NickF

I think you and I would have a lot in common. Aside from similar experiences on the China trains I've always been a train freak. Rode the Cailfornia Zephyr, the Orange Blossom Special, and many of the other "classic trains" when I was young.

ChunMei and I went the K1 route because I'd been separated from my wife for almost 4 years, and the divorce at that point had taken 2 freakin' years because my now ex- didn't care if we were divorced or not, as long as I wasn't there. So at the time of my first trip to China I was still married. ChunMei and I had been corresponding for almost a year at that point, and talking daily with webcams, so we had transcripts of all of those conversations. On my first visit I met her entire family (parents, 3 sisters, and a brother, as well as her son) so that happened quickly. I proposed to her on that trip, and gave her my grandmother's engagement ring, so I had no receipt for it. We also spent an entire afternoon and evening having engagement pictures taken by a professional photographer, and submitted copies with the original K1 application. My divorce was still not final when I made my second visit. At that time we spent a week traveling together, then spent another week in Nanning with her family for New Year. Three months later I was finally divorced, and filed the K1 a week later, as soon as I had the final divorce paperwork. Surprisingly everything went extremely smoothy (I was still nervous as can be seen from some of my posts at the time) but from start to finish the entire process only took eleven months from start to finish. So plan for the worst, hope for the best, and good luck to you both.

Well said. Traveled on the day train from Guilin to Nanning during New Year a copuple of years ago. We traveled hard seat. Crowded, but met some interesting and very nice people. And the scenery on that route is spectacular.

I've ridden the train from Guangzhou a number of times. Ridden both "hard sleep" and "spft sleep" and have always enjoyed the trip. If you don't bring your own food (a common Chinese practice) you can either buy if from vendors who pass through the cars, or on the longer trips, use the dining car. The food in the dining cars is surprisingly good, and prepared fresh to order. The only downside is that everybody ignores the no smoking signs. I like riding Chinese trains, myself. On the other hand, if you're planning to ride during New Year the stations are total chaos. Like a rugby scrum, with out the care and restraint.

David, all 1st Bank asked us for was her SSN and her passport. We looked into getting a state ID for her, and all they asked for there was her passport and, at minimum, the recipts from Homeland Security for the AOS application. We decided not to get the card because we hadn't received the receipt yet, and she's going to get a drivers l;icence anyway.

Dave, I question this. When ChunMei and I had our AOS interview the interviewer specifically asked to see a bank statement, then photocopied our ATM cards on the account. He actually said, "I need to see proof that you are actually comingling your assets." Hmmmmm.....well I guess I will go down to their main office and find out what I need to do. Your in Highlands Ranch yes Nick? We are in Aurora. I don't really want to bank somewhere else but if I have to I guess I will try another bank. For what it's worth, I've had an account with 1st Bank of Colorado for almost 20 years, and have been very happy with them.

Congratulations!

Dave, I question this. When ChunMei and I had our AOS interview the interviewer specifically asked to see a bank statement, then photocopied our ATM cards on the account. He actually said, "I need to see proof that you are actually comingling your assets."

That would also be my recommendation. Take the HK light rail train to Shenzhen, then take the high-speed train to Guangzhou. Then take a cab or airport bus to the airport. Should take about 3 hours, depending on connections. where is the Customs for entry into China when you take the rail out of HK? what about return, where is customs for HK? We cross at Lo Wu. Basically you get off the HK light rail train, go through the customs station there, then walk out right into to the Shenzhen transportatio center. There you can catch a bus,, a standard rail train, or the high speed train to the Guangzhou train station. I recommend the hish speed train. It's about one hour to Guangzhou at about 110 mph.

That would also be my recommendation. Take the HK light rail train to Shenzhen, then take the high-speed train to Guangzhou. Then take a cab or airport bus to the airport. Should take about 3 hours, depending on connections.

Same here. We went to the SS office on a Wednesday, two days after our wedding; the card came inthe mail the following Monday.approx 1 week later.

I want to thank everyone for their support. ChunMei and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off us. I feel guilty that we seemed to sail through it so quickly and easily, while some of us here have had so many problems.

Success!!! The interview asked a few simple questions like whether she was a terrorist or a member of the CCP, asked her what kind of things we did together (visited my brother in Dallas, bicycling, traveling to the mountains,) and so forth. He was very pationt with her English. He asked for some proof we were combining our lives. We each showed him our respective ATM cards for our joint bank account. He said, "Congratulations, you get your two yweaqr card. You can do this again in another twelve years." What a relief! Considering we filed the original K-1 application on June 16, 2010, it didn't take nearly as long as we thought it would.

:huh:Thanks for the aqdvice, but I still worry something will go wrong.

Well, in 3 hours ChunMei have our AOS interview. Nermous much? I've been through all the stuff we're supposed to have, but hope I haven't missed some Mickey Mouse thing and we get denied because of that. I sent the medical forms in to the Chicago dropbox, but ChunMei wants me to stop at the doctor's office and get another sealed copy, "just in case." Don't think I'll have time.

ChunMei and my daughter and I were there 2 weeks ago to visit my brother. We spent a day at the Texas State Fair (I think that's over) but one evening we had dinner at Medieval Times. That's sort of a hoot. ChunMei loved it. They have a 2 hour indoor show that includes jousting, sword fights, and some amazing horsemanship, all in an arena in the middle of the restaurant. and the food was passible. A trip to Ft Worth is worthwhile, but the part that the ladies enjoyed was the shopping, even if they didn't buy much. It's just a hoot to go to Neiman-Marcus and read the pricetags.

That is one big difference between my wife and I. She does not have the sweet tooth we have as Americans. I bought some Cinnamon Buns to eat for breakfast which is one of my favorite foods. She took one bite, said it was too sweet and wouldn't touch it. ChunMei has a serious sweet tooth. She specifically asked me to teach her how to use the oven and show her how to make a cake from mix. Now she bakes about 2 cakes a week. In a year we'll probably both weigh about 700 pounds.

ChunMei's adjusted reasonably well. Some things she likes; some she doesn't. She loves western chocolate, and thinks Krispy Kreme is the food of the gods. she's trying to figure out how to take some home to her father on her next visit home. She thinks American salad is a wonderful invention, and now puts ranch salad dressing on everything.

Thanks. I was hoping you'd chime in here; you always have good answers.

Well, while we were on vacation in Dallas last week we got the letter with the time and date for our K-1 AOS interview. November 17 is the day! How should we prepare for it, what should we bring with us, and does anyone have any useful tips?

For what it's worth, in the current job market a BA in Psychology from a US university is also useless. She should definitely change majors in any case. A psych degree these days will jet you a job at Starbucks, Maybe. Trust me; I've got an MA, and have spent the past 20 years working in the iT industry.

Wouldn't be surprised.

Got a letter from DHS yesterday saying I hadn't submitted an I-864 with our post-marriage AOS application! Fortunately I'd made a complete copy of the original packet I'd submitted, and yes, the I-864 was in it. So I printed off another copy, printed a fresh signature page and signed it (wasn't taking the chance they wouldn't accept the photocopied signature) and mailed it off this morning. I didn't send another copy of the past three years 1040 tax forms with it because they were also included in the original submission. I included a cover letter to that effect. Hope they didn't lose the damn tax forms, too. Maybe I should have sent them, but I don't like the idea of sending copies of sensitive data like that through the mail uinless absolutely necessary. ChunMei has her biometrics taken this coming Thursday, and now she worries that they won't do it because of the "missing" paperwork.

We didn't need to worry about the CCP thing, because ChunMei worked as a retail sales clerk. You read about a lot of horror stories here on CFL, but our process went very smoothly, my own anxieties notwithstanding. I'm perfectly willing to admit I got a little paranoid sometimes.

I know what you mean. I felt the same waiting for ChunMei's papers to process. But it did happen, and it only took 11 months until she was here. Now we're married, the AOS is submitted, and she's scheduled for her biometrics next Thursday. So think positive.