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I am filling out theDS-260 Online information page - in place of the old DS-230 form and the website keeps asking me for an Invoice ID number. I have looked over all of my information, especially the e-mails and letters from NVC (which informed me that I can now schedule for an interview) and I cannot locate the Invoice ID number anywhere. So, my questions are many-fold: 1) Where can this number be found and how do I request for one if it was not included in the information I have already been provided? 1.5) Is the Invoice ID number only given to me once I have paid for the interview? 2) Also, the payment for the interview and application, must it be paid before going in to the consulate for an interview or can it be paid in the consulate itself prior to interviewing? 3) Last question - do I need to complete the DS-260 form prior to scheduling for an interview or can I schedule an interview first without completing the DS-260 form, as I have only used and submitted the DS-230 form before?

Hello all, Just a quick update and alert that the Guangzhou consulate now requires the beneficiary to fill out and send a DS-260 along with a copy of the photo page of the passport and two US-sized passport pics. After that's completed, the consulate then sends instructions on setting up the visa interview (in the meantime, we're collecting the necessary documents). It took us about a week to get the I-130 approved, and a month to get this notice from Guangzhou, which has the case number. I'm hoping we're a pretty straight-forward case as we've been married almost nine years and have a child, who is a US citizen. Question -- is the expedited service at the Citic branch on Financial Street reliable/worth it? And does anyone have experience with these new steps? How long is the wait for the instructions on setting up the visa interview? And here's to hoping the government shutdown in the US doesn't occur. Best, Jennifer

Effective this past Sunday (9/1), the NVC universally requires use of online forms DS-260 and DS-261, replacing the DS-230 and DS-3032 respectively. This includes EP cases. http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions/news/news_4413.html

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

Hello, On the DS-230, block 44 it asks if you had assistance completing the apllication. Is that frowned on if my fiancee beneficiary does not do it completely by herself? The form cannot be saved and she has no printer. She knows no place to go and do it. So I have been emailing her back and forth asking her what to put. I will print and send to her and we'll put in block 44 that I assisted her. Hope that's ok?

I have received the NOA for my wife and I'm waiting for the NOA for my step-daughter. What documents do I do need to file next? I am currently working on my I-864. Do they mail the P3 packets or do you download the forms. If you down load the forms what forms do I need to download? Bubba

Hello Everyone, My wife's interview is coming up in two days and although I am pretty confident about the completeness of the required documents, I just want to double check. Again, this is an awesome forum and you guys have been so helpful. Thanks again. Just a little background info: -Been working in China since 2008. -Got married (registered in China) in 2010. -Brought my wife back to the U.S. with me for our wedding. -Started the DCF process in Oct. 2012 -Scheduled her Immigration IR1 visa interview for Jan. 22nd And here's my checklist: 1. Appointment Letter 2. Beneficiary passport bio page 3. U.S. Visa Photos x6 4. Nortarized birth certificate 5. Nortarized marriage certificate 6. Nortarized police records 7. Evidence of financial Support (I-864 form) I-864 from me A letter explaining why I did not file for tax return 8. I-864 from my dad (joint sponsor) I-864A from my mom Tax returns from my parents (W2 and 1080) Proof of employment from employer Mom and dad's passport bio-page 9. Proof of domcile U.S. Credit card statements U.S. driver's license Student loan statement U.S. Bank statements (with both my name and my wife's name) 10. 50 photos of us, with family and friends (from 2008 - 2012) 11. Our plane tickets for the U.S. trip in 2012 12. Medical exmination packet (sealed envelope) and x-ray film THAT"S IT! Questions: 1. I read somewhere that at the document intake, you'll have to bring the ORIGINAL DS-230 and sign it there? Well the thing is, we sent in the original DS-230 (without the signature) as instructed (Packet 3). So I'm a bit confused about this. 2. So during document intake, they take what they need and tell you if you are missing anything. And then the next day, you come in and wait for your interview. BEFORE your interview, they give you BACK your documents? How will you 'hand over' what the VO asks for during the interview. (Sorry if this is a stupid question). 3. Document intake is shceduled at 12:30, would it be okay to arrive 2-3 hrs before? 4. I don't see a time for her interview with the VO; should she arrive really early just so she can get in front of the line? (I'll have to catch a flight in the late afternoon). I'm sorry for all these questions, I just want to know what the proecedures are so I don't freak out if she's late or something. I'll be in GZ with her the whole time. The next two days are gonna be the longest days of my life! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

My wife received her NOA and Packet 3 from Guangzhou last week. We are preparing the required documents and filling out the OF-169 and DS-230 form. Here are the documents that are listed on the OF-169 form and what we're planning on doing about them: MAILING ADDRESS LABEL: Pretty self-explanatory here. Get a return address label so that Guangzhou can send Packet 4 to us. Status: Check marked. PASSPORTS: Wife's passport is valid for a couple more years and she has no expired or cancelled passports, which from OS-169 asks for if they exist; good to go here. Status: Check marked. SIX PHOTOGRAPHS: Six 2x2 unmounted full-face colored photographs with white background and glossy paper. Status: Check marked. TRANSLATIONS: Documents we'll be getting translated: marriage certificates, birth certificate (see below for details on this - my wife wasn't issued one at birth), police report Status: Check marked (but with caveats - we have not had my wife's birth certificate or police report generated yet.) BIRTH CERTIFICATE: As stated above my wife was not issued a birth certificate at birth - however her family's household registry (hukou) is available and accurate. We will be taking that to the notarial office in my wife's home city, along with her mom as a witness, to have a certified document prepared. In addition we will be having my wife's parents provide an affidavit which we will have translated and notarized. Status: See TRANSLATIONS and BIRTH CERTIFICATE sections (but check marked so we can get on with the program) POLICE CERTIFICATES: Same deal here. My wife has called the police offices in her home city and made sure that she will be able to procure one of these. It'll be translated and certified at the notary office at the same time as the birth certificate and affidavit her parents are making about her birth information. Status: Check marked COURTS AND PRISON RECORDS: Left unchecked - my wife has never been involved in litigation of any kind, convicted of a crime, or spent time in a correctional facility. MILITARY RECORDS: Left unchecked. My wife has never been in the Chinese military. EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT: A couple questions here: we have a co-sponsor who has already filled out the I-864 form and sent photocopies of her tax transcripts. At the interview how many I-864 forms are we submitting? One that I fill out as the petitioner, the one our co-sponsor has filled out, and...does my wife need to fill one out too? At any rate - Status: Check marked MARITAL STATUS DOCUMENTS: We will have our marriage licences translated by the notary office (again) in preparation for the interview. Status: Check marked ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS: It looks like they're asking for more evidence of our relationship here? In that case we'll come with our son's birth certificate, passport, and photos of our relationship including of our wedding, her time spent in the USA with my family and I and...anything else that would be beneficial? Am I understanding this section correctly? Status: Check marked CUSTODY DOCUMENTS: Not applicable. Status: Left unchecked RESUMES: The OF-169 form indicates that if my wife's profession requires a large and complex array of skill and/or education then to include a resume. My wife has a bachelor's degree in English and was a teacher when we met (currently a homemaker). We'll include one anyway. Status: Check marked VISA EXTENSION NOTICE: Not applicable here Status: Left unchecked OK - I am sorry for the length of this post but it helped to get everything written out. It helps for me to organize things - sorry to have to subject you to it! If there is anything I have left out or that you think would be beneficial to know please do chime in - I'm hoping that the above is good enough. The only issue that I can see is that we don't actually have the birth certificate/affidavit thing sorted out or the police check completed. Our plan is to get the Packet 4 and interview date and then head to my wife's home city to have it done. Then from there just go to Guangzhou. Is that wise?

Part one asks for e-mail address, should a person use the e-mail address you use for NVC paperwork or own personal e-mail address? LiYuan put her own personal address, curious if this is ok. Thanks in advance Paul

Hi All, My fiance and I are very confused about this part of the DS-230. She is a graduate student and has had several 1-3 month internships for different companies during her past six years of college. These are your tyical Chinese student internships where they give you a monthly stipend (1,000RMB) to offset travel and apartment rental costs. Do these count as employment in the eyes of the consulate? Should we be listing them? Any insight would truly be appreciated. :-)

The forms are from the K3 packet for processing a K3 visa. On the DS-156 form how to answer question 26?How long do you intend to stay in the US? Should the wife write down forever? I know this form was made for people traveling, business or going to school in the US. What is the most common answer in our case. On question 22. When do you intend to arrive in the US? Well, we have no idea since we don't know if the Visa will be approved or not and they strongly advise against buying plane tickets until the visa has been approved. Two more question that is on DS-156 and DS-230. "Do you intend to work in the US? I think we should write down No, since it asks for a employer and address, not sure though. In what occupation do you intend to work in the United States"? Is it best to write down some professional field? I'm not sure how the wife should answer this since it's kind of hard to predict what will happen. We will be filing the AOS when she arrives in the US, so it will be sometime before she even thinks about working if she choses to do so.