yanping

I met my Chinese wife in Nov 2005 in Shanghai and we decided we wanted to get married the first week. I came back to the US and got my single certificate and returned to China and got married in March 2006. When I went back in March, I took all of the forms for the I-130 petition (CR-1). We worked on them together so that we could get all of the paperwork correct. I purchased the Nolo Book on immigration and submitted the Petition just as directed, im May 2006. We got NOA 1 in a week or so and then NOA 2 in Aug 2006. Waited 8 months and heard nothing. Then the reguest for I-864 and DS 230. Interview was in NOV. 2007. we were prepared with 20 lbs of material. The VO asked her about my divorce and then looked some pictures of my farm. Less than 5 minutes and approved. Visa in hand Nov 20, 2007. I returned to the US and then went went back to China in March 2008 (5th trip) to come back with her and her 250 lbs. of luggage. We waited so that she would not be admitted to the US until after we were married 2 years. I wanted to be with her at the POE so that I made sure they gave us the IR-1 Permanent Resident. The POE stamped her passport with CR-1 and argued with me that only GUZ can do IR-1. I had to demand a supervisor and they finally voided the CR-1 stamp and made it IR-1 unconditional. To me this is the only way to do it. We are done with immigration. No AOS , No $1072.00 fee, No more interviews. From petition to arrival in US IR-1---22 months. We lost some time because we also did the I-129F K-3 to save time but it was only 30 days or so faster so we dropped it and went with CR-1...Everyone interested, remember if you are married over 2 years when you are admitted to the US, they must stamp your passport IR-1 regardless if the symbol on your visa... my wife has been in the us one week now and is having a good time. For over two years when I asked her why something, she said " Chinese Way " Now I get to say " American Way " First question was, " why there is no people? " Its fun " a happy Chinese wife makes for a very happy American husband...Ha ba ha ? Y and L

In Regional and Language Options, there is no option on Vista Home Premium for Chinese. I can get Chinese website and Yahoo Chinese fine but there is no way to have Chinese IME for emails ect. If we get in a language problem, I can write something in English and it will tranlate in to Chinese on Google Translate. However she can not write in Mandarin and translate back to me from Chinese to English....What is wubi ? so obviously the great satan of Microsoft has created two versions of VHP or you can PM me so we can try to chat about it... or you can write 100 more posts about this I went through this one more time and this time, I got it working. I kept ending up on the MS website and that was my problem. By the way MS support told me that the only way that I could get Chinese was to upgrade to Ultimate. Shows what they know. Thanks everyone. I will have a very happy Chinese wife tonight. As you know, a happy Chinese wife makes for a very happy husband. I can not wait for my reward, if you know what I mean.....YP

In Regional and Language Options, there is no option on Vista Home Premium for Chinese. I can get Chinese website and Yahoo Chinese fine but there is no way to have Chinese IME for emails ect. If we get in a language problem, I can write something in English and it will tranlate in to Chinese on Google Translate. However she can not write in Mandarin and translate back to me from Chinese to English....What is wubi ?

Do you know where to get a Chinese Language Pak that will work on Vista Home Premium. Upgrade to Ultimate is a bit pricey but that may be easier or else go back to XP.

I would like to knw how to dual boot. I have Vista Home Premium. Are you familiar with this? Can I dual boot with XP Chinese? Thanks YP

Vista Home Premium does not have an option to input Chinese Language. It has Japanese, Vietnamese, and several others but not Chinese. I can find no way to download Chinese. Mcrosoft wants to charge to answer any questions.

I just installed Vista Home Premium. In Asian Languages it does not have an option for Chinese. Does anyone know how to get Chinese option installed? Thanks YP

You probably need to install the East Asian language support for your computer. Here are the steps for XP. Goto Control Panel -> Region & Language Settings Goto the Language tab Check Install East Asian Language You will need your CD. Does anyone know how to do this on Vista? Vista home premium does not have chinese as an option in Asian Languages.

I really like credzba's thinking and reasoning here. If I had read something like this back when I started our process, I think I would have done the CR-1 instead of K-1. Especially now that I have experienced the metamorphsis that has come over me with the administrative processing blue slip, over 6 months of wasted time waiting since the interview, that we were given for Gawd knows what reason. My prior experience as an American has changed me drastically with this process, and it's attendant abuse from the government (the camel's back is broken). A CR-1 attempt would have suited me better...with 20/20 hindsight... tsap seui Yes, The CR-1 has its advantages, We did that and when my wife is admitted to America she will be an Unconditional Permanent Resident. No more paperwork, no more fees, no more waiting, no more interviews, Sure we were apart for longer but I can fly round trip to China for less than the AOS fee alone. I say get married in China with her family and do it again in America with my family. Just my opinion. I was not this smart to start with, it just worked out that way. I told my wife that when you get to America you can get rid of me and you will be free. Wow, What is that Chinese word when you are supposed to take back what you said... not PEEEEEEEE! maybe PAYPAYPAYPAY. Somthing like that. Anyway I love it and I love her...

With the CR-1, if you wait to arrive in America until after you are married 2 years, you will get your Unconditional 10 year Status at the airport. If you are admitted with less than 2 years marriage you will get the 2 year Conditional Status and still have to do the adjustment of status. Just make sure that if you wait for the 2nd anniversary, you don't pass the 6 month window on the CR-1 Visa. This regulation is very clear in 14.6 of the Inspectors Field Mannual.....Loren

You can get a book that will walk you through every step of the K1 visa process line by line for every form and explain how to put the petition together. It is available in an online version for less than $30 and you can download it immediatly. You can do it all yourself and save messing with lawyers. Here it is; www.nolo.com There is a tab at the top for immigration visas....very good and very easy

Looks like you found your answer. Yes, Thanks to all of you. I feel better now

Thanks for your help. You are correct, the symbol on the visa has nothing to do with a conditional or unconditional green card. After 2 years of marriage at admission=unconditional. Less than 2 years of marriage at admission=conditional.

This is what the INS POE Inspector's Manual says: 14.6 Conditional Residents. Admission procedures for conditional immigrants (based on spouse or investment) are discussed in 8 CFR 235.11. Procedures are generally the same as for other immigrants, but in spouse cases, if the marriage upon which the visa is issued occurred more than 2 years prior to the date of admission, you must admit the alien unconditionally, regardless of the visa symbol on the immigrant visa. Conversely, if you encounter an immigrant visa classified as unconditional, where the qualifying marriage accurred less than 2 years before the date of admission, you must admit the immigrant conditionally.