China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Newbies Corner => Topic started by: Gus on January 17, 2018, 02:58:09 pm
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Has anyone here, gotten married and then had to wait months and months for the I-130 (USA) period? What did you all do in the mean time? How many times did you travel to visit your bride in China? Did you meet somewhere halfway (if your wife has a passport and visa)? Lihong and I Wechat twice a day, but it is not the same. I know we have to wait for the slow government to take it's sweet time, but oh.... I am so anxious to be with Lihong. Do you experienced people have any suggestions that are better than Wechat? It is difficult to take time & finances to go visit every month or so, and even then it just feels rushed, and is a strain to have to meet in a MAJOR Chinese area, because the travel time is quicker? Maybe I'm just a cry baby, and impatient, or looking for good advice from my fellow China Romancers about your experiences, waits, and anything else you can shed light on. I love reading the insightful replies, the humor, and knowing some of what I may have to be on the look out for, or watch my step with.
as always, thanks in advance and be well.
Gus
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Pretend you've known each other for 7 years and go about your current daily lives. The time will pass quickly.
Mark
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I think I did something wrong on your post Mark... Sorry 'bout that.
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OK, another wait question: Just read this on USCIS...
K-3/K-4 Nonimmigrant Visas
If you are a U.S. citizen and you filed a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative for your foreign spouse who is abroad, you can also file a Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). This is the first step for your spouse and his or her children to obtain a visa to come to the United States while you wait for USCIS to make a decision on the Form I-130. Historically, you and your family members might have been separated for some time while waiting for a decision on your Form I-130. Congress sought to resolve this problem by creating K-3 and K-4 nonimmigrant visas to shorten the time your family would need to spend apart. However, because USCIS now takes less time to adjudicate the Form I-130, the current need for K-3 and K-4 visas is rare.
My Form I-130 has been accepted, but the YSC service Center is still only processing applications received in April 2017. Mine did not get accepted until Oct 2017. Does this apply to me, so that Lihong may get to the USA sooner, while waiting for the I-130 to be processed? This is so confusing, and time consuming.
HELP, lol.
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Gus, just be patient! Currently the IR/CR1 visas currently have a total processing time of 13 months versus 16 months for the K-3. The IR/CR1 visa is cheaper and has more benefits including the ability to work and travel abroad without filing additional forms. Once you get your NOA2 from USCIS and NVC receives your case you can switch over to electronic processing which is way faster than traditional processing. Here is the current processing times for YSC as of today.
Regards, Robert
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Thanks Robert, Patience is probably NOT one of my strong points. I did see after I posted the new YSC service times. July... What is an NOA2 from USCIS? Ufffff, I never figured it would take so long to have my wife join me. :)
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Thanks Robert, Patience is probably NOT one of my strong points. I did see after I posted the new YSC service times. July... What is an NOA2 from USCIS? Ufffff, I never figured it would take so long to have my wife join me. :)
NOA2 is the approval letter/receipt from USCIS/Service Center. Your case will then be forwarded to NVC to begin processing the visa. Once you get your new case number from NVC you can rock and roll then.
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Well, I am off to Shanghai tomorrow, for a quick whirlwind rendezvous with my sweet Lihong. Let's hope my cell phone works this time, so I can have some mobile google translate. See you all when I return.
Gus
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Well, I am off to Shanghai tomorrow, for a quick whirlwind rendezvous with my sweet Lihong. Let's hope my cell phone works this time, so I can have some mobile google translate. See you all when I return.
Gus
Try this app, Hostel world. they are a hotel booking company but they have the greatest translation app I have ever found. Once it is on your phone click the icon that looks like lips. Choose the languages to-from. then tap the mike and speak. You will be surprised.
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Wow, thanks!
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OK, My payment has been accepted by NVC CEAC... Now on to submitting my forms and waiting for Li Hong's interview in Guangzhou. Any guesses on the interview wait time, from you experienced members? Any advice on what to do when the interview is complete and we fly back to the USA? How long should I allow for customs in our first USA airport for Li Hong, with a new visa and first time entry etc.
I am so tired of the typical military style game of Hurry up and wait... LOL
Gus
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OK, My payment has been accepted by NVC CEAC... Now on to submitting my forms and waiting for Li Hong's interview in Guangzhou. Any guesses on the interview wait time, from you experienced members? Any advice on what to do when the interview is complete and we fly back to the USA? How long should I allow for customs in our first USA airport for Li Hong, with a new visa and first time entry etc.
I am so tired of the typical military style game of Hurry up and wait... LOL
Gus
If you file all your forms electronically then your interview date will be set by NVC, which is usually the fastest way to get an interview. The other option is attempting to stay awake at night waiting for an opening to be posted on the CGI interview schedule (which usually fills up quickly as soon as the month's open dates are posted)P.S. These opening are posted China time resulting in many late nights waiting for any available interview slots. As far as time to clear customs I would allow at least 4 hours to clear customs and make any connecting flights. I would rather have to find ways to kill time waiting on a plane than miss my flight due to a long customs line or airport interview. Yes, she has a visa but the customs officer can still conduct an impromptu interview stateside if they desire. Better to have plenty of time just in case so she doesn't get nervous about missing a connecting flight and blow her customs interview because they can deny her admittance to the USA and turn her around.
"NVC schedules appointments one month in advance. The U.S. Embassy tells us what dates they are holding interviews, and NVC fills these appointments with cases in the order they become documentarily qualified. Most appointments are set within three months of NVC notifying you that you are documentarily qualified. However, we cannot guarantee or predict when you will receive an appointment. Keep in mind that if you are applying in a numerically limited (preference) visa category, before you can receive an appointment your priority date must also be “current.” This can delay receipt of an appointment. You can track your priority date using the online Visa Bulletin (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html)."
Robertt
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Thanks Robertt,
Yes ALL forms have to be filed electronically (or at least that is the way I read the site directions). I agree about rather killing time in an airport, than missing flights completely. I appreciate the thoughts about connecting flights. I know, this is just another step in the long USCIS/NVC process, but I am happy it feels as if I can finally see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. From what I can gather on different sites about Guangzhou consulate, it seems to be taking about 6-8 weeks from NVC filing.
Any advice from you members AND / OR wives about making the transition from life in Liuzhou smoother upon her arrival, to the early days/weeks/months of life in the USA?
You guys have been such a nice help. Thank you for everything.
Gus
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Good Luck Gus.Just remember take it one day at a time,
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One day at a time is all we can ever do. Thanks Maxx :)
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OK... Just got our NVC Guangzhou appointment date for 13 September! Wow, what do I need to know now, what should Lihong expect (aside from the vague NVC website info/FAQ's) pages that I have read and re-read a thousand times. Any advice for our travel to USA? Words of wisdom from you experienced husbands? Any thoughts from your beautiful brides that I can share with Lihong? Please chime in with LOTS of comments, I need all the encouragement and wisdom you ladies and gents can muster.
Thanks, thanks, thanks in advance and for all the helpful advice (and all the jokes and humor).
Another step closer.
Gus
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Gus.. I do not know if anything has changed since my Jing's interview Dec2011 (your "..any advise
for our travel to the USA", I take that as you will be in Guangzhou also. Enjoy the moment!) Jing's
interview went well, but she returned home & received her visa about 8 weeks later. I do not know if
anything has changed since then.
On her arrival to the states, Jing suffered home sickness. This does happen! You had better have the
time to be with her for this! A few days after Jing's arrival, I took her to a Chinese association in
Spokane, Wa. That was good for her.. a few hundred Chinese on a Sunday morning get- together. This
worked well for awhile, but it went to shit within a couple of weeks. A few hard core Christian zealots
had a problem with Confucians. The local Chinese restaurants were a put off.. not Chinese enough. Turns
out that our favorite go- to restaurant was Japanese for their Sashimi.
Anyway, I wish you and Lihong all the best!
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Good morning John,
Thanks for the great words of advice. Sadly business will not allow me to accompany Lihong to Guangzhou. According to USCIS website it usually takes between 3-10 days for the actual visa to arrive, so that is good to know (although very frustrating) that it could be up to 8 weeks, before we can travel together from Liuzhou to CT.
I have been looking for Chinese support groups/activities in my local area to help ease Lihong into life in the USA. I am glad it can be useful, sorry to hear it can also be pushy and over bearing by some. We are only 2 hours from NYC China town, so I thought that might be a good trip. I also hear that a neighboring town has an excellent Chinese/Asian market, so that may also be helpful.
This board has been a wonderful resource for me. Do the wives have a similar board, where they can chat, ask questions/advice, complain about Western husbands and getting used to life in a different country?
Thanks for the reply, and I look forward to others chiming in when they have the time.
Be well,
Gus
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Only 2 hours from China Town would be a good thing to travel to once in a while. We have talked about going on a trip there but syill havent gotten it done.
My wife enjoys going to asian market but it is about an hour and a half away so we dont get there often. The one thing Linda has enjoyed is getting her driver license and having a little independence. That took a while too! Like John said spend as much time with her as you can to help get settled in.
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Kenny,
Thanks for the excellent info. Our local Asian market is only 25-30 minutes away. We also have a very small Asian market in town, so who knows. China town, yes we actually land at JFK, and I was wondering if we should take a trip and visit Chinatown before we head to CT, or if I should wait until loneliness sets in, and then go to visit Chinatown.
Drivers license... oh oh LOL. Another woman driver (sorry if that is too sexist, I couldn't resist)
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Keep the tips coming guys.... I so enjoy reading all the posts, and words of advice.
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Gus,
almost the magical moment!
if I were you, think Lihongs travel plan. it is a long flight and probably a couple transfers. probably jet lag. exhaustion. whatever the unrealized if realized. a long Lihong day.
also, Lihongs immigration time is an unknown factor. on my Jing's arrival, I had to wait another 3 hours for her to complete the immigration.
I was thinking maybe you should consider Lihong's flight plan that allows her to arrive earlier in the day. also, if I were you, I would stay in a hotel near the airport. spend some time in N.Y. for Lihong to decompress and recover.
just a couple things for you to consider.
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John,
Thank you for the advice. Lihong and I will be flying into JFK together. It WILL be a long trip, 20hours plus whatever happens at customs/immigration. There is only one flight option for us (that makes sense) arrives around 3:00 in the afternoon, so maybe a hotel is a good idea.
I so appreciate this board, and your replies.
Thanks,
Gus
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Lihong was approved yesterday at her visa interview! FINALLY after months of paperwork, waiting, more paperwork, more waiting, now all we have to do is wait foir the visa and passport to be delivered to Lihong. Then I can make our travel arrangements and begin phase 2 of our journey. How long did all of you have to wait for the visa to be delivered? I have read online anywhere from 3 days to 8 weeks! Lay some time line comments on me gents... tell me your stories about wait times for the big day.
Thank you so much for this site, forum, advice and humor.
Best,
Gus
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Not sure I remember how long but it was more than 3 days but not near as long as 8 weeks.
Linda's interview was the end of March, had to get more info took another month and her and Ziwei arrived here in late June.
I think she took a little time to see family to say goodbye after she got visa but it wasnt long at all.
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Thanks Kenny... Still no word from Lihong on her visa/passport being delivered. We just keep playing the waiting game.
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I think she took a little time to see family to say goodbye after she got visa but it wasnt long at all.
come to think about it, Jing's visa did not take as long as 8 weeks. sort of like Kenny said..'she took time to say goodbye'. there was no way Jing was to leave her family in China just a few weeks prior to Chinese New Year.
this was almost 7 years ago.
as I recall, it is just a simple review of the documentation Lihong brought with her. the visa will then be mailed to Lihong to her Chinese address.
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Thanks John,
I am going to travel to Liuzhou to bring Lihong back to the states with me, so I was wondering if there is a time frame I should be looking at. We will spend time w/Lihongs family in Liuzhou before flying to Connecticut. Just trying to figure if it will be September, October, November or later.... LOL
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Well Lihong got her visa notification today that it is ready to be delivered. I am off to Liuzhou tomorrow at midnight. We will spend a week together in Liuzhou visiting family, preparing to re-locate, and with Lihong packing, saying goodbyes etc. We return to CT USA a week from Friday. Wish us luck, and once again thank you to all for the advice, and encouragement. This forum has been an enormous help, as have all the members.
Here's to good health, good fortune, and happy mid autumn festival to all.
Gus
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hey Gus, good news from you!
the easy part is done.. 哈哈哈
when you get stateside, be ready for whatever.
it will be a whole new ballpark for Lihong.
wish you all the best!
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Thats great news. The real challanges are ahead. Be prepared for a year or more delay for adjustments in status and green cards.
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Just an update. Spent a lovely week in Liuzhou with Lihong and her family, and safely returned to the USA yesterday. Late night red-eye flight to JFK, a few hours of shut-eye, then trained home to CT. Lihong is settled in and sleeping, and we are finally here together. Here's to the future.
Gus
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Gus, are you okay? you haven't come up for air in 6 weeks or so. how is your life these days?
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John,
Thanks for checking in on me. I check the forum daily, but seldom see new posts. All is FANTASTIC here with Li Hong and me. We are settling into a very sweet harmonious married life together. Li Hong's English improves daily, my Chinese not so quickly. We face daily challenges together in good stride (food choices, tastes, lifestyle changes, fashion, weather, etc.) Finding Li Hong has been such a wonderful, joyous event in my life, and I hope she feels the same for her life. We laugh often at the Google translate description of phrases. We are now waiting on the mysterious time frame of Green Card arrival, or what is next in the government paper work game.
Always a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful forum.
Best,
Gus
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Time always seem to drag by slowly when waiting.
I cannot believe that I have been on this forum for so long and that I will soon be celebrating tens years of marriage.
Willy
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John,
Thanks for checking in on me. I check the forum daily, but seldom see new posts. All is FANTASTIC here with Li Hong and me. We are settling into a very sweet harmonious married life together. Li Hong's English improves daily, my Chinese not so quickly. We face daily challenges together in good stride (food choices, tastes, lifestyle changes, fashion, weather, etc.) Finding Li Hong has been such a wonderful, joyous event in my life, and I hope she feels the same for her life. We laugh often at the Google translate description of phrases. We are now waiting on the mysterious time frame of Green Card arrival, or what is next in the government paper work game.
Always a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful forum.
Best,
Gus
Gus, Have you already paid the Immigrant Fee? The Green card will not be issued until that fee is paid! Here is a link in case you haven't paid the fee!
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/F4en.pdf (https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/F4en.pdf)
Have a good day! Robertt
If you have already paid the immigrant fee it usually takes about 45 days for the card to arrive in the mail!
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Congrats Willy!!!!!
Yes, paid the fee. The website says it takes between 3 weeks and 120 days. Government efficiency, LOL.
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I cannot believe that I have been on this forum for so long and that I will soon be celebrating tens years of marriage.
Willy
Congratulation on a Decade of decadence Willy!! For us it will be 10 years come Dec 25 that I proposed in Sanya. Talk about a gamble :o this Dec 25 we will be in Vegas testing again, my gambling ability! 8)
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All is FANTASTIC here with Li Hong and me. We are settling into a very sweet harmonious married life together.
Always a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful forum.
Best,
Gus
Best wishes for the two of you coming into the festive season.
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Thanks Rhonald, and same to you & yours.
Gus
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Still waiting on Green Card (ufff it seems all we do is wait for paperwork)
Any suggestions from you veteran forum users on the first Christmas in America for Lihong and me? Any suggestions as to celebrating Chinese New Year in February?
Lihong is learning English very quickly and adapting to American living very well. I am still struggling with learning Chinese but make slow & steady progress.
Happy holidays to all.
Best,
Gus
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Dont get discouraged. The USCIS is not the most efficient government agency we have.
My son and his wife waited about 1.5 years to get the interview and another 4 month for the green card.
My daughter waited 11 months from application to issuance of her certificate of citizenship.
You can check the processing times at your local USCIS field office. They will post the application dates that they are working on at the moment. Depending on what form/application you filed it will be handeled by a particular field office. https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
For instance now it is December. If I look up form N600 application for citizenship processing at the Denver office I will get the response .....8.5 Months to 11 Months Application for recognition of U.S. citizenship January 27, 2018 So they are about a year behind schedule
If her visa is close to expiring then you should make an appointment to speak with an immigration officer before it does.
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Gus,
I hope all is well with Lihong and you.
yours was a good story. how goes your life nowadays?
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Hi John,
Married life w/Lihong is WONDERFUL, thanks for asking. I think I am jinxed with paperwork though. Lihong's Green Card has never been delivered, MULTIPLE calls/emails, and finally a meeting with my local USCIS field office, promising to re-send all the info... basically just more waiting time. USA immigration has to be the slowest, most difficult part of a loving relationship. Lihong's English is getting better and better every day, she is adjusting nicely to American food, shopping and way of life. My Chinese is progressing slowly, but all in all, we couldn't be happier and made for each other.
Hope all is well with you & yours, and ALL the members of this wonderful site.
Gus
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;) :)
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The official Green Card has FINALLY arrived. Yay!!! 7.5 months from entry/payment to delivery!!!! Wow.
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Okay guys,
Why did no one tell me that 07 August is Chinese Valentines Day? More flowers to buy for Lihong ... LOL. Hope all is well with everyone here. Just FYI it is 25 August 2020 for next year, if anyone else is in the dog house with me. ;)
Gus
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Gus,
this site is asleep.. so, your patience is respected.
put it this way. think every month, there is a Chinese holiday of some sorts.
then again, each Chinese holiday is based on "moon time"... as you are aware
of China's 'floating' Valentine's Day (& do not forget 14Feb.. that Western holiday
also must be observed).
I am in China for a bunch of days now. the Mid- Autumn Festival began on the 13th this year.
Think Moon Cakes! Family! Eating!
Again, every year the Mid- Autumn holiday is a different date.
I think we get a date reprieve on 1Oct, China's National Day. That kicks off the "National Day
Golden Week holiday" the following week.
be advised, Christmas comes into play too.. Chinese do like our celebrations that have a lot of
festivities with lighting displays, & gift giving... remember the tradition of giving Red Envelopes?
Money is what lights up the Chinese psyche.
China has lots & lots of holidays as you must be now aware & as an added bonus they have adopted
a lot of Western holidays and traditions too.
all this is meant to confuse alot of American husbands who live on the eastern seasboard
of the U.S. ???
so, every year you must be observant, celebrate & pay.
or make it easy.. give your wife your debit card. :'(
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LOL... the debit card!
Yes, I am trying to stay ahead of the curve on the holidays. For me, it is wonderfully fascinating to know so much more of the wonderful Chinese traditions and culture. Lihong and I are teaching each other each day. Thanks for the heads up and reply John, I appreciate it. So far Lihong does not LIKE most US holidays, except for every holiday the husband must give a gift, or red envelope, but she says the holidays are too short, and we don't get enough time off for holidays. Have a wonderful safe journey.