene and I). The parent has a green card, but the child is still waiting for an interview.

Tony, lots of good information here... but still could not determine if the Green Card is issued there or not!!! 137376[/snapback] LPR is synonymous with green card. She will not have a green card prior to entering the US. Chances are she will get an I-551 stamp (temporary evidence of LPR status) in her passport until the green card is actually received.

Congratulations. Another milestone passed.!!

Finally!!! Take a deep breath and get on with the rest of your lives. Congratulations. Do you think they'll throw you any more curve balls?

This should help you understand the government's logic: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6334 136875[/snapback] laughed for a long time.. Sometimes, that's all we can do to cope with the absurdity.

Well Ty, I guess USCIS didn't want you to be alone. My step son just got an NOA canceling his September AOS interview. Reason? "...unforseen circumstances." I guess I'll give them a call next week and see if I can find out the skinny. Maybe they decided to just issue the green card without an interview...NOT.

This should help you understand the government's logic: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6334

I'll share my experience on this. When you're talking about the interview, I assume you're talking about the AOS interview. Biometrics are an interim step. If you believe the notices, AOS processing is suspended until you complete the biometrics, after which you should receive another NOA indicating that biometrics have been completed and processing of the AOS has resumed. We filed locally in Atlanta and were assigned an MSC number. My step son just received his appointment letter from the local office. The on-line status check was a joke - it bore no relation to reality in terms of processing times. However, we pre-dated the centralized AOS filing, so I don't know how it's being handled today. Maybe someone else can shed some light on how interviews are being scheduled these days. Like you, we filed for EAD at the same time as AOS. After 90 days expired, we made an appointment with the local office, went down, did the wait a long time thing and eventually were given a temporary EAD.

and... The I-864 becomes null and no longer applicable.