C4Racer

Came home after a few hours work today. Opened up the mailbox and Yeah!! Got my NOA 1. I sent the 129-F packet in May 5. The recieved date shows May 6 on the NOA, but the notice date is May 11. Checked the status on-line. It said the packet was received on May 10. It took four days for them to get the packet into the compputer system I assume. Then another day to send me the notice. Well, either way Pingxiu and I are now in the system and praying for no problems with speedy conclusion. I won't hold my breathe. Wish us luck! Michael

The interview only lasts 5 - 10 minutes generally. How can you possibly make a decision within that length of time. I agree with Carl, I think the decision is made before with the information they have at hand. If they think it might be questionable and he is not present at the consulate, blue slips are easily produced. If he shows up, then this can answer a lot of questions in their mind. I, for one, am going to be there at the interview. I felt bad for Carl when Bing got her blue slip, but I also appreciate his sharing with us so we all learn the process much better.

I agree with you about the importance of being able to talk with your new relatives. Studying Chinese is a must. The problem I find with self study is I have way to much on my plate already. Taking a class, I find forces me to provide some focus on learning. I have thought about classes at PCC or PSU, maybe even locating another resource around Portland. Maybe a few of us around Portland could start a study group? Just a thought. I have the basic set of Mandarin from Pimsular. 8 cd's with two lessons each. The problem I run across is one of dialict. I listened to the first lesson, got the pronounciation fairly well down for the first word. Tried using it with Pingxiu and guess what? She laughed on the phone. Turns out the word they say means, "excuse me" doesn't mean that in her dialect. Means something totally different. Aiya! So how do you study this language accurate enough so you can talk with your new family members?

Congrats Mari Let's hope the rest goes quick

Just a quick note for those sending documents to China. FedEx seems to only deliver to Large cities and then only certain areas. Their coverage sucks. UPS has a larger coverage area of China. They were quite fast in sending my documents there and back. I was very satisfied. They were also cheaper than FedEx. The only hold up was Chinese customs on the way there.

I would be very careful about power of attorney. My understanding of power of attorney is not only do you have to have it issued, but you also must file it in the jurisdiction where you are going to use it. This is how domestic power-of-attorneys work. Now we have another issue and that is one of international law. Where does the power-of-attorney get issued? Where can this be filed. Seems it is simplier to have her sign the forms. I am a Network Specialist for a document solutions provider. When you email her the forms to be printed, you must take one thing into consideration. In America we use letter size paper, 8 1/2 X 11 inches. In China and much of the rest of the world they use A4 size which is about 8 1/4 X 11 3/4 inches. She might not know how to convert PDF's and get them to print. Pingxiu had trouble opening up the PDF's on her computer because of the difference in paper sizes. The way I resolved this issue was to save the forms in JPEG format. She simply printed the JPEG, signed the forms and sent them to me. You can definately tell with both forms set side by side, they where printed on different printers, different type of paper and signed by different people.

B) Good Luck. Have a safe and wonderful trip.

Pingxiu has a work history with about four different cities in the last five years. She was self-employed in at least two of them. She will be unable to get police report from any place but Nanning. Is it best to list her as self-employed or unemployed. Would they look at either in a negative light? or does it matter? Thanks, Michael

Congrats... Pingxiu and I are just about to start on ours. I should be filed no later than next week. Michael

Congratulations!!!!! Carl and Bing.. It will be great to have Bing here in Portland. I think they just needed to se the way Carl looks at Bing. They knew then it must be love.. See you two soon. Michael

Pingxiu had a similar problem. She was actually born with documents but along the way they were destroyed. She contacted some bureaucrat officals who have provided her with birth certificates. They look very authentic. They are no different then mine. I was adopted. Mine have been changed and also lost. Washington State issues me a certificate that says I have one on file with them, gives my vital information and is accepted everywhere I have been required to produce a birth certificate. In short I would have the bureaucrat provide you with the post birth certificate. This should work without any problems. Make sure you have them translated into English. The local notary office in Nanning did it for us and provided us with the documents in an officially bound and notorized folder.