ART005

Randy, I just read concern about delays in processing. Are those delays rellevant to the marriage visa we are applying for? Thanks for the well wishes :-)

I've described some of this in updates of my experience in a similar thread. I'd point you right to it in this forum if I could. Some key words in the title are "Starting Out For Couple with Busy lifestyle." The marriage eligibility is very easy when done at US consulate in China. Be sure to register online for an appointment. I have a description of an experienced lawyer's request for the front load info. Keep in mind, sometimes a lawyer's letter head can lower the bar for what they have to provide.

An update along the lines of what my original questions were for the benefit of anyone else. The lawyer named Ellis referenced on this site never answered my emails but maybe he is interested in more complicated applications. We got married in China 3/6/2013. I completed my US Consulate, Marriage Eligibility Oath in Shenyang. The service is only available Tues. and Thurs. afternoons and you should schedule yourself via the web a couple weeks ahead. They have a quota of people served each day. The US form is amazingly simple but don't attempt to cross out a mistake, you'll have to start over. We got married in my Wife's hometown province civil headquarters. At the chinese marriage office we had to go back and forth between the domestic floor and the international floor. Bring extra money with you for notarizing, copies, filing, etc. We arrived without photos and they were provided, maybe we paid for them. Best to let them make the exact size they like. My wife forgot to get a medical test in time for results but the chinese marriage office assured her it wasn't actually necessary and there never was a question about it. You can pay to rush the whole filing, $50-$100 US but instead we paid for DHL type shipping and had the package shipped to the hotel we were traveling to quite far from the province capital. No problem. Either way, after a morning in the marriage offices, we had to go back the next morning to finalize a few things. I think one day in and out is not possible. Then like I said we committed to having the completed authorized package sent to us. We paid for a duplicate package, per request of the US visa lawyer. All of the signed visa immigration forms plus the marriage files will be sent to the US visa lawyer. My wife was able to sign her daughter's forms. Regarding the subjective relationship info that is never really defined.....our lawyer asked for 8 clear photos printed on photo quality paper showing faces of us together in various places. I'm not sure if sunglasses are a problem. Then a few printed computer chats from each month since we started dating to show constant communication. The lawyer likes to limit this to 50 pages. For practice moving text from chat room memories to my word processor, I printed our first two days of chats. It totals 43 pages, single spaced for each post, double spaced between posts. So I have not figured out how to trim this down with 6 months of daily chats and emails after that..... Then there was a general request for a variety of evidence from thoughout our relationship so I'll include travel and entertainment tickets. But the lawyer intends for that to be part of the 50 pages. The lawyer requested a typed 1 page description of our relationship. Basically critical dates and places and the basis for such strong feelings for each other. Since we are applying for a visa for her daughter while she is still young enough to get a "child" visa, that letter needs to end with, "I am looking forward to the daughter becoming a member of my family." We're hoping for early April visa package sent to the lawyer, January visa completed. Travel to the US in mid March, 2014. Best of luck to everyone, feel free to post a question. I'll try to check in once in a while.

Less than 1 million in each of the states of MT and WY :-) (though 2,000 more for MT and she'll be over the hill....) Lots of photos and videos shared. That part is very much appreciated. Sometimes when she is brainstorming about USA business ideas I have to remind her there are not enough customers around to really expect much of a local based business. It's not lonely and we have some travel business ideas going along with two internet potentials. And managing tenants can feel crowded in a hurry..... Plus that is why a few months each year to touch base in China is important. And you know, beauty is where you find it. In her town of 5 million we went on an ~8 mile walk through the hills and trees along the ocean and saw about two dozen people in over 3 hours.

Randy, thank you for the reentry info. My fiancee's desire to be back in China early winter 2013/2014 is a challenge. On the other hand, we would love for her to be in the US as soon as possible. I'll be back from another 2 week visit to china in about 3 weeks. Then we will recruit a little legal help and begin our push through the visa process. The 1 or 2 year length of my visa is not my main issue, it is the 90 day limit. And while a short border hop can address the chinese issue, sometimes I need to get back to the US for personal reasons so sometimes a little more than 3 months before going back to the US would be best, but border hoping is really not convenient. There are two places I need to be US and China. Barely enough time for those two, let alone time spent elswhere. Two very important things I learned today, please anyone tell me if I am wrong: All supporting documents like tax forms, travel records, photos, communication records should be included in the I-129F if we pursue a K-1 visa.A K-1 visa does not allow reentry to the USA, a greencard for reentry could take 4-12 months. But Randy suggests there are temporary reentry visas. I will have to learn any limitations and of course any suggestions are welcome.

Fantastic help!! Everyone's situation is a little different and trying to correlate that with the rules of all the documents is tough. I'm leaving for China in 2 days, there was a little pressure to submit the I-129F before I left but I didn't think we were ready. That could have been a disaster. Okay one more question now with our new focus. After we are married, what options will I (US citizen) have to get a visa more flexible than an L-Visa: 1 year -multiple entry - 90 day limit? The only other Visa I see is a D-Visa. It looks like it is more intended for employees but since it is decided on a case by case basis, maybe it applies to non-Chinese spouses.

Do you mean including the Front-loading info when the I-129F is submitted. If not with that, then when? That is my question. I thought all of this (Front-Loading) info would be submitted to Guangzhou when the US consulate gets involved and she applies for the K-1 visa. I suppose the simple answer is both times when in doubt if that doesn't mess up the I-129F. Okay, the I-485 info and not leaving the US until that or green card is processed is a really big deal for us. That is the sort of thing I meant by we could probably find our way through a path to immigration but making sure we don't mess up anything that normal visa pursuants don't worry about is my concern. Thank you very much for this little tip. I think the K-1 path will not work for us. That means we start over with I-130 after marriage. For anyone else reading this thread, here is nice general visa info: http://www.nolo.com/...new-spouse.html

My question about Frontloading is, do you simiply mean including a lot of information with the I-129F or do you mean something else by Frontloading. I just want to make sure I understand what you mean by Frontloading. I have no problems with the police when I check into a hotel, the police don't involve themself. My question is if people feel the hotel (for one night) is adequate validation of our time together or would police check-in be better going forward? I am only asking from the Visa application perspective and because my fiancee lives alone. I was surprised to initially read that Fiancee visas were faster than Marriage visas. I guess the current status is not much difference in time. This could be very important. If my Fiancee comes here on a K-1 visa and we get married during the 90 days (I see it typically needs to be extended when completing the interview and issuing the visa for a fresh 90 days), will she be restricted to not be able to go back to China for some time? If so, how long, what removes the restriction?

My fiancee lives alone in her place. So when we are together, there is no family with us. Do you think we should register with the police the first night per the rules of the visitor visa if I don't check into a hotel (the visa also allows checking into a hotel the first night instead of with the police.) If the police involvement is not important, we can check into a hotel, they make photos of my passport as part of the process. Next time we will put her name on the hotel check-in. What do people think of police register, or hotel check-in?

Thank you again for all the input. I agree with waiting after the second visit. By front loading I-129F, do you mean including a lot of additional information when submitting the I-129F? Just when I thought I new something from reading so much visa info, I thought the K-1 was the more reliable path. Plus the possibility it offers a back-up plan to then use the marriage route if the K-1 is denied. I will pass the child visa info on to my fiancee. During my visits, my visa says I need to either check in with the police when I arrive or check into a hotel. After that first night, we stay at her place. Do you suggest the police station or is the hotel adequate? My US perspective is better to visit a pleasant hotel rather than the police but maybe some of you think differently.

Thank you for the help. Are you suggesting the I-129F isn't critical. Just send it in as accurately as possible and start preparing for the next phase when the government replies to us?

My fiancee and I are just starting the process of immigration to the US for her and getting married. Our situation is unique with added opportunity but also some unique challenges. While we are both pretty sharp at navigating the immigration process when we know what to address, we could use help for what we don't know to address. Here is our story as it is evolving: I have never been married and have no children. She was divorced 2 years ago and has a daughter that is a junior in high school.We met mid September, 2012 on www.ChinaLoveMatch.netOur attraction for each other was very strong and fast. Emailing, chatting and video-chating almost everyday.In a few days I purchased plane tickets to China dated for mid November, 2012A few days later I purchased more plane tickets to China for late December, 2012.We met in person 11/11/2012 in her city in China. We spent 2 weeks visiting each other: her friends and business contacts near her home; then her daughter, brother's family and her parents in another city; her old classmates in yet another city; and tourists sites in Beijing.By the time we met her parents 11/17/2012 we told them of our plans to get married. They have given us their blessing.I purchased more plane tickets to China in early December dated for early March, 2013.We will be together in her city for two weeks starting 12/23/2012.We will travel South China together for two weeks starting 3/3/2013.We have completed our I-129F but have not submitted it because I'm not sure about some issues: My address is confusing and I don't want to confuse where I'm living now and where we plan to live when she gets her visa.My home is in Montana. I am a self employed Chemical Engineer and an Apartment Landlord. My Apartment Bldg. is in MT. This house is where we will live when she gets her visa.Almost all of my Chemical Engineering work is in Utah. I rent a room in a shared house there. My schedule is typically 1 week off per month. If I wasn't going to China so much I would spend most of that time off at my Montana house.It's not relevant now, but 1 year ago, similarly I lived in my small home in central WY for 3 years while I did chemical engineering work there. Utah was an opportunity I couldn't say no to when I thought I was returning to MT.In December, I started extended work trips to central Nevada. I am given shared company housing there. They are patient with all my trips to China. I think this project will last through April, 2013 but so far I have only completed two weeks so we are still developing the scope of work.Our plan is for me to keep working until at least the end of April, 2013 while we wait for her Visa but if the wait for the visa stretches much later, I am interested in living in China for 3 month intervals with about 1.5 months in the US between trips.On one hand we would like her to experience my traveling work and be part of the decision when to quit.On the other hand we would rather be together in China if the wait for the visa gets long.She is also self employed, in China of course. Her business is very valuable for the time it requires.She has a daughter that is a junior in high school at a boarding school some 400 miles away, but near her parents and her brother's family.The idea is to keep her business and home going until she can give them to her daughter after graduation.But maybe her daughter will go to University, maybe she won't.If her daughter doesn't go to University, the daughter might be better off with the business, the house, and continuing education in art and business nearby via some less conventional way. (In the US I would call it night school or community college plus private art studio training. I'm told those don't exist in China.....)Her parents are retired and are willing to keep the business and home going for some time to help transition to the daughter after she gets her visa.She would like to visit China each year between October and February to participate in the business' busy season.Our big picture plan is to live in Montana, manage the real estate investments, enjoy our home, potentially start another small business, and be snowbirds to China during the winter.Some of the annual trip to China will be to visit family.Some of the annual trip to China will be to touch base with the business.Some of the annual trip to China will be to visit south China to enjoy the weather.So while it would be nice to have a quick Visa process, what we really need is some certainty to not mess anything up while we live a somewhat transient lifestyle, and some guidance how to complete all the application paperwork in a way that doesn't alarm someone looking for “conventional stability” as part of our qualifications. In summary, some key points: On the I-129F, is it a problem for me to list different address for my current location and where she (we) intend to live in the US after she gets her visa? Of course we will live together there, but the I-129F doesn't allow us to make that clear.She has a high school junior daughter in boarding school so far away that they only see each other about once per year. She moving to the US and then being back in China for 3 months each year doesn't really change anything with their relationship but again the I-129 doesn't offer anywhere to explain (I guess it doesn't even address if the child will stay in China or not.) The daughter stays with her father during summer breaks.We would like to proactively manage my engineering business but we need some idea of time frame for her visa. 4, 8, 12, 16 months?...... there are certainly some grueling stories on www.CandleForLove.comAnd one last question, I saw that Shenyang is listed as a US consulate that can be used for visa application. Is that true or do we have to specify Guangzhou? What suggestions do you have for us?

I would haven't high hopes for any site that charges per communication, mostly from the perspective of what valuable future wife would choose that path? Wouldn't you want a wife that is helping lead you out of that situation rather that dragging her feet in that situation? I have a little understanding how genuinely comfortable asian women are with larger age gaps than westerners would think appropriate, but 26 to 50 seems too much for even asian culture. 12 years is about the extent of reality on which I suggest betting your future happiness. I think you need a reality check leading to more genuine happiness. JMHO Good luck, be careful.