frank1538

First, congratulations to you and Amy on your wedding today. This link http://candleforlove.com/forums/index....7de0dfbeac9f492 is the best I've seen on what to file. It's a bit dated, so the fees may have changed. Others might have some additional thoughts. Good luck.

Sorry for the shorthand. DOS = Department of State. NVC=National Visa Center. Take a look at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_1309.html or http://candleforlove.com/forums/index....7de0dfbeac9f492 for the phone number to call. I think Cosmic may be right in that you'll have to talk to a live person if you filed an I-129F.

Wow. Sometimes, the system works. Congratulations.

A little too much salt? My wife never heard of too much salt. I have never used salt in any of my cooking, and it's been a real battle trying to get Jingwen to cut back on the amount of salt she uses. Fortunately, I have very low blood pressure. Jingwen also uses sugar in her cooking, but I don't know if it's too counteract the salt. One day at the store she picked up a bag a white crystals with Chinese writing on the bag (I can't read Chinese). I thought it was salt, but upon closer inspection I found out it was a one pound bag of MSG. It took me a while to explain to Jingwen why she should not use MSG in her cooking. Yes, Trigg, I had to put my foot down - right on that step leading to the dog house.

Based on your timeline, it looks like USCIS is finished with your case and it's now at NVC. The USCIS website is history for the rest of the K-1 process. From here on out, you'll be dealing with the Department of State. You can do a search to get the telephone numbers, but you'll now have to call DOS to get your status.

A hearty congratulations to you.

You're getting close. Good luck.

The government moves exceedingly slowly, but at least it moves. Congrats.

Thanks, Trigg, I needed a laugh today.

Your journey is coming to an end. Good luck on the last mile.

Congratulations Bob and Nicole. This ordeal will soon become a distant memory. Best wishes to you two.

Very enlightening information on one petition per package. Wonder what this is all about: http://candleforlove.us/gallery/view_album...bumName=album02 Just a quick addition. I agree with Gene on this. Given the large volume of visas processed through Guangzhou, having them trickle in 3 or 4 at a time each day as Inxsfan was told doesn't seem to add up. 3 or 4 boxes of many petitions makes more sense to me.

Very enlightening information on one petition per package. Wonder what this is all about: http://candleforlove.us/gallery/view_album...bumName=album02

GZ would want you to use their e-mail form: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/guangzho...u/iv/email.html

Take a look at this link: http://www.americanvisas.com/adjustmentlife.htm 245(i) is still effective but only in certain very limited instances. I am not an immigration lawyer so take what I say with a grain of salt, but it sounds like, in any event, that a petition must have been filed by 4/30/01 for the provision to apply. I could see an equitable argument if your wife was in the US back in 2000, was out of status but was married, and was advised by the government that her only option was to leave the US. Under 245(i) she might have adjusted status and not had to have left the country. Again, this is way outside my area, so please don't put any stock in my reading of the law.

Same thing for Jingwen and the kids. SSA had to get EAD verification from USCIS, but they all got their cards within about a month or so.

I always received timely responses from GZ. One thing that I did was never to use one of the canned subject lines when using their e-mail form. My thinking was that a canned subject line got a canned response. I don't know if it really made any difference, but using e-mail was infinitely better than trying to reach them via telephone.

Typically, you don't know which of the shipments contains your files. The rule of thumb that I use when there are multiple shipments on the same day is to assume that the shipment with the longest "clearance delay" contains your files. In your case, you can get the shipment date from NVC. Armed with this and the addresses of the NVC and GZ, you can call DHL and get the tracking numbers for all shipments from NVC to GZ on that date. Then you can use DHL's website to track the shipments. At least, this is what I did about a year ago, but I don't know if the process has changed in the meantime.

Good to hear from you Jeff. Sounds like you guys are doing well, and Sarah is adjusting nicely. Next thing you know, she'll be correcting your English pronunciation.

Personally, I would be a bit skeptical. I'm going to guess one of four things has happened: 1. The tracking numbers don't include your package. Sometimes, the date that NVC said the files were sent to GZ is off by a day or two when compared to DHL's pickup date. 2. None of the deliveries show a "clearance delay" which is what you usually find happening to non diplomatic/critical deliveries. I guess it's possible that GZ has changed its practice of leaving shipments with DHL until it's ready for them, but I wouldn't be willing to bet the ranch on it. 3. GZ actually received the packages, one of which has your files in it. Given GZ's pace of late, that would mean that GZ has the storage capacity for many months of files. If you've seen the consulate, you'd have to wonder. 4. GZ actually received your file, and you'll be getting your P3 very soon. Hope for number 4, but prepare for the others.

This comes from Matt Udall's website ( http://members.aol.com/MDUdall/fiancee.htm ) on the K visa process: After your marriage ceremony takes place, you can begin the "second filing phase". In this phase, the international spouse files an application for permanent resident status with the required USCIS filing fees. Children with K-2 visas will also need to file permanent resident applications. CAUTION: If the international spouse does not file his or her application for permanent resident status within 90 days of entry, the international spouse will begin to accrue unlawful presence in the U.S. If the international spouse accumulates 180 or more days of continuous unlawful presence, this would expose the international spouse to either a 3 or 10 year ban if s/he were to depart the United States (before they receive their conditional or regular permanent resident status) and should prevent the USCIS from issuing Advanced Parole to allow him or her to temporarily depart the United States while his or her application for permanent resident status is pending with the USCIS.

How else to first meet the parents but over food. I did the same at Jingwen's apartment where her mom and dad lived. Dad had suffered a stroke a number of years ago and did not speak much at all. Mom was all smiles but with few words. She had prepared a wonderful lunch, and we ate and ate and ate. Maybe they were checking out my kuai zi skills or testing my ability to eat unknown food, but it went without a hitch. All in all no stress. What I found most revealing was that Jingwen and her family were just that - family. No pretense, no airs, just good people. It only reaffirmed by desire to marry her.

Sounds like April 14th has been and will continue to be your day. Good luck.

Wow, the mighty NVC actually sent a letter to let you know. The veil of secrecy must be lifting. Good luck with the rest of the journey.

April 27th. Most excellent. Good things happen on April 27th - the day I was born.