KAM313

The only problem is -- I have no one to go to for the joint sponsorship. Finding a job sounds like the only option, but it might require me moving back to the USA before my wife.

Hi, I'm about to apply for my wife's green card later this month and the one sticking point in our application is my ability to support her financially. While my income is low (I was a student up until this point), I do have some liquid assets that barely push me over the $55K USD barrier. A few questions: 1) I've sold all of my stock and am combining all of my funds into one bank account. From here, I will get an official bank statement showing my assets. Does this sound like a sound idea? 2) Would retirement plans also be considered liquid assets for the asset test? If so, this would give me some additional leverage. 3) Can I point out my pre-China salary as a benchmark for what I anticipate I will receive once I return to the USA to add an extra layer of safety? This was well over the $18K wage limit and, I assume should help with my argument of being able to support my wife. Thanks

Randy, Thank you for your help. I will stop by the Shanghai office on a Friday to get further information on the 6 month rule.

Thank you. We have been together for over a year -- all while we were both living in China. I do have residence permits for each semester I studied mandarin in China (most recently 1 semester in Wuhan, but 4 semesters in total). My plan is to move to Xiamen, but I am currently on a travelers visa with a temporary residence around Hangzhou. Do you know if I will be able to file the I-130 form in Shanghai or is it best to go to Guangzhou or Beijing even though I won't live there? Thanks

Everyone, I just wanted to follow up on this (even though it has been a while). My girlfriend (now fiancee) received her traveler's visa with very little trouble. I believe that what helped her was that she indicated that she was interested in traveling to visit schools (she will become a graduate student sooner or later). The questions that they asked were "why are you going to the USA?" (she answered visit schools), then the guy asked "what schools?" (she answered), then the guy asked what her GRE score was (she answered incorrectly due to being nervous). Then the guy said "enjoy your trip to the USA and don't forget your purpose (school)." It was apparently a very pleasant and easy process. She prepared a lot of paperwork, but none of it was actually looked at. I hope this helps someone. I think what helped her was that she was interested in becoming a student in the USA (and thus, giving money to the USA). From everything I've read, it is becoming less and less strict for chinese students to get USA visas for this reason. My fiancees friend also was able to get a USA travelers visa for the same reason.

Hi, It has been a fun ride in China so far, I have almost been here for two years as a student, but I need a bit of help going forward for the marriage process. I got engaged last month and will be filing the marriage paperwork in China tomorrow. Included are some sort of specific questions: Is it wise to wait a certain amount of time after marriage to apply for the I-130? Last school semester I studied mandarin in China, but I am now on a travelers visa. This will soon switch to a marriage visa. Will this cause any problems? Would I be safer to simply go back to school for next semester as the DCF procedure plays out? When I received my last residence permit, it was a simple piece of paper (no blue paper that goes in the passport). Is this normal? Does it matter that I will be switching from one city to another city and before filing (therefore, not being a current resident of my current city when I apply)? My fiancee traveled with me to the USA late last year to visit my family. Of course, she returned to China at the planned date. Is there anything else I might need to do to make this process smoother? Thanks everyone for the help in advance.

Thanks everyone. I will give further information after the interview. I think we have some decent proof that she will return to China, but...we will see.

Hi, Is it a dealbreaker to say that you will be traveling with your USA boyfriend if they ask? Even if you 100% have no intentions of marrying during your travels? Thanks, KAM

Thanks . Looks like it makes sense to just do everything in China. I wouldn't want to potentially have to wait a year for the green card.

Thanks for the advice

Thank you for your feedback. I believe our preference would be to marry in China and it looks like we have enough time to do so. Just for curiosity's sake, how long does it usually take to get the green card upon marriage in the USA on a fiancee visa? Thanks

She mentioned that there were married people in her school, but they are all married to other Chinese citizens. We likely won't go down this route, but I'm still interested to hear about other stories on this subject. Thanks

Interesting idea with the fiancee visa. I hadn't even thought of this. Will look into this. Can I do this while currently living in China?

Thank you. Exactly what I wanted to hear! Do you think it would cause problems if she mentions that I will show her around the USA? I guess she shouldn't mention me as a boyfriend, but maybe just as a friend? Not sure if we should hold this out when she applies for the traveler's visa but then show pictures from the trip when we apply for the DCF. Thanks again.

I asked this as part of another set of questions and figured this might require its own topic. My girlfriend and I have discussed the idea of getting married while she is in a Chinese school (she will be in the last year of her university program), but we have read from the USA consulate website that Chinese students who get married to USA citizens in China before graduation should expect to get expelled from school. I've also read conflicting reports where this is not true and is is more of a school-by-school basis. I've also read that this is no longer enforced entirely. While we likely won't go down this path (will likely just wait until graduation to be safe), has anyone known of a Chinese student to marry a USA citizen and get expelled from the school (or not expelled)? I just want to understand the weight of this threat. Also, does anyone have any ideas on how she might be able to check with her school to see if they enforce this rule without them placing red flags on her? Thanks