perryf

Haven't posted here in a while and there seems to be a level of confusion that's developed here. Let's see if I can shed some light (or add to the confusion as the case may be): CR1 (I130): Visa applied for if you are married. Applied for at your local service center K1 (I129F): Visa applied for if you intend to marry. Applied for at your local service center K3 (I129F): If you are already married, you have the option of applying for this visa after you receive your application number for the received I130. This is a special form of the I129F and is applied for at the National Visa Center in Il. If you are already married, there are several possible outcomes if you file for both the CR1/K3: 1) CR1 gets approved first, goes thru all the processing at NVC (at least 2-3 months) and arrives in GZ before the K3. Your wife/husband will have a CR1 interview, receive a temp green card as soon as they arrive in the US. No more interviews. You can apply for a SSN the first day they are here. 2) K3 gets approved first. K3/K1 only spend about 1 month at the NVC before they are sent overseas. Your wife/husband will have to have an AOS interview once they arrive in the US. I'm not sure when they will be able to work with this status. And despite all the conjecture here, I don't believe there's any difference between K3/K1/CR1 interviews. Consulate reps use the same measure to determine truthfulness of your relationship. I doubt very, very highly they look at a particular relationship and think, "Since this is a K1, I'll approve. If it was a CR1, I'd look on it differently". 3) CR1/K3 get approved roughly the same time. Since the K3 spends little time at the NVC, it will arrive at GZ much more quickly. If the CR1 gets sent to GZ before the K3 interview, then you've spent your money to file the K3 to get your honey here quicker. You will be filling out paperwork for both the CR1 and K3 at the same time. But, as in my case, filling out the P3 for the K3 will get you into the queue earlier for an interview. The times to get an interview are the same K1/K3/Cr1 once the paperwork is at GZ. So basically it just comes down to a question of timing. And how cheap you are are. In my case, I think having the K3 arrive at GZ while I was working on CR1 paperwork at the NVC shaved about 4 months off my schedule for CR1 processing. The CR1 arrived at GZ about 1 1/2 weeks before the K3 interview was scheduled. GZ immediately called Fanny and notified her that her interview was being changed to a CR1 interview. So we got the CR1 interview which makes for an easier time once your SO is in the US. And got the interview about 4 months quicker cause the K3 got us into the queue. HTH.

I haven't had insurance for a year or so and am in the process of signing up. I remember reading somewhere here the difficulties of getting our new SO's signed up. I was told by an agent yesterday that for most insurance companies, immigrants must be here 3 yrs before the qualify. What are your experiences?

The first time I was in Nanning, I booked my own hotel. After that Fanny got us a room thru her brother. He's a bellhop at a really nice hotel. The first time he got me a regular room with a king size bed for 35 rmb per nite. That's basically free since we also got free breakfast coupons and free drink coupons. The last time I was there, I brought along some CD's of Mp3's I made for Fanny. So he got us an executive room, since it had a computer in it. I think that one was 85 rmb / nite. I'll have to see if we can negotiate a Candle discount, since I know many here go to Nanning. PF

I'm a computer programmer by profession. I forgot that I subscribe to MSDN, a package from Microsoft for software professionals. It includes all versions of Windows, including foreign language. Also, Office and it's various pieces. I installed the Chinese version of MS Publisher last nite so Fanny could edit some pics before emailing. PF

I just installed Win XP for a dual boot. Fanny is extremely happy.

David, For CR1 most of the paperwork is processed at the NVC. But there is still an interview at GZ. The beneficiaries status will be different when the get to the USA. Fanny got here 2 weeks ago and we received her SSN last week and green card is on the way.

I liked Carl's idea of the dual boot. We almost went out this weekend to purchase software. Luckily I didn't. I forgot that the subscription I have with several buddies for Microsoft software includes foreign language versions of XP and Office. So tonight the installation fun begins. PF

Now that Fanny is here, she is sharing my computer. I added the Chinese keyboard, but that doesn't seem to be quite good enough. What are some other avenues I could explore to make my system more Fanny friendly? I'm running on Win XP. Thanks, PF

I also can testify that Fanny and I went thru the list of questions from here several weeks ago. And we repeated the exercie Sunday nite, before her Monday interview. It helped to keep her calm since she knew she could handle all the questions. PF

Wooo Hooo....Fanny just called. She got the visa this morning. Then bought the ticket. She'll be at LAX Thurs morning.

No wonder she gets along with Fanny. Fanny tells me she hates shopping. But I've been with her in stores a couple times, and she's very good at it. I'm not too worried about how her Chinese clothes fit in here either. Unless her imagination gets the best of her and she refuses to accept that she fits in just fine with how she's dressed. PF

I just talked to Fanny a little while ago. She's complaining I didn't send her enough money. I wonder how much she spent shopping? (Just kidding). I told her I would send her more. I'm sure she can do a Western Union pickup in GZ. But she was told by 2 Chinese friends of mine not to buy clothes there. Same principle as why we are not supposed to buy a rice cooker before they get here. Something won't be right about it. Fanny is very good at picking out clothes. But one friend said that she bought lots of clothes before she got here and didn't wear any of them once she was here. Jessie also told her that clothes here will be more stylish, so to wait. I've got a feeling I'm going to be spending lots of time at Banana Republic, Nordstrom, etc.

Hey don't clean too much. Fanny will be here as soon as she gets the visa and books a flight. I live in a big 1 bedroom apartment. I've been cleaning since last week and still have a bunch to go. I don't want Fanny talking to her and finding out how much more clean your place is compared to mine.

Thanks. It worked out really well. Mark Pmed me when I ask if there was any others who would be in GZ this week. His situation is the same as mine. He's waiting here while his SO goes to GZ. Both his SO and mine are in GZ with their moms. So the moms can keep each other company when the SOs are/were busy.

Didn't know there was a Ca meetup in Aug. But I'm on it now.