cisco10s Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Hi from steamy GuangZhou. Summer's interview was today and we survived the process. Lessons learned: 1. The P4 instructions say to fill out the OF-156 in duplicate. What this really means is to bring back four DS-156 forms, two in Chinese and two in English. It also means the same for the DS-156K and DS-157. The good news is that the Consular officer allowed Summer to complete all the extra forms on the spot (We only filled out the English versions). Other people were given a slip and allowed to fill out the forms and then get back in line. 2. The K-1 Visa is a Non-Imigrant Visa. However, one K-1 instruction sheet indicates that it is an Immigrant Visa. This is good news because the K-1 fee is only 830RMB (vs. about 2800). Also K-1 does not require vaccinations. 3. The instructions do not mention the "Family Composition Sheet" although one is included in packet 4. Several white slips were given for this problem. 4. Main lesson learned: fill out all forms in P4 just in case. Today's process: We arrived at the check in point at 6:50 am for an 8:30 appointment. We were about the 30th in line! The guard needed to see a passport and an appointment slip before we could enter the que. At 7:50 we were both allowed into the staging area. Shortly there after we were sent to the consul. Summer went in and I was directed to wait in the alley near the White Swan. At 10:00 am Summer was released with an slip indicating that her next appointment was at 2:30 pm. Some people we released with white slips that indicated a problem with the forms. Summer says that her interviewer was a little harsh and criticized her penmanship. The officer collected most of her foms (but not the Affidavit of Support). At 1:45 pm we lined-up for the interview session. We both entered about 2:15 and she entered the line for the building at 2:20. At 4:45 she came down the alley with a white slip. The white slip says "Visa Approved" and that we must return the following business day at 4:00 pm to pick-up her passport with VISA. She said that the officer asked her over ten questions. He collected the Affidavit of Support and her passport. He only asked to look at her pictures. I met six K-1 couples today and all received the white "Visa Approved" slip. Good luck to all other couples! Party Time in GZ!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment
Patrick & Li Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Congratulations Terry & Summer, Aint life grand! Thanks for all your information, Makes me better prepared. Patrick Link to comment
frank1538 Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Given the fact that Jingwen is scared stiff about the interview, these tidbits are like nuggets of gold. Thanks. Congratulations to you both. Link to comment
Mick Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Congratulations Terry and Summer. Sounds like now that they have completed the remodeling, the drill outside is a little bit different now. Really glad you guys made it through ok. Link to comment
tonado Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Congrats with the visa. Link to comment
francine Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Hi from steamy GuangZhou. Summer's interview was today and we survived the process. Lessons learned: 1. The P4 instructions say to fill out the OF-156 in duplicate. What this really means is to bring back four DS-156 forms, two in Chinese and two in English. It also means the same for the DS-156K and DS-157. The good news is that the Consular officer allowed Summer to complete all the extra forms on the spot (We only filled out the English versions). Other people were given a slip and allowed to fill out the forms and then get back in line. 2. The K-1 Visa is a Non-Imigrant Visa. However, one K-1 instruction sheet indicates that it is an Immigrant Visa. This is good news because the K-1 fee is only 830RMB (vs. about 2800). Also K-1 does not require vaccinations. 3. The instructions do not mention the "Family Composition Sheet" although one is included in packet 4. Several white slips were given for this problem. 4. Main lesson learned: fill out all forms in P4 just in case. Today's process: We arrived at the check in point at 6:50 am for an 8:30 appointment. We were about the 30th in line! The guard needed to see a passport and an appointment slip before we could enter the que. At 7:50 we were both allowed into the staging area. Shortly there after we were sent to the consul. Summer went in and I was directed to wait in the alley near the White Swan. At 10:00 am Summer was released with an slip indicating that her next appointment was at 2:30 pm. Some people we released with white slips that indicated a problem with the forms. Summer says that her interviewer was a little harsh and criticized her penmanship. The officer collected most of her foms (but not the Affidavit of Support). At 1:45 pm we lined-up for the interview session. We both entered about 2:15 and she entered the line for the building at 2:20. At 4:45 she came down the alley with a white slip. The white slip says "Visa Approved" and that we must return the following business day at 4:00 pm to pick-up her passport with VISA. She said that the officer asked her over ten questions. He collected the Affidavit of Support and her passport. He only asked to look at her pictures. I met six K-1 couples today and all received the white "Visa Approved" slip. Good luck to all other couples! Party Time in GZ!!!!!!!!!!congradulations!!!!!! Link to comment
bobmal99 Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 See all your worries went for naught!!!! Congratulations!!! Link to comment
wolf Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Congradulations Terry and Summer, and thank you for all the information. Link to comment
sacman24 Posted September 2, 2003 Report Share Posted September 2, 2003 Congratulations and I am sure that this information will help my fiancee who has her interview on 9/3...hopefully we will be as fortunate as the two of you.... Link to comment
skrunks Posted September 3, 2003 Report Share Posted September 3, 2003 congratulations..we barely missed you. Interview was today..oh yesterday. You're not wasting any time on the marriage! Direct to las vegas and the chapel! Lin is more sedate in her processes, wants to do the grand tour with all her relatives, box up, ship out and come out west in 45 days or so. no amount of kibitzing on my part has shortened that timeline. Oh well, she's leaving her country.....not the other way around. BUT! Congrats to you and g'luck at the casino tables in vegas. B) Link to comment
cisco10s Posted September 3, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2003 Thanks for all of the congratulations. A quick update. We hung around GZ for the three day weekend. The white slip says to return the next business day at 4:00 pm to pick-up the Visa (and passport). Knowing how the line up process works, we got to the entry point at 2:45 and we were about 25th in line. They let the folks in about 3:30. At 4:05 pm Summer returned with her Visa and a sealed envelope (one corner is exposed) containing her paperwork. We are planning a wedding dinner Friday night in Nanning. I get to wear a Chinese wedding coat and pick up the tab for about 45 people. I think the bill will be about 3200 RMB, not that bad. We will still drive straight from LAX to Vegas for our wedding. I can apply for the license on-line from China. Many, many thanks to Owenkrout for the tip on the GZ Night Zoo. It was fantastic. Later, Link to comment
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