Linda_Sutton

Thanks! The links are very useful. We'll see what we can do at the airport.

Linda, on Wenyan's 10 year green card they put one of the photos she handed in on document intake. I am not sure about changing your address at POE. It was such a rush going through everything that evening we went through POE that I can't remember all the specifics, but you "might" be able to do it there. It would be well worth the effort to try it there with the USCIS officer. Good luck with the future, Kentucky has some areas of tremendous beauty. tsap seui Thanks for your kind reply, Tsap. Hope you and Wenyan can visit Louisville some day!

My husband and I are leaving China and going to Louisville,Ky before Christmas. I am holding an IR1 visa and the POE is Chicago. Does anyone know where the green card photo is from? Is it one of the two photos I gave to Guangzhou Consulate on document intake day? Is it the one they take at the airport? Or do I need to prepare one? Another question is: Can I change the green card posting address at the airport as well? When we filled out one of the forms, we put husband's parents' address but now we are going to his sister's city. Do anyone live in Louisville, KY? Hope to meet someone from this forum there. Linda

Hi Vinny and Qing, Hope you are doing well and it must be very exciting to expect your first baby. So you live in S.C.? My husband and I are also moving there perhaps before Christmas. My in-laws live in Simpsonville. How's life there? We will have to look for a house/apartment to rent and a 2nd hand car and---jobs! Hope it's a nice place to live at. Hope we can hang out some time after we move back. Best Linda

So people say IPhone4S means iPhone for Steve. Peace........

Thanks. I think I will change when I apply for citizenship.

Also, you could have someone in America send your greencard to China after it arrives. While the I-551 IS the same entry permit to America as a Permanent Resident card, there have been stories of the China officials not allowing it to be used as an exit (from China) permit. With enough documentation, they can be convinced, but mail is an option. Thanks. If I don't get it before I leave, I would ask my in-laws to post it to me, then.

Thanks very much for your kind reply, Kyle. Hope you and Jingjing are enjoying your new life together every day!

Hello Linda in Beijing, My wife and son were IR-1 and IR-2. We arrived from China in Washington, DC on August 15th 2011. Their green cards were sent out on August 30th 2011. Every case is going to be different as there are human beings involved in the process, some of the paperwork doesn't get forwarded timely from the POE's, some USCIS workers are asleep at the wheel... lets hope yours comes early to you. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Happy trails to you. tsap seui Hi tsap, thanks for your reply. We will see if we can stay there for 4 weeks. Did your wife ran away from you successfully with her 10 year green card and your valuables? Haha

Hi I want to know how long it normally takes to receive the 10 year green card after landing in America? Is 3 weeks enough? What if it is Christmas holiday time? My problem is that both my and husband's jobs end next summer. We are thinking of going back this Christmas time and receive my green card and come back to China and finish our work contracts and then officially move back to the States next summer. We have 3 week's off for Christmas, what if I still don't receive my green card by then? Changing the return flight would cost a lot of money. Is it safe to post a green card? Sorry some of you might ask why we didn't plan it better? We just didnt think the visa process would be so fast. We thought it would take about a year but actually it only took a bit more than four months. Thanks in advance for any info or advice. Linda in Beijing

What name was used on DS-230 and on I-130? If you used desired married name, the green card will have that name on it. If you did not use married name on the petition and application then you probably will need to do a legal name change after arriving in USA and file an I-90 and pay $450 to get a card with married name. I used my Chinese name (I didn't see 'desired married name'), my case is IR1, by the way. For other names used, I put my English name 'Linda' there). I've just read some posts about changing names, it seems it can cause some confusion so I will re-consider it. Thanks.

Well, I guess I can say I've officially finished the visa process. This morning I received my visa package! It was super fast. My interview was only 3 days ago on 28th. Even the visa officer said it would be a bit slow due to the holiday. Wonderful. The visa is 6 months from the day before your medical check day, btw. Next, I will need to check ticket, shipping, entry and green card info. Does anyone know if I can change my name to my husband's last name on my green card?

Great to know........even now! Thanks. I believe this info is useful to those who are still in the application process.

Sorry, I want to add a few things esp. for the attention of those who apply in China for IR1 (maybe CR1 is the same): 1. We paid in Beijing (about $425, I remember)when we filed the application first time but we were asked to pay the visa fee on document take-in day. We didn't know that! And they didn't take my bank card (it has to be a visa card). I had to run out to a Bank of China ATM in Westin (very close) to get cash and rushed back because the cashier is closed at 3.30pm and it was already 3 when it was my turn and I was told to pay. Any way, I paid on time and finished the document take-in without a problem. So if you are the same as me, please do remember to pay the visa fee (I think you can pay at CITIC bank beforehand, but I am not very sure), either to prepare cash ($404, RMB is fine) or a visa card. 2. When we were waiting outside on the day for document take-in, a Chinese woman did check our Chiense ID card. I didn't think they would ask for that so I didn't have it with me, but it was not a big deal, she just looked at my passport instead. If your Chinese wife goes, maybe ask her to take her ID card with her also to avoid some mafan. 3. Do give your passport(s) to your wife so she can show it to the visa officer, it is an evidence that you were either there with her or in China, they can also check your visa or entry record. 4. If you apply in China (means you've been living in China for a while), do prepare a domicile or return plan letter. I think if you've got a house or a job offer, it would be great. If not, a letter to explain where you are going to live (like us, to live with in-law's for a while till we find our own place so we prepared a letter from in-laws to prove that) and your plan for looking for jobs after you arrive in America. 5. Don't need to take all your documents to the consulate on the document take-in day, like those marriage evidence, letters, photo albums etc. If you've got a lot, they are really heavy! What they took that day are: All white books (notarized documents), I-864 forms, tax returns, medical check result (they ask you to open the envelop there), 2 visa photos. 6. For both days, don't take many electronic devices, maybe just a phone. You have to give all of them to the guard before going through the security check so if you don't have many it can avoid some mafan and save some time taking them out, etc. 7.Dress code: Be smart and pretty (haha) but don't go too formal. For ladies, I recommend a nice but simple dress (don't use belt! you need to take off shoes and belt when you go through the security door) Well, that's it, I guess. Good luck, everyone! Linda

Congratulations to Tim and Luan Ying and myself! It went very well like expected. The whole interview process is a bit dragging, it's an actually 3 day thing, because you have to get there at least a day before the document take-in, I believe many people got there even earlier than that if you need to do the medical check there. (I did mine in Beijing) The waiting of course is not very pleasant but it's worthy if you get what you wanted in the end! so woohoo! The interview itself was actually very easy, very short. I think they make their decisions very fast if your case seems a done deal. They've got a lot to do...... Of course I was a bit nervous but the visa officer (a young guy) is very nice, very friendly. So the conversation was very pleasant and relaxing. Now I am just waiting for my visa package to arrive. Since it's close to Chinese National Holiday, it might take a bit longer, I am not worried, though. It WILL arrive SOON! Thanks this forum for a lot of useful information. I was very happy meeting Tim and Luan Ying, his wife. They are both very nice people. To chatting with them while waiting in the queque and in the waiting room made me less nervous and made time pass faster. Hope we can keep in touch. My husband, Sean and I are moving back early next year, I think. Looking forward to it! All the best and good luck to those who are going through the process. Prepare well and you will be just fine! Linda