ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
ChinaNEED HELP FOR NEW VISA
I got a 60-day L (tourist) visa from NY. After staying in China for 2 months, I went to the local Entry-Exit Bureau to get my visa extended (by applying for a new L visa) within China. You can ask a local visa company to do this for you as well. Usually costs 1000-2000 RMB, which is less expensive than having to/from Hong Kong.

EDIT: I should add that the new visa you get within China is 6-months. I ended up staying in China as a tourist for over a year via 2-month -EXTEND- 6-month -EXTEND- 6-month visas.

Edited by celiothrkn, 29 September 2009 - 10:58 AM.

celiothrknMaleChina2009-09-29 10:56:00
ChinaHaving Baby in China
Yes. It really is gray area.

My wife cannot claim our son under her hukou because we're not married in China. We got married in Hong Kong. For all practical reasons, Hong Kong is a completely different country.

Registering a baby, much less to say a foreign baby, under her hukou in China is rough. Chinese couples need something like a permit which states they are allowed to give birth (to one child). blink.gif
celiothrknMaleChina2009-10-27 22:10:00
ChinaHaving Baby in China
One more thing. We never registered our American baby with the local Chinese police authorities. I heard that in Shanghai you have to register your baby with the police within 1-2 weeks after he gets his US passport?

But we didn't know about that at the time. I hope we don't get fined.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-10-27 08:34:00
ChinaHaving Baby in China
Yes, I've been to the Entry-Exit Bureau in my wife's hometown. They've told me that the application gets submitted to the provincial head (in this case, Jinan in Shandong province) for approval. I was told 2 weeks maximum for processing time.

They would need my baby's US passport, birth certificate, wife's Chinese ID card, and hukou book. I believe they would also need my US passport. But I don't know if they require the original copy of my US passport or a photocopy. I would imagine photocopy is enough but, as you may know, Chinese authorities can be quite unreasonable. I'm willing to Next-Day FedEx it over if necessary though.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-10-27 08:30:00
ChinaHaving Baby in China
I am a US citizen. My son was delivered at a hospital in Qingdao, China 6 months ago. We've already got his US Passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, and his SSN from the US Embassy-Beijing. I've been told that we need to get some type of "exit permit" from the Entry-Exit Bureau in China (???). Apparently we can't just bring him onto an airplane; he wouldn't pass Chinese customs without that permit. Does anyone have experience with bringing a newborn US citizen baby out of China?

FYI my wife is from China.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-10-26 17:17:00
ChinaHas Guangzhou Consulate Receive My Petition From NVC?
By the way I believe you can buy a PIN number from them for $7 USD for 12 minutes, and you get to ask a live operator whether GUZ has received your case, whether GUZ can postpone your case, etc.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-10-26 19:49:00
ChinaChina - police certificate
But I thought I could do the translation myself and include a statement saying that I'm fluent in two languages.

Also, I still don't have an answer to my question. Regardless of who translates the police certificate, does it have to be notarized by the Public Notary?
celiothrknMaleChina2009-09-29 12:19:00
ChinaChina - police certificate
Do we need to notarize our police certificate?

My wife will be getting a police certificate from Japan and China, and we will have a CR1 interview in Guangzhou, China.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-09-29 10:20:00
ChinaElectronic Processing
Thanks for checking up on me.

I scanned the envelope and sent it to NVC. On the envelope, it specified that the contents should be opened by the addressee only - the addressee being "authorities of the United States of America." NVC accepted it and did not ask me to open the sealed document. It will be opened at the Consulate.

Problem solved. :thumbs:
celiothrknMaleChina2010-01-28 18:12:00
ChinaElectronic Processing
One of the NVC operators put me on hold for a while to ask her supervisor. She said that we should scan the envelope that the Japanese Consulate gives us and include a note which says that this envelope cannot be opened otherwise its contents would be null and void. The interviewing officer at Guangzhou will open it and review the contents.


By the way, to anyone who knows how difficult it is to get the Japanese Consulate to issue a police certificate, the NVC operator recommended that we send in the entire DS-230 packet asides from the Japanese police certificate. NVC will issue a Request for the Japanese police certificate. Take this Request to the Japanese Consulate. It's the best option we have right now since the Japanese Consulate are especially stubborn about giving out police certificates.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-10-21 07:50:00
ChinaElectronic Processing
We are applying for a CR-1 and will be interviewing at US Consulate-Guangzhou.

My wife is from Shandong province, China. She went to high school & college in Japan for a few years, so according to the guidelines we need to obtain a Japanese police certificate (as well as a Chinese police certificate). We can obtain the Japanese police certificate from the nearest Japanese consulate but it comes in a sealed envelope. The "officialness" of the police certificate is broken if we open it.

Since we're doing electronic processing - where all files need to be scanned and sent via email - how do we send sealed official documents to NVC? Open it, scan it anyways and just show the original to the interviewer at US-Consulate Guangzhou? Or should we let the interviewer at US-Consulate Guangzhou open the Japanese police certificate himself?
celiothrknMaleChina2009-10-19 08:01:00
Asia: East and PacificAll Japan Filers
QUOTE (Moto-zutto @ Aug 9 2008, 12:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (celiothrkn @ Aug 9 2008, 09:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
NVC tells me that my application/documents are on their way to the US Embassy in Tokyo.

After the Tokyo embassy receives documents from NVC, it sends out forms and checklist to fiance. What forms are included? Just the DS-230 Part 1?

My primary concern is doing the medical examination and interview because my fiance will only be in Tokyo for only a few days (as she is not from the Tokyo area). Has anybody done the medical exam and interview back-to-back? For example, do a next-day medical exam on Sunday & pick up the results on Monday morning before heading to the interview? (Is it even possible to do medical examinations on the weekend?)


I'm not sure if you can do it that fast. They will your fiance a date for the interview, once she completes the medical and police paper work. the faster she gets that done... the faster she can get the interview


Could you elaborate a bit more? The embassy will give a date for the interview only after she completes the medical and police paperwork? How would the embassy even know that we've completed the paperwork? I wouldn't need to submit the paperwork to the embassy before the interview (along with the DS-230), right? Furthermore, I thought the fiance schedules an appointment with the embassy, as opposed to the embassy issuing the interview date?
celiothrknMaleChina2008-08-10 03:35:00
Asia: East and PacificAll Japan Filers
NVC tells me that my application/documents are on their way to the US Embassy in Tokyo.

After the Tokyo embassy receives documents from NVC, it sends out forms and checklist to fiance. What forms are included? Just the DS-230 Part 1?

My primary concern is doing the medical examination and interview because my fiance will only be in Tokyo for only a few days (as she is not from the Tokyo area). Has anybody done the medical exam and interview back-to-back? For example, do a next-day medical exam on Sunday & pick up the results on Monday morning before heading to the interview? (Is it even possible to do medical examinations on the weekend?)
celiothrknMaleChina2008-08-09 10:01:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresK3 question
I'm in a similar situation. I am a US citizen. My wife is not a Hong Kong citizen but we got married in Hong Kong, and we're planning on applying for the K3 visa.

Quote: The embassy or consulate where you, the spouse of an American citizen, will apply for a K-3 visa must be in the country where your marriage took place.

I did a timeline search and noticed there were no cases of K3 visas in Hong Kong. Does anyone know whether or not the US Consulate General in Hong Kong performs K3 visa interviews? Or is it because nobody's tried for K3 in Hong Kong before? Everyone seems to have gone CR-1 in Hong Kong.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-07-29 03:20:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiled K3. Still processing CR1?
I've just sent a I-130 package to the Chicago lockbox with a $355 check and a cover letter stating I'd like to apply for a K3 visa for my spouse. However I didn't mention anything about the CR1. Would USCIS still process the CR1 for me? It would obviously be in my best interest to pursue both routes (CR1 is less costly and there is no need to adjust status). I've

Not that it matters but, I found it quite curious that I received my NOA1 from the USCIS center in California. My permanent residence is in NJ. I always thought the Chicago lockbox directed documents to USCIS centers by geographic region, in which case Vermont is the closest for me.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-08-29 03:54:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Transfer Notice
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Sep 3 2009, 12:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (celiothrkn @ Sep 2 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm filing for the K3 for my spouse. I've already sent my I-130 to the Chicago lockbox. I've received a I-797C, Notice of Action from the USCIS California Service Center.

On the VisaJourney Step-by-Step page, it says I have to send a I-129F to the USCIS California Service Center. It lists a "Copy of I-130 Transfer Notice" and a "Copy of the NOA1 from the I-130." My I-797C is my NOA1, is that correct? What is the I-130 Transfer Notice? I haven't received anything else in the mail.

Thanks.


You probably won't receive a transfer notice. The NOA1 is sufficient. However, K3 is a virtually obsolete visa. Half the threads in this K3 forum discuss why. Your best bet is to simply never file an I-129F for a spouse. It saves no time and ends up costing you significantly more.


Thanks for your response.

Yes, I've read many posts on why CR1 is better - cost wise and no AoS. Deep down I'd prefer the CR1 but I figure it wouldn't hurt to send in the I-129F for K3 anyways.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-09-02 23:11:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Transfer Notice
I'm filing for the K3 for my spouse. I've already sent my I-130 to the Chicago lockbox. I've received a I-797C, Notice of Action from the USCIS California Service Center.

On the VisaJourney Step-by-Step page, it says I have to send a I-129F to the USCIS California Service Center. It lists a "Copy of I-130 Transfer Notice" and a "Copy of the NOA1 from the I-130." My I-797C is my NOA1, is that correct? What is the I-130 Transfer Notice? I haven't received anything else in the mail.

Thanks.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-09-02 20:30:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduressending info from overseas
QUOTE (qhayder @ Sep 5 2009, 03:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone have experience sending stuff to NVC from overseas?


ghayder, I'm confused as to what you'd want to send to NVC. If you're following the K3 process, you send your forms to the Lockbox. The appropriate USCIS service center should forward your forms to NVC upon approval.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-09-06 03:20:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduressending info from overseas
Coincidentally I also abandoned my K1 and flew to my wife's (then-girlfriend) country to get married. I mailed our I-130 about 2 weeks ago from China where we are residing (temporarily).

No, you do not have to use USPS. I do not know about DHL or FedEx, but I used China Post EMS, and it was delivered to the Chicago Lockbox (USCIS, P.O. Box 804616, Chicago, IL 60680-1029) without a problem. I've already received the NOA1.

I'm not sure about the mail system in Jordan, but I personally distrust China Post. If possible, I would recommend driving to the largest city nearby and mail from the central post office, instead of a small branch post office.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-09-04 07:24:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDoes I-130 require beneficiary's birth certificate?
1. You do not need to submit a copy of your wife's birth certificate with the I-130. They'll ask for that later.
2. RFE. USCIS actually deposits your check a few days after they receive the files. No need to submit a new I-130 or fee.
3. You may translate documents as long as you also provide a statement saying that you are fluent in both languages, and that the document was translated to the best of your knowledge, etc.

You could file for the CR1 and K3 simultaneously.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-10-03 16:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionCalling Tokyo Embassy
My fiance is a PRC citizen living in Japan. On our I-129F, I wrote down the Guangzhou consulate for the K1 visa interview, but NVC said that we should process at the Tokyo embassy instead.

Anyways, the Tokyo embassy says that they charge about $19 USD per phone call / email. Do we have to pay in order to schedule an interview appointment as well? (Or does the embassy issue an interview date?)
celiothrknMaleChina2008-08-08 07:43:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionObtaining Police Certificate in Japan - URGENT
Hmm. If the name and case number are scribbled on top, that could be a slight problem. I guess it would be easy to photoshop it out or something. Ideally the embassy in Tokyo would fulfill my request, but if they do not, I guess we're stuck with getting the police certificate from a Japanese consulate in China.
celiothrknMaleChina2008-08-23 08:04:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionObtaining Police Certificate in Japan - URGENT
Yes, that Japanese/English "Visa Instructions" sheet is all we need! If only someone could send me that... The police are picky indeed.

I've called the US Embassy in Tokyo twice already, and I requested that instead of mailing me the Visa Instructions in Packet 3, maybe they could email it to me? They said they will get back to me within 3 business days (but it's weekend as of this posting, so they are not working). But I do know that the US Embassy in Thailand lets you download the Packet 3 materials off their website.

I don't really think there is any chance of postponing her move to China though. There is always the possibility of transferring the case from the Tokyo embassy to the Guangzhou consulate (in China). But even if we did, she would still need to obtain a police certificate from Japan - so transferring the case has nothing to do with this.

Edited by celiothrkn, 23 August 2008 - 07:56 AM.

celiothrknMaleChina2008-08-23 07:54:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionObtaining Police Certificate in Japan - URGENT
I understand that you need to wait for Packet 3 before going to the police department to obtain the certificate. Exactly what form do we need to bring? Is it just a set of instructions? If so, I have a wild request. idea9dv.gif Is there anyone who can scan/email a copy of it for me by the end of August?

Here is my situation. My fiancee will be moving from Japan to China on Aug 30. In theory, she was supposed to receive Packet 3 before the end of the month and start the process for obtaining the police certificate. Domestically, it would take 3 weeks, and she would not need to pick it up in-person. They said that she can just have a friend pick it up for her (and mail it to her in China).

Here is where Murphy's Law kicks in. dead.gif I received a letter (via snail mail) from the US embassy in Tokyo three days ago, which said that our I-129F is expired - which is incorrect because our approved I-129F says the validity is 7/26/08 to 11/26/08. They did allow me to renew the petition as long as I reaffirm my intention to marry her, etc. I sent a letter back (via snail mail) reaffirming the intent, but I'm afraid this incident has cost us enough time. Snail mail takes close to a week between US east coast & Japan.

When I was in Japan a few weeks ago, my fiancee and I did try to obtain a police certificate by bringing our approved I-129F to the police department, but they couldn't read the English (we are in Hokkaido. maybe Tokyo police can handle this sort of things better) so they refused to process the certificate until we show them some proof in Japanese.

Of course, it is possible for her to process the police certificate in the Japanese consulate in Beijing or Shanghai, but that would take 2-3 months as opposed to 3 weeks in domestic Japan. So I'm hoping it will not come to that. crying.gif
celiothrknMaleChina2008-08-21 08:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionPolice certificate Japan questions
The Japanese police certificate gave us so many headaches! wacko.gif

In China, I've heard some applicants went to the US Embassy/Consulate and got a written request, which they sent to the Japanese Consulate. But they did this in-person. I am not living in China right now, and the US Consulate, by large, ignored my request for a written request when I emailed them. If you get the US Embassy in Manila to write you a written request, that would be the preferred route.

I've talked to several NVC operators and none of them were willing to grant me a written request. Without a written request, I had to send in an incomplete DS-230 package and wait for NVC to issue us a RFE. This route actually worked for us as we're processing the Japanese police certificate now.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-11-23 08:46:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionpolice clearance from japan
QUOTE (tinyrosie @ May 24 2009, 09:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have police certificate from Japan, and there is no expiration date on it. It should not be any if you no longer live in Japan.

QUOTE (celiothrkn @ May 24 2009, 09:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi. We are also wondering about getting the police clearance (certificate) from the Japanese embassy/consulate.

Is there an expiration date on the certificate? For example, this police certificate is only valid for 6 months starting from the day you receive it from the Japanese embassy/consulate.

Or is it for indefinite use? Could someone confirm this? Thanks!



Ahh, OK. Well, the US Embassy says "normally" it is valid for 1 year, so I wasn't sure what that meant.
Source
Thanks for clarifying! smile.gif
celiothrknMaleChina2009-05-24 11:16:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionpolice clearance from japan
Hi. We are also wondering about getting the police clearance (certificate) from the Japanese embassy/consulate.

Is there an expiration date on the certificate? For example, this police certificate is only valid for 6 months starting from the day you receive it from the Japanese embassy/consulate.

Or is it for indefinite use? Could someone confirm this? Thanks!
celiothrknMaleChina2009-05-24 08:20:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionJoining US State Dept Foreign Service
Has anyone here worked for the Foreign Service before and been married to a foreign spouse? Or does anyone here know any friends who have foreign spouses and have worked for the Foreign Service?

I am currently going through CR1 process for my wife, who is a Chinese citizen from China. At the same time I am preparing for the Foreign Service exam to become an Officer for the US State Dept. While the passing rates for the Foreign Service are low, I want to get my facts straight and be mentally prepared.

The Foreign Service process will take about a year before getting deployed to a "worldwide assignment," basically any embassy or consulate. This brings up issues on my wife's green card. I know that if green card holders spend more than 6 months of a year outside the US, their green cards get confiscated at customs & immigration upon their next entry into the US. Moreover I believe spouses with green cards need 3 years of cumulative physical presence in the US to qualify for naturalization into a US citizen. Please correct me if I am mistaken.

My wife is not willingly leaving the US for long periods; she is simply accompanying her USC husband (and USC son) according to his Foreign Service placement by the US State Dept. How will this affect my wife holding onto her green card or eventual naturalization? This tricky issue is further complicated by the fact that the land upon which the US Embassy is built is in fact American soil; some Embassies will offer spouses an administrative / clerical job. If my wife gets such a position, she would technically be spending at least 9am - 5pm on American soil every day. In my mind, it sounds logical that it constitutes towards any "physical presence" requirement.

In addition, I understand that diplomats and accompanying dependents are issued diplomatic passports in order to proceed with their line of work. If that is the case, then my wife would line up at the diplomatic line at the customs & immigration, which may be more understanding and not confiscate her green card.
celiothrknMaleChina2009-11-07 23:14:00
US Citizenship General Discussion10 year green card travel restrictions?

P.S.
Does Taiwan as part of the R.o.C. allow dual citizenship?


Yes, you may hold both US citizenship and "R.O.C. citizenship."
You cannot hold both US citizenship and P.R.C. citizenship though.
celiothrknMaleChina2010-07-09 11:56:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAbsences for less than 6 months? Or 1 year?
My wife won't be eligible for naturalization until May 2013 but we're planning ahead! I understand that the applicant must prove "continuous residence" in the US in order to naturalize.

My lawyer tells me that she cannot take a vacation out of the US for more than 6 consecutive months (because USCIS will then presume she's abandoning LPR status). However in some places, I've read that no single absence can be more than 1 year.

Which one is it? 6 months or 1 year?

To my current understanding, being out of the US for more than 6 consecutive months disrupts continuous residence. Meanwhile if she's out of the US for more than 1 year, she loses her Green Card automatically. Is this correct?
celiothrknMaleChina2011-07-20 14:27:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionBiometrics Again?

First, she isn't eligible to naturalize after three years of marriage to you...she is eligible to naturalize after three years of becoming a PR. And yes, she will have to do biometrics again...everyone does.

 

 

Thank you all for the replies!

 

English Muffin - My mistake on the OP but it's okay. We've been married for 4 years, and as of last week, she's been been a LPR a full 3 years. I will be filing my N-400 this week.


celiothrknMaleChina2013-06-03 11:19:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionBiometrics Again?
My spouse arrived in the US three years ago (May 2010) as a CR-1. After two years (May 2012), she was able to remove conditions and become a 10-Year Green Card. To do this, she had biometrics done (in NJ where we lived at the time).

According to naturalization laws, she's eligible to naturalize after three years of marriage to myself, a USC. As I'm preparing to file her N-400, I have a question. Does she need to redo her biometrics? Biologically not much has changed since she had biometrics done last year so I question the need.

By the way, soon after she removed conditions, we moved to CA. Not sure if that makes any difference. Thank you.




celiothrknMaleChina2013-06-02 12:50:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionTax Return Transcripts

Oh no. I overlooked this Form M-477 Document Checklist. We are filing based on "3 to 5 years," and I only sent in the bare minimum - photocopy of Green Card, two 2x2 photographs, and a $680 check.

 

Did not know about needing my birth certificate, marriage certificate, tax returns/transcripts, etc.


celiothrknMaleChina2013-06-07 18:16:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionTax Return Transcripts

Wait a second. I mailed a N-400 for my spouse (LPR) two days ago. We have been married for 4+ years. She's had a Green Card for a full 3 years now.

 

I looked through the Instructions for Form N-400 and there was no mention of tax transcripts. Is this going to present a problem?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes.

 


celiothrknMaleChina2013-06-07 15:00:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionRenouncing Other Citizenships

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I think we will stick with our interview date and ask for a postponed oath ceremony. I've heard that, after the interview (if you pass), you are presented with a choice of oath dates.


celiothrknMaleChina2013-08-21 16:24:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionRenouncing Other Citizenships

At what stages are we allowed to postpone? Is the interview postponable? Is the oath postponable?


celiothrknMaleChina2013-08-21 15:17:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionRenouncing Other Citizenships

We filed a N-400 in June 2013. Earlier this week, I received an email stating: On August 19, 2013, your N400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was scheduled for interview. You will receive a notice with a time and place for your interview.

Let's assume that the interview occurs in either September or October. My spouse is from China, which does not allow for dual citizenship. At what point does my wife have to renounce her Chinese citizenship (and thereby Chinese passport)?

The reason I'm asking is because my wife is planning for a trip to China from mid-November to New Year. She'd like to go under her Chinese passport (as a US Passport won't be ready in time anyways). This will be her last time to China under that passport, and the purpose of the trip is to take care of loose ends (i.e. closing bank accounts).



 

Should we attempt to postpone the interview (although that doesn't seem wise)? Any advice?


celiothrknMaleChina2013-08-21 14:35:00
US Citizenship General Discussion2x2 Photos for Naturalization Interview
My wife's naturalization interview is scheduled for Tuesday, and I found a line in the document checklist asking for two passport-style photos (2x2). It also said that the photos are not mandatory. What is the purpose of said photos?
celiothrknMaleChina2013-09-22 22:16:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionOath Ceremony Length - Los Angeles

Had our oath ceremony yesterday. For anyone in the Los Angeles area who's wondering, it literally takes about 2 hours to get everyone (5,000 people!) seated. Arrival times are staggered. Per our letter, we were instructed to arrive at 12:10pm. The lady next to us was instructed to arrive at 12:30pm. The judge doesn't arrive until around 1:45pm. We were done and out by around 2:45pm.


celiothrknMaleChina2014-01-15 11:34:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionOath Ceremony Length - Los Angeles
Asking for all SoCal filers to chime in with their experience:

My wife passed her naturalization interview and has a scheduled oath ceremony next Tuesday at Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) at 12:10pm. What time can we expect the ceremony to be over? I am trying to coordinate afternoon activities (picking up our kid from preschool back in OC).


celiothrknMaleChina2014-01-07 20:40:00