Where to file/What to file/HOw to contact GUZ

[Lao Wan Tong]

I hope somebody can help me find the answers to some rather simple questions about direct consular filing in China. I’ve tried repeatedly to get help from the GZ consulate but never get any response other than (phone) “leave a message” or two email addresses each telling me to contact the other. Has anybody had success in contacting the immigrant visa section?

We live in Zhejiang which I understand is not one of the four provinces served by GZ. Yet both GZ and Beijing say GZ is the only office handling immigrant visas. Should I apply in GZ? Do I apply in person? Do I need an appointment? (If so, how do I get it?) During the whole process do I need my own birth certificate?

Of course, I have a million other questions but it would be a big help to find the answers to those so I could at least get the process started.
Thanks
Craig and Yan

[dnoblett]

You wont be dealing with the Immigrant visa section initially, you will be dealing with DHS office located in the consulate.

 

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/cis.html

 

Or in Beijing

 

http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/homeland_security.html

 

Most of the other US Consulates will take the payment, and provide you with the ability to mail the petition to either Beijing or Guangzhou DHS office.

 

MORE:

 

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/topic/37648-do-we-qualify-for-dcf/

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/topic/43200-confused-about-dcf/

 

Look for topics about "DCF"

 

One note you need to show at least 6 months residence in China to file the petition to DHS.

[Randy W]

Direct Consular Filing of I-130 - http://guangzhou.use...iv_faqs.html#B1

 

In general,

IV

petitions must be filed at a regional

USCIS

office in the United States. Some petitioners who have been resident in China for more than 6 months may be eligible to file their petition at the

USCIS

offices in Guangzhou or Beijing, depending on where they live (see below). All K visas and numerically limited visas must be filed in the U.S.

Please note that you need to be a permanent resident in South China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian or Hainan province) in order to file at our office. That is to say that you need to have a Permanent Resident Booklet issued by the Chinese Public Security Bureau Exit Entry Administration and an Employment Certificate and already residing in China for at least six months.

 

If you’ve been resident in China for at least the last six months, and are petitioning for the

CR1

/

IR1

,

CR2

/

IR2

, or

IR5

visa classes, you

can

file a petition at a

USCIS

office in China.

 

 

 

For the Guangzhou consular district (Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Guangxi), contact the

USCIS

office in Guangzhou:

 

 

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

 

5th floor, 2nd annex of Tianyu Garden

 

136-142, Linhe Zhong Rd.

 

Guangzhou, P. R. China 510133

 

Phone: (86-20) 8518-7651

 

Email:

cis-guangzhou.inquiries@

dhs

.gov

 

 

 

For the rest of China, contact the

USCIS

office in Beijing:

 

 

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

 

Beijing Kerry Centre, South Tower Office

 

Guang Hua Road No. 1

 

Suite 2320

 

Beijing, 100020, China

 

Phone: (010) 8529-6740

 

Email:

DHSBeijing-CIS@

dhs

.gov

 

 

 

Note that the Beijing

USCIS

office is open to the public by appointment only. See

for more details.

 

 

If your Chinese residence falls under the jurisdiction of a different consulate USCIS office, please check with them for their specific requirements.

 

The USCIS Public Service window is located at the Guangzhou consulate, to the left of the visa interview windows. As of Dec., 2009 public service hours are from 13:30pm to 15:00pm every Tuesday and Thursday.

 

The USCIS is the branch of the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) which processes visa petitions (which is what you will be filing). The DOS (Dept of State) is the branch of DHS which processes visa applications - a petition approved by USCIS is forwarded to the DOS at Guangzhou, and allows your wife to file a visa application.

Edited June 10, 2011 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Yes, you do need your own birth certificate or other proof of citizenship

 

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/i-130-petition-for-alien-relative.html

Edited June 10, 2011 by Randy W (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

Yes, you do need your own birth certificate or other proof of citizenship

 

http://guangzhou.use...n-relative.html

 

Other proof of US citizenship would be the US Passport used to travel to China.

[Randy W]

Update on GUZ's USCIS office hours -

Please be advised that starting January 1, 2011, our public window opens from 8:30am ¨C 10:30am on Fridays only. Immigration forms can be downloaded from our website at www.uscis.gov

 

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/cis.html

[Beachey]

We live in Zhejiang which I understand is not one of the four provinces served by GZ. Yet both GZ and Beijing say GZ is the only office handling immigrant visas.

 

You need to deal with the Beijing USCIS located at the US Beijing Embassy initially. You won't deal with Guangzhou until after your I-130 is approved.

 

Here is the link to the USCIS office in Beijing. Send them an email as they are pretty responsive. DHSBeijing-CIS@dhs.gov

As Dan mentioned above, you might be able to pay the fee at the Shanghai consulate (I think that is the closest one to you) and send the I-130 to Beijing. However, the process is changing on August 15th and while it appears there may be no effect on China you might want to ask USCIS Beijing depending on your exact timeline.

 

Good luck.

[Lao Wan Tong]

Thank you, all, for your help!

 

It looks like I will have to mail my application to Beijing after paying in Shanghai. Does that mean mailing (EMS) original documents such as passport, birth certificates, marriage books, permanent residence book, etc. to Beijing? Or, can the copies be certified at Shanghai while we wait. We're worried both about loss of original documents (Will EMS replace them?) and also about being without my passport for so long a time. (I assume most Americans living in China would submit passports as proof of citizenship.)

 

 

For the Guangzhou (and I assume this would be the same for the Beijing) office it says,

"Submit originals of the following:

...........

b. Proof of U.S. Citizenship of petitioner,

c. Proof of termination of any prior marriage(s) for both the petitioner and beneficiary,"

 

All I have is a court certified copy of my divorce settlement and I could get a certified copy of my birth certificate. Will they accept certified copies in lieu of originals?

 

I've lived in China since our marriage 22 months ago but we may actually leave to live in Malaysia while we wait for the interview and then fly back. After the initial application will I need to show that I am a resident of China? Will I need my permanent residence book? Do I have any physical contact with the USCIS?

 

Thanks, again for your help.

 

Craig and Yan

[dnoblett]

You will mail photo copies of all evidence docs.

 

http://pbr949.photobucket.com/albums/ad334/dnoblett/Immigration%20Stuff/I-130Copies.jpg?t=1306366338

 

I-130 instructions.

 

Plain ordinary photo copies, no need to be certified coopies.

 

Need to be resident when filing petition, and show residence to Shanghai when filing. In many cases US citizen returns to states to reestablish US domicile which WILL be needed for the visa interview. You will need to show have maintained a US domicile in order to sponsor an immigrant to the US.

Edited June 10, 2011 by dnoblett (see edit history)

[Lao Wan Tong]

Thanks for that!

 

I'd also like to ask,does my stepson go on the same I-130 as my wife? Can I submit 1 set of my documents for both beneficiaries and bundle everything together or do I need two separate submissions?

 

Craig and Yan

[dnoblett]

Thanks for that!

 

I'd also like to ask,does my stepson go on the same I-130 as my wife? Can I submit 1 set of my documents for both beneficiaries and bundle everything together or do I need two separate submissions?

 

Craig and Yan

 

You need to file a separate I-130 for step child, to get the child a (CR-2 or IR-2) visa. Marriage needed to happen before step child's 18th birthday, and needs to be filed prior to 21st birthday.

 

Treat them as two petitions, so two sets of documents, one set for each petition.

 

Again photo copies of documents are fine.

Edited June 13, 2011 by dnoblett (see edit history)

[Lao Wan Tong]

Hi Dnoblett,

 

Thank you very much for your help!

 

Craig and Yan