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Well folks it is a PINK day!! Both sister in law and nephew pasted there interview. they got in line at 7:45am and where out the door by 8:15am. They where the 7th ones to be called up for interview. They where only asked one question each. Sister in law: How did you meet Bob - QQ Nephew: How old are you - 17 GUZ never asked to see anything else VISA ISSUED! It was a 5 minute interview. I'm not sure what the record is form NOA1 to visa but this case only took 7 months to visa. Sister in law is staying at the yangs and out of the 10 people staying there only 3 got visas today. My hat is off to the Yangs again for all your help. I bow to you Mr yang. Thank you!!!

Well after 149 days, one RFE, one Guangzhou telephone call she has her visa in hand. The price of tickets is fairly low this month so back in America by the 15th of this month. We can relax, well until all the USA stuff starts, LOL!

Hi All. Im very anxious about our upcoming interview. As my name suggests I really wanna go home. My husband and I married in China and we have a baby also an American citizen born in China. I want to raise my baby in America. What are the chances of success (with a child) that my husband can get the immigrant visa if all documents are in order? They wouldn't just deny us right? I can't endure China any longer but I don't want to leave China without my husband. Also if he gets the visa, when must he enter America by? Is it 6 months from the issuance? Thanks in Advance

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?

Hi All, My husband is filing I-130 in US for me and we have been thinking that we are going to show up at the interview together. Is that allowed? Best, Jack

Hey everyone, Proud and relieved to say it: My wife was approved for her visa today, after almost exactly 1 hour from the time she entered the embassy. Her appointment was at 9:40 AM. Quick review of our timeline. We got married on our 1-year anniversary, August 18th, 2014. I DCF'd our CR-1 petition in Guangzhou on September 23rd. Almost exactly 2 weeks later, the petition was approved (though we didn't realize at first, because the email saying as such went into my junk box), and we set an interview appointment for November 20th. That gave us enough time to go to Shanghai for my wife's medical exam and go back to Shanghai to pick up the results (it's insane that they don't just mail those back, btw). We arrived at the embassy later than I wanted to -- about 9:00 AM -- because my wife has a nasty cold and had difficulty waking up in the morning. It didn't really matter much though, because there was no real line to speak of. People just gathered around the gate entrance and grumbled about until their time was called. The guards called "9:40" at about 9:25 (cuz why not) and my wife heard it before I did because I was talking to some old woman about her case, and she scrambled right to the front and got inside before I could even give her a kiss for luck. She waited in the line on the other side of the gate, and I plopped myself down on the small wall that runs parallel to the embassy gate, aside some nervous looking Chinese women. I put on my headphones and tried to concentrate on the new Rick Ross album, which is strong but not a scratch on Mastermind from earlier this year fwiw... At exactly 9:45 I watched my wife get to the front of the line and enter the building. And so I sat impatiently for the next hour with only the sounds of Ross's larger than life coke raps ringing in my ears to keep me sane. Finally, 10:45 rolled around, and just as I was thinking she might be coming out soon, there she was, strolling down the walkway leading out of the embassy, smiling and waving and I know this woman well enough to know everything went as we'd hoped and expected it would. And that was that. Here's the info she gave me about her experience: First she was instructed to give the documents to a Chinese man at the window, where she hit a little speed bump -- the man asked if I lived with my grandparents, who are the ones offering their financial support for this application, and she wasn't quite sure how to answer, because I don't, but they do live in the same general area as my mom. Anyway, the guy apparently was a bit frustrated and said something to the effect of, "You don't understand the question." My wife then went to the second floor to pay the visa fee, where she ran into another small issue: She had only 100 kwai bills and the fee for the visa came to 2,015 kwai. The Chinese teller she needed to pay was apparently frustrated that my wife had no smaller bills, and ordered her to find some from someone else in the room. Thankfully, a man simply gave my wife the 15 kwai she needed, and the fee was paid. Back upstairs, my wife waited for her number to be called so that she could have her interview. Interestingly enough, she was asked a lot more questions than I thought she would be: Who is John? (My grandfather proving the i-864 financial support form)What does [John] do for work?What is your husband's name?What does your husband do for work?Did you meet your husband in Shanghai?When did you meet each other?When did you get married?How old are you?How old is your husband?What language do you speak with your husband?Does your husband speak Chinese?Have you ever been to America?Are you a member of the Communist Party?Do you and your husband have a baby? Whew. She conducted the interview in English by the way, and says the man was "normal," not nice, not mean. After that was all done, the interviewer gave my wife a white sheet of paper, and told her, "Your visa is approved!" She then, at my request, asked the man when she could expect to have her passport and visa back? He informed her about a week and a half to two weeks, and that the CITIC bank we selected would contact us. (On the paper, it says they will email us, not call, so that's interesting.) And just like that, we can finally leave China; be home for Xmas. The end. Unless anyone has any questions? S. Whoops, forgot something. So of all the stuff we prepared -- relationship affidavits from friends, a photo album, copies of the WeChat/Facebook records we prepared for my petition, my passport, a copy of my wife's resume, probably other things I'm forgetting -- none of that was asked for. All that was asked for was the i-864 forms, the attached tax info for those forms, the sealed medical report, and the white books. S.

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

My husband started the process in gz in last Dec., i did my physical examination on may6,interview on may23,visa approved. Currently waiting for the package. Does any one know how long to wait for the passport and last packet? BTW, i got some important help from this website, i am so greatful! I just hope to get the passport asap!

Hey people of the internet~ I’m writing this summery up to kill some time since me and my fiancé have been in “administrative processing” for 5 months now and it’s a lazy Friday afternoon here at work. I’ve been doing some internet researching and with some personal experience that I and the fiancé have went through, I’ll try to sum up this whole thing about the “K1-CCP-mess”. This summary is based on my personal experience and it may be TOTALLY different from yours. When I and my fiancé filed for the K1-visa back in June of 2013, we didn’t even have a clue about the whole CCP party thing until the actual interview when she was asked that question. So that was a big shock for us. But anyway, here are some things we learned afterwards. · Do you HAVE TO leave the CCP party in order to get your visa? · Short answer NO-you don’t have to leave · The blue slip you get NEVER said you have to quit the CCP; I emailed the embassy in GZ and called twice. I answer I got was the same. “Just answer the questions” they never verbally said “yes” or “no”, but always said “follow the instructions and answer the questions”. · I read somewhere and heard a lot of people say that if I didn’t pay my dues for a while (2-3 years) that means I’m no longer a CCP member. · Yes, there is such a rule, BUT reality is totally different · What my fiancé found out is that, if you didn’t pay your dues for a while, your membership status set to “frozen” · “Frozen” means YOU ARE STILL A MEMBER! You just don’t get any CCP member benefits (I’m not really sure what “benefits” mean, but I’m pretty sure you can’t apply for a CCP only job if your status is frozen) · So why not just kicked you out if you haven’t paid for the last couple years? · Simple answer is that everyone is a jerk. It’s actually pretty hard to become a CCP member. So when someone lost their job and can’t pay and gets kicked out, they create a mess and its annoying for everyone involve, so there status just gets put as “frozen” and when they pay again its back to normal. · PLUS, the government collects millions in membership dues, why would they kick people out · CCP status – “the travelling circus” · This part took a while for my fiancé to explain to me, but your CCP membership status “travels” with you · For example, if you join the CCP in college, your CCP membership is with the college. When you graduate and find a job (that also is a CCP member, government job, or any ½ owned government venture company) your CCP status is with your new company/job. If you don’t have a job or lost it, you status with the CCP is then sent to your home address’ district. · So if my CCP status travels with me, how/who do I contact to check my status · The simple answer is to follow the money · You have to pay membership dues, so find out who is collecting it and you’ll get your answer. · If you are in college, its someone in the administration office, if you are unemployed its someone in your district, in my fiancé’s case since she was employed, it was her HR manager. The following is my fiancé’s experience with LEAVING the CCP (as I noted above you don’t have to leave the CCP for K1 visa) So my fiancé approached her HR manager and asked her about the whole CCP thing and how to leave. She basically explains to her that the American government is a “troll” and she’s having a hard time getting her visa approved because she’s a CCP member. The HR manager worked for the company for 15 years and no one has ever asked to leave before, and that she doesn’t even know what the correct company policy was. So the HR lady did some research and called her regional HR director. What did we find out..? Basically in the company’s 25 year of operation, NO ONE has asked for such a thing. It is a shipping/port transportation company that is own ½ by the government. Everyone that works there is a CCP member, except for temps or part timers, but those are the company’s lowest position jobs. Basically asking to leave the party is about the same as quitting the job. But, the regional director did some digging, and found out that is wasn’t that hard to leave. All my fiancé has to do is to provide an explanation in an email to her HR manager. The HR manager forwards that email to the HR director and the director forwards that email to the company’s “upper management”. You need at least a 75% “Yes” vote and that was it. In her case, about 47 management/director level people read the email, and she got a 95% approval vote, some people didn’t reply because they just didn’t want to or on vacation, but there wasn’t a “NO” vote. If you’re thinking, wow that’s kind of archaic, that’s what I thought too. As noted above, your CCP status “travels” with you. Where you end up at, determines how and what method is used to terminate your CCP status. Your college might use a different method, your company may use another, and same goes for your district supervisor. It could be really easy or really hard. There isn’t a main CCP office or building you go to, to put in an application to leave the party. We did run into an issue though. Even if you do get the paperwork that states you are no longer a CCP member, there is a 99.9999999999999999999999% chance that, that piece of paper work will NOT be notarized. My fiancé went to 5 companies trying to get her paper notarized and they all turned her away. Leaving the CCP is still a big taboo in China, and no one will stick their necks out to notarize such a piece of paper. I assume this is the reason why the embassy never said or instructed you to leave the CCP in the first place. But she was able to find a law firm to do the paperwork translation for her. So, we sent in all the paperwork, with the explanation letter and paperwork in. My fiancé expected that she’ll be fired or layoff after this whole ordeal, but she is still there working for the company. She was even promoted 4 months later. BUT, I’m pretty sure everyone’s case will be different. Leaving the CCP in a company that is CCP members only is the same as asking to be fired. My fiancé does the worked that 3 other people does, so there is a reason why her company kept her. Anyway, that is how my K1 application was like. We’re still in “AP” for the last 5 months, so hopefully we hear something soon. I read that the average is like 6-8 months. But if you’re thinking if it is faster if your fiancé left the CCP, I’m pretty sure it will not since it isn’t any faster for me. Hope this summary help some of you folks out since I’m in the same boat as all of you here reading this section of the site.

Below is my fiancee's experience at the interview: 1) The embassy only took form I-134 and my 3 year tax return, plus her police record, proof of not married, and birth certificate. They did not take my employment verification letter and W2's or anything else. 2) The interview lasted only 5 minutes with 3 questions. The visa officer had my fiancee's files on his desk next to his computer. He asked questions and entered data into the computer while thumbing through the files. The questions were (conducted in Chinese): What do you do for work? What does your company do? Last time you were in the US, were you on business or pleasure? What were you doing there?Very easy - no questions about the relationship or me. He also did not ask to see anything. I guess we were lucky that everything went fast and smoothly. I mailed my K-1 app on 5/1 and she interviewed on 8/18. This includes time that had to submit supplemental question because I had forgot to check one of the boxes in the K-1 app. Thanks to everyone that helped answered my questions here. You have no idea what a wonderful service you are providing to others. On to the next steps...

We started our application process in earnest back in September 2013, finishing up in Jan 2014 (pending submission of one more document, probably next month). We've lived in Shanghai since 2004, have been married since 2006, and have 3 kids. Disclaimer: the immigrant visa application process is not static, it evolves, especially recently with the move to the new consulate building and online with ustraveldocs.com. So don't take the story below as a recipe for what the application process should look like; at best, let it serve as inspiration and a rough guide. This first post is the TLDR version; if you want a more in-depth story, jump to post #2 below. MICAH AND JODI'S DCF IR1 VISA ADVENTURE 2013/2014 – TLDR version I-130 Sep 8-9: E-mailed back and forth with USCIS in Beijing and made appointment. Collected these materials: * I-130, signed * Micah's G-325A, signed * Jodi's G-325A, signed * Marriage Certificate Notarial Translation (white book) * Passport photos, with names written lightly on the back in pencil * Rental contract showing common tenancy * Birth certificates of daughters * Photos of major life events together * Timeline of the relationship, including meeting, wedding, honeymoon, birth of children, trips to the US Sep 16-17: Travelled to Beijing, submitted documents. Paid the $420 fee. Sep 23: Received e-mail from USCIS with an attached scanned notice of petition approval, and a follow-up paper copy by mail. * Tip: There are a dozen print/copy shops on Xiaoyun Rd just north of the consulate. * Tip: Don't wait in line at the embassy; show your passport and waltz to the front of the line. * Tip: Deposit your backpack across the street from the embassy. DS-260 Oct 15: Received a phone call from Guangzhou asking for my e-mail address, and ten minutes later an e-mail with instructions for submitting these documents to CITIC: * Document Submission Letter (with download link) * DS-260 confirmation page print-out (filled out online) * One copy of biographical page of applicant passport * Two US-style passport photos of applicant Oct 25: Submited docs to CITIC at 331 Caoxi Rd, Xujiahui Metro exit 5 behind BuyNow. * Tip: Print out *every* piece of communication/documentation/attachment from Guangzhou. Interview Nov 5: Received E-mail from Guangzhou with case number, interview appointment instructions, and a link to a checklist on ustraveldocs.com of documents to prepare for the interview. Began to file back-taxes, find co-sponsor, collect documents on the checklist. Jan 6: Made an appointment through ustraveldocs.com for Jan 23 at 8:45am, the earliest interview date and time available. Jan 21: Travelled to Guangzhou Jan 22: Went to do medical check-up. Prepared: * Printout of P-3 email ("invitation letter") * Printout of the interview confirmation attachment * Applicant's passport * Any previous vaccination records * 5 photos Doors opened at 7:30, checked-in by 8:30, check-up was done by 9:30, report ready the same day at 3pm. Jan 23: Arrived at the consulate gate at 8am, let in at 8:15, lined up outside security for 30 minutes. Wife went in, I stayed outside. Documents submitted: see checklist on traveldocs.com, we went strictly by it. Result: Approved, conditional on submitting a new police report (ours was from Jan 2013, considered too old). * Tip: Make an appointment with ACS for same day so you can go inside the consulate; otherwise, you wait outside. * Tip: Check your bag/phone at the newspaper stand down the street. * Tip: For the consulate -- implement a more secure way for people to check bags, give line priority to babies/kids/elderly, and either prepare more change or use round numbers for the visa fee. Lessons learned Overall impressions carried away from this process: * Just follow the instructions from the consulate. * Don't try to do it all at once. * Keep good records, helps be consistent in filling out forms.

"The National Visa Center has received all documentation necessary to complete pre-processing of your case. As soon as an interview date has been scheduled, the applicant, petitioner and attorney (if applicable) will be notified." My wife's daughter is waiting for the interview at GZ for her visa. Anyone know how long we might expect to wait before they give us the interview date? They sent the above on 5/9/2014 Thanks!

First, some of the info about our story: -Married for 5 years -One Child and a second one is on the way -Hubby has lived with me in China and Japan over the course of our marriage -We are not DCF cuz we were residing in Japan at the time, then we returned to China to get all the necessary documents for the interview. Documents we prepared: -Passport -The Updated AOS package(with 2013 tax returns) we sent to NVC: including Sponsor and Joint Sponsor's I864 and required ID proofs and other evidence(Like w2s, bank statements, etc.) -IV package: All notarized copies of my birth certificate, marriage certificate, and non criminal record, plus my Japanese Police clearance. -2 Visa photos -Sealed yellow envelope of medical report The following docs have NOT been accepted or even looked at( Just to give you an idea): -Hubby's Domicile proof: Job offers, school application and acceptance letter, possible health care for application once we land, research of maternity hospital/OBGYN near where we are going to stay, etc.. -More relationship evidence: A copy of my ITIN from IRS, matching visa stamps, First-born's CBRA, Japanese residence cards, pics over these years, plane tickets travelled together, etc.. -Resumes both in English and Chinese On the day of Interview, 5/27/2014: Appointment was at 8:15am, we got to the consulate at 7:40 and there were A LOT of people there already! After pass the guards in the front, I lined up in the line for immigration visa. Wait, then went thru security check. Then into the next building. Step one: Get a number This was the longest wait actually. You only line up and wait for your turn to the window. Nothing difficult. Then wait in the A Zone. The big screen will show the number and which window to go to. Very straightforward, no mystery here. Step Two: Documents hand-in When my number showed, I went to the window. The staff behind the window was polite, patient, and thorough. I submitted each document as he asked. And he asked if I have brought money to pay for the IV. I answered him I ve paid all the fees when at NVC, and I have brought both payment receipts ( AOS and DS260). He said in his system it doesn't show, but later on, he said it cleared. He asked me two questions: who is petitioning for you? Have you lived in another country than Japan? Then I was sent to B Zone to wait again. Step Three: Interview Just after I sat down, for like not even 2 minutes, my number showed up on the big screen again. I walked to the window, having no idea this was the actual interview. I thought they must have some other questions about the docs, because it was so quick. And For this whole time, I was picturing a room with tables and stuff like that. Till the American Consular Officer took my fingerprints and asked me to swear all these documents and answers are true, I then realized "Crap, this is it!" So he was just looking thru all my documents, with a stern face. Didn't say a word. He literally had NO facial expression whatsoever. He DIDNOT ask me wether I wanted to conduct the interview in English or Chinese, but spoke Chinese the whole time. His Chinese was very good. So I switched to Chinese too. He asked questions: 1. Where are you from? Which city? 3. How many children do you guys have? 4. Have you been to the US? 5. Have you joined the Party? Then he said, your visa has been approved! He gave me a white A4 paper with instructions on it. I COULDN'T believe that was it! I was like"So what do I do now? Do I just leave?" He was like "Yeah!" So I thanked him with gratitude and left! Then I read on the white A4 paper, the first line was "Congratulation! Your visa has been approved!" Then I believed it! So, don't expect a pink slip! The white one does it too as long as it says "your visa has been approved!" That was a short and pleasant experience. I was nervously calm. I had confidence when I went in. So I think if your marriage is legit, and you have the correct documents and they are not expired, you have nothing to worry about. Tips: 1. Organize all your papers into different folders with description penned on the covers. They don't take your folders, so they won't read it. Organize them by yourself, so you clearly know where what paper is! And even if you are freaked out a bit at the window, you can still find your papers by reading the covers. 2. Don't panic! I heard people ask the most stupid and brain dead questions! It's not necessary that you let the nerves get the best of you! You are not committing a crime here, but you just want to reunite with your spouse or family! Nothing shameful! 3. The CGI Stanley staff in red tshirts don't have the greatest manner or attitude when it comes to overly nervous people asking stupid questions. One staff kept telling people to sit down, like preschool teachers, seriously, and "look up at the screen"! To me, she was pretty rude. But it might be the best way to get thru to those nervous folks. They can tell you where the bathroom is, but beyond that, they won't be helpful about any specific documents. 4. Get fully prepared, don't forget anything! You are not allowed to go outside if you have come in to the building. Someone left some paper outside and wanted to go out and get it, but was told by CGI Stanley staff that once she gets out that door, she will have to make another appointment to have the interview. There is no coming in and going out once you are in. A day after the interview, on 5/28, our CEAC status changed from "Administrative Processing" to "ISSUED"!!! Now waiting for CITI bank to call me for picking up my passport!

Yay!!!!! I just went thru the interview and got approved!!! It was super easy and short for me!! I ll write up a post about how it went once we get home. But Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!y A year waiting and wondering if this will ever gets done is now coming to an end!! We were not DCFed. So, it took us a year from USCIS to NVC then to this point. Thank you all for the help and knowledge! Now, the interviewee took my passport and how long do you guys think I will be waiting for the CEAC status changes to "Issued" ? Right now, it is still " Administrative process" updated today!

I just read this! We are not DCF but went from NVC and all cause when we filed last June we were not residing in China. Now we are back. ANyways, Notarization/translation of the beneficiary's hukou???? I did NOT see that on the interveiw instruction!!!! We are interviewing on Tuesday mroning!!! Can someone help tell me if this is a must???

My husband received both a white and pink slip after his April 3 interview. The white slip, which was stamped with the date as April 2 (is this going to cause us any headaches?) states that the immigrant visa has been preliminarily approved, but additional documents are needed before the visa can be issued. The additional documents (listed on the pink slip) needed are related to my residency or the domicile issue. I should add that in fact I did have a letter to prove domicile with a student loan as well as a bank statement attached, however the letter did not provide substantial details about my future employment. In addition, he was explicitly told that they needed a more specific work plan from the petitioner (me). I am submitting my most recent bank and credit card statements, a copy of my driver's license, student loan statements, a letter explaining in detail my intentions for work and the like. Is this enough? Is this a formality or is this the same as administrative processing? Do denials happen after receiving a letter like this? When you submit any documents via CITIC bank, US Travel Docs instructs you not to seal the envelope...can anyone confirm this? I am asking because the hubby's passport will also have to be sent. Are there any fees you must pay to CITIC bank? I plan on taking care of this on Monday, April 7 as we are still on our Guangzhou/Shenzhen trip. I will also do a detailed write-up of my husband's interview once we return to Xi'an. Thanks, Marissa

It's been quite awhile since I've posted around here, thanks to all my questions having readily available answers. Hubby and I had our petition approved on January 23 after submitting it on January 14 in Guangzhou. We have since submitted the DS-260 (P2 packet, correct?) and received the email to schedule the interview. First, it's my understanding that you don't receive the medical exam information until after you have scheduled the interview. Have any recent interviewees had issues getting expedited medical exam results or having the medical exam done the day before the interview? What about the fee? Second, is the hukou, or household registration needed at the interview? Third, my list of items to give the hubby to submit at the interview: - DS-260 confirmation page - my passport (does a copy suffice?) - hubby's passport - passport photos (how many?) - notarial birth certificate - white books (I thought they already collected this...do they want additional copies and/or the red books?) - police certificate - medical exam docs - sponsor's I-864 form (that's me) and last three years (2011-2013) of tax returns (I filed back taxes as I didn't owe anything) - joint sponsor's I-864 form including a copy of her birth certificate, tax transcripts, pay stubs (no W-2 as she just started her job in January), letter regarding her new employment - a letter explaining my domicile (I am also including mail sent about student loans and my US bank account) - originals of photos submitted in I-130 packet (the intake officer specifically told me to have my PDF of photos printed as actual photographs) - additional photos from our wedding and "honeymoon" trip Lastly, I'm concerned about the affidavit of financial support from the joint sponsor. My parents have sent everything via DHL. There are no W-2s (and I can't recall the reason why my mom declined to do so.) My mom just started a new job in January so she has included a letter stating her employment along with pay stubs. Most importantly, they haven't filed their 2013 taxes. Will the VO automatically make us wait for that information? My mom always files at the last possible minute, and we plan on scheduling an interview before the April 15th deadline. Any thoughts on this? I am aware that the P3 packet will provide specific instructions about what is needed and the medical exam, but if there is anything else I may be overlooking, by all means say so. I am really grateful for this forum because I would feel entirely overwhelmed without having some pros to receive sound advice from. A very big thank you in advance, Marissa in Xi'an

Hi everyone. Reading these boards have been very helpful to my fiancee and I but we still have some questions regarding the K1 visa process. We're getting ready for her interview March 10. 1. She got her birth certificate from her local Gong Zheng Chu but no "white book" translation. Can anyone give me the name in Chinese of the translation/white book so I can be sure to correctly convey to her exactly what she needs to ask for? If she asks for bái běn 白本 will they know what this is? They seem pretty clueless thus far. 2. My fiancee has never been married. I've seen mention of certificates stating a person is single are available in China but I don't see anywhere in the K Visa Instructions that such a certificate is required. Is this something she needs to get? Thanks for any help you can give us.

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

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.

My wife and I had our appointment on October 23rd in Guangzhou for the immigration interview. We had everything we were supposed to have all organized nicely. At the interview I had to wait outside with our bags because you aren't allowed to take any bags in and I forgot to give her my bank card to pay for the interview fee and the interviewer informed us that we would have to book an appointment for another date and come back to Guangzhou from Tianjin again because of this very simple-to-solve problem. I was quite upset by this and felt they were very unreasonable because we have a baby on the way and we will probably not be able to immigrate to the US before the baby is born now. So, we are now planning to have the baby here in Tianjin instead and then immigrate with the baby after is it born. But since we already had one appointment that didn't work out as planned we would now like to book an appointment for another interview at a later date but the only dates that are available for us to book are within the next 3 weeks. We are hesitant to schedule an interview during that time for two reasons. First, we feel that if we get the visa now it doesn't leave us enough time to get to the US before the baby is born and would rather just have the baby here. Second, we have booked and paid for a vacation in the Philippines starting November 18th and are worried that she wouldn't her her passport back in time. (The first reason is much more significant than the second) What I'd like to do is either be able to delay the interview to allow time for us to have the baby here or get some kind of extension. But, like I said previously, the only dates that are available for this interview are within the next few weeks and that just doesn't work. This is probably because they already accepted her health exam papers and opened the case. I'm not sure who to contact regarding this and I don't know what my next step should be. I'd really appreciate some advice! Thank you, Darren S. Small

Hello, My husband just recieved a letter in the mail denying his naturalization. I was a little surprised since I did not personally know of anyone who had not passed before. The reason has to do with him being a former CCP member. Below is an excerpt of his letter: On October 5, 2009, you obtained permanent residence status through your spouse in immigrant classification Ir1. USCIS received your form N-400 on June 24, 2013, and on September 11, 2013, you appeared for an interview to determine your eligibility for naturalization. During the naturalization interview and review of your application, the Immigration Services Officer asked you about your involvement in the Communist Party. You stated that you were a member of the Communist Party and that you stopped paying the membership fee since 2008. You also stated that you joined the Communist Party for a better future. According to your statement, you had a been a member of the Communist Party within the 10-year period immediately preceding the filing of your application for naturalization on June 2, 2013. Your membership was voluntary since you stated that no one forced you to join the Communist Party. You did not terminate your membership of or affiliatioin with the Communist Party prior to becoming 16 years of age because at the time you stopped paying membership fee, you were in the age of around 26 years old (2008). Based on the foregoing, you are ineligible for naturalization because you failed to establish an attachment to the principles of the US Constitution and be disposed to the good order and happiness of the US. My questions are these: 1.) The letter goes on to explain how we can overcome the grounds for denial by submitting a Form N-336. The cost is around $600 to do this and it doesn't seem likely the decision will be overturned (but I really don't know how high the rate of overturned appeals are). Has anyone had to go through this process and what more could we possibly say to help his cause? He joined the CCP in his mid twenties for a chance at a better job position (but did not get the job in the end) and said that once someone stops paying their dues after 6 months, they are not a part of the CCP anymore. He stopped in 2009 sometime. 2.) I looked online about non-profit immigration organizations but haven't found very many in the Sacramento, CA area. Does anyone have any experience with these types of organizations and do you think they will help our cause? 3.) My husband doesn't want to appeal because of the cost (it is a lot for us) but I'm afraid this will somehow affect his chance either at extending his 10 yr green card or another try at naturalization in the future. Can anyone elaborate on this? 4.) What do we have to prove with this sentence? He is a law abiding citizen, he pays taxes, he hasn't been in any trouble with the law. I'm really not sure how to interpret this... Based on the foregoing, you are ineligible for naturalization because you failed to establish an attachment to the principles of the US Constitution and be disposed to the good order and happiness of the US. My husband said that when he faced the interviewer, he felt the officer was already in a bad mood and was not friendly in any way. The officer had a thick accent, so when my husband asked if he could ask the same question again, the officer barked that he should be able to understand and answer the question if he wanted to be an American citizen. The officer then asked my husband about the CCP connection and my husband said that a letter had been enclosed in the packet, but the officer insisted on asking him a lot of the questions. I can understand this, maybe he wanted my husband to elaborate on his answers. The officer sent him home with a paper that said he didn't pass the US History portion, We thought we would get a letter asking him to come back for another interview to retake the portion he failed. We were very surprised he received this letter. Based on what my husband relayed to me, I feel like the officer was in a bad mood and chose my husband as a whipping boy. My husband is a very hard worker and a humble person. I know of other people whose character could be questioned and were once CCP members that have become citizens. I feel that this situation with the officer and his treatment of my husband was unfair. Could anyone offer advice, please? Thank you, Christal

Hello everyone. This week my wife arrived in the USA after getting approved for her green card at the end of November. This website has been an invaluable resource throughout the green card process, and I wanted to try to contribute some information in case someone in the future has problems or worries similar to mine and is frantically searching for help on these forums. I also would like to take this opportunity to thank any and all of you who helped us along the way. First, here was our situation. I lived in China from Sept. 2002 to Sept 2012. My wife and I met in 2003, got married in 2008, got her first tourist visa to the USA in 2009, and got her green card at the end of November 2012. I did the Direct Consular Filing (DCF) at the Guangzhou consulate on August 17th, 2012. My wife was approved for her green card on Nov. 30th, 2012, so the entire process took a little over three months, but that doesn't include the two months we spent getting paperwork together for the August 17th filing. So, if you're reading this and thinking of getting started gathering paperwork today, it's going to be about six months before your wife has her green card in hand, and that's if everything goes flawlessly. We had a really bad experience when we first tried to get my wife a tourist visa in 2008 (she was rudely denied after the CO refused to look at any of the documents we had prepared), and as such I have had no faith whatsoever in the people at the consulate who held our future in their hands. Because of this negative experience, I spent way too much time worrying myself sick about things I shouldn't have. Here are some things I was sweating which I shouldn't have. These tips are for men doing DCFs in China for their Chinese wives, not for fiancee visas or people who met over the internet. 1. The best piece of advice I can give you is to tell your wife to get on the Chinese language boards on this website and make nice with the other ladies. They will tell her what forms and information she needs to get, and then she can tell you and you can just do it. The ladies do a great job of helping each other out. My wife was consistently more informed throughout the process than I was. 2. Establishing a domicile is easier than it sounds. If you have a bank account or still receive mail at a family member's house, you'll be fine. A letter from a parent explaining that you and your spouse will be living with them is a good idea. You do NOT need to rent an apartment or anything like that before your wife goes in for her interview. The Guangzhou consulate isn't going to fail you for not proving you have a domicile. 3. You and your co-sponsor MUST have copies of your income tax returns for the most recent three years. For some reason, the government gives you the option of just submitting one year, but they'll deny you if you do. They want three years, so give them three years. IF YOU ARE LIVING ABROAD, FILE YOUR TAXES EVERY YEAR. Many Americans abroad (including me) are confused about whether or not you have to file taxes if you live abroad. Yes, you have to file, but unless you make more than $92,000 per year, you won't have to pay any taxes. Yes, this is stupid. You should complete form 2555 along with your 1040 every year. You do not have to prove your income by sending them a work contract or anything like that; it is strictly on the honor system. Yes, I'm serious. Most tax software programs (like TurboTax) won't let you file electronically from abroad, so you're going to have to do it the old fashioned way and mail it to the USA, unless you have someone prepare you taxes for you in the USA. You do not need a tax professional. 3a. If you have not filed your taxes since you've been overseas, DO NOT PANIC! The IRS doesn't give a crap about you unless you owe them money, and unless you're making more than $92,000 per year, you don't owe them squat. Just file (at the minimum) the last three years (because your wife will need copies of these at the green card interview), and if you haven't filed for longer than that, file up to the last six years you haven't filed (the IRS only keeps the last six years of your information in their computers). File your back taxes now, or at least few months before your wife will go in for her interview. If you have more than six years of unfiled back taxes, you can do any years longer than six years ago later if you want at your leisure. 4. If you do a DCF, remember that the Guangzhou consulate doesn't care how much you make (just that you filed your taxes), unless you have a lot of money in the bank. They care how much your CO-SPONSOR makes. Here's some information about our co-sponsor and the documentation he provided. -Your co-sponsor does NOT need to be a family member. My wife was sponsored by one of my oldest friends. -Our co-sponsor made $30,000 per year the last three years. He supplied the following documents: -Three most recent tax returns and W-2 copies -Passport information copy -The ten most recent weeks of salary receipts from his company -A signed letter explaining who he was and his relationship to me (note, he was NOT a family member) -Completed and signed I-864. That was it. Other people have supplied more information, but that did it for us. One more thing about your co-sponsor. It needs to be someone who isn't resistant do doing this, because the government may request more information from them. I don't believe in karma, but the person doing this needs to have a positive mindset about it, otherwise it's going to be hell for you and them. Find someone who is enthusiastic about you and your wife and ask them. 5. Make sure the correct person signs the correct forms. Triple check to make sure. 6. If your wife can speak English, she will have a much easier time at the interview. 7. You do NOT need a job in the USA for your wife to get a green card if you do a DCF. After I went to Guangzhou and dropped off all our information, I came to the USA to start on the job hunt. My wife stayed in China to finish her driving class and do her interview at the consulate. 8. It took about one week for the consulate to mail my wife her passport with her provisional green card, or whatever it's called, in it after she passed her interview, so take that into consideration when booking flights. 9. You don't go to the interview with your wife if you do a DCF. You go first to start the process, and then she goes by herself later for her interview after you prepare an ungodly amount of paperwork. 10. Unless you live in Guangzhou, getting your wife her green card is going to cost you a minimum of $2,000 for all the consulate fees, the hospital checkup, the plane/train tickets to and from Guangzhou, and the hotel in Guangzhou. Minimum. That's about all I can think of right now with regard to our experience. Just to be clear, I am not an immigration attorney or a tax professional, so use this information at your own risk. Good luck, grasshopper!

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.