Andrew and Zhuli

Dear Candleforlove, I have been helped by you, now it's my turn to return the favor. If you look at my signature, it will give you a general outline of our process. I am an English teacher in China who has a wonderful Chinese wife. 1. I first payed the I-130 fee in Shanghai where I live, but now I think one must go to Beijing to pay if they are filing a DCF. That was in August of 2011. I prepared the following and sent it on December 26th 2011 with my I-130 (my wife became pregnant so we waited a while before mailing the I-130). This is the table of contents: 1. Receipt of payment for I-130 2. Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative 3. Copy of unexpired passport and all pages (petitioner) 4. Form G-325a (petitioner) 5. Passport sized photo (petitioner) 6. Form G-325a (beneficiary) 7. Passport sized photo (beneficiary) 8. Copy of US birth certificate (petitioner) 9. Copy of valid US driver's license and Social Security card (petitioner) 10. Evidence of a Bona Fide marriage: Copy of notarized translated marriage certificate (petitioner and beneficiary) Copy of Chinese marriage certificate (petitioner and beneficiary) Relationship overview Copy of coinciding flight tickets (petitioner and beneficiary) Copy of coinciding visas (petitioner and beneficiary) Copy of coinciding entry/exit stamps (petitioner and beneficiary) Photos of us throughout the years including wedding photos (petitioner and beneficiary) 2. We received a Notice of Approval of Relative Immigrant Visa Petition, form OF-169, form DS-230 and form I-864 from USCIS on March 10th, 2012. 3. Gathered all documents needed as stated in form OF-169 4. Mailed forms OF-169 and DS-230 (both parts) on June 11th, 2012. (note our son was born during this time so we delayed everything for about 2 months) 5. Received an email from Guangzhou on June 21st, 2012 as an appointment letter. The appointment was for July 18th, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. 6. Had the medical check done in Shanghai (the city we live in) on July 3rd, 2011. We had to bring the appointment letter, a copy of my wife's passport bio page and six US passport sized photos. Received the results of the health check a week later. 7. Prepared the following documents to give to the consulate (my table of contents): Copy of wife's passport bio page Six US passport sized photos Notarized marriage certificate Notarized birth certificate Notarized Chinese and Korean police reports Copy of my passport bio page I-864 (mine) Three year's of tax 1040s (mine) Letter of Salary from current company My bank statements (US and Chinese accounts in English and in USD) Copy of father's passport bio page I-864A (father's) Three year's of tax 1040s (father's) Relationship overview (letter) Coinciding visas and entry/exit stamps My Chinese Residence Permits Photos US Consular Birth Certificate of our son Copy of son's passport bio page Copy of valid driver's license My property deed in the US 8. Went to interview on July 18th, 2012 and my wife was finger printed, filled out a EMS delivery slip with our address in China. She then signed part II of the DS-230 and handed in the following documents: Copy of wife's passport bio page Six US passport sized photos Notarized marriage certificate Notarized birth certificate Notarized Chinese and Korean police reports I-864 (mine) Three year's of tax 1040s (mine) Letter of Salary from current company My bank statements (US and Chinese accounts in English and in USD) I-864A (father's) Three year's of tax 1040s (father's) 9. Returned at 7:30 a.m. on July the 19th 2012 for the interview. She was asked the following questions (less than 2 minutes): Where did you and your husband meet? When did you get married? How long have you been working and living in China together? Does your son have a US passport? How long did you stay in America on your B1 (visitor's) visa? 10. Handed her a white page saying congratulations and she would get the visa in a week. So, that was the entire process for us. I think we were blessed to have everything go so smoothly. So for all you other DCF'ers, good luck.

Thanks for the advice. If we didn't copy our wedding certificate, when we get to the states, what proof of marriage do we have?

They kept my our wedding certificate, my wife's police report and birth certificate. Will these be sent back to us with the visa?

The Info Page is the first page with your photo and identifying information. I think you should be OK. The advice is to front-load as much as possible with the I-130. This advice is given not so much to ensure I-130 approval but it can help at the interview. Though what you have is pretty typical for a DCF case. It took us 4 months from filing to interview and I have seen others recently closer to 3 months. The biggest factor is how quickly you turnaround P3. Depending on when you want to go back to the US, you might want to sit on the P3 a bit. Thanks Beachey, What do you mean front loaded? The more info at the beginning the better?

Thanks for the advice. We have been married for about 15 months and if this process takes about 6 months, we will be just shy of the 2 year marriage point. So the validity of her visa will be 6 months from the time it is issued? If that is the case, then we can wait an extra couple of months and enter the States and apply for the 10 year green card. Thanks. Andrew

You have a residence permit in your passport? I think they will be interested in that plus the info page. Also do you have copies of your wife's visa matching up with yours when you traveled together? Yeah, there are three resident permits in my passport (2 voided and 1 current). I'm not sure what you mean by info page, I have copied my entire passport with all visas and entry stamps to send them. I will also include my wife's visa for the US and all entry stamps that we have in common. Will that secure a bonafide marriage? Thanks for the help. Andrew

Thanks for the help everyone. Tomorrow I am going to the Embassy in Shanghai to pay the DCF fee. I just want to make sure everything I have is enough when I send it to Beijing later this week. 1. I 130s (for both of us) 2. G 325a (for both of us) 3. Passport Photos (for both of us) 4. Copy of my Birth Certificate 5. Copy of my passport (all pages) 6. Copy of Driver's License and Social Security Card 7. Copy of original Marriage certificate 9. Copy of translated and notarized Marriage certificate 10. Photos of us dating, living together and our marriage ceremony(including both families together) 11. Copies of marriage congratulation letters from my friends and family in America 12. Copies of air tickets to America, Korea, and China (the both of us travelling together) 13. Cover letter and letter describing our relationship So this is what we have included in our CR1 petition to send to Beijing. I hope this is enough to prove a bonafide marriage and get it sent to Guangzhou. If there is anything else I have forgotten to include, please let me know. Thanks guys. Andrew Edwards

Thanks to both of you. I am currently living and working in Shanghai. I thought I would have to go to Guangzhou first, but like I said, I am totally clueless on this entire process. I haven't navigated through this website much, so if there are any redundant questions I apologize. What should be my first action? what is a DCF? Is it part of the I 130 form? Again any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hey, My wife (from Hunan) and I met in Korea 4 years ago as teachers, and have been married for nearly a year here in China. I'm not sure what to do next. We have our marriage certificates but the bureaucracy of the K3 visa has me entirely confused. Could anyone help me breakdown the process of applying for and receiving a K3 visa for my wife. Basically, explain it to me as if I was a 5 year old. What should we do first, second, third, etc. I have my taxes in order, but I am lost on what to do next. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Andrew and Zhu Li