Sebastian

Carl - I've not stepped in to your topic yet - I wanted to read the 'rest of the replies' first, as I thought many someone else's would have the same aspect as me. But.. I see, it didn't happen. No one else is mentioning 'whats to follow'.. So - I'll offer you some reverse stuff... You know (I KNOW YOU KNOW) that - after about 3 weeks in China - you start to notice physiological differences... Face Structure, Nose Shape/Size, height... Limb structure - ratio of arm length to torso , torso length, leg length.. degree of eye slant.. Then.. finally - you realize - EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT... Big Deal - all wear label of 'Chinese' - but - physical appearance MOSTLY can divert back to location and province. I was totally shocked when I 'passed the wall' of physical appearance, that first time - ... As Finally... I could figure out the VAST differences in location, based on physiological attributes.... Ya, I know - migrant workers are everywhere - but - have you really noticed them? They're NOT, repeat, __NOT__ from 'that town'... and if you pay attention... You'll find some new friends, always eager to talk about 'home', as home is really NOT in 'this town' (wherever you may be, today)... I swear, when it hit me, was total ephiphany... Then all of the map for the provinces 'locked into my brain', then I started noticing major regional differences in speech. But I digress, a bit... Your encounter with what I THINK is a migrant worker, is really, a cool thing... WITH the sunglasses, you passed as a local. Mondo Cool, IMO. I think you are past the 'physiological differences' for 'where you live' - you've noticed them already, you have a good understanding of 'where' them folk are 'from', yes?

Surely there's just an mp3 file of the audio recording, ya?

Hey Jimi... Yikes.. I'd not seen your post here until today. I gotta tell ya - after it's all done (and yer almost done, right? ) ya gotta feel some vindication after getting that visa stamp in her passport. If you paid some notice to my blathering about 'kicking the I-130 back into play at NVC' - then I'm a happy camper... When is she flying over ? Warmest Regards...

Tsap - I've no idea what happens with 're-adjudicated petitions' .. such as yours. If you have the time next week, could you call NVC and see what's up with your case? and ask, specifically, if they are sending your casefile via SAFEFILE or via DHL ? TIA !

I like the way you're headed with this. There are also several congressional committees that deal with immigration, same for the senate, and then there's TWO oversight committees that both the house and the senate members 'go to', for DOS and USCIS matters. I'll dig it out over the weekend (maybe) or perhaps someone here can tell you the names and addresses.

I called NVC today, talked with a human operator - asked if the physical casefile for a K-1 was still gonna be sent out via DHL, or if there was to be 'electronic sending' of casefile from NVC INTO GUZ. She said that __NOW__, all K-1 casefiles are submitted into the 'SAFEFILE' system, and there won't be any physical case file 'sending out' via DHL. There's nothing extra you have to do - is automatically sent to SAFEFILE once NVC is finished with it. So - all of you K-1 petition filers - this is some good news. The 'dead time' for your casefile movement, between NVC and GUZ, is gone. No More Waiting for any 'warehouse operations' or 'clearing customs'. This is a GodSend !! Hey - got a moment? Give NVC a call to (603) 334-0700, ask the same question. If you get the same answer - maybe this little bit can make it into the FAQ sections?? FWIW, here are two CFL members with K-1 casefiles that were sent via SAFEFILE - Jerry & xiaomin, Henry and Mei . Warmest Regards...

By what I read, a K visa is not eligible for electronic processing, but maybe someday. Jeff It is available for K visa just a slightly different procedure .. not totally paperless... Please Note: The NVC electronic processing project for K visa (fianc??¨¬?e/spouse non-immigrant visa), has different procedures. For these cases, although the petitions are loaded electronically, the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou still contacts visa beneficiaries to provide more documents prior to interview scheduling. If you are a K visa applicant and you have opted in for electronic processing, you will still have to wait for paper Instructions via mail from the Consulate. I've been following all of this electronic processing 'stuff' - and the thing I'm always looking at, is to 'reduce the dead time' between 'NVC out' and 'GUZ opens the casefile'. Based on a few K-1 members timelines here, I think the casefile is being handled electronically for the 'NVC-out / GUZ recv' leg of the the casfile journey. So - if that's indeed the case - wa wa - there's 2 to 4 months of 'dead time' that is vanishing.. YAY !!! But wait... there's more. I just got off the phone with an NVC 'operator' , asked the question about casefile sending of K-1's to GUZ. She said that they are NO LONGER sending the casefile via DHL - instead , they are using the 'SAFEFILE' system to send the files electronically to GUZ. Double YAY !!!

IME, if it goes to a business address, then there's a better chance to 'be received' if it's ALL in English characters (no, not pinyin). Otherwise, try the 'stack o labels' approach with your father. Let him fill out any carrier forms in English - but then stick the labels on the outside of the box / letter..

Cedar - hey - no worries. It's an OLD memory, fondly remembered as 'what did I eat when I was poor?' ... I cook. I have gear. I have skills. Unfortunately, for me, I'm on a 'low carb diet' till the end of the year - so its no rice, no noodles, no bread. I've gotten really good at turning almost anything into a wrap with lettuce with some interesting home made sauce.

Hoo boy - i fondly remember mac n cheese, with a can o tuna, and some mayo.. and some garlic chili sauce. In a Big Bowl. With a Big Spoon. Yum !

I gotta think this is a K-3 visa, Jimi - my apologies, my brain is fuzzy. If the daughter is UNDER 21, she qualifies for a K-4 'follow to join' - but you must contact GUZ immediately to get the ball rolling. They have been known to 'send P3 within 3 weeks' once you've successfully got their attention. I've read here about another member doing this , sometime this year. re: the timespans your wife talked about - that's specifically for : US Citizen (her) able to file an I-130 for her over 21-years age daughter. Which presupposes that she's gotten US citizenship. Now, with a CR-1 - she needs to wait about 5 years (give or take) to become a USC, then she can file for her daughter. With an IR-1, she needs to wait about 3.5 years to become a US Citizen (this number may have changed, have a look?) .

Perhaps an expedite request from the Ombudsman might speed things along?

I suggest send him to Malaysia for a year. he'll need to pop back and forth to singapore to play the tourist visa game, but all is cheap in Malaysia, and most of the women there speak english. I'm not 'hard ' on China, it's just that Malaysia is smaller country, he can see everything and still live cheaply. AND speak english.

Randy, that is ONE form of an I-551. The actual GC itself, is another. I am talking about a 'temporary card' - not a 'stamp in the passport'.

Ya - I'm with ShaQuaNew on this one. Advanced parole is the way to go. If you file AOS with full fee (1010 ? ) she is entitled to 1) EAD 2) AP and 3) green card (if all is copasetic). How FAST this happens will also depend on WHICH service center handles the AOS. Which service center are you 'homed' to ? 'temporary vs permanent' - used to be, this was loosely applied to 'Conditional Permanent Resident ' - 2 year GC, vs 'I-something Permanant Resident' or a 10 year card. Recently, there has been some issuance of 'temporary' green cards that are given in lieu of the big heavy plastic laminate thingie - seems there was a backlong on the printing of 'the real thing' and some other version of the I-551 (green card) is being issued recently DURING an AOS interview, with a a promise to send out the real laminate I-551 RSN (Real Soon Now), once the backlog is 'fixed' . I don't know if there are any travel restrictions on this new 'temporary' card, I don't recall either way...

can add hot chili garlic sauce to it, mix it all 'round - is verra nice (if she likes hot food). I stopped eating pasta / rice / bread this year, so I envy you, a bit...

re: the 400 fee. No, that's normal. If yer doing it stateside, it's collected during NVC processing.. Congrats on the pink !!! Could you add a new post here --> http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...mp;hl=timelines ?? Warmest Regards !!

Verra Cool. You owe me a beer. Or a case of beer. If beer isn't do-able for you - wei - click the 'donate ' button on the bottom of this page? Warmest Regards.....

I actually have hit a few walls. I don't know which one is which anymore. My wife keeps reminding me to not try to change things, so I try to get to the mental place of just accepting things how they are. It's not too hard to do for the short term, but if you fight it on the long term, it will likely swallow you alive. I've looked around for expat groups here in Nanjing. There is a little activity, but not like you find in the bigger cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Starting to see a lot of activity with newbies coming into town to teach English. Rather amazing actually that they come from all corners of the World. Everyone has their own reasons for coming; maybe some just want a change in their life, and others come to get away from whatever is bothering them. Usually, if you go looking on the streets for expats, you won't find them. You'd think it'd be easy - they look like YOU, so wtf? Nah - they are as busy as you are, in another part of town, and can't be bothered whilst they are doing their day-to-day. But - a weekly meetup? ZOOM - they went that-a-way, regardless of which part of town they live in. But you should find LISTED expat meetups somewhere - try these two places - nanjing.ixpat.com expatacular.com/group/nanjing I'm not recommending the sites, just mentioning that IF there's a meetup, it's LISTED somewhere on the interwebs. USUALLY, that great social networking occurs AT the meeting, you can make new friends, exchange contact numbers IN PERSON, and somehow get 'replugged' into your former life. Most folk won't exchange info eletronically without getting to a meetup first (is almost a rite-of-passage). I suggest you find some meetups, and go. It was a 'sanity-saver' for me.

Hey Curt - Here's a report from Bob - see http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...st&p=481901 Warmest Regards....

It's a hard thing, really, training up those immigration folk for POE / CBP duty. I know, I know - there's a manual they have to read, there's training they must attend, there are practice workshops that are mandatory.. But... if the ImmFo can't sling English well, or have severe memory loss, what's the point to have this job ??? Meanwhile back in Chicago... Did Bob come through Chicago for 'The POE' - or was it lax ? I can't remember... I do remember him doing a longish write up about it..

Ya - I've had to do this - reporting is NOT A PROBLEM. Just fill out the form. There are NO FEES when carrying currency through a POE.

WOW. That was a fast P3/P4 turnaround. Congrats on the pink...

CedarReefer - see http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...st&p=493832 for 2009 posted guidelines.

iirc - you can set up multiple user accounts, each with a different base language, without have dual or multiple boots. it's a bit tricky, but stable once done. Good Luck !!! If you have a local computer fella close by, have a visit for a braindump? I can't tell you the steps (i do stuff, and forget).