China Romance
All About China => Visas, Immigration and Emigration => Topic started by: shaun on April 27, 2010, 05:49:04 pm
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I am filling out the I-129F. It is somewhat comprehensive but I have a few questions.
I noticed that if the information for the field is to long there is a arrow I think showing there is more information. I printed out a copy of the I-129F and it does not print all of the information in the fields. How do we handle that missing information? Do I need to write it in by hand on the original?
Secondly when I came to question 18 it was looking for an explanation of how Peggy and I met. Wow. A person could easily shoot themselves in the foot on that one. It would be helpful is some of you who have been successful to post what you wrote. Mine is a little basic so as to not cause any traps. I hope!
I wrote, XINJIAO AND I FIRST MET ON THE WEBSITE CHERRY BLOSSOMS. WWW.BLOSSOMS.COM. WE BEGAN TALKING IN OCTOBER 2009 DAILY FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK THE TWICE DAILY ON WEBCAM DAILY. IT WAS SELDOM THAT WE DID NOT TALK. APRIL 1, 2010 I ARRIVED IN SHENZHEN, CHINA AND SPENT 10 DAYS WITH XINJIAO. I ASKED HER TO MARRY ME DURING THAT TIME AND SHE SAID YES."
Short and simple. Are there any comments?
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Shaun good job short and to the point.The only thing I would change is Put your ladies last name.It should read Xinjiao what ever.
Are you going to do the affidavit.I would the affidavit tells the story of how you and your lady met.And put the dates of the letters and the web cams.Also put in the the dates of when you arrived in China.And what you did.If you traveld threw China you should put that into..
It should look something like this. I wrote the first letter to Xinjiao on Oct 10 2009.Xinjiao wrote me a letter on Oct 11 2009.We wrote letters back in fourth on a daily bases for( How ever long till the web cam).And then we had are first web cam chat on (Your first web cam Chat date Here)We wrote letters on a regular bases and had webcam chats daily.
On April 1 2010 I traveld to shenzen China to see Xinjiao.We spent ten days together.Traveling around Shenzen sight seeing and spending time together. on ( Your proposel date here ) I asked Xinjiao to marry me she said yes.So we spent the rest of the time celebrating are engament with her family and friends.
On April 11 2010 I returned to the United States.I have ben in Daily contact with Xinjiao since my return to the United States threw letters and over the Internet with daily web chats.I plan to return to China on( the date of your next vist here) to spend time with my fiancee.
Shaun in the affidavit put as much information as you can about you and your ladies time together in China.Like I said before If you spent time in another city in China put that information in the affidavit.MAke sure all your sentences are gramaticaly corect and puntuation and spelling are right.When you get the affidavit done.Get it noterized and sign it.Send it in with your other paperwork.
Shaun When you picked up all that paperwork it should of come with instructions.If not what you can do.Is go to the immagration web site.They have all the forms you will need along with.All the instructions.Do you have a lawyer? Or are you trying to do this on your own?
If you are trying to do this on your own.I do not reccomend it.That being said.If you are still doing this on your own.Your best friend will be the goverment immagration web site.Along with candelforlove.They have all the latest and greatest information there.
The affidavit I wrote about here is written by you on its own paper.You will not find a form anywhere for it.I just wanted to make that clear.
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Thanks Maxx I downloaded the forms from Visa Journey. The other sites will be good to look at just for a different angle on it. I did download the instructions but have not really dissected it yet. I will look at the other forms and see if I can transfer the info over.
Shaun
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Unless you are a very detailed person, I would recommend a lawyer. The issues are these. It has to be very simple, very direct, and all the dates and time lines must match. You want the information to be easy to read and not cause any 'red flags' or issues to pop up. An example is when they put all this information into the computer; they will cross check dates and times. Were you in china during this day, and did you say in another place you had web cam data. While all questions might have an easy answer, what you want to avoid is having any questions by the processing people. Any request for information to answer small questions will delay the process. The affidavit that Maxx referred to is very crucial. Along with that you will need to send copies of all legal documents. Birth records, legal residence, divorce papers, for both parties. They will match these dates with the affidavit and see if any questions arise. Again the answers may be very simple, but you do not want any delays so getting it right the first time is important. Once they start to pick apart an application, there will be delay after delay. Can the visa be done without a lawyer? We have seen that it is possible. But if there are any issues at all that may cause alarms to cause delay, I would recommend using a lawyer to get the quickest action on the visa.
Of course this is just my humble opinion and the reason I spent the bucks for the lawyer.
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Buzz,
Like everything else I have found on this wonderful journey this is much more involved than I had anticipated. This is not a complaint. But I really want to thank those who blazed the trail before me.
By the way Buzz, remember busting my chops before Christmas because I didn't go to China? I do. I almost had to back out for April and I remembered what you said to me. Thanks. It was the most incredible trip of my life. Now I am planning trip number 2. Can't get enough. Don get your mind out of the gutter.
By the way guys, I might as well tell you all this. The judge signed my divorce papers April 15th. Yes it was on my birthday. Imagine that. Kind of bitter sweet. A failed marriage but freedom. It became final April 22 in the courthouse record and I am still waiting for the papers to arrive. I am free to do pursue openly now and pursue I am doing.
On another front, with all I have been reading it could take as little as six months to get the visa. Though I would love to have her here in six months I am concerned about her English interview. I do not think it is good enough to pass. She does fairly well on the web cam because she has a crutch with google translate. When I call her on the telephone she gets excited and most of her English knowledge goes out the window. I am calling her more to try and help her become more comfortable but it isn't working. Thank you Nik for the Rebtel thread. Now if I had a phone number for a Rebtel representative so that I can reverse the calls it would be great. I.E. she call me. Nik?
I may need to go there for a year and teach her English personally. I am not sure but am considering it. Peggy likes the idea. There is a lot to think about.
Shaun
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Well, I put down the K-1 Visa application for a while and have now picked it up again. As much as I love Peggy this is a huge commitment to bring her here and there was way to much going on in my life at the time. I really had to think things through.
Peggy and I talked about it a lot. I explained about how bad the economy is. I am just barely holding onto my store. My regular jobs keeps cutting my pay. I keep wondering when will this end. I don't doubt my love for Peggy and her love for me. It is there and it is strong. I just hate to bring her here under such difficult situations. Anyway I am going to see this through and get it done.
I have a question. I was looking at the I-129F for and what the uscis site was saying about photos. I take it they want traditional individual photos. I don't understand it but that is how it appears to me. Does anyone know if I can combine several untouched photos on one sheet of paper? I think I will have about 10 sheets of paper when I am finished. That would be easier to manage than 50 - 100 5"X7" photos.
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Shaun,
waiting for things to get better might just be a long wait. from what i have heard from my friends in the
states is that it is no better there than it was a year ago when i left. so waiting might take a long time if
you want to wait until the economy gets better. as far as the pictures consult an expert on this so as not
to be mislead with some elses good intentions or advice
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Thanks Ted. I am moving forward with the plans. I just needed to see where our heads were at. At most I set it down for about 6 weeks. But it is full steam ahead now. I'll make that phone call we talked about.
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Shaun they want the same kind of photo that is on a passport.Go down to where you took your passport photo pay the 10.00.Also don't forget to send the pictures of you and Peggy together.With a date stamp on the photos
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yes the date stamp so so very important good call to remind him Maxx
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It is a good thing you said date stamp Maxx. I didn't have it on last time. The camera does not default to it. I mean it is crazy. It will put any date you program into the camera. I wonder if you can go in after the fact and add the time stamp. If anyone know my camera is a Kodak Easy Share CD93.
Good thing I am going again.
Shaun
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Shaun no worries.The date stamp on the pictures will not determine the out come of the visa application.But it help.
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I am also doing the K1 visa. Submitted the package in April got the NOA1 letter not long after that. There is a number on this letter that you can track the status of your case. So far I am still on the initial review stage now. Their average time of cranking out a K1 visa is 5 months per this website. I do not think that is actually true.
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Andy it can very on the applications.That are ahead of you.And if your missing any information they want.Ore if you didn't fill the app out right.That can add more time.According to some people Ted talked to.They told Ted the whole process took them Six months.My wife's was 11 months.I think Arnold's was 13.And I think Nik's was 13.Nik And Arnold applied for the K 3 visa.
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ive noticed also that people i talked with who came back and started the process after the peak travel times seemed to
wait longer for everything as i guess they had an influx of paper filings after their return. so the govt employees get to
overwhelmed with the papers lol!!!!
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Well I am back to filling out the K-1 and I have a question about the I-219F.
In Part B question 19 asks, "Did you meet your fiance or spouse through the service of an international marriage broker?" The answer is no but I did meet her on the dating site Cherry Blossoms. There has never been a marriage broker involved to the best of my knowledge.
Experts? What will they want to see? I have answered no but now I am not sure.
Update: When I read the USCIS guide it says, "If you have met your fiance or spouse through the service of an international marriage broker, you must notify USCIS of that fact by answering question 19 on this form. The term "international marriage broker" means a corporation, partnership, business, individual, or other legal entity, whether or not organized under any law of the United States, that charges a fee for providing dating, matrimonial, matchmaking services, or social referrals between United States citizens or nationals or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States as lawful permanent residents and foreign national clients..."
I think I might fit under one of these categories but I am not sure. I don't even know if it is worth mentioning except it is a part of how I met her.
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Shaun , you should answer that question with a " YES " . You need to show E-Mails/EMF's as proof for a ongoing relationship later . so why would you answer " NO " ? Don't give them anything that could hold up your Progress in bringing your Lady to the US .
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Shaun, the answer is 'YES'. part of what will be required is an affidavit of your story to date. In it you will need to tell how you met, how many times you have been to china. When you first fell in love and talked of marriage. For all the reasons Arnold stated, the answer is yes. And this is just the begining. Don't even think you are going to have any secrets before the process is over. They ask about everything. I would suggest a good lawyer to help, but I know there have been many who have done it very well without the aid and cost of the lawyer. best of luck. buzz
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Shaun I will throw my 2 cents in here.Arnold and Buzz.Are right.The answer is yes.Exactly for the reasons they have already posted.
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Arnold, Buzz and Maxx,
Thanks for your response. I was a little confused by both of your comments because to me they seemed to pertain to question 18. I went back and studied it quite a while reading all of what www.visajourney.com (http://www.visajourney.com) and www.uscis.gov (http://www.uscis.gov) had to say about it and I think I have a better understanding along with your comments. So I will float it out here and see what those who have gone before me say.
It appears to me that all of the information that Arnold and Buzz said goes in question 18 with all of the documentation included. Question 19 pertains to using a marriage broker. I think they simply want to know who the marriage broker is. We really to not have one since we went through blossoms.com and Peggy didn't sign up with an agency. But I will list www.blossoms.com (http://www.blossoms.com) as a broker just to be sure.
So you do not have to look it up I will type both questions 18 and 19.
18. Has your fiance met and see you within the two-year period immediately receding the filing of this petition?
(Describe the circumstances under which you met. If you have not personally met each other, explain how the relationship was established. If you met your fiance or spouse through and international broker, please explain those circumstances in Question 19 below. Explain also in detail any reason you may have for requesting that the requirement that you and your fiance must have met should not apply to you.)
19. Did you meet your fiance or spouse through the services of an international marriage broker?
(If you answered yes, please provide the name and any contact information you may have (including internet or street address) of the international marriage broker and where the international marriage broker is located. Attach additional sheets of paper if necessary.)
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Shaun , the answer is still " YES " . Cherry Blossom is the Broker for you ( does not matter if Peggy had one or not ) put down the name of the Website and if you do not have their address tell them . Thats it . At least you told them what you know , instead of telling them No .
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Thanks Arnold. I just wanted to be sure.
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Shaun Arnold has got it right.On question 18 That is the question Buzz was talking about.Where he told you.You needed to right your love story.What you will need to do.Is answear question 18 briefly.Then at the bottom of.Question 18 in the answear space.write see attachments.Then you will right the love story on a separate piece of paper. See my example.
Example= I was searching the profiles on www.blossoms.com (http://www.blossoms.com) on May 18 2009.(Insert blossoms business address here)I seen Peggy Sue's profile.( Shaun here you need to put Peggy's real Chinese name) And I contacted her on May 19 2009.We wrote letters to each other everyday for the next 2 weeks. on June 2 2009 we had are first web cam Chat.On June 3 2009 we started talking on web cams 2 times a day.Once in the mourning and once at night.
On April 16 2010 I flew to China to meet Peggy Sue.We spent the next 20 days.Getting to know each other and traveling in China.( insert dates and cities you visited while on this trip to China and how many days you spent in each city.) On may 2 of 2009. I arrived back in the United states.As soon as I arrived back at my home.I contacted Peggy .And we resumed the web cam chats 2 times a day.One in the mourning and one in the night.Each Web cam chat lasted about. 2 hours.
On June 15 I travelled back to China,To spend some more time with(Shaun again do not use Peggy as the name.Use her Chinese name) .Peggy and I spent 30 days together. We Went (insert date and cities visited) on July 10.I asked Peggy to be my wife.She said yes.So now Peggy and myself are planning are wedding.I arrived back in the United States on July 18.And the first thing I did when i got to my home was contacted Peggy and told her I arrived home.Since the day I came home.We have Ben talking on web cam 2 times a day.And I have another trip planed to China on Aug.15 2010.
OK Shaun do you see what I did here? I established the basic relationship.I walked the reader threw the first days.And I showed attention to detail. I.E Names and dates of Cities in China that you would of visited.I showed a on going relationship.After I had came home.If you sent gifts to Peggy you.Need to include that.the date is was mailed and what it was.
Basically you need a story that flows together.( I know in my example the dates are not even close to right.But you get the idea)Under no circumstances should you use the name Peggy anywhere in the letter.You do not want to create any confusion.About who you are trying to sponser the visa for.I would suggest you type it on the computer.Make sure the spelling and punctuation is correct.When you complete the letter take it to a notary and have them notarize it.You will need to sign the letter at the notary office.Along with the date.
What this letter does is answears the question completely.If the letter is done right.This will help move the visa application along.If it is done wrong.It will throw red flags right from the start.If you want to You can pm the letter to me Arnold or Buzz.And we can tell you if it is right.Or offer suggestions to make it better.
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Maxx,
Thanks. I got what you said.
I have a question on the fiance letter of intent. It is pretty clear that she need to write one. But the uscis does not say whether it has to be in English or Chinese. I am being told by a couple of people that it needs to be English. So I am going with English. I will email it to her, she will print it out and mail it plus some other things back to me. One of the things I read said that it needs to be notorised. The uscis instructions does not mention this so I am thinking she does not need to as long she is holding the original.
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Shaun,
When Jing and I went through the fiance' route ten years ago I also found the instructions to be ambiguous. So to play it safe all the required papers from her were written in Chinese we then took them to a local translator where each one was translated and notarised a third document from the translator pledging that the translation was a true and exact translation of the original. Then the three documents were bound together in a little booklet with the title on the front. So we had everything in Chinese and English. That covered all the bases. I recomend that you get two copies of everything. The USCIS likes to misplace things. It was not very expensive either.
Gerry
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Thanks Gerry. We did this on every document except the intent to marry.
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Shaun,
just cover your basis and have everything in chinese and english. will save you lots of aggravation in the end
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Ted,
Thanks.
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Wow, This K-1 Visa application is much more difficult than I thought. Well, not quite true. The application is relatively easy. Getting your fiance and you and the same page is enough to drive any man insane. The talking back and forth, arguing back and forth, the language barriers, the why's, and the list is long.
The reason I post about this is simple. From what I am being told everything must match up. Getting you and your fiance on the same page is difficult at best. You think you understand and have it down and she says something that tell you, she doesn't have a clue what is going on so you start over again. Realize her perspective WILL be different. You have to work through the difficulties to get to the same page. Now that is what is so difficult.
Maxx did warn me that this would be a real trying time for Peggy and me. He is absolutely right about that. Good thing we really love each other.
We are still plugging away at it.
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Shaun,
should have been done by now. quit screwing around lol!!!!!!!
no all kidding aside if you need help in getting it explained to her let Sara know and she could call her
and tell her in Chinese. this might help in it getting done faster.
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What me and my wie did.Was just got on Skype together.And we went threw the questions one at a time.
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Ted, Thanks if this next person does not do well with it I will PM you. It has been real messed up but I think we are close to finishing. It come down to the where she lived over the past 5 years and where she worked for the same period. She didn't want to report all of it but I insisted. My part has been finished for several days.
Maxx, Thanks. You can see my issue above. She basically has this issue with people thinking she is or was poor. So she is afraid that the addresses will reflect badly on her. I have told her and keep telling her that the people reviewing the paper and those conducting the interview could care less. The only thing they want is truth and accuracy. Then you have the Chinese v.s. English issues and culture issues.
The reason she didn't want to used the Shaoguan address is because she was afraid that they would think she went back to her previous husband. Finally got her past that. I think we should have it sent off in the next day ot two.
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well you can explain to her by the standards of living in the USA she is poor and that means absolutely nothing to immigration
and the process nor procedure.
the worst thing she can do is to lie about something because if it is discovered there is no grace period to start over again but
the chances of her ever coming will be slim and none and slim is out of town. all the subsequent applications would be denied also.
just tell it like it is and it will be approved within time as you know that wheel turns slowly until it gets to a certain point and then
it just moves along really fast. if you turn it in within the next week or so then the interview should be in or around May of next year
at the earliest.
AND PHOTO COPY each and every paper you mail in your packet and send it registered receipt required mail. so you have that receipt.
unless of course you have an attorney doing it then they track all that stuff.
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Ted,
I was a little frustrated last night and think I said more than really wanted to publicly on this site but it has been said. Don't get a bad image of what is happening here. It is simply a struggle to understand two different cultures though it isn't really difficult to understand the motivation. I am pretty sure we are on the same page now. I will let this friend help her and if it does not work and was ask her to call Sara. I should have thought of that before. Peggy really likes and trusts her.
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Shaun,
right now i dont think i will or can help you. i will fly to Guangzhou tommorrow morning and then i have to do my own battles
with the consulate because i want to get an emergency visa for Sara to go to the USA with me as we were just informed my
mom passed away at 320 am this morning. so it will be interesting what develops with this request. hope you understand
but wanted to give you heads up as there are many arrangements needed to be made.
Ted
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Ted , so sorry to hear that . My Condolences to you and your Family . Hope you'll receive the Emerg. Visa with no problem .
We'll help Willy while your gone , don't worry .
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thanks you know its like taking care of a baby lol!!!!
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Now I have another question. It relates to the G-325A that needs filling out on Peggy. Is it important to show a solid work history for 5 years or can it be spotty like she has not worked consistently over the last 2 years? I am being told by one person to claim 1 company for 2 years and leave it at that. I am not comfortable with it. Anyone got any ideas?
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Shaun do what makes you feel comfortable.If it was me I would write down exactly.What company Peggy worked for.And how long she worked there.When it comes time for the interview.They may ask Peggy what her job was when and where.And if she tries to remember what you wrote down instead of the facts.It could trip Peggy up.And that would be a denial.For the visa.
At my wife's interview they did ask her about what kind of work she did.and how long she had to go to School to be a plastic surgeon.The reason they asked the question was.To make sure the answears matched what was written down.And to see how much English she could understand.
Shaun I know I have told you this before.I'm going to write it again.For the benefit of the other members.Who are reading your thread.Under no circumstances should you be fooling around.With U.S immigration.If the person doing the interview.Thinks something isn't right.They will grill the lady until she brakes.Either in Chinese or English.
You have every right in the world to Fear these people doing the interview.If you screw this up and GZ denies the visa.Your lady will have to reinterview over and over again.I know one lady who had to go to GZ 6 times.Before she got a visa.If you screw this up enough.You can get the lady blacklisted.If your lady gets black listed.It could take up to five years.To get this straightend out.If it cannot be fixed.Your lady could become permanently black listed.Which means she will never see the U.S. As a legal immigrant.Make sure your lady answears all the questions honestly.Make sure you answear all the questions honestly.
For those of you who think you cant get around the system.Because you know your congressmen.Or your senators.Those congressmen and senators.Cannot help you with your ladies visa application.U.S. consulates are like there own little country.They operate on there own set of rules.And they are not afraid to exercise those rules.And they are not afraid of your congressmen or senator.The only people they answear to is the president.And the state department.And the state department doesn't really have any control over what a consulate will do.Or wont do.
Shaun Gz doesn't care if Peggy has worked consistently for the last 2 years.All they are looking for.Is to make sure everything matches.On the paperwork and at the interview.By the time my wife had her interview.She had Ben unemployed for about 9 months.My wife's interview probably took all of ten minutes.And like I said before.All they were doing was checking to see if my wife really knew me.And that all are paperwork.And my wife's answears matched.
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just fill out the paperwork CORRECTLY and ACCURATELY if she didnt work then she didnt work
its pretty simple. if she is DENIED a visa for something that doesnt match up then you dont get
a DO OVER FOR FREE you pay ALL the FEES again and start from scratch.
you are not there to impress them with all this information about what she has done. you are there
to just tell them how her life has been up until this point and i would make sure it is accurate.
accuracy makes it very simple to remember!!!!
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Yes thanks guys. I have been telling her this but there are other influences here. Now I can show her what you said and we can move forward.
All of this hedging and the desire to cover up facts to look good concerns me somewhat. I can't tell if it is her or the outside influence. There is a lot I would like to say here but I am not comfortable with it right now. I may get back to the subject.
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Shaun,
you really need to nip this in the bud and do it very fast as this could and will cost everything. if the outside influence
is not from the USA and actually thinks they know all about it because they know someone or did it themselves then i
would highly critisize what exactly they are trying to get you two to do. because if they are advising these things then
they are not the people you want helping you and Peggy. they KNOW NOTHING!!! to be advising these ideas to have
you to do.
ok enough said its your money and time by the way weres the care package hahahaha!!!!!!
i ate all the jerky lol!!!!!!
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Hey all. Things are a little better this afternoon. The outside influence was her sister. I was trying to be nice. But Peggy and I are on the same page now. It was causing me some serious concerns with me but I think we have it all sorted out. Peggy is a good woman but not a confident woman. Her sister is a type A and runs over her all the time. Peggy gives in just to keep from getting a butt chewing from her. She was stuck in the middle because I chewed too over the lies.
Id I understand things correctly as of right now we have the sister so angry that she told Peggy that she will not help us anymore. She has good input most of the time but sometimes...
Thanks for all of your patience and good words. It was good for Peggy to see through cut and paste.
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Actually it's a bit of fear and losing face... She's worried that she won't get in if her information doesn't make her to look like a stellar citizen. Unfortunately that means that people in a similar situation won't look at the consequences. If you explain things to her in that context, things like this tend to clear up for them... Remember we're looking at it from our perspective and they're looking at it from their perspective... but if you alter your point of view a bit, you can often see where they are coming from and what to do to avoid the problems...
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well im glad it all worked out. i to listen to what Sara says she reads or has been told
and really 75% is usually wrong. but it makes for interesting conversations.
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One other thing about photos...if you can datestamp them, DO IT.... but make sure the datestamp is correct. I forget who put the date stamp on theirs, but it was the wrong date :o It'll help establish your legitimacy....
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the date stamps are very important part
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Thanks Scott.
The first trip I did not date stamp the second one I did and yes the date was correct. Passport photos in hand. I was worried because it said less than 30 days old. How can they tell? But we have them.
The truth issue has turned out to be nothing more than an issue of differing languages. We were both confusing each other which in turn would confuse all over again. Man it is a wonder we can ever communicate. The bottom line was that she worked for one company in Guangzhou. When they were bought out she decided to leave and move to Shenzhen. Then the company moved to another location after it was bought out. There was also the brief time when she stayed in her bosses home while the building or the company was being remodeled. She would talk with one person and they would tell her something. Then she would talk with her sister who would get angry and tell her something else. Then she would talk with another friend and things got convoluted real fast.
Mustfocus, I have to really thank you because you provided a crucial key to breaking through. I told her that I knew she wanted to save face but that the people reading these papers really do not care where she lived that all they might want to do is to verify the address. I also told her that living in the warehouse was nothing to be ashamed about. Once she understood that things began to change. It was a slow process but it was a crucial step. Tonight when we were talking she told me that if I wanted to move my store to a larger location that she would be OK with it if I chose to live at the location to save money. I am thinking why? but said thank you.
But finally last night it all began to make sense. All of the documents will be sent either tomorrow or Tuesday and we will begin out countdown. Woo-Hoo. Man I hate it when people say Woo-Hoo.
Shaun
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Shaun,
If it helps you get Peggy together sooner, then it's my pleasure. We're all here to support each other.
I find the key to all of this is being able to see things from both sides. We all know how things work here... But I find (and I'm guilty of this as the next person) we often forget to take into account what saving face means.
For me, my relatives overseas care a great deal about saving face (most of them anyway). I refuse to play the games they play (and boy can my relatives be vicious)... but every so often I stumble into it... and can't wait to get out. But that's another story for another time.
Definitely keep us in the loop and if you see problems on the horizon (hope not), post them here. ;D
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Shaun,
When I did my K-1 last year, it took us about 6 months from the time I sent the package in and to the time we had our interview at the GZ Consulate. I did everything myself and did not hire a lawyer (sounds like what you are doing). When I did my wife's (fiancee at the time) work history, I just put the name and addresses. Just make sure there is not any major gaps in the times. I just put month and year for one and then continued from that date. As far as the letter of intent to marry, I just had my wife write an e-mail in english and send it to me. Her email address was the proof that she sent it to me. It does not have to be notorized. You could always explain that your financee had a friend who speaks and writes English helped her write it. I then just wrote out my letter and printed it out. I went to the interview with my wife. That make it look better and shows that you are really going through with it and are not bringing her to the US for some other reason than marry her. My wife did not speak much English and was worried. When the person interviewing her asked if she spoke English, she said, "Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton". He laughed. He spoke a little chinese and had translators available. I think it would be rediculous if they expect your lady to speak fluent English. They know many do not speak much English. After the interview, we waited a few days before picking up the visa at a nearby post office. They do not give you the visa on the same day, so plan on sticking around or coming back (meaning stay at a hotel). My wife is from Chengdu and we were not going to fly back to Chengdu and then fly back to GZ. Good luck and let us know if you have any more questions or what to expect later.
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Woo Hoo things are getting better for you and Peggy Shaun.
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well Shaun im glad that you finally figured out it was the language problem!!! ive heard you talk and with your
poor command of the english language its no wonder Peggy didnt know what the hell you were saying!!!!!!!!
hahahahha you know im kidding 8) ::)
in all reality its great to hear that the two of you are at this point. all downhill from here as they sort thru all the
papers. may the speed be fast and she gets there soon CONGRATULATIONS
The Ambassador and Sara
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I want to thank everyone for their help and comments. I listen and evaluate everything that is said.
I will hopefully send everything in Wednesday. Just a little cleaning up and making absolutely sure all of the I's are dotted and the t's crossed. Yes I am doing it myself. I know and appreciate what many of you have said, Buzz and Maxx comes to mind but I need the challenge mentally and my funds are quite low due to two trips in two months. I am working to rebuild the funds. I want to be there when she has the interview. The school district will bust a gasket if it is during school but they will have to get over it.
Ted, a short pier bro... ;D Oh there is so many things I could say. I've got to send you a PM. I got a priceless one today.
Now comes the hard part. The wait. :-\
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if u have it all filled out then it will be no worries
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and keep a copy of everything you mail and send it registered receipt request
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also sending Peggy copies might not be a bad idea for her to read and study
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Thanks Ted. I'm one step ahead. I will try to call your friend in California today if I finish my other work. He said he would check it over the last time I talked with him.
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oh good he is a good man and wont rip you off has your best interests in mind
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Well, finally I mailed the 50 page I-129F document to Homeland security today. Wow, what a big load off my shoulder, or so I think. Doubt is already creeping in wondering if I did this right or if I did that right. I've checked everything at least 10 times and I know when the person, who will handle my file, looks at he will find 5 mistakes on the first page.
The waiting will not be easy.
I think I should have been a lawyer. When my ex filed for divorce I did all of the legal work myself and we stood before the judge. He reccommended we hire are lawyer. He said, "this document is woefully deficient and my best advice to you is to hire a lawyer. If you do not I will pour over this document and if a word was misspelled, or the grammar is bad, or you do something inaccurately I will kick it back to you." So reluctantly she hired a lawyer. $1000.00 later and a few changes on the distribution of wealth or lack there of to show her they were earning their keep and it boiled down to this. There was a one word change in the document and the financial was taken from a spreadsheet to a written overview of how we sorted the financial things out. There was so little changed that I think the lawyer must make $10,000.00 per hour.
To top it off I put a couple of misspelled words in the document prior to sending it to the lawyer. Neither the lawyer or the judge found them. Jerks. Mind you I am not saying all lawyers or judges are jerks.
Anyway here's mud in your eye!!! :D
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well no turning back now i guess you should be getting peggy on the same page also as 1 tall tale will disqualify
the whole process
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Good Luck Shaun.
When I judge says the word deficient this means the 5 100 bills are missing.
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Vince, you got that right.
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I got my NOA1 August 30. They received my application August 23 and sent the notification the 25th. They also cashed my check the same day. Gulp.
I was reading the NOA they sent and almost freaked out. I see that my birth date is wrong. Instead of April 15, 1955 the NOA says May 15, 1955. I look at my application and sure enough it says 05/15/1955. Now I know I fixed it and check the data on my computer. Sure enough it says 04/15/1955. I still wonder what happened to the corrected one I printed. I call Homeland Security, they fix it and say won't worry this is a small problem. We'll see.
Shaun
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Thank goodness I decided to live in China. Mind you if you had the problems I HAVE everytime i apply for new visa then maybeeven me getting to live in USA would be possible. Ugh not something I want to do but maybe easier than getting and extension to a visa here.
Willy
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Willy---- welcome to america now go home !!!!