HaoRan

In southern California (Orange County), Irvine has a huge Chinese population. Not necessarily a "Chinatown" per se but Ranch 99 markets and a lot of excellent restaurants. Also, my favorite, the "Tea Station"... yummy. Close to Irvine is Little Saigon which also has a lot of Chinese from Vietnam and other areas. Also a huge Korean population near there.

Thanks dnoblett and Randy, Looks like that's the information I was looking for... and extra 30 days sounds like a major plus to me... I'll speak to my wife about it.

I see... When is the green card awarded? When passing through customs? Thanks,

My wife and I are coming up on our 2 year anniversary in September and should be able to have her Pink at the end of this month (she was asked to provide a Custody Document which we have found a way to do). So, she will have about a month before our anniversary after getting her visa. Am I to understand if she crosses into the US after her 2 year wedding anniversary she will gain a 10 year unconditional green card? That's the only criteria for getting this card? If so it would be worth waiting the extra 30 or so days to get this card. Thanks in advance,

Ok, thanks Randy, But how to satisfy the US VO? He's already looked at the documents. Hukuo, birth cert, etc...

Hukou says he is her son. My wife has Birth Certs from South Africa saying he's hers. All the legal document says he is hers. I think they are not questioning that the boy is hers, just there is no contest with the father. Randy, this is not a case of "who's your daddy", that was not a nice statement.

My wife went for her interview yesterday. Everything was fine with one exception. She needs a Custody document saying that her son is indeed hers from the Chinese Government. After she provides this document she will have pink the VO said. The problem is she gave birth out of wedlock in South Africa so there was never a divorce proceeding and custody was not defined. The father was not on any of the legal birth documents and she is not in contact with him for 7 years. In Chinese law, can she have Custody declared to her by default? Or Any other suggestions would be great. My wife does not trust attorneys in China but if anyone knows an honest one in Shanghai they can recommend I would be greatful. Thanks,

We are having our interview this Monday. August 10th.. Please pray for us.

My friend's fiance believes a translator would be provided at her upcoming interview. She speaks little English (but getting better) and her male counterpart in the states speaks no Chinese. I'm worried this will be an issue for them passing the interview and getting pink. They usually use a laptop to communicate when he was in China and for more complex things my wife helps out. Main questions here. Will a translator be provided at the interview? and Will either's lack of ability of the other's language be a major sticking point for getting pink? Thanks in advance,

Just after receving notice that all documents have been completed we have received an interview dates (August 10th). So, now we are preparing documents, evidence, etc for her to bring to Guangzhou (she will go with her mother and son to the interview and asked me to come later for a relaxing vacation in China. Then we'll come back together). I have some questions now. 1. Who are the Yangs and how can we employ their services? 2. Right or Wrong, I sent a lot of original translations, pictures, and other info along with my I-130 application. Would those documents have been forwarded to the NVC and then on to Guangzhou? I have black and white copies of the translations, would that work or would we need new ones? These are translations of my apartment agreement, phone records, and hotel stays in Hangzhou. 3. My wife had her son out of wedlock in South Africa but has all the birth certificate and documentation regarding his birth and his relationship to her. But, we noticed DNA testing.. Has anyone had to go through such a process? 4. Anything else anyone can throw in here that I might not be thinking of. Thanks in advance.

yes, they may do that. We'll see. I did that last year when I first started the job. What I'd really like to do is stay for a month but I don't know if they'd let me do that. I have so much interest over there.

I just received via email (##Exactly One Year and one Month to the Day##) that the NVCGuangzhou has received all documentation for my wife CR1 and son CR2 and will be scheduling interviews. Yahoo!!! It's getting exciting now... I'm most likely going to go. I'll just figure out something after she gets back to handle the rest. Yaaaaay... Whoooo Hooooo

My wife speaks very good English and was working as the personal assistant to the President of a English speaking foreign company so she had to make appointments, book flights, communicate with the US counterpart. Language will not be a problem in this case. I just loath flying 15 hours one way, be a zombie for 2 days and sit on a plane for another 15 hours. However, I do appreciate your reply as it gives me something else to consider.

yeah, the biggest issue is taking off work. If I go just for the interview I should take off at least 2 weeks. But the problem there is, when they get to the states I need time to set them (my wife and son) up and get them going (son to school. wife a car and license)... I can't just come back and let them sit in the house for a couple months. I'd like to go but I think it's going to be a much better benefit if I stay and then take off when they arrive. Thanks all for the replies.

Ok, I need help with the acronyms. USC = ? (US Consolate?) VO = ? (visa official?) ACS = ? ACH = ? I'm not clear on the process after arriving in Guangzhou. What is the Question/Answer session? The interview? thanks in advance.

There's a chance I may not be able to make it to the interview to support my wife in Guangzhou. Would that affect the outcome of the interview results? tks

What is SO??

Hello all, and thanks for the replies. We are at the DS-230 stage. I've already done the Affidavit of Support and everything else up to now with the NVC. Now, this is the last step as I understand it. If we can scan and file electronically then that's great. So, I can contact the NVC and Opt for the final documents to be sent to NVC and then Guangzhou? Thanks all,

What is electronic processing? Faxing? Scanned docs? Wouldn't that be the same as a copy? Has anyone tried sending Notorized copies? Would we receive a request for more information?

Thanks dnoblett, Any chance if we send the originals they would get lost? This is the worry for me sending originals. thanks.

Well, we just waited 8 weeks and finally received a Police Clearance Report from the South African Government for my wife so now we're back in the game again. Now we are preparing all the documents to send to the NVC along with the DS-230. According to James's Shortcuts: DS-230: - part 1 and 2 (remember do NOT sign part 2). Have the foreign spouse (beneficiary) complete this, sign it, and have it in the petitioner's hands before you get to NVC. You may also begin gathering documents to send with the DS-230 to the NVC. These documents must be in original or certified copy. Certified copies are copies certified by issuing agency and not by a notary. Birth Certificate [1] Court and Prison Records [2] Deportation Documentation [3] Marriage Certificate [4] Marriage Termination Documentation [5] Military Records [6] Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page [7] Police Certificate(s) [8] 2 Passport-sized photos of foreign spouse And this thread: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...34290&st=45 Today, we finally got the real answer to our question! GUZ answered our PM to "USCONGUZ" ! We received a PM from "USCONGUZ", "Thank you for inquiry. As of September 2008, the NVC is collecting all civil documents and completed forms from immigrant visa applicants. Please follow all NVC directions for submitting your documents. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions. Sincerely, Immigrant Visa Unit, US Consulate Guangzhou." So my wife has gotten notorized copies which according to this are not usable. So we'll have to get certified copies for these things. Questions would be: Translations? Do they want translations for these documents? and If we can't get a certified copy (her son was born in South Africa out of wedlock and as such there was no recording of the father's information is on the birth certificate or records), would this be a problem? Thanks for any comments, suggestions, help. Haoran.

My wife was never married under South African Law, ex boyfriend not on birth cert or any documents involving her or her son, position is "birth out of wedlock". My wife has no contact with him since birthing her son and has no desire to contact him as he is a perfect @ss Any potential problems with this at interview?

Sebastian, Notarial? All these documents need to be notarized?

yes, I have her son in connection with my wife for the I-864 and she has already assign me as the Agent of Choice (along with her son) via email. (thanks dnoblett). She's collecting the info (Police Clearance records), etc now. So she sends that to me and I submit it.. Cool. Thanks guys, 12 hour work days leaves me tapped. I appreciate your responses.

yes, you're correct, Afidavit of Support. thanks in advance,