ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
ChinaQ1 visa

I have a Q2. What are you planning to do that would necessitate a Q1 if you're currently going through the ROC process in the US?

 

We are moving to SH in early February.  We applied for her ROC because we weren't ready to move in September when her 2 year GC expired.  She will either apply for a re-entry permit and then an extension or just give up her GC all together and file for an IR-1 when we decide to move back.

 

I currently have an M visa but it's only good for 60 day stays so I'm looking for something that won't have me taking the train to HK every 59 days.  Q1 requirements are fuzzy and seem to be different for each PSB office.

 

I''m just looking for some inside scoop on the do's and dont's.

 

How long is your Q2 good for?  Are the stays less than 180 days?


Edited by Operator, 13 October 2014 - 03:53 PM.

OperatorMaleChina2014-10-13 15:52:00
ChinaQ1 visa

Does anybody have one?  I'm interested in hearing your story and asking questions.


OperatorMaleChina2014-10-09 13:24:00
ChinaChinese Marriage Visa Terms and Definitions

Hi Darnell,

 

Thanks for the links. I appreciate it.

 

I'm going to China November 1st, to marry my fiancee, so I am starting to get ready. 

 

notmuch88tosay


notmuch88tosayMaleChina2013-09-10 13:24:00
ChinaChinese Marriage Visa Terms and Definitions
Hi Darnell,

Thanks for looking over my list for errors or editing needed.

I can now clearly attest that I have saved the Peiking Ducks in China from the violent fate that awaited them all.

By the way, my fiancee finally did tell me what her hokuo city is. So now how do I find out the address of the Marriage Office we need to go to?

notmuch88tosay

Edited by notmuch88tosay, 14 October 2012 - 07:33 PM.

notmuch88tosayMaleChina2012-10-14 19:32:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

When we first got back, I got this as our home phone.  http://www.italkbb.c...s/en/index.html

 

It gives you a number that can be dialed in China and rings here.  You also get a local number. I got rid of it as my wife didn't really use it and I have no need for a home phone

 

My wife uses the Skype app on her iPhone and she has not gone over even when she is using our data minutes. We have the Skype China subscription as well, I think 400 or 800 minutes, I can't remember. It is charged to my credit card.

 

Her father is similarly technologically challenged.  If he needs to contact my wife, he calls one of her cousins who then WeChat's my wife to call her Dad.  It is not a perfect system but it has never been an issue. My wife tends to call her Dad every few days anyway.


LBeacheyMaleChina2014-09-03 18:45:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

 

My fiance is in China and we are in a similar situation. It is very cheap to call them, but an arm and a leg to call us. Also, China mobile wants a huge deposit before allowing international calls Did you have to put down a deposit to allow your mother-in-law to make the initial call before you hang up and caller her back?

 

One of her brothers has wifi in their apartment but her parents do not, so cell phone only, leaving QQ out of the picture.

 

 

I am not aware of any deposit made to their account. They call us on their land line. They have wifi/internet but it's not terribly fast and mostly used for my father-in-law to play beat the landlord online. Occasionally my mother-in-law will send my wife a message on QQ asking her to call, but she's not tech savvy and has trouble with pinyin, so she doesn't do that much.


SBBMaleChina2014-09-21 12:20:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

My wife just pays out of pocket on Skype on the occasion she needs to call her parents as it only costs about 1.1 cents per minute. It's taken us over a year to go through $10 of Skype credit. If her parents need to call her, they just call her cell number and my wife hangs up and calls them back with Skype.


Edited by SBB, 04 September 2014 - 06:48 PM.

SBBMaleChina2014-09-04 18:48:00
ChinaQ1 visa

Getting the Q visa requires a fair amount of documentation. I needed to bring a copy of my father-in-law's national ID card, a copy of my wife's national ID card, a signed invitation letter, and a copy of our marriage license (untranslated). A copy of the front page of my wife's passport was requested, but proved ultimately unnecessary, and I can't remember if we included my wife's notarial birth certificate or not. Basically you need enough documentation to connect the dots between yourself and your Chinese relative through your spouse. Ultimately, it ended up taking more effort than applying for an L visa since we ended up needed to do most of the same work plus all the family stuff.


SBBMaleChina2014-10-26 23:04:00
ChinaQ1 visa

My Q2 is good for two-years, multiple entries (of 180 days or less). Based on your description though, the Q1 is the more appropriate visa. The one catch is that for a Q1 (and Q2) you need an invitation letter and documentation from a relative living in China. In other words, your wife can't "sponsor" you unless she is already in China. For my Q2, we went through my father-in-law.


SBBMaleChina2014-10-13 15:58:00
ChinaQ1 visa

I have a Q2. What are you planning to do that would necessitate a Q1 if you're currently going through the ROC process in the US?


SBBMaleChina2014-10-12 17:53:00
ChinaPlease review my packet for filing

Exit and Entry pages should suffice.  I scanned mine and my wife's in and in photoshop added lines showing the same stamps to make it clear that we were there together.

Good luck, looks very similar to ours minus the passport thing!


DaveykinsMaleChina2014-09-24 14:20:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

My wife just pays out of pocket on Skype on the occasion she needs to call her parents as it only costs about 1.1 cents per minute. It's taken us over a year to go through $10 of Skype credit. If her parents need to call her, they just call her cell number and my wife hangs up and calls them back with Skype.

 

How does this work?  Can you call from a mobile phone?  Or do you need to be on your computer to use skype?

 

Can you make calls from a mobile phone (in the US) to a land line in China?


DJ&LMaleChina2014-09-05 08:59:00
ChinaMSC processing time

The DC field office was on January 6th as of July 31st for I-485 cases, not the date you listed.

 

Oh OK, so they made quite a progress then, an even bigger jump. Thanks for pointing this out. 


Me&HerNot TellingChina2014-10-10 14:05:00
ChinaMSC processing time

Just check, Washington DC office is process time for I-485 is now January 31, 2014, on August 31, 2014. Comparing this with the last update--it was January 15, 2014 as of July 31, 2014, its pretty safe to ASSUME that MIL's paper, dated February 24, 2014, should be processed by October 30, 2014.

 

By the way Darnell, who's the chick in the video within your signature? Very distractive (Did I say attractive?)

 

[EDITED]: Thank goodness Google, her name is Choi Soo-young. Meh...

 

 

 


Edited by Me&Her, 10 October 2014 - 01:59 PM.

Me&HerNot TellingChina2014-10-10 13:57:00
ChinaMSC processing time

OK, apparently I was brain-dead when replying to Darnell... 

 

I somehow think Darnell was saying I-130 was approved because of the issuance of the AP/EAD combo card, now I re-read the posts, and I realized that it is the I-131 was approved so that we have the combo AP/EAD card. Duh!!!

 

Now back to the topic, regarding the order of I-130 and I-485, now that the local office (Washington DC) is processing the I-485... So here are the questions:

 

1. Who is/will be adjudicating I-130? Is there a timeline to check it?

2. Is the approval/deny of the I-485 based on the I-130?

3. If so, I-485 will not be adjudicated until I-130, no?

 

 


Me&HerNot TellingChina2014-10-09 13:45:00
ChinaMSC processing time

combo AP/EAD card? I-131 already approved, so stop trying to link stuff that ain't linkable. 

 

IMO, the issuance of the AP/EAD combo card has NOTHING to do with I-485 adjudication queue.  I hope you can adopt the same opinion. 

 

 

 

Yes it is a combo card for AP/EAD. I know it is different when wife went through the same process and the AP was a piece of paper and the EAD is a card.

 

So you are saying that now that my MIL has the AP/EAD, her I-131 is approved?

 

 


Me&HerNot TellingChina2014-10-08 14:57:00
ChinaMSC processing time

OK, more than 100 views but not a single comment, so MOD, please move this thread elsewhere as appropriate. Thanks. 


Me&HerNot TellingChina2014-10-08 11:12:00
ChinaMSC processing time

MIL was here on a visitor visa and we petitioned her for a green card earlier this year.

 

I-130 and I-485 has no movement since the NOA 1 was issued (02/24/2014), while I-131 and I-765 has been approved and we received the combo card for travel and employment authorization in May 2014. The last communication was a letter (postal mail) informing us that interview may be waved because of back log, since then, nothing. 

 

I checked USCIS's field office processing dates, and found that the latest date available for Washington DC is 1/6/2014 for I-485. I thought I-131 needs to be approved before I-485 can be approved, but nowhere I can find out which office is adjudicating I-131. All 4 forms (I-130, I-485, I-131 and I-765) are MSC cases.  

 

Thoughts?


Me&HerNot TellingChina2014-10-07 11:03:00
ChinaCGI reference # was changed after paying K-1 Visa fee

I'm not sure here (with the CGI reference number), but a '0' can reference the original case (the petition), while the applicant and any derivatives (usually children) can follow the same pattern of numbers, but with '1', '2', etc., to distinguish the case(s) that are opened at the consulate


RandyWMaleChina2014-09-18 23:17:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

Calling cards are VERY cheap, but make sure it will support calls from China to the U.S., if they need to call you.

 

http://www.callingca...stination=China

 


Edited by RandyW, 02 September 2014 - 12:30 PM.

RandyWMaleChina2014-09-02 12:28:00
ChinaDid you disassemble your whitebooks?

My feeling has always been simply - they can punch their own damn holes.

 

 

Seriously, any binding YOU attempt is liable to interfere with the binding that they do. And disassembling may just nullify the white book.


Edited by RandyW, 17 September 2014 - 04:11 AM.

RandyWMaleChina2014-09-17 04:09:00
Chinaquestions about a long flight layover in Hong Kong

That is all great information! I think you all are right the time window does seem to short for a hotel on second thought. The lounge idea sounds great. It should have slightly more comfortable sleeping arrangements, a massage, food and a shower. About my backpack, I have a plan for that too. I was already going to tie it with a rope to my belt for walking in Siagon so I will do the same in the airport. I understand that violent crimes are rare in these areas but petty thefts are more common.

 

When I stayed at the airport lounge in the Hong Kong airport, it was $75USD for an overnight stay - for that, you got a lounge chair, the buffet, a place to store your luggage, and access to a private bathroom facility, including a shower.

 

A workable solution.


RandyWMaleChina2014-10-02 03:30:00
ChinaDays to issue CR-1 visa in Guangzhou China

Hi where is the subforum? Can you please display the link? Thank you for your help.

 

Up at the top, where it says

 

 

 

 

 

click on "China". But you're there already. Your topic has been moved.


RandyWMaleChina2014-10-12 00:23:00
Chinaquestion about waiting in which line outside Guangzhou Embassy

K-1 is a "non-immigrant" visa, but with immigrant intent. That is, the ultimate result, after Adjustment of Status, is a green card. Therefore, it is processed by the Immigrant Visa department at Guangzhou.

 

Have her get in the Immigrant Visa line


RandyWMaleChina2014-10-10 23:29:00
Chinaanyone here ever surrendered their GC and then applied for tourist visa in China? in particular in Guangzhou

Several embassies have similar pages on formally abandoning your Legal Permanent Resident Status. She may need to do this since a green card on record may cause the visa application to be rejected, even though the green card might no longer be valid for travel to the U.S.

Abandoning Legal Permanent Resident Status

Returning to or Rescinding Legal Permanent Resident Status -
 

 

If you intend to travel to the U.S. as a non-immigrant, you may wish to file an Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status Form I-407 to clarify your status. Former LPRs will usually be asked to execute this document and surrender their I-551 (green card) before being issued a non-immigrant visa. The I-407 can be executed on the same day as your non-immigrant visa interview before the interviewing Consular Officer.

I'm sure the above also applies when applying for an IR-1 visa after a long absence. The form I-407 clarifies your present status - if you have not attempted to use a previous green card, it may still be on record as being valid. In other words, when returning to the US after an extended absence but before the green card expiration date, your green card may still be on file as valid. The Immigrations Officer, however, may decline your entry and revoke your green card. To clarify the situation, you may wish to have your spouse file a new I-130, and file the I-407 to conclusively show abandonment of the green card.

The DS-117 may allow you to determine your status before you return.

 

Maybe someone else can respond to this with knowledge or actual experience.

 


Edited by RandyW, 10 October 2014 - 10:04 AM.

RandyWMaleChina2014-10-10 10:02:00
ChinaQ1 visa

We were thinking that we might have to use my MIL for for the sponsorship.  

 

Did you need a notarized (apostille) copy of your marriage certificate?

 

The overseas consulate (in the U.S.) may or may not require that - the PSB in China will. It will need to be certified by the secretary of (your) state (where your certificate was issued), and will need to be certified by the Chinese consulate with jurisdiction over that state.

 

You will need a "fresh" copy of the marriage certificate (less than six months old)

 

Notarization/Authentication Guidelines


RandyWMaleChina2014-10-15 00:14:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

Maybe QQ ?


bpierceMaleChina2014-09-02 13:59:00
ChinaApril 2014 "Blue Slip" Filers...

For those that are interested in this K-1 CCP issue, my fiance just got a notice to go get another body exam for her Visa, which I take it as good news since it didnt out right reject her application.

 

She filled her answers for the CCP "blue slip" on April first, and she got her notice by email on October 15, which is about 6months.

She joined a QQ group in China for people of the same situation and she said some people that filed on March and May also got their notices to take another body exam. So depending on luck, it might be 5-7 months. 

 

The email you will received is titled "Immigrant Visa Follow-up Instructions"

 

AND DONT LET THE EMAIL SCARED YOU LIKE IT DID FOR ME!

 

because of stupid english to chinese translation, the first sentence you read will be "Under the section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Consulate General is unable to issue you an immigrant visa at this time." After reading just that, i was like "F*** Y**" i waited 6 months just for a rejection letter! but if you actually keep reading, its trying to say that since your body exam had expired, you need to go take another and resubmit it again, then the embassy can issue you the Visa.

Wow,good news..my Wife's case got an up-dated last week and 1 up-dated today..Her Interview was in May..so we are hoping for some good news soon..(A.P. for CCP)


bpierceMaleChina2014-10-22 05:44:00
ChinaApril 2014 "Blue Slip" Filers...

Wow,Since Feb.I guess we have a ways to go still..you know,I don't understand why it takes so long to run someones name thru a database in Washinton.

  Let's hope we all hear something soon...


bpierceMaleChina2014-08-04 14:22:00
ChinaApril 2014 "Blue Slip" Filers...

I have asked the same question on this site,but no replies.My Wife's Interview was on May 6,On May 12 We submitted the documents for CCP and still in A.P. I don't know how long we will have to wait..4-6 Months,maybe...I was hoping someone with recent experince on this ,could give us some insight!


bpierceMaleChina2014-08-04 06:26:00
ChinaCGI reference # was changed after paying K-1 Visa fee

Yeah...we didn't even pay attention to the CGI reference number, 

so I hadn't even noticed whether it was changing or not. 

 

Congrats on Packet 4. 


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-09-18 10:25:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

Our mother in law has an I pad, real easy to use.

 

I do think its the best method as her mother stays home most of the time. 

 

Since her mother is tech-challenged, I like the idea of setting her up with Tablet and

just teach her how to do Skype video/calls, but my fiancee thinks she wouldn't be able to comprehend it. 

 

But I've not given up this idea yet, so I will consider this route again.  :idea:


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-09-03 10:43:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

I am using primarily QQ. Also, my home service is Lingo.  With Lingo, my fiancee will be able to make unlimited calls to Chinese landlines as well as wireless free of charge! I have an old package for about 4 years now which allows calls to about 63 countries. 

 

http://www.lingo.com...CFSdk7AodbWAAXQ

 

So I finally had chance to look at the Lingo. 

Looks like it's $20 or $24 per month, depending on the contract. 

This might be good for someone who makes lots of international calls to different countries.

 

But Skype has $14/month unlimited calls to 60 countries also. 


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-09-02 22:18:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

I am using primarily QQ. Also, my home service is Lingo.  With Lingo, my fiancee will be able to make unlimited calls to Chinese landlines as well as wireless free of charge! I have an old package for about 4 years now which allows calls to about 63 countries. 

 

http://www.lingo.com...CFSdk7AodbWAAXQ

 

Never heard of lingo. I will have to check that out. Thanks.


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-09-02 15:41:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

In Skype, there is one more option: Unlimited China ($3.89/month). I signed up for this plan a few months ago and have been only paying $3.89 per month since then. I intended to get China 400 (400 minutes) from Skype back then, but Unlimited China was available at the same price as China 400. I don?t know if this was a glitch in Skype. Therefore, I will just keep this plan until they cancel it. With Unlimited China, I can call any phone # in China directly.

 

You are lucky to get that unlimited China package. Now they don't have it anymore.  They have unlimited world for $13.99. 

This is what they have now...

 

120 min

per month

120 Minutes/Month

1¢/min

$1.19/month

400 min, $3.89 per month

400 min

per month

400 Minutes/Month

1¢/min

$3.89/month

800 min, $7.79 per month

800 min

per month

800 Minutes/Month

1¢/min

$7.79/month

Unlimited World, $13.99 per month

Unlimited World

Includes USA, UK, China and over 60 other countries; excluding Colombian rural areas - LEX


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-09-02 13:52:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

Calling cards are VERY cheap, but make sure it will support calls from China to the U.S., if they need to call you.

 

http://www.callingca...stination=China

 

It will be mainly us calling her mother in China to, but her mother may have to call us at times,

so we will look into the calling cards for her.  Thanks.


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-09-02 13:49:00
ChinaBest way to call China from US

My fiancee uses smartphone and laptop to talk to me over Skype and WeChat,

which were mostly free, thanks to the great Internet & Wifi technology. 

 

But once she gets to US in about 2 weeks, she will need to regularly talk to her tech-challenged

older mom who only knows how to use non-smartphone, and I'm trying to find the best

(both cheap and convenient) method.  

 

Skype provides...

1) Pay-as-you-go: 2 cents/minute

2) 800 minutes/month for $7.99/month (1 cent/minute)

3) Unlimited for $13.99

 

They have Internet and wifi at home, and younger sister has smartphone and laptop, 

so with some cooperation that would have been a great way to do free Skype video calls,

but no such luck as her younger sister is very self-centered and is very jealous of

her older sister marrying a nice ( :D) handsome ( :lol:) man from USA. 

 

We also would like her mother to be able to call US cheaply (and then we would call back of course).

 

How are you guys talking to non-techy older contacts in China?

 

I'm not even sure they have concepts like MagicJack in China??? 


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-09-02 10:28:00
Chinaquestions about a long flight layover in Hong Kong

I was just looking into flights from Chicago to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). A lot of the lower priced flights have 12-14 hour layovers in Hong Kong. I am considering this based on the price, and because it would be nice to rest and shower before visiting my fiance. With only a short flight in between Hong Kong in Saigon.

I am not experienced in taking international flights so I want to get some advice from anyone here that has been on a long stop in Hong Kong. For example what are the legal requirements to stay overnight at a hotel? What are the best places to stay? What is the easiest way to commute? How much Cantonese do I need to know for this? Is there any major safety concerns? Is there anything else I missed that I really need to know?

 

My reservation got messed up and I ended buying extra domestic connection ticket at the last minute that

left me with 12 hours of layover in LA bound to China. 

 

Initially I thought I could go to a hotel/motel for a night, but when you factor in travel time between airport and hotel,

getting something to eat, and the fact that you have to be back at airport 2-3 hours before the departure, 

it would have only left me with less than 4 hours of sleep at the hotel. 

 

So I decided to stay at the airport, and managed to get about 6 hours of on and off sleep on few connected chairs without arm rest.

This also saved me about $200~$250 (for hotel & taxi).   And I didn't have to rush to get ready to go back to the airport from hotel. 

 

It wasn't the best comfortable sleep, but it wasn't too bad, and there were several dozens of people around me

doing the same thing, so I didn't feel all that strange. 

 

The only thing I was concerned was my luggage, so I rested my foot on my of my luggage, 

and I used my laptop case with my jacket on top of it as the pillow to make sure they weren't being moved (stolen).  :D


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-10-01 09:51:00
Chinaquestion about waiting in which line outside Guangzhou Embassy

My wife fiancee at the time went to the immigration line. 

They will also tell you that once she gets there. 


DualityOnenessMaleChina2014-10-11 10:22:00
ChinaGZO Electronic Processing with CGI Stanley schedule interview

You have an appointment letter.  CGI says "...beneficiaries will be contacted by the U.S. Consulate General..."  If you have a written appointment letter, I would think that overrides any requirements from CGI.

 

Wouldn't the CGI system apply to a first-time applicant...not someone who already has their interview appointment?

 

I don't think you need an appointment through CGI right now.  You've got an appointment letter, in writing, telling you where and when to appear.  I think you're all set.  Remember to be early.  Good luck.

 

Regards,
Bill

 


Bill and VickyMaleIndonesia2014-08-28 16:52:00