IR1 DCF -- Interview next week, questions about the process!

[thelocaldialect]

Note that this thread is dated 2017, except for the Most Recent Posts

 

 

Hello all

 

I filed IR1 DCF for my husband on March 23rd. Turned in the DS260 the following week, and got an email last week that we could schedule the interview. The whole thing happened extremely fast, much faster than either of us were expecting! We scheduled his interview for May 25th, which makes the process for the whole thing just a bit over 3 months.

 

My main question is regarding the trip to Guangzhou and the interview process. I keep seeing references on this site to "document intake date" etc., but am I correct in surmising that this was the old process, and now we do not need to schedule a separate appointment for document intake, that it will happen before his interview? How about paying the fees that need to be paid before the interview? Are those also paid just before the interview itself? He will go to Guangzhou and do his medical exam this week, which should give him enough time to get the results in time for the interview.

 

Presuming the interview goes well and they ask for his passport, any idea currently how long it will take before he has a visa in his passport?

 

I'm sure this has been asked loads of times already, so apologies in advance if I'm being redundant, and thanks for any clarity you all can provide!

Edited May 8, 2020 by Randy W (see edit history)

[chickadee]

Hello! You (well, your husband) will submit document, pay and have an interview at the same day. Make sure you have enough money or bank card (just RMB; Master card or Visa, if I am not mistaken).

It may take one-two weeks to get your passport back.

 

Good luck!

[thelocaldialect]

Thanks!!

 

Husband did the medical check and here is something to be aware of:

 

If you haven't sent the e-mail to the medical center with the two forms attached, they are making sure you do this now, and won't let you take the medical if you haven't sent it. And, you have to send the forms back in .doc form, not PDF. I sent PDF, because there is a signature line, and you can't sign a .doc, right? Well, I got a call from my husband that morning when he was at the medical center, and they needed me to resend the forms because their (ancient?) computers could not open PDF. So I sent them, and they opened them, problem solved. However, if they hadn't been able to reach me my husband would have been out of luck. His interview isn't until next Thursday so we have plenty of time anyhow, but an easy enough issue to avoid if I'd known not to send a PDF.

[Randy W]

Thanks!!

 

Husband did the medical check and here is something to be aware of:

 

If you haven't sent the e-mail to the medical center with the two forms attached, they are making sure you do this now, and won't let you take the medical if you haven't sent it. And, you have to send the forms back in .doc form, not PDF. I sent PDF, because there is a signature line, and you can't sign a .doc, right? Well, I got a call from my husband that morning when he was at the medical center, and they needed me to resend the forms because their (ancient?) computers could not open PDF. So I sent them, and they opened them, problem solved. However, if they hadn't been able to reach me my husband would have been out of luck. His interview isn't until next Thursday so we have plenty of time anyhow, but an easy enough issue to avoid if I'd known not to send a PDF.

 

 

Microsoft Office .doc (or .docx) files can accept images, just like PDF's. Likewise, any PC can open PDF files if they have installed software which supports it (also true for Microsoft Office files, but most Chinese Windows installations come with Microsoft Office pre-installed).

 

So it simply depends on how their computer was set up.

[thelocaldialect]

I'm just used to sending most documents in PDF form, and I figured for such an official type thing, the more secure the better? But anyhow, nope, .doc only! At least as per whoever was manning the intake window that day.

[thelocaldialect]

My husband passed his interview today -- very quick interview, guy didn't even look at the pictures my husband brought, just asked a question about how we met, asked where we would live in America, thumbed through the documents, paying particular attention to our "return plan" letter, and gave him a pass. Very straightforward, but our case was not complex. Married 10+ years, 2 kids, no party affiliation or other red flags.

 

In front of him was this poor woman had actually been living in America as an illegal immigrant when she met her husband and was now trying to go back legally. She had gone to Thailand, and then from Thailand took a boat to Mexico, and crossed over from Mexico to America illegally and lived there for many years. Wild. My husband said they kept asking for her passport and she said she gave it to the "snake head," and the interviewer couldn't figure out what she was saying until they got someone over to explain that "snake head" is like the Chinese version of a coyote. They didn't reject her outright, but wanted more documentation.

 

Anyhow, next step entering America!

[dnoblett]

Good to hear, yes, it should be a cakewalk in your situation.

 

As for the illegal immigrant, sounds like they are listening and more than likely demand that they file an I-601 for a hardship waiver of the bar on entry.

[Randy W]

Congratulations!

 

Congratulations !!

[thelocaldialect]

Thanks all!

 

My husband was super nervous, having been turned down for a tourist visa a few years back, but seeing that illegal immigrant in front of him get not rejected outright gave him more confidence. He said that all the Chinese applicants in line listening to this exchange were all looking at each other like :yikes: pretty surprised, both that America was entertaining her petition, and that this woman was actually trying to do the right thing and correct her status. I think at that point he realized that they actually will eventually approve most married people since the idea is to keep families together and you can't keep citizens out of their own country.

[tsap seui]

My husband passed his interview today -- very quick interview, guy didn't even look at the pictures my husband brought, just asked a question about how we met, asked where we would live in America, thumbed through the documents, paying particular attention to our "return plan" letter, and gave him a pass. Very straightforward, but our case was not complex. Married 10+ years, 2 kids, no party affiliation or other red flags.

 

In front of him was this poor woman had actually been living in America as an illegal immigrant when she met her husband and was now trying to go back legally. She had gone to Thailand, and then from Thailand took a boat to Mexico, and crossed over from Mexico to America illegally and lived there for many years. Wild. My husband said they kept asking for her passport and she said she gave it to the "snake head," and the interviewer couldn't figure out what she was saying until they got someone over to explain that "snake head" is like the Chinese version of a coyote. They didn't reject her outright, but wanted more documentation.

 

Anyhow, next step entering America!

What a great feeling that is !!! Have a happy life.

[MikeandRong]

Congratulations to you all. 10 years and 2 kids under the belt, how could you or your husband possibly find anything to be nervous about anymore? Hope it goes as smooth as silk for you all here.

[thelocaldialect]

Congratulations to you all. 10 years and 2 kids under the belt, how could you or your husband possibly find anything to be nervous about anymore? Hope it goes as smooth as silk for you all here.

 

After getting rejected for the tourist visa twice, he was convinced America hated him and didn't want him. I told him actually, it was the opposite, America liked him so much that they wanted to keep him, not just have him as a tourist!

[MikeandRong]

Hahaha, touchee!

[loshoshe]

Because there may be a signature line, and you cannot signal a .Document, right? Well, I got a call from my husband that morning when he became at the clinical center, and they needed me to resend the paperwork due to the fact their (historic?) computers couldn't open PDF. So I sent them, and that they opened them, problem solved solution. However, if they hadn't been able to attain me my husband could were out of good fortune. His interview is not till next Thursday so we've got plenty of time anyways, however an clean sufficient issue to keep away from

Edited May 9, 2020 by Randy W
link removed - probable bogus post (see edit history)