natrigon

In my experience we filed the 485 for my stepdaughter without the 785 work card because she wwould not be working either. BIG MISTAKE, I suggest you get the work card anyways because it is likely her green card will come months or years after your wifes. At least that is our case. The work card is a great ID.

Ya, a CPU is really good but the phone cards with the call logs are valuable for the inevitable interview at the US consulate in China. Not to mention to build up the communication skills (if that is applicable). I like onesuite.com and for .02 per minute I do not know why anyone would not use it. I even got through during Chinese new year. Louis

Hey, thanks ofr all the responses. Their poor performance just continues to amaze me every step of this journey. They must waste $50,000 for every $10 spent well. I imagine the rest of the government is no different. By the way I fixed my picture link. Did the old album site get deleted? I must have missed that. Nice hearing from you guys. Louis

Well the good news is she is here, we are married and very happy. I thought when the 6 month estimate turned to 14 months before she was able to come to the U.S. that was bad. Most of you know the types of delays and misinformation doled out. Well my step daughter was 17 upon her K-2 arrival she could not get a S.S. # like my wife did. No SS# no DL#. Now we are trying to get her a Work card while waiting for her green card (which my wife got 6 months ago from an interview on the same day). Three times we sent the application in and three times it was returned with a form that the reason was... "missing NOA for the daughter". Well because she is a K-2 she got no NOA only the mother did. Three times I tried to contact them, I sent them other forms, copies of everything on everybody. Just kept getting the same notice, no explanation just one missing item checked.... XX Missing NOA XX. After maybe 20 calls I was able to talk to someone who might of cared. Unlike the others she actually connected me to a immigration officer. Inconceivable! A real immigration officer! After all these months I find out that apparently the address on the website was wrong for a few weeks. I kept mailing the forms to that "wrong" address. They never said anything except... I was missing a NOA. So finally I mailed it to the correct address (the Chicago one) and it came back today with the same check I have been mailing out for months, reason, the amount is wrong. It is now $180 not $175 like I sent. I am not sure if the price went up or if the amount of my check has been wrong for 4 months, that they have seen this check. Just a funny story, funny as in @#&%. Louis

We waited about 2 months and filed for the RP seperately. Make sure to request the multiple visit AP which is good for 1 year. Even though you need to specify the dates on the application, once the AP is received the dates are not important.

I know that is what they say, and take this with caution. My wifes English was rough and I went with her to the interview. They did fire off about 20 questions and I did translate for her infront of the immigration officer. There was no problem but I think we were lucky.

I think your right. It is tied into the google robots website indexing factor. Which by the way just changed again. Yes, I think it is directly related to giving too much weight to the box of cigarettes. Hehehee Louis

exactly what I was going to say

I think there is a definate connection. If you take the weight of your completed application, multiplied by the number of weeks you have spent in China, plus the minutes of direct phone conversation, times the number of translated documents. You will have a base number. A X W + P X D = Base Then take your base and divide it by the number of total siblings, times how many meals you ate in China, times how many of those meals you were out-eaten by a child under 10 years old, divided by the boxes of cigarettes you gave away, less the times you were treated bad in China (often 0), divided by the current USD/RMB factor. This is the consumption factor. Base / S X F X C / CS - B / $ = Consumption Factor Now we are getting close to the predictor. Total the times you were mislead, misinformed, treatly without concern, provided outdated forms, hung up on after waiting more than 20 minutes on hold or told that changes from 9/11 has caused a delay by the DOS, BCS, BCIS, DOD, NVC or any other branch. This is your main Pre-annoyed Core Number. If you take this Pre-annoyed Core Number (PCN) and enter it in at the appropriate location on the internet (note the appropriate location link varies from hour to hour, because of new security concerns there is no way to communicate the now current location, but outdated locations are available for $2.50 per minute at 900-555-5555). After entering this number and pressing submit once (and only once) you will be issued the correct and coded modifyer number by mail. It may be mailed to you or your spouse/fiance. Now here is the easy part. By this time if you are still engaged or married you should no longer need this information.

As for us you can see our timeline below. At the interview my wife was 40 years old with only 6 months of english in her entire life. Her english was terrible. She went to the GZ interview armed with phone records, pictures, my receipts from 3 visits and many emails that we translated back and forth using bablefish free email translation. If anyone wants more info please ask. There is a thread on CFL of about 100 questions that may be asked at the interview. I scanned those in and emailed them to my wife. She got help learning those 100 or so questions. I also helped her as we talked almost every night. It was fun, she also taught me chinese and now I can speak (like a pregnant yak) and she understands me. At her interview she was asked about her english, she was honest and prepared with a "stack" of relationship info. She got lucky and got a nice interviewer, was asked 5-6 questions, he did not look at anything. Not a picture, not an email, not financial records... nothing. Sometimes I think from reading the different stories when the fiance/wife arrives prepared to the best of her ability with everything possible MOST times the interview lasts less than 5 mintues. Louis

Congrats!! I think getting the P4 was one of the best parts of the entire visa process. Louis

Ahh, thanks for the picture! Our form did not look like that form but it has the same type of info. The strange thing is all three times I sent the EAD application in they returned it. Each time they want a "Copy of a receipt notice for an I-485". Any ideas? Should I make an appointment and go argue with one of the people who don;t know anything? Louis

Frank, Thanks for the quick reply but I am still confused. They want a "Copy of a receipt notice for an I-485". But you mentioned "...If it ain't the I-797C Receipt Notice..." So is the receipt letter titled a 797 receipt notice? Oh, I think I understand what you are saying, now let me look throught the pounds of papers and see if she ever received one of those... let you know later and thanks!! Louis

My seven year old american son has the following advice in getting along with his 18 year old chinese sister and chinese mother.... My son suggests that they learn to skateboard together, he watches chinese cartoons with her and he helps her English. Also on Wed night the whole family must speak Enghlish at dinner time. Other nights anything goes. Good Luck

Hi all, Here is a summary of our situation and a question. My fiance (I-129) came here on a K-1 with her daughter on a K-2. We filed everything for both except a 765 for the daughter. For my now wife everything has been (through CA) approved and received including her 2 year green card. But for my daughter we have heard nothing. We made an appointment months ago to see the "helpful" people and were told to wait. Now months later we still have heard nothing. We thought to get our daughter (she is now 18) a 765 work card. Sent the form with everything by post. They keep sending it back for a " I-485 receipt notice ". We have the paper titled "Adjustment of Status Receipt Letter" and the little cash register type reciept showing payment and her name etc. This is the third time they have sent the packet back to me. Each time I have included a cover letter and each time the send it back with no description, just a form with an "X" by Missing items: Copy of a receipt notice for an I-485 filed at the California Service Center. Are we missing something? Louis, Mei and Pei

Are you an American Indian? No? Then why the hell did you leave your home and invade America? I just don;t understand why you and your family are living your entire life in a foreign country. What I mean is some people like to explore, sometimes they find love and marry. If I found a great American woman I would have married her. Unfortunately the American women I dated and I have very different values. I traveled for biz and accidently met the woman of my dreams, good luck for us. By the way who said she can't speak English and who said I can not speak Chinese?

Well let's hope that doesn't happen. Not sure who else to contact and I can not beleive we are suppose to sit here and wait an indetermined amount of time... Oh, wait yes I can beleive it, I just remembered who is handling this. hehehe good luck, let me know if you hear anything.

I'm happy for you two, natrigon! Besides getting the visa, there's no better feeling than to get that letter and green card. In fact, I came home from work today to see my wife smiling from ear to ear. She got her greencard in the mail today!!...WoW!, that was fast! Our AOS appointment was Tuesday, the letter came in the mail on Saturday, and my wife's green card came today! Good for 10 years and it's a cool looking card too with the holographic designs on it and all! My wife is set!.......... That must mean your's is coming soon too! 138202[/snapback] Great!! She just got her green card as well. But our interview was way back on January 18th and it's good for only two years. I wonder why. Also anybody know why the K-2 daughter has been ignored, no letter, no card. 138826[/snapback] Hi natrigon! That's great news too! Good for her! The reason it is a 2 yr. card is the conditional status placed on it because of a marriage less than 2 yrs. After 2 years you can file the I-751 to remove status. Then your wife will get a 10 yr. card. They say to file the I-751 90 days before your 2nd anniversary. Have you gotten the I-797C receipt notice for your daughter's I-485? I filed the I-485 for my K4 stepdaughter on August 9, 2004. I got the receipt notice and that's all I have heard. I didn't send in the I-693 along with the application. I hope that doesn't present a problem. I mentioned my stepdaughter's case to the IO at my wife's interview. He said he will see if it is on the computer and if so, we can do her too. But her case didn't show up. We will just have to wait until then... 138845[/snapback] Sorry for the delay.... Ya, same here. Checked on the daughters card/approval and got the ol "well you are just gonna hav to wait now aren't you" and "well, there is nothin I can do" and "now how would I know when it will be approved" responses. Just makes no sense... how many 18 year old 90 pound chinese girl terrorists have there been in the USA?

Cheese? What is cheese?

I know you were not asking me but thought you might be interested in our one year update... Mei had about 5 months of English classes in China. The only good thing about them is the really drilled her on the ABC's. She had no English in school and she is now 42. When she came to the US her grammar was terrible. The school she went to in China was also terrible. I met the teacher and he was Chinese and could not speak very well at all. When I moved to CA in April of 2004 I opened a bank account for us at East-West bank. There are a lot of Chinese workers there and as I hoped she made some friends there. Through those friendships she found a school downtown LA (near my work) that is free. She attends class from 10:00 - 3:30 5 days a week. I am happy to say her english is good now. More importantly than her speaking ability her comprehension is good. Before when asking a question often she would not realize it was a question. She asks me to correct her English and I ask her to correct my Chinese speech. We often joke with each other when we say things wrong that have different meanings. For some reason she used to say "jumpin" instead of "pinch"... just funny, I guess you had to be there. In my experience Chinese people are not sensitive to correction or forthright statements at all. When she saw her sister last time in China, in front of the whole family she said "Why are you so fat". Everybody including the sister laughed. Often in the US if we met a family member that gained weight we would lie and say "you look great". Culture differences. I think Chinese are just more bluntly honest, often with absolutely no mean intentions. So she went through English 1A, 1B, 2A and now she is in English 2B. Meanwhile she has a freind the same age who has been here in the US for 3 years and can only say about 10 phrases with little or no comprehension. So there a good programs out there in the bigger cities, also she made some more Chinese friends in her classes although most of the students are Mexican. Of course the community colleges with have esl and remedial classes depending on each persons skill. Also literature and writing depending on someones goal.

I'm really glad that you mentioned the Chicago Chinatown- cuz that's where we are moving to. I'm from Michigan, but been to Chicago many times- my mom is currently living there. Do you know if most of the Chinese there are Cantonese or Mandarin speakers?? It's great to hear about the grocery stores- as he's sure gonna miss him mama's cooking..... My friend lives right in Chicago's old Chinatown. The mall area is not far away. I was there around 5 years ago and most Chinese preferred the old Chinatown than the mall. People in the old Chinatown spoke a mixture of Cantonese dialects. I heard some Mandarin too. Chicago has one of the biggest Chinatown in US (NY, SF, LA/Monterey Park/Orange County, Boston, and Chicago). My friend took me to a nice Seafood restaurant in the old Chinatown. We ordered a steam fish and 2 other seafood dishes. The bill came up to be $121 and I was shocked. Never order seafood in Chicago because those items have to be shipped from the coast. 127226[/snapback] Hmmm, not sure what resteraunt you went to in Chicago but normaly fresh fish is not $90 even if it is flown in. Even at the four seasons hotel it is only $35 or $40. Of course Chicago area has many fresh local fish and I have bought fresh fish in a resteraunts for as little as $12. Just like in China we went to one place and the food was fair for about 50RMB each and we went to another and it was great for about 25RMB. Just have to check around and look at the menu prices before you order.

I am the leader in our marriage here in the US. My wife often is the leader when we go to China. BUT we are both considerate to the others feelings. When I lead I usually lead with her in my mind. We have not yet had any problems. I also like Chinese food very much, so often we cook and go out to eat Chinese food. No problem there either. I think men and women have one thing in common... Everybody is different.

I have been logging in now and then as well. Now that she is here I don't have the luxury of time that I did when she was in China. Our life is great. See our timeline for an update on the process. We just came back from China. We went to JiuZhaiGou in Chengdu, I never heard of it before but it is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. High in the mountains with teal green pools, water falls and thick clouds rolling around. WOW!! I will try and post some pics in the next few days. Well hello to all new and old. Louis

It finally worked for us!............... 137781[/snapback] Yes, after 3 years. And how many MILLIONS of illegal aliens are there currently in the US?? To answer the original question, the whole procedure sucks!!! 138323[/snapback] The squeaky wheel gets the door theory is not for me and neither is it finally worked. Maybe you were treated honestly and forthright by our government in this process but I nor my wife was not. I personaly was told many mistruths, treated with indifference and sometimes disdain by the people working in the immigration departments (whatever the departments are called today). I have also read numerous posts on this forum of equal and worse treatment. At one time I had 15 employees and of course I could not monitor everyone all the time. I for one was grateful if a customer of mine was squeaky and told me of troubles with employees, otherwise I probably would never find out. Correcting problems is very difficult if the boss doesn't know they exist and the immigration process is riddled with problems.

Before I met my wife I was in HK for a trade show. I went to a nice snooker hall (pool hall) and was trying to get a game but nobody wanted to play with me. Finaly after a few hours of watching and asking one HK guy played with me. We became friends and the next day he rode with me into Shenzhen and even borrowed me a cell phone that would work in China. What a nice guy, we are still friends to this day.