Voluntary CCP Membership

[homerjay1011]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm new to the forums. I just joined after I was reading interview questions for Chinese K1 Visa applicants and saw the question about the communist party, which made my stomach drop to say the least.

 

My fiancee joined the communist party this winter/spring (her senior year of college) to put on her resume in hopes that it would help her get a good job following graduation. At this point, we were not engaged and she did not yet have plans to live in the U.S. She has not ever participated in anything CCP related since joining, no meetings, no nothing.

 

I'm worried because she did so voluntarily. She may have had pressure from her family and school, but I'm still concerned.

 

Additionally, she has not been working since graduation. She came to the states to live with me and meet and spend time with my family before returning to China in August. Since then, she has remained unemployed and has begun studying for her GRE in hopes of attending school in the states at some point in the next few years.

 

Has anyone experienced this situation before? If so what were the results?

 

Should she leave the party now? I doubt she will have any proof of doing so, and she hasn't been employed.

 

I'm extremely worried and sad about the whole situation. I just don't know what I should do to move forward. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

[Greg.D.]

Everybody joins voluntarily, so don't sweat that. They look more favorably if it has been 5 years since someone has quit the party, but being a member is not fatal to immigration.

 

Yes, it is bothersome. There are questions to answer while applying for the visa and can add 3 months or so to the time required to get a visa. If she arrives on a fiancé visa and applies for the green card here, she has to answer the same questions and be subject to another background check (and possible denial).

 

Very very hard to get proof that one has quit. I think my wife tried to get such proof and a shocked and scared clerk at her old school said it was impossible. My wife felt that by not paying dues she would be kicked out (as all the letters threatening her for not paying her dues had promised) and she had some trouble when she went to get her transcripts.

 

Sure, even to most members of the party it is a joke, but it is taken very seriously by USCIS. And, for good reason.

 

Going forward: she has to write down her narrative to the beSt of her recollection and make sure all the facts line up because she will be asked about it multiple times. And, as is true for every aspect of her immigration project, she must and should be truthful at all turns.

 

Yes, she has to include a resume in her application but there is no crime for not having had a job yet, though she can get something now, even with GRE coming up.

[Greg.D.]

Oh, and re your question "should she leave the party now?" - why wouldn't she? Now that your timeline includes her having met you I don't see how it is justified to stay and claim later she only joined for practical reasons.

 

There is a Chinese language wechat group for AP (administrative processing) which is what she will be in after you guys file your application.

[Randy W]

CCP Membership Issues

[homerjay1011]

Thanks everyone!! That makes me feel sooooooo much better. We'll have everything prepared walking into the interview, and hope that everything goes super smoothly!

[Greg.D.]

And, you didn't ask, but - having done the K1 route - I would recommend getting married and applying for a spousal visa. Esp with the com party in the background. Because, like for us, you have to walk the gauntlet again when adjusting status to get the green card ... and exposed to being denied on grounds that didn't block you from getting the K1 visa (CCP and backgruond check).

 

And, it is cheaper. Here in Denver, where adjustment of status (getting a green card) can take 10-12 months, it's a wash, time-wise.

 

Otherwise: good luck!

[homerjay1011]

Unfortunately, we went the K1 route and submitted at the end of July. Oh well! What's done is done!

 

Finger crossed everything goes smoothly!

 

Thanks again for the help and reassurance! It certainly eases my mind a bit!

[homerjay1011]

So we're quickly approaching the interview, and as such we're both starting to get nervous.

 

I started worrying about the letters we prepared regarding her CCP membership. We used the letters in the CCP Essay document as a sort of template and I'm worrying if that will be an issue. We obviously edited and added to it to make it more relevant to our particular situation, but I still get a little worried. What do you all think?

 

Also is it really necessary to prepare the I-601 at the interview stage for a K-1? I would think that usually comes into play at the stage of AOS. Which leads me to a follow up question, when we file for adjustment of status, should we go ahead and include the I-601 at that point?

 

Thanks as always everyone! I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the help!

[homerjay1011]

I also realized that I do not have a personal check to attach to the I-601 should it be needed at the interview stage. Is she able to pay in cash in RMB?

 

Thanks!!

[dnoblett]

It is very rare for the consulate to demand or require an I-601 for CCP, they simply interview and approve pending higher approval for the CCP, they place the case into administrative processing and the consulate requests an aproval from DOS Washington, then a monh or so later will request the passport turned in so they can affix the visa in it. CCP Waiver is pretty much automatic.

 

Study topics tagged CCP Waiver I don't recall anyone ever having to do an I-601.

 

I-601 has more to do with other hardships such as a bar on entry for an overstay in the USA.

[homerjay1011]

Hey dnoblett! Thanks you so much for being so incredibly helpful! That certainly assuages my worries a bit.

 

Honestly from all the experiences I had read regarding CCP membership, the result is what you said. I just was re-reading the CCP essay on the forums and noticed that had listed to prepare the I-601.

 

Fingers crossed we don't have to deal with any administrative processing, but we're certainly prepared for it should it be the case.

 

Thanks again!!