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Tom C

How long after interview in Guangzhou until Visa received

By Tom C in China

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Tom C Rookie

Tom C   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

I have read that it usually takes about two days for people to get their visa after a successful interview and I have read an account of someone got theirs in 3 days. My wife also talked to a "consultant" who said it usually takes about 5 days. What is the experience of those who have had their interview at the Guangzhou consulate, how long after the interview until you had the visa in your hands?

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,796

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to China regional forum.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Pitaya Grand Master

Pitaya   2,577

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Several years ago, when we went through the GUZ consulate, it took 1-2 weeks for my family to receive their passports back in northern China.

YMMV.

Edited by Pitaya

Completed: K1/K2 (271 days) - AOS/EAD/AP (134 days) - ROC (279 days)

"Si vis amari, ama" - Seneca

 

 

 

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digiteltim Contributor

digiteltim   2

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Timeline
Posted

My wife had her interview last June 2015. At the time they said one to two weeks. Then there was the hacking scandal and all the US embassies across the world halted issuing immigrant visa's until they resolved the tech issue. It ended up taking 4 weeks. I racked up a bunch of points at the hotel, got foot massages, sweat about 5 lbs of of toxins out in the Guangzhou heat, walked an enormous amount, and swam in the hotel pool. Now we are in the USA, I am working and thinking about life their compared to here. Don't rush out, I sometimes wish we were still their.

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Daveykins Enthusiast

Daveykins   17

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

My wife's took about a month after the interview a few years ago right when the new consulate location opened around August, 2013. She didn't choose one of the express locations, so it took longer than normal. Check our timeline for details.

Edited by Daveykins
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  • 2 weeks later...
Chris and ZhiJia Community Regular

Chris and ZhiJia   146

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

My now Wife just went through this process. For the Visa to be printed, stamped into the Passport, and mailed directly to her home (we paid extra to have it mailed to her house) in Northern China (山西省朔州市) it took 5 days.

Everyone's time will be different. Even if you are told you are approved, you can still get stuck in AP for some time while they finalize everything. Please make sure you check the status of your Visa on the GUZ website. When it says issued you can expect to receive it anywhere within 3-10 days from that point.

Click Below to View my timeline (spoiler added to reduce visible space consumption)

 

Timeline to date:

11/11/14 - Met online through eHarmony
11/12/14 - Started communication through email (1-2 emails daily)
12/20/14 - Communicating through Phone Calls and Video Calls
07/04/15 - First Trip to China to visit her (spent time at her home, her hometown, and Beijing), Met the whole family.
07/18/15 - Sadly I had to return back to the US
10/01/15 - I am returning back to China to be with her again
10/11/15 - She will accompany me back on the same flight for 30 days
11/14/15 - She returns back to China
12/01/15 - I-129F Fed-Ex'd to the Lewisville address
12/03/15 - Packet signed for by the receiver
12/07/15 - NOA1 Generated
12/11/15 - NOA1 Received
01/14/15 - NOA2 Generated (Approved)
01/28/16 - NVC Received (Still waiting papers for official date)
01/29/16 - NVC Case# Assigned (Still waiting papers for official date)
02/03/16 - Case Sent to Embassy
02/04/16 - Case Received by Embassy
03/03/16 - Packet 3 Received
03/03/16 - Packet 3 Sent back to Embassy
03/04/16 - DS-160 Fee paid
03/09/16 - Packet 4 Received (Documents were prepared in advance)
04/02/16 - I return to China to provide moral and emotional support as she goes to her Interview on the 5th
04/05/16 - Interview Date (APPROVED!!!)

04/25/16 - POE Dallas Texas (DFW) smooth sailing through customs

04/25/16 - Arrived in Nashville, TN 10pm
04/29/16 - Marriage Certificate received
SSN filed somewhere after this point (exact date is not remembered, received after a 30 minute wait)
11/16/16 - AoS packet mailed (i-485, i-765, i-131)
11/18/16 - AoS packet received
12/06/16 - Check Cashed
02/28/17 - EAD and AP Approved
03/02/17 - NOA2 for EAD and AP Arrived
03/02/17 - EAD/AP Card Arrived
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Daveykins Enthusiast

Daveykins   17

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Very true. It was stuck in AP for 5 weeks before finally being issued only after I got my congressperson involved!

My now Wife just went through this process. For the Visa to be printed, stamped into the Passport, and mailed directly to her home (we paid extra to have it mailed to her house) in Northern China (山西省朔州市) it took 5 days.

Everyone's time will be different. Even if you are told you are approved, you can still get stuck in AP for some time while they finalize everything. Please make sure you check the status of your Visa on the GUZ website. When it says issued you can expect to receive it anywhere within 3-10 days from that point.

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  • 4 weeks later...
TandQ Newbie

TandQ   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Interview on the 6/11, Issued on 6/13. Will update when the visa comes. Currently passport still chilling at the embassy.

Can you give us an update on how long it actually took to get the visa? I'm trying to figure out when we should book the tickets for... :)

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Chris and ZhiJia Community Regular

Chris and ZhiJia   146

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Can you give us an update on how long it actually took to get the visa? I'm trying to figure out when we should book the tickets for... :)

Don't book until the visa is physically in your hand. Any number of things can happen between the interview and when you receive it.

Click Below to View my timeline (spoiler added to reduce visible space consumption)

 

Timeline to date:

11/11/14 - Met online through eHarmony
11/12/14 - Started communication through email (1-2 emails daily)
12/20/14 - Communicating through Phone Calls and Video Calls
07/04/15 - First Trip to China to visit her (spent time at her home, her hometown, and Beijing), Met the whole family.
07/18/15 - Sadly I had to return back to the US
10/01/15 - I am returning back to China to be with her again
10/11/15 - She will accompany me back on the same flight for 30 days
11/14/15 - She returns back to China
12/01/15 - I-129F Fed-Ex'd to the Lewisville address
12/03/15 - Packet signed for by the receiver
12/07/15 - NOA1 Generated
12/11/15 - NOA1 Received
01/14/15 - NOA2 Generated (Approved)
01/28/16 - NVC Received (Still waiting papers for official date)
01/29/16 - NVC Case# Assigned (Still waiting papers for official date)
02/03/16 - Case Sent to Embassy
02/04/16 - Case Received by Embassy
03/03/16 - Packet 3 Received
03/03/16 - Packet 3 Sent back to Embassy
03/04/16 - DS-160 Fee paid
03/09/16 - Packet 4 Received (Documents were prepared in advance)
04/02/16 - I return to China to provide moral and emotional support as she goes to her Interview on the 5th
04/05/16 - Interview Date (APPROVED!!!)

04/25/16 - POE Dallas Texas (DFW) smooth sailing through customs

04/25/16 - Arrived in Nashville, TN 10pm
04/29/16 - Marriage Certificate received
SSN filed somewhere after this point (exact date is not remembered, received after a 30 minute wait)
11/16/16 - AoS packet mailed (i-485, i-765, i-131)
11/18/16 - AoS packet received
12/06/16 - Check Cashed
02/28/17 - EAD and AP Approved
03/02/17 - NOA2 for EAD and AP Arrived
03/02/17 - EAD/AP Card Arrived
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TandQ Newbie

TandQ   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Don't book until the visa is physically in your hand. Any number of things can happen between the interview and when you receive it.

I like to take chances... I appreciate your concern though.

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digiteltim Contributor

digiteltim   2

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Timeline
Posted

If the interview goes well, and the consular official takes the passport, you should get it in about 5-7 business days. You need to select a place for the passport and documents to be shipped too. I would suggest the Citic bank across the street from the embassy (next to the 7/11).

So if the interview is on a Monday, and you like taking educated chances, you could consider booking your flight for the following Wednesday.

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Chris and ZhiJia Community Regular

Chris and ZhiJia   146

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

I like to take chances... I appreciate your concern though.

As long as you don't mind losing $400-$1400. Then you could plan to book the flight as early as 7 days from when the ceac website says the visa was issued. That gives 3-4 days for delivery and 3-4 days for your fiance to pack and go to the airport.

But that just stresses the whole situation, and does not give them a lot of time to say goodbye.

After all when you're fiancee arrives it will be a minimum of several months before they are allowed to return home and literally re-enter without a new visa application.

Click Below to View my timeline (spoiler added to reduce visible space consumption)

 

Timeline to date:

11/11/14 - Met online through eHarmony
11/12/14 - Started communication through email (1-2 emails daily)
12/20/14 - Communicating through Phone Calls and Video Calls
07/04/15 - First Trip to China to visit her (spent time at her home, her hometown, and Beijing), Met the whole family.
07/18/15 - Sadly I had to return back to the US
10/01/15 - I am returning back to China to be with her again
10/11/15 - She will accompany me back on the same flight for 30 days
11/14/15 - She returns back to China
12/01/15 - I-129F Fed-Ex'd to the Lewisville address
12/03/15 - Packet signed for by the receiver
12/07/15 - NOA1 Generated
12/11/15 - NOA1 Received
01/14/15 - NOA2 Generated (Approved)
01/28/16 - NVC Received (Still waiting papers for official date)
01/29/16 - NVC Case# Assigned (Still waiting papers for official date)
02/03/16 - Case Sent to Embassy
02/04/16 - Case Received by Embassy
03/03/16 - Packet 3 Received
03/03/16 - Packet 3 Sent back to Embassy
03/04/16 - DS-160 Fee paid
03/09/16 - Packet 4 Received (Documents were prepared in advance)
04/02/16 - I return to China to provide moral and emotional support as she goes to her Interview on the 5th
04/05/16 - Interview Date (APPROVED!!!)

04/25/16 - POE Dallas Texas (DFW) smooth sailing through customs

04/25/16 - Arrived in Nashville, TN 10pm
04/29/16 - Marriage Certificate received
SSN filed somewhere after this point (exact date is not remembered, received after a 30 minute wait)
11/16/16 - AoS packet mailed (i-485, i-765, i-131)
11/18/16 - AoS packet received
12/06/16 - Check Cashed
02/28/17 - EAD and AP Approved
03/02/17 - NOA2 for EAD and AP Arrived
03/02/17 - EAD/AP Card Arrived
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