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johnny206

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Posts posted by johnny206

  3. Naturalization Interview?

    in Citizenship Process

    Posted

    Hi All,

    Wife just got I-797C notice for interview (see attached). We submitted the application early Jan. and the interview date is 5/24. Questions:

    1) Is this the "real" interview where they test your citizenship knowledge? The reason I'm asking is the status says we still have 9 months until the case is close. Seems a little early for the test? Earlier we received a "Biometric Reuse" notice saying she does not have to come in for fingerprints etc. 

    2) Wife is going to China 5/1 - 5/28, round trip ticket purchased. It's ok to postpone, right?

    Anyway, just want to confirm...I think my wife better starts cramming for the test ha.

     

    Thanks!

     

    I-797c interviewRedacted_Redacted.pdf

  4. Overseas property ownership after becoming a citizen

    in Citizenship Process

    Posted

    Thank you so much for the link. I've read through the posts. It doesn't seem like becoming a US citizen will affect ownership on existing apartments.

     

    To my knowledge, at least in Shanghai, when making a sale, all you need is a Chinese local ID card and the certificate of property ownership (green book). Has anyone or their spouse has any expierence selling apartments in China while being a US citizen? Does it affect the sales and/or taxes any different than a regular sale?

     

    Also, what's the best also legal way to get that large sum of money to US? You can only bring less than 10k per person per trip. If do wire transfer, I'm sure IRS will be after that. How much do they tax? Anyone has any experience to share?

     

    If you become a US citizen, then you automatically give up your Chinese citizenship as China doesn't recognize dual citizenship. That said, wouldn't that void your Chinese ID card and hukou as you're not Chinese anymore? If that's the case, would it invalidate your property ownership certificate? The crux of the issue is that you can't prove who you are to the Chinese government anymore. Were you able to sell your property in China? Just curious because Chinese bureaucracy can be ridiculous.

  5. Watching Chinese TV Programming in the States

    in Stateside

    Posted

    My wife got a "Ubox" from http://www.unblocktech.com/en/. No subscription, just one time cost for the box and you get live streaming of channels from China/TW/HK. Also thousands of movies including American ones as well. I think she paid about $200 USD from tabobao. My brother in law also has one and he told me there are Indonesian and Malaysian channels, too. Honestly, there are so many things available to watch, I'm talking about 10's of thousands that I haven't really explored. My wife mainly watches Korean soap operas though. I highly recommend you check it out.

    • Like 1

  9. You can travel to Mexico/Canada w/expired green card and I-797 extensi

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    I just got back vacationing in Mexico with my wife and I want to share my experience going through US and MEX customs. i did some research before we left but didn't find any definitive answer online so hopefully this will give more clarity and alleviate someone's stress.

     

    Short Story

    YES, you can travel to Mexico and Canada with expired 2 year conditional permananent residence card (green card), just don't forget to bring your ORIGINAL I-797 extension letter; this is very important, no copies or file saved on your cell phone - you must bring original letter of extension. Have a good and relaxing vacation and stop worrying :)

     

    Long story

    My wife's 2 year conditional PR card expiration date is Nov. of 2017. We applied for I-751 and received the I-797 extension letter in August of 2017.

     

    Airline counter agent: Requested to see extension letter when she saw the expired card.

    Mexican customs officer: Looked at her Chinese passport and the expired PR card, stamped wife's passport, did not request to see extension letter.

    US customs officer: Saw her Chinese passport and expired PR card, my wife voluntarily handed her the extension letter but the officer replied "oh, I don't need to see the letter if you just went to Mexico or Canada. If you went back to China, then I'd have to see it."

     

    Some people online advocate getting I-551 stamp on the passport just to be safe but we did not do that. So there you have it! Stop worrying and enjoy your vacation :happydance:

     

    Cheers,

     

    John

     

     

    • Like 2

  10. Getting Money to Relatives in China - 2017

    in Communications, Planes, Shipping & Money

    Posted

    A checking account from Charles Schwab has zero ATM fee anywhere in the world. No foreign transaction fee, currency exchange fee, ATM fee of any kind, etc. I opened an account with them to use while traveling overseas. I have used the ATM card in Mexico, China, Hong Kong, Canada and they always refund any fee charged by the foreign entity at the end of the month. Free checks, no min. balance, it's legit.

    • Like 2

  13. I-485 interview: affidavit of support and most recent tax return

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted · Edited by dnoblett
    Copied to photo bucket (see edit history)

    See below for the I-485 interview instruction sheet sent to me:

    20151013_145426.jpg?dl=0

    20151013_145439.jpg?dl=0

     

    If the links above don't work, try:

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/hdcakr9ny0rawjn/20151013_145426.jpg?dl=0

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/iso9yez0s88ny03/20151013_145439.jpg?dl=0

     

    http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad334/dnoblett/Immigration%20Stuff/Y3YgZPt9b-HK3ufTZGepkqSCOxokV2L-VT2U4Ysn11A_zpspvkavjfr.jpg

     

    http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad334/dnoblett/Immigration%20Stuff/0J0CKpcSFHJX01148Ex6NpD5tDld8XPxlo-Op84A7MM_zpsqlgysw4f.jpg

  15. My I-485 AOS interview experience

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    My wife came here on K-1 visa and we just had our AOS interview at USCIS Seattle field office ($7 cash only for parking so bring $$). It was rather quick and easy.

     

    Appointment was at 10 AM but didn't get called in until 11 AM. The officer was a nice lady in her 30's. First we swore in, then she asked for both passports and official marriage license. She then went through some questions from our application, the part about have you ever been a communist party member, have you ever killed anyone, have you done human trafficking, are you a spy, etc. Those are the questions they HAVE to ask.

     

    For evidence showing bona fide marriage, the stuff I brought were Quit Claim Deed for my house (put her name on the deed officially), joint checking account, her being my life insurance and retirement beneficiary, both driver licenses showing same address, I'm her credit card co-signer, etc. Next we showed our recent photos -- we brought about 20 photos and about half way she smiled and said that's good enough she didn't wanna be too nosy. The officer did not take copies of anything, simple took notes of what she saw.

     

    The experience was pleasant and painless, maybe 15 minutes? The officer apologized a few times about asking weird questions from above and having us wait an hour, etc. She did not ask for my affidavit of support or most recent tax return, even though the appointment letter specifically asked to bring those. My wife did not have to show *anything* e.g. her SSN, employment authorization card, advanced parole, etc. Basically, we only showed our passport and marriage license to the officer.

     

    The only bump in my experience was the vaccination record was incomplete by the civil surgeon. We have to go back to the surgeon and send the completed form back. Again, the officer was apologetic and sympathetic that she couldn't approve us right away.

     

    Maybe I was lucky to have had such a nice and easy officer? I think overall just relax and answer truthfully and you will be fine. The officer went through your files thoroughly beforehand and probably have a pretty good idea if the marriage is real or not -- if they suspect something, they will then drill hard with questions.

     

    Good luck to all! :)

     

    John

  17. I-485 interview: affidavit of support and most recent tax return

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Hi All,

     

    My instruction for I-485 marriage-based cases (my fiancee came here on K-1) states we must bring the following additional items:

     

    Affidavit of support, COMPLETED AND NOTARIZED, WITH THE SPONSOR'S FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS FOR THE MOST RECENT TAX YEAR.

     

    My questions:

     

    1) Affidavit of support: does this mean I need to fill out a new form I-864? Notarized? I'm confused since I already submitted it with my I-485 application, do I need a new one?

     

    2) Tax return: I e-filed, so I don't have a signed paper copy. Can I print out a copy and sign it? Does it need to be notarized? For the I-485 application I submitted 3 years of IRS transcript already.

     

    Thanks!

     

    John

  19. How do I postpone interview for I-485 "Adjust Status?"

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    My wife and I received a notice to appear for interview at our local USCIS office 9/21/2015. We'll be in China for our traditional wedding/banquet during that time so we need to postpone it. The instruction says to call the national customer service center; we called twice and received conflicting instruction:

     

    First time: agent told us to mail copy of notice and a detailed explanation for the need to postponement. The agent did not specify where to mail the letter (national center? local uscis office?) so we called back the

     

    Second time: The agent told us to follow the notice's instruction, which was to call the national customer service center. She then told us since there's no specific instruction, she will put in a request to the powers to be which will take 15 to 30 business days for a decision.

     

    Does anyone know what's the right thing to do?

     

    Thanks!

     

    John

  20. Services that deliver/pick up documents from Chinese Embassy?

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    I live in Washington state and got my marriage certificate certified by office of secretary of state. Do I need it to be certified by the State Dept. in Washington D.C.?

    Never mind, found my answer :)

     

    Documents issued in certain states must also be authenticated by the US Department of State after certification by the local Secretary of State's office. These states include Washington DC, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

  21. Services that deliver/pick up documents from Chinese Embassy?

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Most visa services will do this for you. You will need a "fresh" marriage certificate (issued within the last six months). The notary seal must be authenticated by your state's Secretary of State, and then a seal placed on the document by the Chinese consulate

     

    When I had mine done, it was possible to do the entire thing by mail (when using a visa service), although Doug, who was authenticating his own single certificate, walked mine through the process at the same time.

     

    Even so, when we went to the PSB yesterday for my new visa, they still wanted a separate translation of the certificate, since the authentication process doesn't include a separate Chinese-language translation of the document itself.

    Thanks Randy! By the way, after my marriage certificate is authenticated by Secretary of State and Chinese embassy. I bring it to Civil Affairs Bureau (

    民政局) at my wife's home town and they will take care of it? What will they give me? A Chinese marriage "Red book?"

  23. Services that deliver/pick up documents from Chinese Embassy?

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    I want to have my US marriage certificate authenticated at the San Francisco embassy. However, just like applying for a tourist visa, one must apply and pick up in person (anyone can do this for the applicant, doesn't have to be the applicant him or herself) at the embassy. I know there are tons of agencies that will do this for tourist visa, but I have yet to see one that does it for other documents. Any ideas?

  24. Tax Return and filing a joint return

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Here's what I found out for my situation:

     

    My wife does not pass the "substantial presence" or green card test thus she is considered a Non-resident Alien (NR).

     

    I can choose to file as Married File Jointly (MFJ) or Married File Separately (MFS).

     

    MFJ: By filing MFJ, I'm electing to treat my wife to be taxed as a resident. I will have to including my wife's worldwide income. Basically filing like a normal US married couple.

     

    MFS: I file as married filing separately and she files her own 1040NR. HOWEVER, since 1040NR only applies to US source income, which she has none; so in my wife's case she doesn't have to file tax return this year.

     

    MFS makes the most sense in my situation since I don't have to pay taxes on my wife's income, thus I'll get more refund. My wife doesn't have to file so no income tax will be paid to the government.

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