Shasha7988

An update for anyone who may read this in the future: My husband, the beneficiary, wrote a One and the Same Person Affidavit (just Googled a template). I, the petitioner, and my father, the joint sponsor, wrote one as well. We did NOT notarize them, just typed on the computer, printed, and signed. My father sent us a scanned image of his. I'm not sure if the extra 2 were necessary, but we figured better too much than not enough. This was accepted by the embassy and our visa was successfully processed.

An update for anyone who may read this in the future : we contacted the embassy immediately via their email form and explained the situation. They responded asking for a picture of the back of the envelope,which we sent immediately. A few days later my husband got a phone call from a woman in the embassy who asked again what happened, he told her we received it like that, and she told us we should send it back to be resealed, and include a letter explaining the situation, just in case. We sent the passport and envelope back to the embassy via Citic Bank the next day (August 30). Friday, September 8th, we got a call from the bank that our new envelope had arrived at the bank, but it was almost 5pm, the bank is closing soon so no time to pick it up. We'll get everything Monday morning, fingers crossed we're good to go this time! Their turn around time has been extremely fast throughout the whole process!

The saga continues.. We were told our visa could not be processed because they needed additional documentation about my husband's nickname. We sent documents last week. I emailed the embassy yesterday to see if they had received them, they said yes and that the case was under review. Literally 2 minutes later my inbox dinged, an email from Citic bank telling us the passport is ready for pickup!? My husband rushes to the bank, looks and behold the passport with the visa, and huge envelope of documents is there. I can't believe it! But upon taking a closer look, it definitely looks like someone has already opened the brown envelope. We have not touched it at all, but I can see the red embassy stamps on the flap don't line up. It's 100% obvious someone has opened it. But when we picked it up from the bank, it was inside a plastic envelope with an untorn sticker, so it definitely wasn't bank staff or delivery personnel. So has anyone encountered something like this? I'm worried that they opened the envelope looking for additional name documents, didn't find them, then sent us the email about needing them. But then maybe someone saw it sitting around, figured it was done, and sent it off. The most frustrating is the lack of phone number to call. The email they sent this morning was clearly automated, and didn't reflect true information. Is there anything I can do besides just emailing again?

Do you thing we need to have it notarized at the embassy? My husband would need to do it but he's not a US citizen, of course, is that option even available to him? I'd like to get this document mailed to consulate as soon as possible.

Received a heart dropping email this afternoon! We listed my husband's nickname on the application. I remember reading a comment somewhere on this site that mentioned NOT including any nicknames, but in my family and friends affidavits of relationship, they all referred to my husband by his nickname (since his birth name is hard to pronounce). At the interview, the officer did mention it, and asked my husband why, he told them the truth. It's how most people refer to him. The email said that a visa cannot be issued until they receive "certification regarding your use of the alias XXXX". I'm freaking out, we have no official paperwork to show his given and nickname are the same people. What can we do?? Will I have to start all over?? I did a quick google search and found something called a One and the Same Person Affidavit. It's to be written by the beneficiary swearing on oath, explaining exactly why they have this name. Will this be enough? I feel so stupid for ignoring the advice I read here! But anything to help is appreciated!!

My husband had a similarly difficult time remembering phone numbers and exact addresses for some past jobs, especially since he's been self employed a lot. As mentioned, just fill out as much as you know. I think they're looking at the big picture, not nitpicking over these smaller details.

Just a quick update, my husband went for his visa interview today at the Guangzhou consulate and he was approved! For anyone interested, we had the appointment at 10am and arrived around 920. He was able to bring in his cellphone, and queued out front until all the 10am appointments were allowed in. The whole process only took about an hour and a half. The officer was friendly, didn't ask much about my husband's work experience but wanted to know basic things like how long we'd been together, and information and paperwork for our son, who was born here. My father was a joint sponsor, so that must've helped. After all was said and done, the visa was approved. We need his passport to travel back to our home city, so the officer gave us instructions on submitting the passport to the CITIC bank that we registered as the mailing pick up address. If anyone is going through the process now and has any questions, I'm happy to help if I can!

Right, that's exactly what I was looking for! This forum truly is extremely helpful. Thanks so much!!

I'm about to submit our DS 260. My meaning is that we'll need to fly to Guangzhou for the interview, if all goes well and the visa is issued, how will we fly back to our current city, if the office keeps the passport? Anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

I-130 : Part 4. information about Beneficiary, asks for Beneficiary's physical address but clearly states if the home does not have a street number or name, leave that space blank. We live together here in China, but as most Chinese apartment complexes are, the address is not the street name, and theres no number. Everything is addressed to the name of the complex, for example Wanda Square, as local delivery men know all the complex names. So, should I definitely leave this space blank instead of providing the name of our apartment complex, building and apartment number? G-325A : At the bottom of the form, one question asks: "This form is submitted in connection with an application for: ()Naturalization ()Status as a Permanent Resident ()Other" Obviously we're applying for immigration purposes, but I didn't think that a spousal visa was the same as Naturalization. Do you check other and write Spousal Visa? Thanks for your help! Sarah

Quick question - My parents will be signing as joint sponsors, and I also planned on having a couple letters from friends and family supporting that our relationship is real. As I'm living in China with my husband, do they need to mail these documents to me so I can have the original copies? Do letters of support need to be notarized in the US and then sent here? I noticed on the USCIS website it said they will accept copies but that originals may be requested at any time. Is it better to just have everything mailed here just in case? What was your experience when you filed? Thanks!

I'm the USC, I'm a woman. A couple years ago, right aftery husband and I were married, I changed my last name to his while I was visiting home. I thought it would be another good step to proving our marriage was the real deal. This has led to nothing but trouble. Since then I have had to renew my passport, which shows my new last name. I renewed my passport in the Shanghai US embassy, and also got a notarized letter from the embassy stating my old passport and new passport are the same person. My Chinese marriage certificate has my maiden name. Today upon trying to get the notarized copy (white book) of my marriage certificate, the officer wouldn't accept this notarized letter from the US embassy, even though I've used it to renew my visa multiple times. We were told to contact the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. They told me I need to return to America and go to the Chinese embassy there to get a paper that can be notarized by the Chinese government. My husband's marriage certificate can be notarized without a problem. Do I absolutely need my marriage certificate to be notarized as well?

Fantastic, great to hear, I was hoping my passport and normal copies of it would be enough. Thanks for the reply!!

I'm the USC living in China for the last 5 years. We are preparing documents now for DCF in Guangzhou. Do I need my real birth certificate and social security card? These are still in America at my permanent residence (my parents home) I'm worried about mailing these important documents to China, if this is the case. Can my parents get notarized copies in America and send them here? It's a much safer option, but will they be accepted by VO? Thanks! Sarah