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While I've got all of the documents ready for my wife's interview (including last 3 tax returns for myself and the co-sponsors), I was wondering if I should include my 2014 return (not filed yet) as well? The co-sponsor's income is above and beyond the requirements for financial support ($100k+/year), but my last 3 returns are kind of shaky as I've been building a business (online) and living off of savings while in China. Either way, I'm planning on including a summary of the financials/evidence for my company showing monthly growth since June and even my personal daily income since November. Off topic: I've also been wondering if it's possible for me to go into the consulate with my wife to provide support and help during document intake? She speaks fluent English but I know it's going to be a stressful day and it would be great if I could be there to help.

Hi , I need help with select document delivery address. My parents immgrant visa interview were scheduled by NVC on Oct. 20th, the coming Monday. I have an account with CGI Stanely( used before for non-immigrant visa),i just logged in try to select document delivery address, there is no info there. Does Anyone have any idea? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I'm assuming this is because of Spring Festival, but how far in advance does GZ typically allow you to reserve your interview appointment date? We're a few days into February but the system still isn't showing anything for March.

Hi all, There were a lot of posts here found to be very helpful, thank you all for the devotion. My son and my visa interview will be on October 27, 7:45am, which will be very soon. I have prepared all the documents, finished the medical examine, now I am ready to go. Of course I am very confident on the faithfulness of our marriage, however, for the economical factor, my husband and I had never met each other since our first meeting which was also our wedding and honeymoon. At that time we stayed together two months. That is to say, we haven't met each other in person for 19 months by the time we have our interview except for webcam and wechat. And my son was not present while we were in US. So, any suggestion on the supplementary support on our visa interview?

珠江 = Zhujiang = Pearl River Doug's pictures and write-up are here - Preliminarily Approved, CCP Overcome, CITIC, CGI Stanley, UID number The cab drivers were ALL over reminding my wife to buckle her seat belt while riding in the front - there is a ¥200 fine in effect. Even so, the subway will take you just about anywhere you want to go - more on that in another topic. We took a dry run on Sunday afternoon before my appointment on Monday for a passport renewal - to make sure we could get there, and to also take a walk around the Flower City Square (WELL worth the trip in itself). This is the view of the consulate from the B1 exit of the Zhujiang New Town subway station - either Line 3 or Line 5 will get you there. A view to the west down Huali Ave., on the North side of the compound. There are several restaurants and coffee shops - and the Yang's hotel - within a couple of blocks this way. A couple of the restaurants have already closed, but others are apparently doing well. The kiosk on the right will keep your "valuables" for you if you forget to leave your cell phone, camera, etc., back at the hotel. The smallish building in front is for security checks only - the larger building behind it is the "Great Hall", where all the processing takes place. These are the only two buildings really visible from the street - the others are behind a fairly massive wall.

Hey folks, We're speeding right along in the CR-1 process. We DCF'd in September and got our i-130 approved in early October, now my wife has made her interview appointment for November 20th (her medical exam is Nov. 10th). We used an agent up until now, at my wife's behest, but the agent wants another 4000 kwai just to "prepare" my wife for the interview, and I'm putting my foot down there. We've done the work, and I think we're ready, but I still would like to go over some things with the board, and make sure. I'm primarily using this link as a reference: http://ustraveldocs.com/cn/IV%20Instruction%20DS-260%2007222014.pdf So... - Confirmation of DS-260 -- got it - original of Wife's Passport, plus my passport -- got it (I'll be in Guangzhou with my wife for the interview) - Wife's two 2-inch photos -- got it (don't need my passport photos, right?) - Certified copy of wife's birth certificate -- got it (doesn't need my birth certificate, right?) - Certified copy of wife's marriage book -- got it (doesn't need my marriage book, right?) - Police certificate -- we have this from attempting a tourist visa back in June, so it should still be valid yeah? - Medical exam sealed report thing -- pending - Court and Prison records -- none needed - Military Records -- none needed - Evidence of Support details: We have my grandfather as joint sponsor (I have no income), so he filled out an I-864 and USPS'd it to us along with copies (not originals) of his birth certificate, his 2013 tax return, and Social Security Benefit Statement. My grandmother, who he lives with, filled out an i-864A. She's from England and became a U.S. citizen in her teens, after marrying my grandfather. She provided me with her Certificate of Naturalization (dated 1937, wow that's old!), and copies of her 2013 tax return, Social Security Benefit Statement, and 2013 W2. - Evidence of relationship: We have a small photo album with pictures of us together and with her family over the course of the last year and a half. At the time of petitioning we submitted a detailed record of Skype, We Chat, Facebook, photos, etc. - My wife's resume -- got it (doesn't need my resume, right?) - Visa Extension notice -- none needed - Records of previous immigration proceedings -- none needed, assuming we don't need records of previous non-immigrant visas that have been denied (there's 1 of those) - Proof of investment funds -- none needed (we are... so poor) - Translations -- all done, certified, stamped, blessed with the blood of Mao - Visa application fee -- not sure, actually? - also, copy of the email sent to us from the embassy that said we could make an interview appointment, and copy of the interview appointment confirmation page -- got both Thanks, and sorry this is covering ground covered before, but y'know, just wanna get our case specifically right. - Sam

I know Randy sort of answered the question before when I asked if we needed to bring all original documents we sent copies of to NVC to GUZ for my wife's daughter's interview, but do we need to supply my birth certificate? Last 3 years of tax returns (which I sent to NVC)? Proof of my employment? Our marriage license from USA? I need to be sure. If they go and don't have something because I said we didn't need it you know who's gonna pay! Thanks!

The waiting period during the time the NVC releases paperwork to Guangzhou has always been an obscure gray area. During the past year the methodology for processing Fiance Visas (K1 and K2) has undergone several changes. The change with the biggest impact includes the introduction of the ustraveldocs website. This website was intended to reduce hard-copy paperwork and allow for online processing. But, the intention has missed the mark by embellishing the pre-existing "limbo" period. The best available information from the US government is obscure, but a few warnings do appear on the ustraveldocs website that suggest the K1 applicant do nothing until they are contacted via receipt of P3 paperwork. When does that happen? What if anything should a couple do during this period? The best instruction I've been able to gleen is to avoid the rumor mills of mis-information. We received the following response from the US Consulate in Guangzhou after three attempts sending inquiries via their website. The first two responses contained statements that they were unable to verify identify despite the fact we entered the very information they requested again on the form page. The first two replies indicated that unless several questions were answered correctly, and the sender of the inquiry submit to removal of unwanted body parts and / or a pint or two of fresh human blood. Quote I'm just blowing off steam here, but there is a lot of room for improvement. I'm not one to accept status quo as the new norm.

Is it...... Huaxia Road, Zhujiang New Town (near Exit B1 of the Zhujiang New Town subway station, Line 3 and Line 5) Tianhe District Guangzhou, China And is this location the one for Electronic visa applications? The letter we received suggests it's a specific location for electronic visa interviews. "To obtain the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in GUANGZHOU ELECTRONIC's address and contact information, visit usembassy.gov and select CHINA - MAINLAND: GUANGZHOU ELECTRONIC from the list of websites. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate in GUANGZHOU ELECTRONIC's website will include its street address and contact information." You go here and there is no GUANGZHOU ELECTRONIC's website, so I wanted to be sure. Thanks!

I am not sure if the I-130 can be handed in at the ebmassy in Guangzhou. I saw that the USCIS has a walk-ins on Fridays from 8:30 to 10:30. Do they have to be handed in during this two hour window only on Fridays? Thanks for your help...I am just starting the process for my wife and getting my daughter registered as a US citizen.

Does anybody know how far it is from the Citizen services area to the IV interview area? is the Citizen services area and the IV interview area on the same floor? Thanks, Sunny

4/16/2014 - This thread from 2005 is about Guangzhou and Guangdong, NOT the consulate, and is still useful. - RW LOCAL INFORMATION Guangdong Province Area 69,502 Sq miles Population 74.7 million (permanent residents) Capital Guangzhou Language Cantonese (Guangdonghua), Mandarin (Putonghua) Currency Renminbi (RMB, or ?, also known as Yuan, or Kuai $1 = RMB 8 (approx.) Guangzhou Municipality Area 2,868 Sq miles Population 9.9 million PERSONAL SAFETY While Guangzhou is a relatively safe city, as with any large city, it is worthwhile being prudent and taking some simple precautions. As many places are very crowded pick-pockets are common. Particular care should be taken on public transport, especially on the buses and around the train stations. Valuables should be put into a front, rather than back pocket or in a bag out of sight, to avoid giving temptation to thieves. You can generally get taxis late at night but the hotels are often in the middle of tourist zones and the same caution in taking taxis alone late at night should be exercised as in any other major city. HEALTH Hotels almost always have a clinic and doctor on call. You should buy medical insurance before your departure. Any preferred remedies or prescriptions should be brought with you, since they are unlikely to be available. There are Western medical facilities available in Guangzhou (see emergency contact list below). However, fees are quite expensive with an average brief consultation costing approximately RMB100-150. You may want to purchase a medical insurance plan prior to your departure. There are of course traditional Chinese medicine alternatives that you might wish to try. This might be difficult unless you have knowledge of the language or assistance from a local resident. Medical Emergency numbers in GUANGZHOU Local First-aid Emergency Call (24hours) 120 The first two medical centres speak English: Guangzhou Can Am Intl Medical Centre Tel: 8386 6988 Add: 5/F, Garden Tower, Garden Hotel No.368, Huanshi Dong Lu. Guangzhou Time: 9:00-18:00 Mon.-Fri. 9:00-13:00 Sat. Guangdong Concord Medical Centre Tel: 8387 4283 Add: 9/F, Fok Heart Centre No.96, Dongchuan Rd Guangzhou Time: AM 8:00-12:00 PM 2:30-6:00 GD Province Hospital of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Tel: 8735 1238 Add: No.261, Datong Rd. West of Ersha Island Guangzhou Time: 24 hours TRAVELLING IN GUANGZHOU Transportation around Guangzhou: Taxis are the easiest way to get around. Taxis fare should be paid according to the amount shown on the taximeter and the fare starts at RMB7.00 (for the first 2.3 km). You can pick them up outside hotels and in the street at almost any time day or night. It is only when its cold or raining that they are difficult to get. Taxis in Guangzhou are substantially cheaper than one typically finds in U.S. It is rare that any journey across the city will be more than RMB35 (less than $5). Many of the drivers will greet you with the phrase Qu na li??(literally Go where??. Bluffing knowledge of Chinese and the city might avoid protracted detours, but also might invite further questions in Chinese like which route you prefer, or which bridge to take to cross the river. It will be very helpful to have your destination written down in Chinese. Your hotel should be able to give you a card. Avoid taxis without metres and check that the driver uses the metre. It is also a good idea to have small change on hand to pay the fare as some drivers might refuse a RMB100 note, and sometimes even a 50. You are not expected to tip the driver, but it will never be refused. You can bargain with the driver over a price if the distance is quite far, or it is late at night. Again you will need some knowledge of the language or assistance to do this. Travelling by bus is cheap (RMB1 or 2 flat rate for the journey) but can be difficult without knowledge of the language and routes. If you do take the bus you must take the right money as you will not get change. There is no English on buses and visitors may not know the routes so this is not really a recommended option. Guangzhou also has a small underground metro system, currently with two lines. Platform signs are in Chinese and Pinyin (Chinese written with the Roman alphabet) and stations are normally announced in English and Chinese over a loudspeaker system on the train. It is useful to know the end direction of the line you want to travel on. Line 1 runs from Guangzhou Dong Zhan (East Railway Station, which has the KCR to Hong Kong) in the North East to Xi Lang, in the South West of the city. Line 2 runs from San Yuan Li in the North to Pazhou (which is the location of the new Trade Fair Exhibition Centre) in the South. There is only one place to change lines currently, and that is Gong Yuan Qian station (near the middle of both lines, and close to Beijing Lu shopping street). There is a flat fare of RMB2-6 (depending on the distance). There are machines from which you can purchase tokens which take RMB1 coins (which can also be obtained from the attended booth) and also RMB5, 10 and 20 notes (although all change will be in RMB1 coins!). If you plan to use the metro a lot, or are staying for longer you can get a pass card (Yang Cheng Tong) which will hold any amount of credit you place on it and can also be used on the buses, which can save you a lot of time and trouble. Below are the first and last trains: Station of Origin First Train Departs Last Train Departs Last Entry Line 1 GZ East Station 6:17 22:29 22:24 Xi Lang 6:17 22:41 22:36 Line 2 San Yuan Li 6:17 22:41 22:36 Pazhou 6:29 23:18 23:13 An alternative way to see the city is by boat on the Pearl River. This is especially worthwhile at night when the city lights radiate across the river. TRAVELLING TO AND FROM GUANGZHOU There are two train stations. Guangzhou East Station (Guangzhou Dong Zhan) is the one which is used to get to and from Hong Kong, Shenzhen etc. The old train station, more often used for travelling northwards is on the northern end of Line 2 (named: Guangzhou Huo Che Zhan). If you come to Guangzhou on the direct through-train from Hong Kong your passport and visa will be checked at the Hong Kong end, and vice versa when you travel to Hong Kong from Guangzhou. Alternatively there is a bus you can take from the large hotels which is cheaper although it takes longer, and you must get off the bus go through the border crossings and have your documents checked. The new Baiyun International Airport is now in operation and takes about 50 minutes to reach from the city centre by taxi. Depending on where you go from, a taxi will probably cost around RMB100. Some of the major hotels might provide an airport service so it is worth enquiring with them. LANGUAGE Mandarin Chinese is the official language of China (called Putonghua by the Chinese) and even in Guangdong, where Cantonese (Guangdonghua) is widely spoken, most people know some Mandarin. Chinese characters are used for writing, though many signs on roads and in shops now also appear in "pinyin", which is the Romanised version of written Chinese. English is spoken in most hotels, but it may be useful to have a phrase book to hand if you want to venture further. Mandarin, however, is a tonal language (4 tones), so that the same word pronounced in different tones will have completely different meanings. For this reason some Chinese may find it difficult to understand what you are saying in Chinese unless the tone is correct. On the whole, however, people are very patient and a bit of English on their part and some sign language normally gets the message across. Ni hao (nee how) = Hello Xie xie (shi shia) = Thank you Zai jian (dsai jen) = Goodbye (although Bye bye?is probably more common) Wo shi?(wor sher) = I am?(a simple way to introduce yourself) Mai dan (my dan) = Pay the bill (a short phrase used to ask for the bill, literally Buy bill? and understandable in Mandarin and Cantonese) COMMUNICATIONS Time: China runs 8 hours ahead of GMT. Business hours: office hours are generally a standard 9am to 5pm or 6pm (with some individual differences and depending on the industry. Some more local places close for lunch). Shops tend to open from 9 or 10am to about 10pm, and bars and clubs up till about 2am. Post: Airmail letters/parcels to and from US take 4-10 days. Parcels must be sealed at the post office after inspection. International postage rates are expensive but the service is generally reliable. Mobile Phones: There is a very good network in Guangzhou so it is worthwhile activating international roaming with your service provider before you arrive. Another option is to purchase a pay as you go?SIM card when you arrive. This is very cheap at just RMB100 for the SIM card, which will contain around RMB50 credit. RESTAURANTS: Guangzhou is very famous in China and around the world for its cuisine. You can find different styles of cuisine, such as Chinese (from various regions and provinces), Japanese, Korean, Thai, French, Italian amongst others. Some restaurants have English versions of their menu. Prices vary between restaurants, usually from RMB20-100 per person, depending on your choice. Fast food chains such as McDonalds and KFC are open from 7:00am to 11:00pm. Of course, apart from western restaurants, most restaurants only provide chopsticks with knives and forks sometimes available on request. It is common practice for almost all restaurants to serve you with Chinese tea throughout your meal, with frequent refills of the pot. This will not be charged by the cup or pot as often is in other countries, so feel free to linger. Also in many local restaurants you will see people washing their cup, bowl and chopsticks in hot tea. This is for hygiene reasons, and will not be offensive to the restaurant staff. It is also very common to take a packet of tissues with you to a restaurant (especially local ones) as napkins are often not provided, or should be purchased. The tissues will also be useful if you use the toilet as paper is not always supplied. Most Chinese restaurants will have a very different atmosphere to those in the West. They are often crowded and noisy, which is the way local people like them. There are also very few etiquette rules. It is common to see bones spat onto the table or the floor, people talking with their mouth full of food etc. This should not been seen as bad manners, it is just a very different dining culture. Tips are not expected in restaurants, although some of the more Western style establishments, and certainly the hotels over 3 stars, have a service charge included (often around 15%). SHOPPING For those with time and a good guide there are interesting bargains to be found in Guangzhou- everything from jade to the electronics and clothes that are manufactured in the Pearl River Delta. A great location for a massive array of handicrafts, artwork and novelties is the market beside Hai Zhu Guang Chang (on line 2 of the metro). Expect to bargain for the best prices. For those with less time: Friendship Store (Youyi Shangdian) Situated next to the Baiyun Hotel, opposite to the Garden Hotel. It sells a wide range of products, from clothing to food. Prices are more expensive and bargaining is not possible. Team Plaza (Tianhe Cheng) This is Guangzhou's first shopping mall. You can buy a wide range of products. Prices compare well with those elsewhere and bargaining is possible in some shops. Beijing Road Pedestrian Street Mainly clothing, luggage and shoes, though there are some pearl shops. At the more local shops you will be able to bargain, although its not possible with the international brands. Shangxia Jiu Pedestrian Street Also known as a shopping street with houses in traditional style (they are called Xi Guan Feng Qing?. Sells cheap clothing, shoes and other goods. Expect to bargain. WEATHER & CLOTHING The climate of Guangzhou is sub-tropical. The average year-round temperature is 22C. August is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 28C, but with a high of up to 38C in the day and 28C at night. January is the coldest month, with an average of 13C, although it can drop to around 0C. The weather is generally quite humid (often around 80-90% or more) so the heat can feel more oppressive, and the cold more pervasive. The rainy season falls between April and August. Average annual rainfall is 1,720 mm, and an umbrella is a must. By the month of May it is already hot and humid in Guangzhou, with frequent, and often very heavy, rainstorms. Bring light clothing, but include layers ?light jackets, cardigans etc ?since the air-conditioning in hotels and restaurants can be fierce. It's worth bringing something to shield against the sun which can also be severe at times. Local people often favour using an umbrella for this, but sunglasses and sunscreen will also be fine. Chinese often dress fairly informally. A simple suit or day dress is appropriate for all official visits, meetings and dinners, and in hot weather a short sleeved shirt with no jacket is perfectly acceptable business wear. Trousers are also perfectly acceptable for women. There aren't generally any rules about leisure wear, with almost anything being acceptable. However, for foreigners the more extravagant your outfit the more attention you might attract. Low cut and sleeveless tops, while not objectionable, might prove to be a point of fascination. MONEY The Chinese currency is known as "Renminbi" (or the People's currency?, and is the equivalent term for USD. The term equivalent to dollars is the Yuan? also known colloquially as Kuai?(pronounced "kwai"). At the current exchange rate, 1 USD is approximately equal to 8 Renminbi (RMB), or yuan. Foreign money and travellers?cheques can be changed at international airports, main centres of the Bank of China, the large tourist hotels, the Friendship Stores and some big department stores. The official rate is given everywhere, so there is no need to shop around. Credit cards are accepted in major hotels, restaurants and some supermarkets, although certainly not very widely. You can use international debit and credit cards to withdraw cash in the local currency. These include Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro. This service isn't available at all local cash machines, but is most common at Bank of China machines, and HSBC (although there are only two branches of HSBC so far; one at Garden Hotel, the other in Dong Feng Lu). Forgeries of bank notes, as in many countries, are in circulation. ELECTRICITY Electricity supply is usually 220 volts. The local plugs usually have 3 flat pins, the lower pair angled, but other types are also in use. International hotels will have shaver sockets but these may not be available elsewhere. EXPOSURE AND ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS In contrast to Beijing and Shanghai the expatriate community in Guangzhou is relatively small and often centred around the major centres of commerce. If you do venture to more traditional places don't be surprised that some people take an interest, as exposure to foreigners is not very common. You should not take staring and people talking about you as rude, it really is more surprise and interest. It is also not uncommon to have people say Hello?to you in the streets. LOCAL UNIQUENESS AND DAILY LIFE As you experience life in Guangzhou you are sure to see differences from the West and even from other cities in China. Many of the traditions and practices are unique to Guangzhou which makes this city a very interesting place to visit or live for any foreigner. In the public parks and open spaces it's common to see people practising Tai Chi and doing exercises, especially early in the morning. Another common morning activity is going for Yum Cha?(literally Drink tea? where people gather to breakfast on local delicacies (known as Dim Sum) and read the newspaper. This is available in many local restaurants and some of the major hotels and is well worth experiencing. There are also afternoon and night tea sessions, and all are very reasonably priced. Hope you find the above helpful.

Per request, I've submitted supplemental materials to GZ via CITIC bank pick-up. Anyone have any idea how long it will take for the documents to reach GZ? We've been told to keep an eye on the ustraveldocs website. However, after we enter my wife's passport number, the message says "Your passport is still with post." It's read this way for close to two weeks now. Additionally, we were requested to submit a scan of the biodata page of her passport, not her actual passport. Thoughts?

Hi there My fiances I-129F got approved. I received the I-797 notice of action letter. On it, I was told to take that to the consulate in chengdu to complete the visa process. But I did some research online and called the chengdu consulate, I was told all fiancé visa are being process in Guangzhou. Is that right. What is my next course of action. Should I wait for p3? I tried calling everywhere for info but the people on the phone don't seems very clear. Will I be receiving p3 here in the United States or will my fiancé receive it in china? I read somewhere online that the NVS don't mail to foreign address. So should I start downloading the p3 forms and mail that to Guangzhou or should I wait. My I-129F was filed on October 18 and it got approved November 18. Thanks a lot!!!!

I received a reply from the Consulate, it said: ************* Thank you for your email. We understand that it has taken longer time than usual for the applicant to pick up the visa, and we apologize for it. However, there is still more administrative processing to be done for the case. One of our officers is working on the case and will process it to completion as soon as we can. Once it is completed, we will immediately inform you of the result. Please be assured that the case has been given full and fair consideration under U.S. immigration law. We appreciate your patience and understanding at this moment. ************** Anybody got the same reply for your case in AP? Thanks, Sunny

Dear CFL Members, Thrilled to hear from GUZ today, one month after receiving our I-130 approval notice from Beijing!! We are preparing to hop online and complete / submit the DS-260 and head to CITIC to send the required materials. Here is my question: Does my Chinese National Husband (CNH) need MY passport when he eventually goes to GUZ for his interview? I ask because I just saw a checklist posted elsewhere where this was included and it gave me pause. I've already secured a job in the US and will be heading there next month to start. The idea has always been that I will go ahead and CNH will follow as soon as we complete the DCF process. We already have all of the various materials together and a place rented in the States. I thought a copy of my passport info page was all that was needed. Of course, if I need to, I will DHL him my passport before his appointment in GUZ when we finally get it scheduled. But I don't want to do this unnecessarily. Thanks for all your help. D

Hi there, Thanks, everyone, for your thoughtful replies to my previous posts! Here we go again... Just wondering if anyone has experience opting in for the Optional Electronic Processing when DCF-ing in GUZ? Details here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_5163.html Looks like by opting in, we can pay all fees / submit all docs electronically. I guess we would email the consulate (NVCElectronic@state.gov) to register BEFORE submitting the electronic DS-260s? I would *think* that scanning and emailing docs would be faster than processing stuff through CITIC, but I just wanted to check in with those on the board who may have tried it. Best, David

I just booked my appointment for December 31st to hand in my I-130 petition. I have a few questions regarding the petition and my upcoming trip to Guangzhou. On the G-325A form, there is space for 5 addresses for my residence the last five years. I have moved A LOT over the last five years, and I definitely have had more than 5 addresses. Should I include more than 5 addresses? If I leave out an address, can it come back to bite me? Also, is it better to fly or take the train? I haven't gotten my tickets yet because I wanted to make sure I could get an appointment. I live in Jiangsu Province. I really don't mind taking a long trip if the train ride isn't too bad and I can save a little money. Does anyone have any recommendations relating to the city? I have never been to Guangzhou. For those of you who have been there, are there any hotels, restaurants, attractions I should consider/avoid? I will only be staying for two nights and don't want to break the bank during this trip. (The $355 Petition fee is bad enough). I would appreciate any help! -Dave

I have another urgent DCF question about paying the $230 fee to process the DS-260. From what I understand, there is an I-130 filing fee of $420 (which we already paid), and then another $230 to process the DS-260, and then finally a fee of $165 after you get your visa and before you enter the US. My husband just had his interview and passed (yay!), but didn't see a place on the 3rd floor of the Guangzhou Consulate to pay the fee. I previously emailed the Guangzhou Consulate, and they emailed back saying that the fee could only be paid on the day of the interview at the Consulate. However, he said that he asked several people who worked there, and they all said that he either didn't have to pay the fee, or he could pay the fee at a CITIC bank. Others who also passed the interview said that the fee wasn't necessary because he already passed. However, I read a story on Candle For Love about a couple who didn't have to pay, then went back to Yunnan and found out they had to come back to pay the fee. We're in Guangzhou for a few more days so I'd like to take care of this before we leave if we need to. Please help! Specifically people who have interviewed there recently and paid the fee at the Consulate.

Hello. We recently received the letter approving my petition for a IR-1 visa for my husband and our case has been sent to Guangzhou. We're doing direct consular filing, and was wondering how long it took for people to receive the initial P3 packet from Guangzhou. I also have these questions: 1.) What documents are required for the P3? Once we get the documents together, we send them via CITIC branches listed on ustraveldocs.com? And is there one in Beijing that people generally go to? 2.) I've been working as a freelance writer and worked a lot less last year as I was pregnant. My brother, who's a doctor in the States, was going to be a co-sponsor. What documents do I need to get from him? 3.) Between mailing off the P3 and getting the P4, what sort of wait times have people been experiencing? 4.) How easy is it to schedule an interview once you receive the P4? A little bit of background on us: I am Chinese-American and my husband is British. We've been married for 9 years and have a baby, who is an American. We're currently residing in Beijing. My husband has never had any issues with US immigration and we're hoping to get the visa by November. (How realistic is that?) I realize that this forum is for people trying to get visa for their Chinese loved ones, but it's been hard for me to find information on the DCF process in China. I'd appreciate any guidance and advice.

Hey everyone, I've run into an unexpected confusion with the DS-230. I've searched and browsed all over this site, the GUZ embassy site, VJ, and Google, but haven't seen anyone else even mention it. Is this a new/unique situation, or am I just unlucky (read: haphazard) with my searching? Here's the situation: I filed the I-130 petition at Beijing on June 4. Ten days later I received the NOA2 (petition approved) with instructions, which tell us to (quote): " ... complete and submit the Document Submission Letter [we registered at ustraveldocs, and printed the DSL] along with the above requested items at the nearest CITIC bank. If you fail to take the action requested within one year, your application will be terminated." They also give a URL for finding CITIC bank locations but just my luck the page "cannot be found." OK, so the wife and I took our documents to the CITIC closest to our apartment, and the nice lady at the front desk told us she didn't think that branch handled these (doesn't ask anyone else or check), and gives us the address and phone number of the branch closest to the embassy. Fine. Then she tells us that the Guangzhou embassy is closed, etc. (it was only after this I learned about the move). Well anyway, my wife calls the other CITIC branch to ask about the forms, and they flatly told her not to say anything specific about what forms (apparently very strictly, like knowing what forms we want to send puts them in jeopardy somehow), and said only to bring the forms in a sealed envelope. So my questions, for anyone who has done this recently or can help: Firstly, is this right? Do I need to supply the address the forms are to be sent to? Which address should I use? (Can't use the return address on the NOA, since that's the old address.) The embassy website gives this address: U.S. Consulate General / 43 Hua Jiu Road, Zhujiang New Town / Tianhe District / Guangzhou, China; and says they will be open for service again on July 23. Do you think that's a safe address to use (ensuring the forms will reach the proper people)? Of course there's nothing more specific given in our instructions. I don't want to submit our forms to the bank if they're not even sure what to do with them. Could I mail them myself (EMS)? I emailed the consulate at the beginning of the week, but I assume they're busy with the move and probably won't see it for a while. Any insight, suggestions or verification would be greatly appreciated. (Sorry for the lengthy explanation. This is quite an annoying snag in our process.)

Hello! I've been reading these forums for a while and am finally ready to begin my own journey! However, I'm a bit worried that what I've previously read may be different from what the process currently is for DCF in Beijing/Guangzhou, since I know there were some changes in May 2013, and then the Guangzhou Embassy moved very recently. A bit of background on me and my husband: I am a Chinese-American woman, and my husband is a Chinese citizen. We met in Beijing about four and a half years ago, dated for two years, got engaged, then married in his hometown of Henan Province in June 2012. We're getting ready to DCF in Beijing to get the CR-1 visa, and I have a couple of questions. 1) I would be really grateful if anybody could post their experience beginning or going through the DCF process from within the past month. Particularly, are there any big differences now in the process than there were before? 2) From the first step of filing the I-130 to preparing for the interview, what are the documents I need to get translated and notarized? So far, I have: His/hers marriage certificates (is there a difference between white books and the notarized translation?) And since my husband and I each got a marriage certificate book, do we need to translate both?Apartment contracts for the last two years for proof of residenceIs there anything else I need to get translated/notarized? 3) Just to confirm, the address we put for the beneficiary and petitioner on the I-130 form is the address that we'll receive the P3 packet? On that note, what's the difference between the P3 and P4 packets? I'm sure I'll have more questions as we start filing (hopefully in September), and I'll also try to post about my own experiences to help others in the future. Thanks!

Howdy folks, So my wife passed her IR1 visa interview today! The whole consulate process took just over an hour for document collection and interview... very impressive!! For those who don't know, the new consulate is located three subway stops south of the old location at Zhujiang New Town station (珠江新城站) on Line 3, so a lot of information about stuff around the old location is still somewhat applicable to the new one, especially in terms of accommodation, as the area around Guangzhou East Train Station, just north of the old consulate, is extremely convenient and full of cheap hotels. We are staying in the Shanshui Shishang Jiudian 山水时尚酒店 just above the train station (the entrance to the hotel is actually "inside" the station, just outside the I exit of the subway and Gate 3 of the train station), and for about US $40 a night for a decent room with a queen size bed, we are very happy with this place. Coming in from the airport we took the subway to Guangzhou East Station (on Line 3, same as airport, didn't even have to change trains) and didn't even have to leave the station, which is great because it was pissing down rain outside. This morning it only took about 15 minutes to get from our hotel to the consulate by subway. And the area around the consulate looked pretty posh and I didn't see any hotels nearby (I'm sure there are some), so there may be far fewer budget options (or any options) in the near vicinity of the consulate. As for places to wait on your spouse nearby the consulate, I found a small Starbucks in the back left side of the lobby of the office building directly across the street from the consulate. If you don't mind trekking just a bit further (and are confident that your spouse can find it after a grueling interview), you can take a right on Huali Road when you come out of Exit B1 of Zhujiang New Town station (the consulate will be right in front of you) and go down about two blocks to the first stoplight, where you will find a full-size Starbucks on one side of the intersection and a full-size Costa Coffee on the other side of the intersection (always good to have a choice between American and British coffee I suppose). There are also several convenience stores, Western restaurants, and banks (China Construction Bank is in the 1F of the building right next to B1 subway exit) along Huali Road and at "coffee intersection". More importantly for you folks who love to do things last-minute, I spotted a large printing store in the "alley" between the first and second building on the right side of Huali Road (there is a Lanzhou Lamian restaurant at the end of the alley, and the print shop is just next to it I think, about 3 or 4 stores deep into the alley). As for the experience at the new consulate, for my wife things went VERY smoothly. Our appointment was for 10:30AM. We arrived at exactly 10:30, and there was NOBODY in the immigration visa line (at the far end of the consulate from the B1 subway exit). They let her in immediately, and I feared it would be many long hours of waiting before she would emerge again. I chose to wait at the small Starbucks across the street from the consulate (which was quite busy, and will most likely be packed in coming months as more and more people waiting for people in the new consulate discover it), and expected to be there for several hours. At about 11:45 (only a little over an hour after my wife entered the consulate!), my wife walked up and sat down across from me at the table with a glum expression on her face. "Oh crap" I thought as my heart skipped a beat, but before I could even open my mouth to ask, my wife began to laugh and told me the good news. She thinks she's really funny when she does that. And she should, because she learned it from me. =0) I just want to add that I think the consulate's new visa system through CGI Stanley is working GREAT. We submitted our I-130 to start the process off through DCF in Beijing in mid-May, and have already had the interview and been approved in less than 2 1/2 months, which seems to be almost twice as fast as the average wait time for the old system when applying through DCF. And in fact, when we signed up for our interview in late June, a July 1st interview date was actually available, which wasn't feasible given how much documentation we still had to collect (as well as getting my wife's medical examination), but had we taken that date it would have come only a month and a half after initially applying! And one more thing to note here as a warning. I had failed to look up more info about the visa application fee that is listed as the last item of the "Immigration Visa Instructions", and since it said you could pay in RMB or US dollars I assumed it would be ok to pay with a Chinese bank card. I was going to send my US credit card in with my wife also (which is what I paid the initial I-130 fee with in Beijing), but realized this morning as we were getting everything ready that I didn't bring it to Guangzhou with me. So I sent my wife in armed with only two Chinese bank cards and very little cash. After she submitted her documents and before her interview, she was asked to go pay the visa fee. She tried to pay with her Chinese bank card, only to be told that only cash or credit/bank cards with the Visa logo are accepted. She asked if she could leave the consulate to get cash and come back in, and was told that if she left she would have to schedule a whole new appointment. She pleaded with the lady for other options, but with no luck. Finally she asked if she could borrow the money from another applicant, and the lady laughingly told her she could try but obviously didn't think she would have any luck. Sure enough, the first person she asked only had enough cash for herself. The lady behind her had overheard my wife's plight though and stepped forward with 1400rmb and plopped it down in her hand (my wife handed over her ID card and bank card in return and told the lady she would wait outside the consulate for her with cash in hand). Don't take a chance that your spouse might be so lucky, and please send her in with enough cash or a Visa credit/bank card (just make sure you take the credit card back as soon as she gets out of the consulate... you know the damage women can do with those things, hehe). Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this site and made it such a great resource for all of us barely staying above water in the immigration boat. I hope this small post of mine can help at least a few of you out there just as so many posts from others helped me. Good luck, and good times to all once you finally get your loved one back to the US!

Hi, I'm new here. Wish I'd found you guys earlier, we are already preparing for the interview. Anyway, I've got a dumb question. I am a US citizen and I'm the petentioner for my chinese wife to get her immigrant visa. Does she go to the interview alone, or do we go together? Do I have a seperate interview? I'm pretty sure she goes alone, but she says she read on other chinese forums that I need to go to the interview also. Thanks for the help.