babyeggplant

Very helpful advice. Thanks, dnoblett!

I'm happy to say this forum has been an enormous help to me over the last several years while I applied for a green card for my spouse through DCF and then the removal of conditions process. During this time I have amassed a large amount of paperwork to show as "evidence" for the removal of conditions. Thankfully my husband finally has received his 10 year permanent resident card. He currently does not plan on applying for citizenship and will most likely renew his green card in the future when it expires. So my question is... am I finally safe to shred all this evidence of the bona fides of our relationship?! From what I can tell it is not needed for applying for citizenship or to renew his green card, however I think I will be forever paranoid that someone out there is going to ask me to prove our relationship is not a sham. Can someone reassure me that It's not necessary to hold onto all these bank statements, old lease agreements, expired rental insurance contracts ect that I have been lugging around for years? I would love nothing more than to shred it all and finally close this chapter in my life.

So to clarify Randy, do you think it's absolutely necessary to have both documents? The document issued by the PSB (gong an ju) and the notarized translation of that document issued by the gong zheng chu? Last time I was at the gong zheng chu, they said they could make a notarial birth certificate to be used for immigration based off of the hukou and du sheng zi nv zheng (only child cert). They didn't think it was necessary to get the PSB to first issue a certificate for them to notarize. In my previous post, I should have clarified that I understand that the notarial birth certificate is absolutely necessary, I'm just not sure if another document (either original birth certificate or document issued by PSB) will be needed by the gong zheng chu or by guangzhou.

I also have a question related to this topic. Some official sites list that the birth certificate is needed when DCFing in Beijing. Others state that birth certificate is not needed if you bring beneficiaries passport. From http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/china-beijing-field-office http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/china-beijing-field-office 1.The posts I have read recently don't seem to have needed to submit the birth certificate while filing the initial petition. Is that correct? The list I was emailed when making my appointment in Beijing doesn't say it's needed. Is it needed later at the interview then? 2. I know that several members here have said the only document needed is the notarial birth certificate. From above, it seems possible to get a certificate issued at the PSB and then have that document notarized and translated. Are you guys saying that this is not possible or just not necessary? Is it possible that the info on the websites is just outdated?

After doing further research, we're now leaning towards going the DCF route. Still have a couple of concerns. 1. Am I right in that the first time the completed i-864 form/tax returns will be needed is at the interview? From what I've read, they are enclosed with the P-3 information but not submitted until the interview date. 2. If approved to schedule an interview, what is the window for how early or late we must schedule the interview? If we will have difficulty getting together the required documents for interview (I'm most worried about my co-sponsor's tax info), are we able to schedule the interview for a later time? For example, if we are given the go ahead to schedule an interview, would it be possible to schedule it for 2 months later, or will we need to schedule it within a certain number of weeks? 3. What is the longest someone has had to wait to schedule an interview due to availability? My husband should be starting school In August, so I'm hoping to schedule the interview on a date that allows us enough time to get everything ready, but will also hopefully not delay him being able to start school in the US.

Thanks for the response, Randy. To clarify, we are already married. That is why I'm concerned about him getting denied for the student visa.

I am currently living in China and married to Chinese spouse. He has applied and been accepted to a graduate program in the US starting fall 2014. Ideally, we would like to stay in the US after he finishes his studies, but current circumstances look like it will be more likely that we return to China after he graduates. Originally, we planned to have him just apply for a student visa but after doing some research, it seems like us already being married might hurt his chances of being granted the student visa since it may be difficult to prove his intent to return to China. What we could provide to support his intent to return to China are his name on apartment deed and letter from employer stating that his job will be held. It's also difficult to find a job in the US with the program he is entering. The other thing is that his mom has recently passed away and he is an only child (Dad is still living) . Based on this information, does anyone have any thoughts on how difficult it may be for him to get the student visa? Recently I've been researching DCF and am questioning if it might be the "safer" way to go. My biggest concern right now is being able to provide the tax return info of our would be co-sponsor. 1. Am I right in that the first time tax return will be asked for is at the interview date? Our co-sponsor normally files their taxes in October. 2. If interview (or whenever the forms are needed) is after april 15, is it certain that the current year's tax return will be needed? I think this might be the most difficult document for me to get. Thanks in advance for any comments or advice!