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.

Now that Fanny should have her CR1 visa in the next 2-3 days, can someone give me an idea of things I should do as far as paperwork for her once she gets here. I'm in California, if it makes a diff. Thanks, PF

As Mark said, Fanny got her visa also. Luckily I live in LA so I got my call at 12:30, before I fell asleep. She called me again this morning to give me some details. She got the typical questions, When did we meet, thru what website, how many times have we seen each other, etc. The only questions that were a little different were, "Why did I get divorced" and "Why don't I have any children". Fanny was well prepared to answer those. Thanks to all those who've previously posted their questions. PF

Yes. I meant to say more folks will not pursue the K3 after the CR1 is sent in.

K1 = I129F sent to your regional service center for couples who are not married K3 = I129F sent to Chi for couples who are married The only real diff between K1 and K3 is which service center the paperwork is sent to. And yes the K3 is optional. I've seen more and more folks say they will not pursue the K3 after their K1 is sent in. A rep at GZ or another person can not blindly tell you which one is quicker. It depends on which service center is processing your CR1. The CR1 will sit at the NVC for 3-4 months while you get all your paperwork sent in. The K visa's only stay at the NVC for 1 month. So if the time diff between your service center and Chi is significant enough, the K3 is still worth filing. In my case and many other's the only purpose of the K3 is to get us a place in line for the interview several months quicker. While the CR1 finishes processing and is received at GZ. In my case I guesstimate the K3 helped Fanny to get an interview 5 months earlier then if just the CR1 was sent thru.

You don't have to do anything. They will combine in GZ and notify the person in China that the interview has been changed. They will also send the P3 for the CR1 interview. I don't know if doing K3 and CR1 is necessary now, based on timelines. It was in my case, as CR1's were taking forever, and supposidly K3's were processing more quickly. In my case, all of a sudden CA started processing CR1's very quickly. It was approved and in process at NVC when the K3 was finally approved. In my case it was beneficial because the K3 spent significantly less time at NVC. It got us into the queue at GZ for an interview in December. So our P4 was sent out 1 month ago. Our CR1 paperwork was received in GZ 2 weeks ago. Fanny was called to let her know. PF

Anyone planning on being in GZ week of May 9th or the week after. Fanny's interview is May 16th. I am not planning on going with her. She is planning on getting there May 11th or so for the medical exam. Originally her mom was plannning on going with her, but her mom is kind of chickening out on riding in a plane. I think it will be better for her if I take my vacation when she gets here, so I can spend more time showing her he lay of the land. So I was wondering if anyone will be there then who would be interested in lunch/dinner, touring, whatever. PF

Joray, The system has ebbs and flows in terms of speed. I started the CR1 process 1 1/2 yrs ago. Fanny's interview is in 2 weeks. That's about normal for file 1 /12 yrs ago. However, from what I've seen, I could have filed in May of 2004 and probably would still be interviewing about now. The California service center started churning out CR1 approvals in a couple months starting last Aug. Does anyone know if you have to return home, or can you just wait a couple days and pick it up?

According to everything we've been told, the move should make a big, positive, difference. They've stated several times, that they would like to hire more people, but there is no room.

Turns out we don't have to do anything. GZ called Fanny today to let her know they received the CR1 paperwork. They are sending her paperwork for the CR1 interview that will replace the paperwork she already has for the K3 interview. PF

We had our K3 approved shortly after the CR1. The CR1 process took a little longer due to a delay on my part in mailing in some paperwork. So we weren't sure when the CR1 would arrive in GZ. The K3 arrived in GZ in Dec to get Fanny an interview May 16. The CR1 was wrapped up the last week of Feb. I called DOS today and the CR1 paperwork has finally arrived at GZ. Is there anything we have to do to get them to change the interview to a CR1? Also, if the interview is changed, is there anything that Fanny will need to do different? Thanks, PF