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Hello again, CFL, I have some questions for all of you here on this great site. Hopefully you can lead us down the right path. My wife(Chinese citizen) and I(American Citizen) were successfully married in China on May 20. I'm currently still in Shanghai, where she works and resides, on my multi-entry L visa visiting her and will be here for another couple of months. We were thinking of starting the visa process and then we decided to wait since she plans on staying here in China and working for another couple years. Now we've changed our minds again and she wants to get going on all of it since she'll need to enter the states next year to get sworn in for the NY Barr. We've heard that it'd be tough for her to get a tourist visa being married to me so we're going to apply for the K-3. I guess the thing that concerns me the most is the fact that she doesn't plan on moving to the U.S. immediately after hopefully getting approved so I'm a little confused as to the best course of action here and what to apply for. So my questions are: 1) Should we apply for the K-3 non-immigrant visa since she won't be moving to the U.S. just yet? 2) If so, I understand that involves filing the I-130 and the I-129F. Should I apply for those ASAP? Also, how long after I apply for the I-130 should I wait to apply for the I-129F? 3) Does the K-3 visa approval require her to enter the U.S. within a certain time frame? 4) Does the front-loading start here with these two forms or does that start later on in our process? If so, will I need multiple copies of everything? As in copies for each form and then copies for her and I to keep for interviews? 5) I guess we'll wait to file for her permanent resident status since she won't be moving to and staying in the States the majority of her time just yet. Is this ok? I'm not really grasping how everything works yet or the order of things. She thinks we can look into most of this later but I'd like to get a grasp on what we're going to need to do in the coming steps. Any help on these issues will be greatly appreciated. My wife wants to just get going on everything right now and I'm a little leery from some of the horror stories I've read on this forum. I want to make sure we're doing this the correct way for our situation and at the correct time. Any extra advice or issues that you foresee here is welcomed. Thanks, Tom

Hello Guys, My husband filed I-130 for me last month and i just received P3. My husband has been a teacher in China for the last 5 years and in the last couple years, he didnt file his tax, his income was fae less than the poverty line, we married last year and oue baby was born not long after that. here is the questions. 1. how should he do to file the tax while he stays in China now ? how can he prove his income in China? how much would the penalty for not paying his taxes in the last two years(his ex filed it for him before that)? 2.Since he doesn't make enough money, he can't be the only sponsor of me, he will have to get a co-sponsor, right? 3.Do we need to prepare all the documents listed on P3 then send them altogether to the America Embassy GUZ ? Thx.

hi guys, question regarding visas for wife's father and mother. wife just turned us citizenship this month and starting I-130 paper work for her parents. our question is do we file one I-130 for both parents or we file two I-130s for father and mother. 1 I-130 for both = 420 dollars 2 I-130s for father and mother = 840 dollars instruction 1F said your mother or father (you must be 21 or older). my gut feeling is 2 I-130s for father and mother. how is the interview, separate or together? any ideas and comments are appreciated. thanks

Hi, My wife and daughter are both Japanese citizens, and I'm a US citizen. We live in China, currently, but we are considering moving back to the US during the years when my daughter goes to college. It looks like some things would be easier if my daughter had a green card while she is attending college. For example, it will be easier for her to get a part-time job, tuition might be lower, etc. Maybe there are other benefits, too?? As I understand it, getting a green card for her will be more difficult after she is 18. Is that true? Are there any other age limits that I need to worry about? She is currently 14. She is my wife's biological daughter, but not my biological daughter. Would it make any difference if I formally/legally adopt her? thanks ciao

My wife and her son, then 16 years-old, were admitted to the USA in 2008 on a K3/4 visa. My wife go her 10 year Green Card in 2010, but her son returned to China to finish school after only 8 months in 2009. Now he is 22 years-old and wants to return to the USA. I have filled out the I-130 but I am not 100 percent sure what other document are required. What I think need to send: His birth certificate 2 photos of step son my wife birth certificate proof of marriage proof of my citizenship $420 What about divorce papers or her green card? Do I send a copy of every page of my passport? It's been awhile since I messed with this stuff and I am on a tight schedule. I am leaving for Shanghai in two days (Thursday morning), I may be gone 2 month but the wife will stay in the US. I need to get this application in the mail before I leave of I will have to pay some unknown price. Thanks for the help. I know this stuff has to be posted somewhere but I sure can't find it. Michael

Was surprised to wake up this morning to an email from USCIS in Beijing with our NOA attached. It's only been 7 working days since I submitted the I-130 in Beijing!! Anyhow... now my head's spinning, and I have a few immediate questions I'm hoping this group can help with, since I wasn't expecting to hear from them for at least a month. - I'm now stateside and my wife's back in her hometown (Wuhan). Ideally, we'd like to change the address they mail correspondence to (to Wuhan). Any decent way to do that? Can I just message the GZ consulate via the online form? - I'm a little confused on who goes to the interview in GZ once its finally scheduled. Is it immigrant (my wife) only, or am I allowed/supposed to go? I thought I'd previously read that only the immigrant goes... - I keep reading about co-sponsors for affadavits of support. I've just moved back stateside and have a good paying job, well above poverty level. From looking at the I-864, I shouldn't need any kind of co-sponsor, or even need to provide bank info beyond proof of employment and income. That sound about right? - I "front loaded" my I-130 packet with tons of stuff. Do we need to take that to GZ with us, or will they have it all? Thanks, Charlie

Can a conditional permanent resident apply a green card for her child who under 21?

If my fiance's daughter is turning 18 this september, does she still qualify for the visa under the fiance visa? Do we only have to start the process before she turns 18? My fiance will be coming to the U.S. in July for 6 weeks. Is it legal for us to marry while she is here? If we marry, how does this affect the daughter coming here?

Hi All, My wife and I were married May 2011 in China. Shortly after I returned I lost my job. I finally found a permanent position in Jan 2012. My finances did not recover until August 2012. I started become ill in September of 2012 and finally had an operation for removal of a tumor in Jan 2013. I am now recovered both financially and medically, but a lot of time has elapsed since May2011. My wife and I are concerned that immigration will hold this against us. I was wondering if any advise you can give me. I am also applying for my stepson, (he is 15 years old). Do I need to supply a separate cover letter for him or should I list his documents on the same cover letter? Regards, Chris

My fiancee and I are just starting the process of immigration to the US for her and getting married. Our situation is unique with added opportunity but also some unique challenges. While we are both pretty sharp at navigating the immigration process when we know what to address, we could use help for what we don't know to address. Here is our story as it is evolving: I have never been married and have no children. She was divorced 2 years ago and has a daughter that is a junior in high school.We met mid September, 2012 on www.ChinaLoveMatch.netOur attraction for each other was very strong and fast. Emailing, chatting and video-chating almost everyday.In a few days I purchased plane tickets to China dated for mid November, 2012A few days later I purchased more plane tickets to China for late December, 2012.We met in person 11/11/2012 in her city in China. We spent 2 weeks visiting each other: her friends and business contacts near her home; then her daughter, brother's family and her parents in another city; her old classmates in yet another city; and tourists sites in Beijing.By the time we met her parents 11/17/2012 we told them of our plans to get married. They have given us their blessing.I purchased more plane tickets to China in early December dated for early March, 2013.We will be together in her city for two weeks starting 12/23/2012.We will travel South China together for two weeks starting 3/3/2013.We have completed our I-129F but have not submitted it because I'm not sure about some issues: My address is confusing and I don't want to confuse where I'm living now and where we plan to live when she gets her visa.My home is in Montana. I am a self employed Chemical Engineer and an Apartment Landlord. My Apartment Bldg. is in MT. This house is where we will live when she gets her visa.Almost all of my Chemical Engineering work is in Utah. I rent a room in a shared house there. My schedule is typically 1 week off per month. If I wasn't going to China so much I would spend most of that time off at my Montana house.It's not relevant now, but 1 year ago, similarly I lived in my small home in central WY for 3 years while I did chemical engineering work there. Utah was an opportunity I couldn't say no to when I thought I was returning to MT.In December, I started extended work trips to central Nevada. I am given shared company housing there. They are patient with all my trips to China. I think this project will last through April, 2013 but so far I have only completed two weeks so we are still developing the scope of work.Our plan is for me to keep working until at least the end of April, 2013 while we wait for her Visa but if the wait for the visa stretches much later, I am interested in living in China for 3 month intervals with about 1.5 months in the US between trips.On one hand we would like her to experience my traveling work and be part of the decision when to quit.On the other hand we would rather be together in China if the wait for the visa gets long.She is also self employed, in China of course. Her business is very valuable for the time it requires.She has a daughter that is a junior in high school at a boarding school some 400 miles away, but near her parents and her brother's family.The idea is to keep her business and home going until she can give them to her daughter after graduation.But maybe her daughter will go to University, maybe she won't.If her daughter doesn't go to University, the daughter might be better off with the business, the house, and continuing education in art and business nearby via some less conventional way. (In the US I would call it night school or community college plus private art studio training. I'm told those don't exist in China.....)Her parents are retired and are willing to keep the business and home going for some time to help transition to the daughter after she gets her visa.She would like to visit China each year between October and February to participate in the business' busy season.Our big picture plan is to live in Montana, manage the real estate investments, enjoy our home, potentially start another small business, and be snowbirds to China during the winter.Some of the annual trip to China will be to visit family.Some of the annual trip to China will be to touch base with the business.Some of the annual trip to China will be to visit south China to enjoy the weather.So while it would be nice to have a quick Visa process, what we really need is some certainty to not mess anything up while we live a somewhat transient lifestyle, and some guidance how to complete all the application paperwork in a way that doesn't alarm someone looking for “conventional stability” as part of our qualifications. In summary, some key points: On the I-129F, is it a problem for me to list different address for my current location and where she (we) intend to live in the US after she gets her visa? Of course we will live together there, but the I-129F doesn't allow us to make that clear.She has a high school junior daughter in boarding school so far away that they only see each other about once per year. She moving to the US and then being back in China for 3 months each year doesn't really change anything with their relationship but again the I-129 doesn't offer anywhere to explain (I guess it doesn't even address if the child will stay in China or not.) The daughter stays with her father during summer breaks.We would like to proactively manage my engineering business but we need some idea of time frame for her visa. 4, 8, 12, 16 months?...... there are certainly some grueling stories on www.CandleForLove.comAnd one last question, I saw that Shenyang is listed as a US consulate that can be used for visa application. Is that true or do we have to specify Guangzhou? What suggestions do you have for us?

DCF Guangzhou Experience Monday March 11, 2013 Appt time:12:30 Arrived for the line around 11:15, already over 100 people in line, there were 2 or more lines, as mentioned in prior posts, we had to ask which one was immigration, but found the correct one. 12:15 they started checking the appt letter and passports, handing people green/blue/black cards to proceed upstairs to the security check. I followed up to the first check, mainly because I was curious, but ducked out of line before the next one. First check is just basic screen, second check on the next floor is the full check with removal of belt, shoes, etc. Document hand in was relatively easy, the girl at the counter didn’t really ask for the documents because my husband just kept handing her one document after the other. She did however ask my husband questions about the documents such as, oh I see you have a co-signer and the wife, what is her name (he answered), where did you meet your wife, when did you get married, she also had us give our original marriage certificate and my husbands original birth declaration certificate… Documents submitted on the Doc intake day: -Original passport -Photos -Birth documents, baptismal card, affidavit of hospital closure, affidavit from father, national population certificate (notorial copy and original), affidavit of age declaration C This is all due to husbands birth country - medical forms (not the x-ray) - Marriage certificate (both notorial copy and original) - I-864 of petitioner with 3 years tax transcripts and job offer letter, I-864 of co-sponsor and I-864A for spouse of co-sponsor along with 3 years tax transcripts, 3 most recent paystubs, letter from current employer, copy of co-sponsor’s passport (proof of US domicile returned and was not looked at or asked for during both interview days) - Original police clearance for both home country and China Went to the cashier window and paid the $230 (note they DO NOT accept Chinese bank cards, someone had to leave and withdraw cash for this), waited for the number to be called again at the original window to give the payment receipt. She stamped the appointment letter with the return at 7:30am tomorrow stamp. They also stapled an EMS slip to be filled out by us and instruction sheet to be returned tomorrow during our interview along with a pamphlet on domestic abuse and further procedure for visa and AOS Waited some more time to be called for finger printing, seemed to take a while to get all the fingerprints completed. Left around 3:30pm Tuesday March 12, 2013 Appt time: 7:30am Arrived around 6:45am, not many people were there yet, but many more lines today than yesterday. They made 2 lines (green dot, and none) along with other lines for what I could tell were just normal visa appointments. They let the people with the green dots in first, then let in the other appointment lines, and then back to the people (like us) that had their letter stamped without a green dot. A little note, people that arrived later than 7:30 with a green dot were made to wait for other lines to be checked). At about 7:45am we were inside the building waiting in a much longer security line than yesterday. It was quite fast, but again I ducked out before the first check. Everyone entered the hall and took an oath, in Chinese, then sat and waited for their numbers to be called. (The VO wanted my husband to do it again in English, but said he did it in Chinese already) The number was called, walked up to the counter and the VO greeted my husband first with a good morning, do you remember me? My husband said yes, she said, yeah I finger printed you yesterday, I remember you. And from there the conversation took off. She scanned the bar code and waited for the case to come on the computer. He handed our passports, she returned mine without looking. She then asked about the relationship, will he live in this state? Where? The VO was from the same state so they shared some commentary on that. She also seemed to review the documents from the intake yesterday as she asked if my husband came to live with me in November as stated from dates on the police certificate (he clarified with other documents). She asked if we had pictures, my husband handed her a binder with both wedding and relationship pictures, which she loved, and commented on the colors of our wedding, traditional dress, etc. The VO was very friendly and commented that our file was very organized and she’d never seen a file like it before. She then half jokingly said, oh, are you a member of the CCP, my husband said no. She then said CONGRATULATIONS!! took the EMS slip and handed him an APPROVAL LETTER with his case number and Alien number, the copy of EMS form, and instructions on how to pay the $165 online before entering the states, and our original marriage and population cert. 10:40am he walked out with the approval My husband said he enjoyed the talk with the officer so much that when he came out he told me that she didn’t ask any questions…then later said she was quite sneaky with them! He also noted that a lot of people seemed to have received the blue slip and knew of some denials as well. My advice is to stay calm, get your ducks in a row, and you’ll be fine! 2 days later EMS states the package is in the sorting center

First post and I really wish I would have discovered this site MUCH earlier... Quick background: I met my Chinese wife when I was living in Chicago and she in Netherlands, as we work for the same MNC. My wife is a Chinese citizen but had been living in Europe for 5 years or so. We got along well, started dating and making several visits (me to NL and China, and her to US). in 2008 I found a job in Amsterdam within our company so made the move and we lived together ever since. In 2009 we were legally married in NL, and had a church ceremony wedding in Hong Kong. In 2010 our daughter was born and is now a US citizen via Consular Report of Birth Abroad. In 2010 we filed the 1-130 in Amsterdam and it was accepted. We received all the paper work and were informed to schedule an interview with the immigration officer. At that time, our company announced major investments in China, which meant job opportunities for us so we decided not to continue with the immigration process and moved to China instead (job market in US wasn't so good anyway). We've now been in Shanghai for 2 years living together and are ready to start the I-130 process again as we're ready to move to the US, with baby number 2 on the way Taxes: I was a good US citizen and filed my taxes each year. Since 2009 I have only had foreign-earned income that is less than the $92k threshold, so it's always qualified to be exclued. No taxes owed to US gov't and none owned to me. However, after we were married I filed as "Single" for tax purposes as for married it required a SSN which my wife doesn't have. Any status I used wouldn't matter because I have no US income and my foreign income is definitely lower than the threshold. Looking through these threads I think technically filing as "single" was not right. Although no impact on taxes owed or paid I'm worried that this stupid little technicallity may create a problem doing the process in China as opposed to when we started it in Amsterdam. Would a simple letter explaining my rationale for using "single" be sufficient? I understand the "single" might create an issue for bonafide marriage but I have loads of other evidence to prove it is real. And I did file my US taxes honestly and faithfully, but maybe not technically correct when I read more on this forum. Appreciate your comments. Steve

All, I'm another newbie to this situation needing some practical advice. I've considered retaining an immigration atty, but my concern is they'll always paint a worst-case scenario in order to encourage me to use their services. Quick background: Been living/working in China for 5 years. Met my wife about 5 years ago, have co-habitated for over 4, got engaged a year ago February, and married in December. In October of last year I was downsized by my company here in China. Have been looking for (good paying) work since, but found nothing so I'm planning to accept a position I've been offered back in the states (Georgia) and relocate. And I want my wife to go with me, of course!! She has previously travelled to the US 3 times on a B1 visa, which is currently valid and will remain so through June. So, I have a multitude of questions because of the variables. The biggies are: - From everything I've read, it looks like I should hurry up and submit the I-130 here in Beijing before I return to the US for work. My one concern is filing before I start the new job and showing up as unemployed for my current employment. Since the G-325A just asks for month/year I'm wondering if filing during the same month I'll start back in the US will do the trick. - Alternately, if that doesn't work, could I file in Beijing on a return visit. I'm planning to switch my Z visa to a Spousal visa (as the spouse of a Chinese national). While waiting for all this to settle, she'll have a place here in BJ and I'll be stateside, so I'll be running back and forth between both countries. - As many of you probably know, co-mingling finances or bills here is pretty difficult. Kinda no-such thing as a joint account, joint bills, etc. For the I-130 what is common documentation of joint residence/property/resources that others have successfully submitted or would recommend? We own an apartment in Wuhan, but its all in her name, of course, because of property ownership laws and the difficulty for a foreigner to get a mortgage here. - For afadavits is there any weighting of the types of folks I get them from? Are local business leaders or members of the American Chamber of commerce more valuable than friends or family? Landlady? (Also helps show joint residence I'm thinking?) - Any other advice on good "relevant documentation" to submit with the I-130 to establish ongoing marital union? - I've read others talk about documents of financial support, etc... is that to go with the I-130 or for the future interview in GZ? - Related to her having a B1 visa, a couple of folks have suggested that instead of doing the I-130 here, she go to the US on a legit business trip, but then we apply to have her visa status changed from the US with an I-130 and I-485. I'm a little concerned about this route pissing off Uncle Sam, though. Any thoughts or experience with this? - If we submit an I-130, will she lose her B1 visa and be unable to travel to the states for her work? And lastly, assuming we go the I-130 route, filing here before I leave, what's a realistic average time frame to expect from time we file till she can actually come to the US? Is there any avenue for her to come during the interim for visits/vacation, or will I always have to come back to China for us to actually see one another? Appreciate any advice, tips, etc... its all completely overwhelming, especially when combined with impending relocation, new job, etc. Charlie

Wow, what a long time, after almost 1 Year (filed in 1/19/12), the I130 for my wife and daughter finally got approved. It was a long brutal wait, but now it is up to NVC processing. Now I will concentrate on those topics.

I'm in the process of helping my brother fill out the I-130 form for his spouse in China. As far as I know, she doesn't have an English name, and her name is printed in Chinese characters on the marriage certificate. How do I fill out the I-130 form for her name and address? Do I have to get them translated? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

My boyfriend has just proposed to me and now I need to decide whether we should get a fiancee visa and get married in US or if I should go to China and get married there and then bring him here as my husband. I understand that fiancee visa may be faster, but my concern is that I am significantly older than my boyfriend. Will this raise a red flag for a fiancee visa?

Going for the CR-1 & 2. My new wife was actually born in Viet Nam. Her Chinese parents lived there when most of their kids were born. 2-3 children died there. Parents move back to China. They go to the government to register all the kids. They get the birthdays mixed up with her dead sister. They don't bother to register the dead. She has a document showing she was born in a Chinese city in China with the wrong birthdate. Her and her parents were told by the Chinese government that there is no way to correct the birthdate. She has no way to get any record from Viet Nam, if one even exists. So, I am thinking of just getting the translation of the birth paper showing all in China. If I mention all this mix up Viet Nam business will that open a can of worms? On all documents she has in China it has the wrong birthdate and she just keeps it going that way. Only a Guangxi has a work record book showing Viet Nam as place of birth, but that is over 5 years ago, and we don't have to report that. Also that is only because she told them she was born there. Again no Chinese government record, although that book is a record since all her work career has been with a province or a team, civil servant. ONTHE OTHER HAND, I like to be honest. But man if one cannot get records? What to do? (maybe it is a way to get her true birthday on American records? Not that it matters to either of us.) Any advice is appreciated.

I am pretty sure of the answer but again want to make sure I pass along the correct info to someone else. Once the son is over 21, the USC husband cannot file for them but rather the Chinese national mom must. Can they do this as a 'conditional resident' or do they need to be a 'permanent resident'? And I know that if the chinese national files it is probably 7-8 years (?) and if they become a USC that filing would shorten to the time for USC, maybe 4-5 years?

Here is what I have sitting in front of me ready to put into individual plastic folders with labels and give to the Beijing Dept. of Homeland Security desk when they email back our appointment date: USCIS forms I-130 form with attachment because our address didn't fit in the space they provided G-1145 E-notification of application/petition acceptance G-325A form for my wife with attachment because the addresses wouldn't fit in the form G-325A form for me with attachment because the addresses wouldn't fit in the form I-130 from filled out with attachment for our address because it wouldn't fit in the form Documents to prove my U.S. citizenship: Copy of my birth certificate Copy of front page of my passport Documents proving marriage bona fides: Photos of our relationship including the time we dated, our wedding, my wife's pregnancy, and our son's birth Marriage licenses Copy of son's birth certificate (CRBA document issued at Beijing embassy since he was born in China) Documents to prove my residency in jurisdiction covered by Beijing American embassy to be eligible for direct filing: Photocopy of the residence permit in my passport Photocopy of my last entry into China showing I've been here the required six months Questions - do I need a cover letter with a table of contents? Does or should our marriage licences be translated into English by a company that provide notarization? Any other advice about our petition that you think is missing or should be included?

I have dual citizenships, Hong Kong and USA. I am trying to file DCF GZ. I have been working in China for the last few years, but I do not have anything to show my residency. Since I am a Hong Kong citizen, I do not need a visa to work or enter China, I enter China with my Hong Kong ID Cards, thus I do not have any stamps on my passports. I am just wondering if there is anyone, or know of anyone in a similar situation, and what did they do to show residency? I been exchanging emails with USCIS, but I feel like I am talking to a robot, it takes a couple of days each exchange, and I never get my question answered. Thanks.

Hey all.....long time no see! Well.....after waiting for a very long time for a decision in our case. I did, in fact, move here to China last year in September with the assumption and hope that USCIS would approve the petition within a few months at the most (silly me). Here it is 1 year later and still nothing. All I get every time I call is "Your case is pending and is currently being processed". I am told every time that if a decision has not been made within 3 months to call back. For those of you who do not know, we have been going through all this heartache because of the fact that I am a convicted felon from 10 years ago (no it was not for domestic battery or any violent crime). I even waited for 1 year for the FBI to complete a background check on me before they returned our case back over to USCIS in May of this year. So, here is the issue I am wondering about now. With a case currently pending with USCIS at the Vermont Service Center, and my criminal history, would we be able to do a DCF in Guangzhou? I have more than met the 6 month residency requirement, but I am concerned about my current petition and my criminal history. The form to file for the DCF is only the I-130, which does not ask about the petitioner's criminal history (when we filed the I-130 for spouse visa in 2009, it was required to file an I-129F form as well, which DOES ask about the peitioner's criminal history). Basically, would I need to/be able to withdraw my current petition at the Vermont Service Center, and them file a DCF in Guangzhou? Since it is a DCF, would they do a background check on me or just my wife? Also, would they be able to get on their computer and see that I had a petition pending at the VSC and ask why I withdrew it and/or see that I have a criminal history? Anyway.....since I have no idea when/if USCIS will make a decision in our case, I was wondering if we could file a DCF since I have lived here with her for more than 1 year. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

My wife's been here over a year now, and she met a Chinese lady who recently came on a CR1 visa. This lady friend wants to bring her 15-year-old son to live with her in America, and I told her husband to write to the consulate asking about follow-to-join from what I read. The husband wrote the consulate: Dear Consulate, I am very happy that my wife (XYZ) is adjusting very well in America this past 3 months she’s been here. Now that she has settled down well, we would like to start the process to bring her son (my stepson), ABC (DOB: xxxxxxxx), to live with us in America. I understand he can come with “follow-to-join” eligibility. Please advise what I should do next. The consulate replied: Dear Mr. Z: The follow-to-join case must be filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Upon approval of the application, the case file will be forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for processing. This office will start processing the follow-to-join visa application as soon as receiving the physical file from the NVC. Since we don’t have a petition regarding your stepson's visa application at present, we suggest you to contact either USCIS or the NVC if you have any questions. From what I read, a follow-to-join process starts with the consulate. If that's not the case, how does one start the process? File a new I-130 for the child? Any advise? Thanks! Bobby

Hi folks, It's been a few years since I last posted....the disappointment and humiliation of my GF's (now wife) 2nd B2 visa denial in Beijing really took the wind out of our sails. Since that time we got married (2 yrs next month) and relocated to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where I currently work. We've been together for 6 years and still no chance for her to visit the USA and now that we're married I know that a B2 visa is out of the question. Looking for any solution I consulted an experienced American immigration lawyer in BKK who covers SE Asia. His advice was to go the CR-1 route, that she'd get the IV visa and then just use it to vist the States, then surrender the green card (since we're not actually immigrating) and that would prove non-intent to immigrate making it easier to get a B2. Such is the convoluted logic that this process brings about. So......good advice, really bad advice, practical advice? Has anyone here gone this route? Just wanted to visit, got an IV then didn't actually immigrate? In case you are wondering....we've already applied....we were case complete at the NVC on Aug 14 so just waiting for an interview date which we expect to be assigned any day now (for interview in HCMC....by the way, my wife is Chinese) What has me worried now is proof of immigration intent and domicile. The lawyer downplays this....just need an address in the states...only need to show reasonable intent to immigrate within the validity of the IV. While I am looking for employment back in the States it's not likely to happen in the next 7 months anyway. I work here in VN, don't own a home in the US (using my mother's address to receive mail, etc). I have a valid driver's license, bank account, my children from a previous marriage live there (which is my main motivation for wanting to repatriate anyway) etc....would like to bring my wife back so I can get her name on my bank account, etc. So....are we going to be denied for this? Needless to say.....a rejection this time would be devastating....my wife thinks America is already effed up as it is with this process (how come it's so damn easy for me to live in China but she can't even visit the US) and my only hope to convince her otherwise is a chance to show her how lovely the States really is. of course, the thing that makes it worse is that I try to follow the rules and she hears all the time from other Chinese how they manage to lie/finagle their way to a visa of some sort. so it's frustrating..... anyway......would appreciate your comments and moral support.......thanks Regards Will

SO recently obtained citizenship,and is now wanting her parents here.Not that they are desparate or anything,but that I as well think it to be a great idea,as they are 80+ in age and we miss them.SO has been here (and working) in the states 6+ years and she has'nt seen her parents since leaving China.We both have been too busy working to have allowable time for any kind of quality visit (in China),and you know how time flies. I guess what I'm getting at is it looks like we're faced with a "strategy" in order to do this,reminding me very well of the "stratedy" of getting my SO here (K-1=guicker here vs. marrying her there in China and waiting longer (greencard granted).In which both ways have the same result-legally living here. I know that the I-130 is the first step.But we are trying to decide whether to file them as visitors,then once here, file for permanant residence.Or file as immagrants on a family basis. My inclination is to file them as visitors,but it seems they need to provide alot of documents (house,bank,etc. statements) guaranteeing their return to support the vistor visa-in which would have to be mailed to us by them,then mailed by us along with I-130 to USCIS.But also on the other hand,filing them on family basis (immigration intended),all we have to do is show basically is that we can support them.

Well i can already see I'm going to have GOLD thingies before i know it at this rate. As some may know I'm helping my sister in-law and her new guy with the paper work I-130 ( Could be a red flag right out of the gate) For the last few days i have been searching CFL for up to date info. Most current (That i could find was 2009-2010) and most were White slips. I understand the process is faster but is GUZ still saying NO!!! This guy ( Sister in-laws future husband) is a very nice guy BUT lives back in the stone ages. He is very smart and has a great job. The thing is, He has a real problem with technology (Computers, smart phones, web cams and so on) and this is why I'm doing everything for them. (another red flag) How he found my sister in-law in the first place? God only knows! I could really use some help from current members and or the ones that just finished the process. don't matter, K1, K3, CR1, IR1 what ever. I could also use some current info of front loading. Back in 06 when hong and i stared this process i only gave what they asked for and nothing else. We back loaded on interview day. ( kitchen sink,) and it worked, Kinda. ( See time line) As i said most current info is from 2009-2010 and most if not all were for a INA 221(g) not a valid relationship. I would love to here from ya all what is going on with GUZ now days 2012. Thanks. Mike