Daviation

Happy Independence Day!

After quite a bit of research, we used The Atlas Series insurance available through: http://www.hccmis.com/ It is not cheap... and it gets much more expensive after the insured reaches age 70. In fact, its been a couple of years, but I vaguely remember there was a cutoff age after which they didn't offer a policy.

Avast has been awesome for us... after having used quite a few others. My wife's computer had something on it that, according to blogs, could likely have been motherland installed spyware. Paid version of McCafee never found it. Paid version of Norton found it but couldn't cure it. Free Avast... found and eliminated it.

Hello, I need to ask advise for a friend of my wife. The friend is from China and has been here and married for about 7 years... with 10 yr GC for the last 3 years. A few weeks ago her husband passed away. Does she need to notify Immigration? She seems to think that after 3 years on permanent GC that it isn't necessary. I've not heard that before... but honestly have no idea. Sad situation, and we're just trying to help her through... Thanks

The answer the original poster's question (cuz I didn't see anyone actually answer that), while you may have iPhone service on Tmobile right now, it is at much slower speeds than your phone is actually capable of obtaining (even if it is an old phone). You probably won't notice the speeds for just phone service, but if you use much data service or web browsing you would certainly notice.

It won't much affect ability to obtain B2 visa for her parents to come and visit (maybe a little harder, but not much... we've done it). B2 is usually good for up to 6 months visit. If they wanted to actually immigrate, she would first have to become US citizen and then she could petition on their behalf.

Yes, Hong Kong airlines if quite reliable. They are part of the Hainan Air Group. I've flown them from Nanning to HK, but not the other way around. Going to Nanning for us we have the same problem Randy notes... not very good connection times. Other options include transiting to Shenzhen (by boat) or Guangzho (by bus)... where there are more (and usually cheaper) flight options to NNG. Good luck!

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/first-a380-for-china-southern-grounded-two-weeks-after-maiden-flight-20111031-1mr3b.html First A380 for China Southern grounded two weeks after maiden flight Now there's a conundrum... 'ya gotta have several extra birds as backup when it's broken for weeks at a time...

Interesting, Randy. My information about France is 2 years old so might be out of date... but at that time when I called the local Seattle office they were still telling me that visa applicants had to interview in SF. I'll have to look into that. I don't believe the German Honorary Consul is published on their web site. I frankly can't even remember how I stumbled across it, but I have her business card and just spoke with her again day before yesterday. We have interview scheduled with her to obtain my wife's 2nd Schengen Visa for entry through Germany. If any wants that number, feel free to PM me.

Germany has Honorary Consul in Seattle. France doesn't. For French Schengen visa you'd have to go to San Francisco for interview.

If Germany is the first country being visited, you can interview in Seattle. It is not a well published fact, and I can't even remember how I found out the first time. But I know it works... we've done it before... and I just yesterday talked with the "Honorary Consul" here and scheduled appointment for interview to do it again. You'd be welcome to PM me for contact information...

The EU Shengen visa is quite easy to get and is valid in almost all mainland EU countries (but NOT the UK). We got one a couple of years ago and traveled through Germany, France and Italy. We're about to do it again so she can accompany me on another upcoming business trip. You apply for the visa through the consulate of whichever country you'll be entering first. In our case that was Germany, and luckily Germany has a consulate official here in Seattle authorized to conduct the visa interview. The package still gets mailed to consulate in SF for issuance of visa, but at least we didn't have to travel there. With the visa in hand we had no trouble traveling around mainland EU countries.

It is a VERY smooth ride. And I was a skeptic... who doesn't like turbulence (whether I'm drivin' or ridin')... but have to say it's the smoothest ride I've experienced. And very quiet.

That is an amazing and huge double decker bird. On the other hand, you'll love the Dreamliner Kim. I'm lucky to have had that chance... and it is spectacular. Seeing that long curved wing flex as it lifts... through those new huge windows... is sexy (but have to admit I'm a geek that way). Can't wait until China Southern flies 'em direct Vancouver to Guangzhou. It will truly be a game changer with many new direct long haul routes that will now be economically viable. I will be happy to bypass HK or Beijing on my way to other parts.

We've had similar troubles in past, but have since done what Carl notes above. We'll be leaving Shanghai in about 3 hours... and hopefully looking forward to no issues this time. Good luck.

In a similar case, one small problem my wife had was on exit from China. Her green card expired within the year, but since US date format is different than China's (month/date/yr vs. date/month/yr), they thought it was already expired. For example, in your case, they might think her GC expired on April 11, 2011... because that is what 11/4/2011 means to them. They were quite serious with my wife. It helped to show her US driver's license where it showed her birthday in US format, which they could then compare to the birth date on her Chinese passport and clearly see the difference in format. In the end they let her come home... but it took a few minutes.

Asking question for friend of my wife. She recently became US citizen and obtained her US passport. Now she wants to get US passport for her 8 year old son (US resident with green card). Is her son's US citizenship automatic based on her status? She was told by passport agent at local post office that once she receives her passport, she can then get her son's. However, when I read the requirements for a child's passport, it clearly states you must provide evidence of the child's US citizenship. She doesn't have anything to reflect this. Shouldn't she have received certificate of naturalization for her son at the same time as she received hers? Another issue I see is that both parents are required to consent for issuance of US passport. Does she need consent from the child's divorced and estranged father in China? Thanks for any guidance available.

How old are they? If not over 70, you can find travel insurance. After age 70 it gets more difficult. One thing you might have them check is to get travel medical insurance before they leave China. I have heard that is possible but have not been able to confirm. When our Ba & Ma visited, I didn't think of it until they were already here. Having the same concerns you noted, we purchased temporary travel insurance through the following outfit: http://www.hccmis.com/international-travel-health-insurance-plans/ It wasn't cheap. I think we paid about $1,300 for 6 months of coverage... and that was for only catastrophic coverage with a fairly high deductible (if I remember correctly, it was about $5K). I can look up the specific details if you wish... but I think you'll find everything at the above link. Good luck.

As with many others, my wife chose the following naming nomenclature: <given name> <maiden name> <married name> However, even though all receipts and letters from USCIS show this convention, her just received GC shows only middle initial. The welcome letter even shows the full naming convention, with full maiden name as her middle name... but GC has only middle initial. Anyone know if this is common? Thanks

We received 10 yr GC in the mail yesterday, same day as the status letter stating card had been ordered... go figure. And... this is only 4 weeks after biometrics (and no interview). Proves to me they really can move things forward efficiently when they have a mind to. With the 4 month delay we had in getting biometrics scheduled, I'm convinced that someone cracked the whip and drove this thing to the finish line. Anyway... what a relief... sure feels good! Thanks to all for help with various questions along the way.

And that's the 10 year variety... yeehaw! We'll be content when it actually shows up in the mail, but very happy for now. Through this whole process, never once did we receive a status email... nor did our status ever show up on USCIS.gov until today. Each time we called, they double checked our email and said that in future we'd receive email status, but it never happened. I've been checking for online status daily. Until today's note that "... we ordered production of your new card" it always said "... could not be found...". After it took 4 months to get her biometrics scheduled (from receipt date to ASC appointment), I thought we were really in for the long haul. But now... less than 3 weeks after ASC appointment, the above status showed by using the ASC receipt number at USCIS.gov. I'm really looking forward to 10 years of NO forced USCIS paperwork! Unless, of course she decides on applying for citizenship in a few short months... but at least that will be an optional choice.

Does anyone know how long after biometrics, one can expect to find USCIS on-line status of case with the biometrics receipt number? I understand that one cannot get status with the initial receipt from filing I-751, but should be able to get status after biometrics.

Yep... my wife just clarified my understanding... still have to go to consulate for fingerprints, just no interview if within one year of previously expired B2.

Actually, if it has been less than 1 year since their last tourist visa expired, there is a process whereby they may not have to go for another interview. We are considering this for our parent's second B2 visa. I'm not fully up to speed on the process. My wife knows more and I will ask her about it. The process involves working with a bank that is authorized to collect fingerprints and forward application package to consulate. In fact, I'm told that if you are willing to pay the application and fingerprint fee every year (even if you don't use the visa) then you never have to go back for consulate interview. We are looking into doing this for my wife's parents, as the trip to GUZ is tough for them.

I think the SEA office is good... but it takes the CA office to get it moving for the initial BIO appointment, even if the appointment is in SEA. In our case it took almost 4 months from receipt to get our first BIO appointment. We just received appointment this week. And then, only after calling the national 800 number. We had previously gone to SEA for Infopass, which did no good because they said file was still in CA and nothing they could do until CA sent them request for BIO. It was kind of odd when I called the national service number, because they obviously thought something was wrong... in that it should take no where near 4 months. They promised to open a "service request" to the CA office and noted that we'd hear within 2 weeks. Sure enough, a week later we received the BIO appointment notice with a cover letter that it was being provided in response to our "service request". I'm actually quite surprised that calling had such an effect... but still kind'a frustrated that CA was just sitting on it. We had China travel plans later this month that we've altered because we don't want to travel without GC.