HaoRan

I mailed the AOS last week. What happens next and how long before interview (in general)? Oh, do I fill out the DS 230? and will that come to me after AOS is approved? Thanks,

oh, and the bank branch address for police records in SA for the ABSA account is: Absa Bank C/O van der Walt and Andries Street PRETORIA In case anyone else is looking for it as this address is not found anywhere. I had to email ABSA to find out.

Well, the process (we are doing) is: Put money in Bank with identifying information (PCC, ID#, etc). Send request with fingerprints and documentation ad nauseum. Wait for return. That's why I would rather send the request with a Cashier's check so it would be all contained together but, what the heck...

Sebatian is correct and Thank you Sebastian. The reason she couldn't send it from China is the SA Police ppl required it to be an International Cashier's Check in SA money so that's not possible for my wife to get in China. Otherwise it would have been a more simple process.

Ok, here's a follow up for anyone needing to do the same thing. I couldn't use Xoom as they had a minimum amount of 25.00 (IIRC) to use it plus the transfer fee which was then getting up to BOA charges. What I did find out is WaMu offers free wire transfers (domestic or international) if you open a free checking account with them. The account asks for 100.00 to open and no minimum to maintain. So, that's what I did and sent a wire yesterday with Wamu. Now, Wamu just recently was bought out by another bank so I don't know how long this policy will continue. HTH

Cool, Thanks for stepping in and replying.

Sebastian, Have you used Xoom before? I have not heard of them. We do have WM in our area. Just don't want to set up an account to wire 10.00 dollars. Xoom sounds cool if they are trustworthy and it looks like I can send directly to a bank account in SA.

ok, my bank (BOA) charges 45.00 to do a wire transfer regardless of the amount. I need to send 10.00 so that's just retarded. Western Union will only send to another Western Union so that's not an option either. I need to send it to a specific bank, with a SWIFT Code and account number. Uggh.. This is killing me.

Let me also ask this. Can I wire the money for her Police Record Application or would the money need to come from my wife in Shanghai? Thanks,

My wife is trying to get the police clearance records from South Africa for her visa requirements and is trying to wire money. She tried to send the money via Bank of China yesterday and got fee on top of fee to try to send this. She needs to send about 10.00 USD (equivilent) to SA and had fees of up to 75.00 to send it. I literally can't stand BOC, they are the worst in my opinion. The people are rude and don't care if they help you or not. But she needs to use a bank that is allowed by the government to wire money out of the country. Can anyone recommend a bank in Shanghai that a local Chinese can use to wire money without such crazyness?

I was chatting with a friend who got his wife through around the time shortly after 9/11. He told me it took him 4 times and about 2 years for a K1 visa (his wife did not speak English and he had to prove the ability to communicate). In addition, he told me the consulate building is not approachable by anyone other than the visa applicant (Chinese citizen). He provided a mountian of relationship evidence and he also expressed the surrounding area as anything but nice. I would welcome all replies which help me understand better what to expect (so I can relay to my wife) at the Guangzhou consulate. Thanks in advance,

Yeah, I used to buy a open ticket from China Eastern. They keep it open for a year. Worked perfectly for me. Good luck!!

Due to circumstances I'm pretty sure I cannot be in China when my wife has her interview. Would this cause a problem? Thanks,

Correct. Two I-130s, My wife and her son. Son is 7 years old and speaks just a tiny bit of English that was learned in school. Wife speaks English very well.

I'm sponsoring my wife and son with the I-130. When the interview date comes, will the child be asked to sit in on the interview? Would the child be questioned at all? Thanks for any replies.

Here's an update. The trip to the South African Consolate in Shanghai was worthless. My wife got there and the lady wouldn't help her at all. She said the consolate and the Embassy in Beijing couldn't provide police reports and that she needed to go to her local police station and get finger printed, then send that off to South Africa to get a police report. The thing is, when she was in South Africa she was never finger printed so there's nothing for them to compare to in South Africa. Ughh... The lady at the consolate was beyond rude and wouldn't give my wife any information on how to proceed. Links, Phone numbers, nothing. She told her to do it on her own and basically, don't bother them at the consolate. This is after my wife called South Africa and spoke to a nice man who told her she could get this stuff done at the Embassy or Consolate so of course she was upset. I had to spend nearly an hour calming my wife down and telling her not to worry that we'll figure it out.

Wow, thanks so much LostInBlue!!!

Thank for the reply Randy. Is there any chance we could get away with not providing a Police Record from South Africa? My wife is beginning to think this is a difficult task. If the Chinese police record shows no gaps in residence would that do? Thanks,

Congrats!!! Wish I was in China for the Holidays

Hi all, Regarding Police Records. My wife spent 3 years outside of China in South Africa. She's been back in China now since 2002. Questions. 1. Does she need police records from South Africa? 2. If so, Any idea on how to get them from South Africa? 3. If she needs police records from SA, she will also need them from China, right? Thanks in advance,

Happy Happy Happeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee NEW YEAR!!! Best to all!! (don't forget your red underwear if it's your year )

Will do.. thanks for bringing it to the thread.

Darnell, Original Documents from the Beneficiary or Petitioner or both? Previously they only required copies? thanks,

Cool, thanks for all the help guys and gals!!!

Can anyone point me to Next Step info/links? Thanks,