keelec

Just for curiosity, Does the USA have machine readable passports with microchips? I don't think mine has anything more sophisticated than a barcode. Does anybody here have a Post-9/11/2001 passport? Is it any different than the pre-9/11 passports? Hmmm, what happens to the microchip if one carries the passport in one's pocket and the passport gets crumpled a bit? Anyway, this policy was announced over a year ago. I would imagine that it initially will cause a little chaos, but won't have any huge, long lasting effects. The bigger issue is the millions of chinese (and other national) tourists that get denied visas and get turned away from the USA. Or, those individuals who choose not to visit the USA because of excessive delays (generally not visa waiver countries like most of Europe). ----- Clifford -----

Alaska Gypsy, I don't remember seeing a discussion on this before, so unfortunately I don't have any real experience with the subject. Looking at the forms. If I was in your position, I would put your PO box on the I-129F, and the actual street addresses on the G-325A. Perhaps add a note on the cover letter requesting mail to be sent to your PO box as specified on the I-129F. I would not recomend using a mail forwarding service like Mailboxes-Etc, although I doubt the INS would be able to know that you were using one. But, then again, they are tied to the multiple (unspecified) government agencies. They might look up the addresses to look for "odd" patterns. Note, if you are applying for a fiancee. The most important piece of information that is sent to your house is the receipt number (NOA1), also found on the back of the cancelled check. You can track all of the progress with that number. Ummm, if you get an RFE (refused (?) for evidence), then you would need to get the docs for that from the government too. Oh, and always expect that the INS will do the exact opposite from what you request or desire. ------ Clifford ------ P.S. Keep us up to date with whatever you choose to do, and the eventual outcome.

I thought I read somwhere once that the INS could cancel or suspend an application if correspondence was returned undeliverable. It sounds like you have been talking to someone at the INS so you should be ok, but it might be something worth asking. Do you have both NOA1 & NOA2 from California? Wow!!!! so your application is now at the NVC? Good Luck, Clifford

Don't worry about processing delays... They know about them, after all, they were the ones that created the delays. However, if you definately would need to do something if your fiancee/wife chooses to stay in China longer than 6 months after the visa is granted. ---- CK ------

If I'm not mistaken, both carry spybots. Yahoo and Google's toolbars will co-exist with both Adaware and Spybot, so I assume that they aren't too bad (either that, or they are too popular). The MSN toolbar is essentially built into XP, and perhaps previous versions of Windows. But, MSFT has also put some types of spyware into their software. MSN Messenger carries with it something that I keep picking up and killing off, but I forgot exactly what that piece was called. ---- Clifford -----

I must admit that I would believe in "English as a minimum". I believe that EVERY school kid in the USA should be taught English. Now, that certainly does not preclude the studying other languages. Does studying a different language help a kid learn English? That would be an interesting hypothesis. I wonder if it would depend on the language? And, of course, it would be a very difficult thing to control as one might find that kids that have an interest in multiple languages are better at languages in general. However, I could see many common threads between English and other Latin or Germanic languages. So much of English is based on stems. A good understanding of stems, would certainly help with many language competency skills tests. Knowledge and skills in evaluating stems also are very helpful in foreign languages. I would assume that these would transfer over into English. For example..... I had a neighbor kid comment that I had given him a piece of petrified wood. Then he noticed that in Harry Potter, many things were petrified. So, he asked me what it meant to be "petrified". Well, with a little thought, the word has the root "Petra" --- Stone. Thus, petrified means to turn to stone. Anyway, I am all for bilingual education, but NOT MONOLINGUAL EDUCATION IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ----- Clifford -----

True, but when you leave the keys in the ignition of your Ferrari, who's fault is it when it isn't on the street corner you left it? One just doesn't have to tempt fate.

Yes, research is good. quality control in drug development is good. However, part of the problem that drives up the cost of drug development is the LAWYERS Ever hear ads on the radio like "Even if you had no adverse effects, if you took FEN-FEN, contact law firm XYZ as you may be eligible to sue the drug manufacturer. And, when the drug was pulled off the market, people were lining up trying to get the last few pills available just because they felt that the risk of cardiac arrhythmias was less significant than the social and health risks of obesity. Get rid of the “somebody owes me” mentality in this society, and we will all live much better. ----- Clifford -----

Maybe it is all the unemployed techies from high tech job outsourcing Why do we have viruses? I a good chunck come from HUGE GAPING HOLES in MS Products. Why on earth should anybody need a "Firewall"? If I am running a PC, every way to remotely access the systems should be disabled by default (FTP, Telnet, HTML Server, and dang near everything else other than explicitly requested services). Now, the e-mail viruses are preying on the stupidity of the users as much anything else. And, many of them are paying for themselves by harvesting valuable information from their "hosts" such as e-mail SPAM lists. Why don't we have a seperation of programs and data? Why should a word processing document be able to host a virus? Why do websites that I look at need to run stuff on MY COMPUTER? Why should a movie be able to host a virus? All I want to view is the streaming video. Why is everything that one needs to diagnose an issue buried by default? system files (and viruses) hidden? Extensions required to tell the difference between a "safe" text file and a "deadly" executable program hidden by default? Why can't I configure Word to memorize the "ok" macros, but not the "new" ones? Why doesn't McAfee look for virues in the PST file when searching the HDD? Why can't one view all the MS Explorer addons in a single page and chooose which ones to use and which ones not to use? Anyway, the virues are caused by: SLOPPY PROGRAMMING OF THE #1 OPERATING SYSTEM IN THE WORLD. SLOPPY PROGRAMMING OF ALL THE #1 OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY PACKAGE. TRYING TO MAKE COMPUTERS DUMBER THAN THE USERS THE VALUE OF SPAMMING E-MAIL ADDRESSES THE VALUE OF DIRECTED POP-UPS. Oh, and did I mention: SLOPPY PROGRAMMING OF THE #1 OS AND THE #1 OFFICE SUITE And, I am absolutely convinced that one could write an Outlook E-Mail virus that would run just by viewing the message. ----- Clifford -----

You have it all wrong.... All you have to do is think like a politician. Taking drugs made in the USA, shipping them across the border, then back into the USA.... Bad for the US Economy. Importing drugs from Europe to the USA.... GOOD Importing the same drugs from Europe to Canada then to the USA... BAD. Competition in Drug Manufacturing in the USA... BAD Lots of lawyers in the USA driving the prices of the drugs up in the USA GOOD (note that many politicians are lawyers). Malpractice and liability suits that pay more to the LEACHES (oh, Lawyers) than to the plaintiffs GOOD ---------- Sending or raw materials to Mexico for processing, then re-importing the finished products …. GOOD Sending our raw manufacturing jobs overseas…. GOOD Sending our technical jobs overseas…. GOOD Investing in fuel efficiency and alternative fuels… BAD Overdependence on Foreign Oil…. GOOD Sending our armies out to attack anybody that gets in our way….. Somewhat like the tribal warfare of yesteryear GOOD ------- Oh, as a side note….. Oregon is supposed to be progressive on a number of things. However, they recently came up with a classic blunder with their laws. They decided to double the registration fees for the new Hybrid cars that were being used in the state because the cars used less fuel than the “traditional” cars, and thus paid less gas tax than, say a CADDIE, for example. ----- Clifford ------

You must have either 1 letter of intent signed by both individuals, or 2 letters of intent signed by each individual. I used the letters of intent as the cover letter, and had them long enough to explain how we met and fell in love (at least how we had met, and I thought we had fallen in love) Irina sent a copy of her passport so I included it too. I don't believe that you are required to submit the birth certificate until the interview, but some people may have been given an RFE asking for a copy. It wouldn't hurt to include either the photocopy of the passport or the birth certificate. I just stapled my application. I wouldn't stress too much on the binder and etc. HOWEVER, TYPE THE APPLICATION IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. Your letter of intent may be typed or handwritten (with original signatures) However, as you may note, my application took an average amount of time at NSC and NVC, then it kind of got stuck at Moscow for far too long. Do not put N/A for previous wives, or previous work experience

China and most of Europe use PAL format for TV and video. The USA uses NTSC. I have only seen the Embassy specify VHS (so presumably MPG, VCD, or DVD will not work). They don't seem to specify PAL or NTSC, so I assume they will accept either format (they are the US Embassy, after all)y. It may be slightly preferable to use PAL format. You can get it converted in a good photo shop either in the USA, or in China. Both individuals must be in the same room for the filming, and the Embassy aparently does not like videochat transcripts. The official request is for a video showing the US Citizen speaking and writing Chinese, but communication between the two seems to be the accepted type of tape. ----- Clifford ------

Welcome to the candle.... We try to confuse as much as possible As mentioned, if you are wanting to sponsor your wife for a visa to the USA, you MUST file the I-130. If you allow the I-130 to completion, your wife will receive a CR-1 visa if you have been married for less than 2 years at the completion of the process, or an IR-1 if you have been married for more than 2 years. However, due to issues that the CR-1 visa would often take longer than the K1 fiancee visas, the K3 visa was created that closely mirrors the K1 process with a couple of key differences (such as being a multiple entry visa). Thus, you have the option of filing an I-129F for the K3 visa which is processed through Missouri in a few months. A special case is that the Vermont Service Center has been very speedy with processing the I-130 petition, and recently has been completing it before Missouri completes the I-129F. However, other service centers take considerably longer to process the application (perhaps a few years). The second step is different between the two applications as the P3 packet is processed in the USA at the NVC for the I-130/CR-1 visa. The P3 is processed at the "Post" for the K3 visa applications. Another difference. I believe that the K3 application is processed in the country where you get married. I believe that I-130/CR-1 may be processed in the country where your wife is a citizen. Thus, they may be different. You may note that some countries like Hong Kong will allow foreign weddings, and are MUCH FASTER AT PROCESSING THE K3 APPLICATION THAN GZ. If your wife comes to the USA on a K3 visa, I believe that she can still complete the I-130 application, but it would require her to return to China for a second interview and to get the visa there. At that point, if she is denied the visa (presumably rare), she would be stuck in China. You can also file an adjustment of status which would require the second interview to be in the USA. And, if issues come up at the interview, then she would be in the USA while everthing is settled. ----- Clifford -----

I totally agree with you to treat EVERYONE with respect, no matter how they treat you. However, the current practice for visa processing is ridiculous, and I will point that out to anybody who is willing to listen. And, yes, that is what I point out to our congressmen with any interaction with them. In our case, it took over 6 months for NSC to do it's initial processing. And, I got that 2-4 week note about NVC.... It took 1 1/2 months there. Then, or application got stuck in Moscow for over 10 months. I seriously doubt there was ever any real "security" concern about Irina. Yet, we had to wait for over a year and a half for the interview to be scheduled. And, unfortunately, in that time our relationship fell apart, and I lost over a year of my life to government bureaucracy.

I believe in at least one case, a Candle member got the K3 (I-129F) - Packet 3. returned it, then get the K3 - Packet 4 and interview schedule. While they were waiting for the interview, the I-130 was approved and forwarded to GZ. They went in for a K3 interview, and were given the CR-1 visa instead. ----- Clifford ------

WOW 3-4 months at NSC. It is hard for the "old-timers" to believe. Mine also went throgh NSC. Mine took about 5.5 months then I got an RFE for putting N/A for previous wives. Then it took an additional 1 month to get that fixed (6.5 months total). As I look at the distant horizon at the possiblity of doing this again, I am glad to hear that some applications are going much faster. Perhaps I won't be headed to Canada after all. I have heard that Texas has also been improving their performance. Too bad CSC hasn't tried to improve their performance too. ------ Clifford ------

I thought I saw a while back that GZ was requesting that each couple choose a single petitioner that would do the correspondence. That way they don't get two letters from the same couple in the same day. Of course, I imagine that it takes more time to weed out duplicate requests than it takes to just reply to a question. ----- Clifford ------

Interesting topic. As you know, I haven't made it to China yet, but could draw some comparisons with Russia. As far as brickwork in Russia. They don't bother to stack and paletize the bricks, but rather haul them in a dump truck. Thus, they start with every brick with chipped corners. And, they haven't figured out to use a sting line. The Communist era construction is extremely plain, boxy construction. Only in the new construction after the fall of communism, I have seen some glimmers of hope that they might start adding style and beauty to their architecture. Of course, there is some beautiful architecture in Moscow which has been much richer than the rest of the country. Now, who is richer, us or the Russians. Well, I find it amazing how they can do with so little. I can't even imagine living on less than $100 per month. And they still do things like hire carpenters for a home remodel. Of course, replacing a washer on a leaky kitchen faucet seemed to be well beyond the imagination of of the most astute Russian homeowner. Of course, perhaps we should compare the average Russian to the average American Doctor or Lawyer ) How many Doctors or Lawyers does it take to change a light bulb? But, there are some things that we just take for granted in America. Let's see. I started driving at 16. I got my first car at 18. I bought my first house at 24. I now have two (functional) cars for a single person. Very few Russians move out of their parent's houses before marriage. And, it is now becoming more common for the children to continue to live with their parents after marriage (and even after having their own children, 3 generations crammed into a small 1-bedroom apartment). Well, anyway, I still am amazed at how little of my salary can remain at the end of the month. But, I certainly would not want to start working for wages such that it would take 100% of my salary for a week just to buy a new pair of jeans of marginal quality. ----- Clifford ------

As I understand it, there is no penalty for filing late if you owe nothing, or are getting a refund. Just download a copy of the 1040 and send it in. I am also not certain on not filing if you have no income & owe nothing. There have been years in the past where my income was marginal so I didn't file, and I haven't had the IRS knocking on my door because of it. If you are worried, fill out the form and send it in. Don't call GZ. They don't ask about income on every case so I wouldn't want to bring yours to their attention. I don't know if that is because of a prescreening or not, but just be prepared with the cosponsor and you should be fine. ------ Clifford ------

Don, Am I supposed to feel insulted by that???? I guess I forgot to add the Playboy magazine http://www.wowpicture.com/design_artistic_...y_asiangirl.htm I had just wanted to spend a couple of minutes throwing a few pics up on the web. Of course I would like to come back and update it, but I have many other priorities too. Anyway, I can always rationalize it by explaining that I am still using dialup, and get tired of all the time wasted in "fluff". But, maybe you are right, I should probably build a very sharp "Personals" page for myself. Here is the page that I made for Lina, the English instructor for Oksana, the first Russian woman I was dating a couple of years ago. Oksana had asked me to build a personals page for her. http://www.geocities.com/clkeele/Lina.html If I remember right, she couldn't get me any very good pictures so I had to improvise. ----- CK -----

For those of you that have already read about the California Shredding, I am sorry for bringing it up again. Yet, for any government agency to allow that to happen is unforgivable. And, then for the same government agency to request original irreplacible documents.... Well, you can decide if the request is reasonable. Put into any search engine: INS Sredding Passports or something similar You will bring up quite a few links. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/833326/posts http://www.usvisa-law.com/news/shredder.htm http://www.usavisacounsel.com/article-60.htm Unfortunately, none of the articles are discussing the final outcome of the case. I believe a few people lost their jobs, but I don't know if there was associated prison time. ----- Clifford ------

I wouldn't recommend sending the original. She should bring the original to the interview. At that point, someone who knows Chinese can look at it and return it to her immediately. To get it to the USA, you would have to mail the document internationally, then mail it to the BCIS. I believe that it is rare for the BCIS to actually loose documents. However they don't return many documents as part of the K1/K3 applications to the applicants either. About two years ago, CSC purposely shredded entire applications including original documents that were submitted as part of visa applications. This was someone's hairbrained plan for backlog reduction. I doubt that will happen again, but it is inexcusable. Call BCIS, and ask them if your wife can bring the registry for inspection to GZ (where they probably have some experts that could actually read it). And, perhaps she could have the interview at the same time.

Heck, And it only takes Blockbuster 6 months to get a new release

http://www.cosmictribune.org/zzmarx.jpg And, heck, I thought that one looked like Santa Claus

Wow, This is one hot topic. Ok, a number of questions come up. Can a woman believe that she likes children in general, and then discover that she doesn’t like her new husband’s children who she hadn’t met until coming to America, and had never dealt with? What if she wanted to have children and he did not want it? Is it fraud to change one’s mind, or learn more about one’s relationship? Is Steve treating his wife as a child? Giving her an allowance? He has said that they have joint bank accounts, but it is clear that he treats their joint money as his own (and she treats hers as her own). As far as the divorce, they obviously both need to get lawyers. In general, I believe that the husband and wife split the assets accumulated during the marriage. For couples that meet young, it would be everything. However, in this case, it would be half of what was earned together during the last 2 years. That is everything including retirement contributed as well as capital gains on all investments. Even if she should return to China, she would likely be entitled to half of the assets accumulated during the marriage. Wasn’t Anna Nicole Simpson that married some shriveled up old prune? She made him very happy for a couple of years. Then all she wanted was the income from their time together without touching the wealth generated before their marriage. ----- Clifford -----