Phil & Ningning

As we prepare for Jiening's interview, she is becoming quite nervous. I do my best to help keep her calmed down. She is going to go to GZ for her Medical exam in a few days and asked me about the relationship evidence. Will they put it into the envelope with the application docs, or should she leave it at home? She is very concerned that she will not be able to give them the I-134 at the hospital. I told her not to worry about that, I will bring it to GZ with me.

Hmmm.... In what city and country did you apply for your visa? I notice GZ is not even on the list.

I would definitely support that. Perhaps one of the members with more writing aptitude would draft a letter. It might be a good idea to avoid signing it until your loved one is actually here.

Congratulations! Everything else should go as smoothly!

Congratulations to your new family, Sam.

Congratulations, Ken And Qing!

After getting the word from DOS about our impending interview, I went straight to the bank. It was a Saturday, so management staff was minimal that day. I expressed my needs to a teller and she said, "We don't do printouts here. Try our website, you can get a printout there." I walked out empty handed. Several days later, I went back and asked someone at a desk, and he said he couldn't help me, but connected me to a manager that obvioulsly had ties to some Latin American country. She told me she had personal experience with this and knew exactly what I wanted. Next, she directed me to the customer service phone. Imagine that... a hotline to India right there in the branch to better serve me, the customer. I got on the Phone and tried to describe what I wanted, still feeling like I was getting farther and farther away from obtaining it when the woman asked me, "Do you need a consular letter?" Wow! This is a standard service that the bank provides. It took about ten minutes on and off of hold and a few simple questions, and she told me I would get it in the mail in 7 to 10 days. It hasn't arrived yet, but it should be any day now. BTW, it is Citibank.

It sounds like someone in the consulate indicated the wrong package to a subordinate when making a command decision. Just speculation of course, and I know that nothing will make you feel better until she is safe at home with you. Good luck.

Heheheh Jiening has the same attitude about earthquakes. The government should tell us when. I was on the phone with her this morning when it happened. It was a very sudden onset, but still a mild event. It startled me more than usual. She got very worried about me. Makes me wonder what she will do when she feels her first one.

Each time I have gone to China it has been on EVA Airways into Macao. The extra border crossing is kind of a pain and the flights are no frills but certainly acceptable and very professional. Good deals to be had from Travelocity. This time I purchased a round trip for me and a one-way for her. She checked with the customs office in Zhongshan to confirm that a Chinese citizen may transit through Taipei without any problems. Just as I suspected, it is OK but she may not leave the terminal there. All our tickets for this trip totalled less than $1700 and I have the peace of mind that they are in hand now.. To fly one-way and buy all the return tickets in China would have been about $100 more.

I must join the others in saying you have been missed. Welcome home.

Thank you Carl, for your long-windedness. Your post has made me feel much better about my early decision to hire the same firm you did. I have spent much of the last year lamenting that decision. My thoughts after finding the candle have been that it was a waste of money that could have financed another trip to see my girl. As you say though, usually insurance is money well spent. I will also be in GZ at the interview. That said, a strange thing happened when I called DOS on Tuesday last week when I got the news of the interview. I inquired about the case status, fully expecting to hear the usual answer. Instead, the woman said, "Let me check..... Is this Axxxx Lxxxx? Me: No Her:Are you an attorney? Me: No, but Axxxx Lxxxx is our attorney. I am the petitioner. Her voice suddenly changed to a more pleased, happy sound. She told me, "The interview appointment letter was mailed on December 28th, and her appointment is scheduled for February 1st." I thought the change in her voice may be attributable to the fact that we had used an attorney. I don't know.

Ditto the other's replies. The money I wasted on a lawyer before I found the candle could easily have funded another trip to see my girl during the long, long wait. The whole thing has gone smoothly so far, so I cannot say that he did anything wrong, but I also cannot say he has been any benefit either. Every time I call his office, I already know more than he does about my case. Consider yourself lucky. This is the best information for k1-4 visas out there, and you found it before wasting your money.

Great idea! Obviously, this is the month to begin assembling it, with so many, many interviews in the works!

I used BigZoo for several months. I personally feel pretty good about them shutting down, because it was just the kick in the pants I needed to finally try someone else. I was growing very tired of the horrible sound quality.

I am very excited to be in China for the start of the lunar new year. My Ningning's interview is on the 1st of Februrary, however, and work restrictions require that I only spend two weeks, so unfortunately we will be leaving Nanning for Zhongshan about the 9th. Our flight home is on the 11th.

Ken and Shaoyun, Congratulations on your interview date. After waiting so long it should be a piece of cake. My Fiancee's interview is on Feb 1st and we are planning to be in Nanning on or about the 4th for several days to celebrate with her parents. If there is a chance perhaps we could hook up for dinner. It would be nice to spend an evening with another American while I am in China. Phil & Jiening

I recieved an email response yesterday frfom GZ saying that they had absolutely no idea when the interview would be. This morning I called DOS just to be sure, and they said the P4 was mailed Dec. 28 with an interview at 8:00 am February 1st!!!! I am in a bit of shock. Jiening is in a bit of shock. So much to do...... I guess we will be together for Chinese New Year!

Your parents will need to fill out a seperate I-134 in order to co-sponsor with you. Get them both notarized.

As far as my limited travels in China go, the squat pot is the norm. Sweet Jiening has one in her apartment, as do her parents. The shower of course just hangs on the wall in there. It was a bit embarassing the first time, but now we both laugh that I just strip from the waist down to do my business rather than risk the mess. Also allows use of the hand shower rather than tissue for that fresh clean feeling (just before the bucket flush!). Best advice: Don't drop your toothbrush.

My sweet Jiening has picked me up frfom the airport in Macau a couple of times. The visa is easy to get, takes about two weeks to get it from the customs office in Zhongshan and it goes in the black passport, not the red international one. They do accept HKD or Patacas, but I don't believe that RMB is accepted there. I could be wrong. Incidently, EVA airways has daily flights into Macau from a number of US airports at very reasonable prices. Check Yahoo Travel. The border crossing typically takes about an hour.

The first (and easiest) thing I would do in your shoes is to try a different office. I have read in this forum of people having trouble obtaining certificates at one notarial office and obtaining them easily across town at another office. Worth a try.......

Congratulations Kim & Fei, and welcome home.

Hey Phil: We wouldn't need illeg-- oops -- undocumented workers here in California . . . IF everyone in the US and 1/2 of the rest of the world would boycott fresh fruit and vegetables!!! I already did. Nothing but Micky Dee's and Taco Bell for me!

Congratulations Jason & Jun!!! Good luck at the interview. And Merry Christmas.