d_spalding

Just to close this topic: All is well, thanks to the remarkably quick response time of the consular staff in Guangzhou. The day after I sent an inquiry through their website regarding the website issue described above, they wrote to ask me for screen shots of the problem. Two days later they wrote to say they had corrected it. We logged in and could complete the online DS-260 without event. FYI: In my experience, there are no fees to pay associated with the DS-260 at the time of filing (online) or at CITIC (when related materials are sent). Fees will be collected at the consulate at the time of the interview. Now we are waiting to here from GUZ so that we may schedule the interview. Thanks for all your help and advice, D

Thanks…I reviewed the I-130 again, just to see if I had somehow screwed up. Under "C. Information about your relative 17. List spouse and all children of your relative." I listed myself, because, well—I'm the spouse. It seemed like a repeat of information at the start of the form: "A. Relationship 1. I am filing this petition for my: (x) Spouse" It also asks: "If separate petitions are also being filed for other relatives, give names of each and relationship." I answered "none" I spoke with customer service at CGI this morning (Beijing office), and everything looks normal from their end. Looks like I just might have to wait for GUZ to answer my query. Cheers, d

Thanks, Andelu! We have written to GUZ via the website for direction, so hopefully they can clarify / help solve the problem—though I'm sure this will cost us precious time.

Thanks, dnoblett. I was also under the impression that we are to pay at the consulate on the day of the interview. Please check out my first post on this thread. Has anyone else had problems completing the DS-260 online? Or seen a message like the one I'm getting: The NVC has received notification that the applicant will join the principal applicant at a later date? If so, what did you do to solve the problem? Cheers, D

Sorry, I'm not sure I follow. So you think I'm getting the message: "The NVC has received notification that the applicant will join the principal applicant at a later date" and am unable to complete the DS-260 as requested because I have not pre-paid the fee for the DS-260 at the CITIC branch? I already went to the website you mentioned (http://www.ustraveld...aapplyinfo.asp#) as instructed and registered a CITIC "document delivery location." After doing this, I was able to print out a form with two barcodes on it. I thought this was meant to be presented when picking up the passport after the process is complete; now I'm not so sure. I couldn't figure out how to make a payment via that website. You wrote: "applicant pays this fee at a CITIC bank in China, and then provides the resulting receipt number when doing the DS-260," but also that: "You will provide information to that site (http://www.ustraveld...aapplyinfo.asp#) in order to pay the visa application fee" Does that mean I pay at the bank or that I pay online? If I go to the bank and pay, do I need to go to the bank twice: once to pay and get the "receipt number" that would allow me to fill out the DS-260; a second time to submit the requested docs (photos, passport info page, proof of complete DS-260 and CGI cover sheet)? This seems different from what I've read elsewhere, but as you can see, I'm not very clear on the matter. The instructions I received from GUZ today asked that I enter the applicant's dob as the "invoice ID number," and that works just fine for login purposes. They also say: Once you have completed the form (DS-260), print the confirmation page and submit it [their emphasis] along with other requested items in this notice (to the CITIC branch)…Ugh! Thanks, D

So we heard from GUZ today with the case number directing us (actually, directing Chinese National Husband) to go online and complete the DS-260 at https://ceac.state.gov/IV I thought I would get it started for CNH, but something weird is happening. When I log in to the site above, first I get a screen that says: "The next step in the immigration process is for each applicant to complete online form DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application. The DS-260 is designed to collect information that is necessary to adjudicate your immigrant visa application. The DS-260 form may be partially completed, saved online, and finished later, or may be completed all in one session. Before starting the form, applicants should gather the 'Documents The Applicant Must Submit' because they are needed to complete the DS-260 form. To begin the DS-260, please click on the Start link below. Please note that the DS-260 can only be completed after the applicant's Immigrant Visa Fee has been paid." Ok, sounds good. But how do I pay the fee? Not sure. So I go ahead and click the "Start" link, as instructed. Then I get a screen that looks like this: Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application (DS-260) Application List for IV Case GUZ...(his case number) The NVC has received notification that the applicant will join the principal applicant at a later date. Given Name Surname Relationship Fee Status CNH's first and family name PRINCIPAL NOT APPLICABLE NOT AVAILABLE From this is screen, there is no way to move forward with the application that I can see... just a "Cancel" button at the bottom of the screen! I'm so confused. My spouse IS the principal applicant and there are no other family member, kids, etc. attached to this application. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong or what this might mean? Thanks in advance, D

Thanks! Glad to know I can hang onto my passport.

Dear CFL Members, Thrilled to hear from GUZ today, one month after receiving our I-130 approval notice from Beijing!! We are preparing to hop online and complete / submit the DS-260 and head to CITIC to send the required materials. Here is my question: Does my Chinese National Husband (CNH) need MY passport when he eventually goes to GUZ for his interview? I ask because I just saw a checklist posted elsewhere where this was included and it gave me pause. I've already secured a job in the US and will be heading there next month to start. The idea has always been that I will go ahead and CNH will follow as soon as we complete the DCF process. We already have all of the various materials together and a place rented in the States. I thought a copy of my passport info page was all that was needed. Of course, if I need to, I will DHL him my passport before his appointment in GUZ when we finally get it scheduled. But I don't want to do this unnecessarily. Thanks for all your help. D

Happy to tell everyone who thoughtfully replied to this post that we finally heard from GUZ today, a month to the day after we got our I-130 approval here in Beijing. We will be completing the DS-260 online this afternoon and submitting the requested materials (looks like just the pics and a copy of the passport info page) at CITIC tomorrow morning, if all goes well. Likely more inane questions from me to follow!

Thanks, Andy! The timetable really helps. We got our I-130 processed so quickly that I have no right to complain, but I do have a question about email notification. Did you fill out any special paperwork to make that happen? I completed a G-1145 and submitted it with the I-130, but there was only space for one email address (mine). In fact, I don't think any of the paperwork submitted with the I-130 has CNH's email address. Perhaps I should have submitted two of these, one for each of us. I am just wondering how GUZ will contact me / us to let us know we can submit the DS-260. The sooner, the better! Of course, knowing this won't change anything, but more information seems to set things at ease. Also, thanks for your post about pets. We are planning to take our cat using the United service. Seems easy enough. Cheers, D

Oh, glad I asked! We are doing it DCF in Beijing (I-130) and Guanghzou (the rest), so the extra "optional electronic processing" sounds completely unnecessary. Thanks for your quick reply!

Hi there, Thanks, everyone, for your thoughtful replies to my previous posts! Here we go again... Just wondering if anyone has experience opting in for the Optional Electronic Processing when DCF-ing in GUZ? Details here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_5163.html Looks like by opting in, we can pay all fees / submit all docs electronically. I guess we would email the consulate (NVCElectronic@state.gov) to register BEFORE submitting the electronic DS-260s? I would *think* that scanning and emailing docs would be faster than processing stuff through CITIC, but I just wanted to check in with those on the board who may have tried it. Best, David

Hi Andelu, Happy New Year - and thanks for your thoughtful feedback! I am just now seeing your messages and they're really quite helpful. However, I'm embarrassed to say I'm a bit confused at this stage: As mentioned, we are post-I-130 and waiting to hear from GUZ. But perhaps we're waiting in vain? Can CNH go online now and set up his account / submit the DS-260? Or do we need to wait for a letter / email? I think at this point they only have my email address, not CNH's, though I will review the previously submitted paperwork to be sure. If we need to wait, can I ask for comparison - how long was your wait between I-130 approval notification and being able to submit the DS-260? I think the "unknown factor" with respect to wait times and procedures—par for the course—is really stressing CNH out. The more information I can provide, the better! Thanks and cheers! David

Thanks so much for this feedback! I just saw these messages. We went ahead and did #1 with a cover sheet to clarify all mysteries. Related question. We are now awaiting instruction from Guangzhou, having gotten the green light re: our I-130 from USCIS at the Beijing embassy. My question: What, exactly, are they going to send us? A letter with instructions and a code letting my husband register online and complete the electronic DS-260 forms? Some people report being notified via email at this stage, other via mail. I'm not sure what to expect next. Cheers, David

Dear CFL members, I have a basic question about the I-864 and have read conflicting answers on this and other websites. Basic scenario: In addition to my I-864, my sister is filing an I-864 on our behalf. She is married and files taxes jointly. However, her individual income (Part 6, Item 5) exceeds 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. So according to the instructions: "If this amount [item 6.5] is greater [than the 125%]...you do not need to include any household member's income. Ok, got it. But then under Part 6 items 13.a.1 - 13.c.1, it's asking for AGI "as reported on my federal tax returns." Seems straightforward enough. Since my sister filed jointly, her AGI includes her husband's income. So the amount listed on Part 6 item 5 ("current individual annual income") is different from AGI on taxes. This would be the case for anyone filling out this form who is married, files joint tax returns and makes enough money individually to support the I-864 without counting his / her spouse's income. Note: my sister will be including copies of last three years' 1040s and her personal W-2s. We see three possibilities: 1) Under Part 6, 13.a.1 - 13.c.1, list reported (joint) 1040 income for each year. Sister's husband does not complete I-864A. (Add or do not add a simple attachment breaking out sister's income for each of the three tax years, as shown on W-2s, as suggested here: http://www.immihelp.com/affidavit-of-support/federal-income-tax-documents.html ?) 2) Under Part 6, 13.a.1 - 13.c.1, make a note on the form and list only individual income from W-2s in each blank. Highlight W-2 copies so it's easier to connect the dots. Sister's husband does not complete I-864A. 3) Under Part 6, 13.a.1 - 13.c.1, list reported (joint) 1040 income for each year. Sister's husband is listed as Person 1 in Part 6 and he fills out I-864A. We are leaning toward #1 but want to make sure we get it right. Any thoughts? Thanks! David

Our journey progresses... GOOD NEWS! After a quick trip to the US, I submitted our I-130 paperwork in Beijing on 12/19. Today we received an email with the PDF "Notice of Approval" attached, dated 12/20! We are so excited to see things quickly moving in the right direction. I'm sure you'll be hearing more from me as we wade into the paperwork abyss. Hopefully readers getting their I-130 packets together will find the following info useful. For the record, in addition to the required forms (I-130, a G-325 for each of us and the G-1145) and supporting materials, such as copies of all my Chinese visas (aka "Residence Permit" or "work visa") 2005 to present, a copy of our marriage certificate, etc., I provided: 1) English translations of our leases, 2007 to present (since they show both our names and ID info). I had a friend translate them and had him sign an attached statement attesting to the translation's accuracy and providing his name, contact info, credentials and signature (using a template gleaned from this website). Note: I also brought copies of the original Chinese leases, but the guy at the window didn't want them. 2) A one-page photocopy of the faces of US credit card that we share (I will do almost anything for air miles). I just put both the cards side-by-side, facedown on the glass and made a copy. 3) Photos of us out and about in Beijing and abroad, starting in 2005 and leading up to our wedding. I know there are different theories about how best to submit photos. Since we have everything in digital format, I simply dragged the photos (along with our wedding invitation and some old digital holiday cards we've sent out over the years) into a PPT photo album template, added some very basic labels (i.e., "X-mas 2006, Beijing") and then converted the PPT into a PDF ("Save as…"), printed it out and put a single staple in it. It was around 15 pages with maybe 45 photos total. The cover shows a pic of us at our wedding with the obvious title stating our names and that the packet is being provided in support of the I-130. I made an appointment via phone to submit the I-130 (with follow-up via email). Everyone at the embassy in BJ / USCIS was very friendly and the process was quick and easy. We are a same-sex couple and this was a non-issue. I can sometimes sense that people struggle with the terminology ("your…husband?"), but that's to be expected, as the law only recently changed and it's an adjustment for everyone. Even I'm sometimes unsure about the most PC terms. Now we are awaiting instructions from Guangzhou, which I assume will come via snail mail, hopefully within a week or so. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. Once we hear from GZ, is this what I can expect? (I realize I'm simplifying here): >Submit D-260 online; hard copies of other forms (I-864, etc.) sent with $ via CITIC >GUZ notifies us of receipt (also via snail mail?) and we can schedule interview via website >Hubz schedules and get medical and goes for interview in GZ (with all the requisite docs on hand) >Passport with visa and not-to-be-opened packet mailed back to our address in BJ CNH (Chinese National Hubz) has already been to his hometown to get all of the materials he needs to provide. His police certificates are from July and he is concerned that they may be viewed as outdated. However, I've assured him that this isn't the case, as on the "IV Instruction DS-260 Sept2013" from GUZ it states that "Police certificates are valid for one year." I wonder if anyone has thoughts about this? From my side, I am pulling together I-864 data and other supporting docs. I also have a signed letter (on letterhead) from my new US employer stating salary and indicating that both hubz and I will be getting medical insurance benefits; also a 4-month US lease signed by the new landlord, me and hubz, clearly stating the new US address. I hope the duration of this lease doesn't raise eyebrows. Because of the uncertainty of exactly when hubz will arrive in the US, we thought it best to do a short-term rental so that we can be sure to be together when seeking more permanent accommodations. This seems reasonable to me, but let me know if you have other opinions. I welcome any and all advice regarding the various steps to come, and will be keeping our journey updated here and likely posting more questions in the weeks to come. Thanks and Happy Holidays, David

First, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Andelu! May all our immigration journeys end so happily. Now my question. I have scheduled an appointment to file the I-130 petition paperwork on behalf of my husband later this month in Beijing. I also have a job offer in San Francisco and we have already rented a place there. Since DCF depends on us both being in Beijing, will it be a factor if, during our immigration visa application process, I relocate prior to my husband's appointment in GUZ? We are both on the lease of our Beijing apartment (have been for six years) and are currently paid through March 2014 on rent; my residence / work permit is good through fall 2014 etc., so there is a paper trail for my being rooted here, but I may need to start the new job a few weeks prior to hubz completing the interview process. Trying to get all the various timetables to align so we can start our new life asap. Thanks for all your help, David

Thanks, Josh. Your post is very helpful—it demystifies the experience and makes me realize that I need to stop over-thinking this and just jump in! I'm unnecessarily anticipating all kinds of silly things. Cheers, D

Thank you, Randy and everyone. The advice and the template text for the translator are hugely helpful. I can't believe I took our leases to the 公正住 — I should have asked here first. One step closer to filing the I-130 paperwork! Cheers, David

Okay…here we go. Just hit snag no. 1 of many more to come! Went to have our leases translated at Beijing Shi Fang Yuan Gong Zheng Zhu (北京市方圆公正住）and they told us that they don't translate leases. Instead, if we provide some additional documentation and bring our landlady, they can produce a notarized bilingual statement verifying our shared address. So now we are a bit confused…In short: 1. With the leases: do we need to get them translated or do we need the notarized statement from the 公正住. 2. If it's a matter of getting the leases translated, is there somewhere special in Beijing that can produce the "official" translation? 3. Can I just translate them myself? 4. Does the translator have to sign an affidavit swearing to the accuracy of the translation? (I ask b/c I saw a template for this on another immigration site.) Surely many of you here have had leases translated. Please advise. And thanks for all your comments above. CNH (Chinese National Hubz) already went to his hometown to get several docs in late July, including the certificates). Cheers, david

Thank so much for all these helpful answers—and do expect more questions! Based on the feedback here, we're going to proceed as follows: Two family members in the US are writing letters and though I gather it's not absolutely necessary, I'm going to ask them to have their statements notarized prior to sending. A long-time friend now living in Hong Kong will provide the third letter, which will not be notarized. Please agree to disagree. I think I will try to bring hubz with me to the Beijing Embassy to file the I-130 paperwork. Wondering: Should I expect any additional questions / formalities at the time of filing, or will someone at a window simply look through the packet and take my money? Andelu: Good advice to start preparing the rest of the paperwork now. My partner already went to his hometown and got all his stuff in late July, but the I-864 is no joke! Which reminds me: Are those no-police-record certificates only good for a certain amount of time? Hubz and I were talking about this last night. We hope we can use the late-July police certificates from his hometown (he has not lived there in a decade) and get the certificates from the Beijing authorities now. Cheers, David

Dear Candle for Love Community, After several months of reading and learning from so many of you, my husband and I are ready to start the DCF process. We are excited and nervous, and thank you all in advance for all the invaluable help this site offers. About us: We are a recently married same-sex couple (two guys) who have been together in Beijing for the last 8 years—cohabiting for the last six. We have been wanting to marry for some time but were waiting for the Supreme Court to give us their blessing. This summer, they did, so we tied the knot in the US. Like clockwork, I now have a job offer in the US (and a lead on a rental) and we feel we are ready to pull the trigger and DCF. Assembling the materials for the first step has raised some questions and I suspect this will be the first of several posts as we muck our way through the process. Hopefully others can also learn from our shared experiences. While I don't anticipate that being a same-sex couple will change our process, I'll post here if I find it does. Right now, the initial filing packet is looks like this (I have highlighted items in red that I'm unsure about): I. USCIS Forms: I-130G-1145G-325A (husband’s)G-325A (mine) II. Docs to prove my US citizenship: Copy of my current passport’s biodata pageCopy of my prior passport’s biodata page (Since some of our previously leases and my residency permits are keyed to this passport number—should this be a concern? How best to avoid confusion?)Copy of my birth certificate (Is this needed if I have the passport copy? Does it need to be notarized? The original is in storage in the US) III. Docs proving marriage bona fides: Copy of our marriage certificateCopy of “official” translations of our leases (2007 to present)Letter from friend attesting to our relationship (Do these letters need to be notarized?)Letter from relative attesting to our relationshipLetter from relative attesting to our relationshipPhotos dating our relationship from 2005 to present (may include some travel docs, too, since we have many pics to trips to the US, Europe, Asia, etc. over the years) IV. Docs to prove my residency in jurisdiction covered by Beijing American embassy to be eligible for direct filing: Copies of my Chinese residency permits (2005 to present) V. Other documents Copy of hub’s passport biodata pageCopy of notarized English translation of hub’s hukou2 passport photos of me2 passport photos of my husband Also: For the scheduled appointment at the US Embassy in Beijing for filing all this, do we both have to be present? I would appreciate it if any of you could weigh in about the items in red—and anything else we might be missing or doing wrong. I will keep everyone appraised of our process, from start to finish, as I suspect this is the first of many posts. Thanks so much for your help, D