foofurrah

Just one more to add, Google voice is convenient for calls when you don't want to use a data connections/wifi. iPhones/Android you can even set it up so it calls international numbers via google voice automatically. Calls to China mobile $0.02/minute.

Hello all. My wife arrived in the US a few weeks ago and today found a job. HR told her she needs an EAD, which is clearly wrong for a CR1 holder. However, it's rather difficult to find info on how to fill out the I-9 correctly using the visa with the I-151 text. I understand the "Registration Number" is her A#, so does she choose "A lawful permanent resident" and just fill in the Alien #? Correct?

Then, as her employer likely won't know how to complete the form, is the following correct?:

Document Title: Immigrant Visa

Issuing authority: US Consulate Guangzhou

Document #: (number in red on right side of visa)

Expiration Date: Visa expiration date

Thanks for any guidance!

if it's going to the special EMS postoffice in guangzhou, then it's useless for tracking, as the tracking info seems to be updated online AFTER the package has arrived at that postoffice.

If it's going to some other city, though, it is trackable..

see http://www.ems.com.cn/mailtracking/e_you_jian_cha_xun.html

Thanks, that site works! The visa's still in Guangzhou but it's on the way!

My wife's visa was finally approved and I'm wondering if there's anyway to track it online. EMS has a couple of site.Has anyone used a certain site successfully?so far nothing's showing up in any of them for me.thanks.

Were having fun now with uscis.

You'll need 5 more for the health check, so get extras (although they can also do them there).

Can anyone recommend a hotel for my fiance's interview in Guangzhou ?

We stayed here: http://www.yangjiahua.com/index.html

It was fine, right next to the Consulate (part of the same building) and cheap, 138 RMB for a room with a shared bath, more for a private. It's actually apartments the guy rents out by the day but we didn't have any problems and he was friendly and helpful. Bring your own towels, soap, and toothbrush, etc. It also has a kitchen and washing machine which would be handy for longer stays.

How did you know they called?

Her former head teacher still kept in touch with her friends and after they called him he called my wife's friends and then they called my wife.

For the education section it says for each listing to say whether it was a "degree or diploma," so I wouldn't list anything before high school because you don't get anything for completing middle school. We just listed my wife's college, which the consulate did call during the background check.

Incidentally, back in September, I had the exact same issue, only with lung cancer, instead of tb. Turns out the truth was... the hospital was scamming me for money (I even went in for CT scans). Bad side is, I flew back home the next day, because they told me I'd be dead if I didn't get immediate surgery. Truth was... it was a complete lie. I had a bad case of gastritis, which they ignored, completely. So, hopefully the same is true for you. It is a shame that your interview is postponed, but you don't need insult added to injury here.

I kind of wondered about that, too. The extra tests cost more than the entire original exam including the vaccines.

Thanks guys, I think she's fine. She doesn't have any of the symptoms and what set this off was a very small shadow on her chest x-ray, which could be nothing. We're mostly bummed that we're likely looking at at least another 3 months of waiting and another trip to Guangzhou. Nothing to do I guess. If she does have TB it's good that we caught it now, even if it is a pain in the 屁股.

FoundNanning: I think you can get the shots anywhere, but you need the official Chinese yellow vaccination book that proves it was administered (again, I think). They gave my wife the 4 you mention above, including influenza (in May) and they are recorded in a yellow book titled "International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis".

So we've arrived in Guangzhou. Thought I'd post a few updates on things. Firstly, the clinic is located next to the construction site of the new consulate. It's less than a 10 minute cab ride from the current consulate (our ride cost us 17 RMB, we're staying right next to the current consulate). You need 5 photos for the health check and 900 RMB, or if your beneficiary doesn't have any vaccination records you need to pay 1286 RMB. The address given by the consulate is correct: 5/F East Tower, Poly Bld, No. 59 Huali Road, Zhujiang New City, Guangzhou Tel: (020) 81219500. If you're near the front of the line when they open at 7:30 you're supposed to be able to get your results the same day in the afternoon. My wife got flagged for more tests, so it looks like our appointment is going to be postponed.

Sorry, that should be 1268 RMB with the vaccines, typo. You also need to bring your wife's passport and appointment letter. Just fyi. Not sure when our appointment will be now, they think my wife may have TB and the test will take 6-8 weeks, after which they'll schedule another appointment if the test comes back negative. We're a little bummed out.

So we've arrived in Guangzhou. Thought I'd post a few updates on things. Firstly, the clinic is located next to the construction site of the new consulate. It's less than a 10 minute cab ride from the current consulate (our ride cost us 17 RMB, we're staying right next to the current consulate). You need 5 photos for the health check and 900 RMB, or if your beneficiary doesn't have any vaccination records you need to pay 1286 RMB. The address given by the consulate is correct: 5/F East Tower, Poly Bld, No. 59 Huali Road, Zhujiang New City, Guangzhou Tel: (020) 81219500. If you're near the front of the line when they open at 7:30 you're supposed to be able to get your results the same day in the afternoon. My wife got flagged for more tests, so it looks like our appointment is going to be postponed.

Guess so. I really can't remember, but I remember talking about how there were two addresses, and we had to figure out which it was...

I know for certain the address on the FAQ for the consulate is right, and the clinic is at the Zhujiang New Town exit. So at least there's that.

Again, good luck to you on your interview!

We're off to Guangzhou tomorrow, I'll try to post an update after I see it for myself.

Oh, was that it? I swear the clinic had an address in one of the papers, and it changed in the text we got back from them. Regardless, the consulate's address is what they have in their FAQ, on Linhe Zhong Lu, and the clinic is just outside Zhujiang New Town subway exit.

Perhaps it moved during that time? It looks like the consulate updated the address on their forms as it matches the new address listed by the clinic. I don't know, I'm a little confused too. Guess we'll find out on Tuesday.

To add to the above, here is a translation from the Hospital Website:

The U.S. immigrant visa medical examination and vaccination sites will be March 5, 2012 Day moved to Beverly Road, Pearl River New City, Tianhe District, No. 59 Poly Plaza, fifth floor, East Tower, located at a new site opposite the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou

The address you mention is the address the consulate provided. The Chinese on the clinic's page says the clinic's new address is opposite the "new address" of the consulate (该地点位于美国驻广州总领事馆新址对面), which presumably means not the current consulate but a new one that appears to be under construction (http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB093033). Currently the distance between the consulate and the health clinic doesn't appear to be more than a few minutes cab ride. Apparently moving around is all the rage in Guangzhou.

Got it today and the delivery person wanted another 68rmb

Ems is the worst in china but at least we got it

I agree, EMS is terrible. When I got a package through them they charged me 25 RMB for alerting me that I would need to go to the customs office to pick it up where I needed to pay another storage fee. They didn't even deliver the package.

Nothing to do, the embassy makes you use them. Congrats on getting your visa!

Goodness, where do you live? I'm planning on taking Air China/United back to Arizona, and it's only about 1,000 per person, even in late June.

For the record, I used Orbitz for one way flight tickets.

That said, I think it's still too expensive.

The Midwest, the last leg's always bad because I need to fly into a smaller airport. We could probably piece something cheaper together but with luggage we usually need a major US carrier to avoid getting hit with fees domestically.

Summer is always bad, we're looking at almost $1500/person one-way back to the States in late June.

I'd just like to say EP rocks! Case/complete and interview appt came in the same email.

Thanks everyone, went ahead and wrote it on.

Good luck! My wife had her interview on the 9th and ems has already received her visa package!

Congrats!

Should I write the case number on all the docs in the top right-hand corner for intake? Does it matter?

She had no records (or at least didn't bring them with her, if she had any). She got 4 shots that day, during her test (we went in the afternoon). She got MMR shot 1, Td, chicken pox (varicella), and the flu. That may have been why it cost more, I don't know. But the vaccinations that you may need they seem to have there, and do right then and there.

If you have medical records from prior shots, you may not need it, I don't know.

So yeah, you'll be fine with shots, they've got everything for you (which really surprised me).

Thanks, been a little worried about that. My wife doesn't have any records either.

Ok, we sent it yesterday at 10:30. We used EMS, as it's the fastest method over here. And apparently it arrived today. Kind of surprising, as it's Sunday. However, it was received by a place that apparently translates to White Swan Hotel.

The previous time we mailed the package, we didn't get delivery notice. I'm wondering, did they deliver it to the wrong place, or what? Looking up online, it's got the same address, though, so is the mailing office at the hotel, or what? Any ideas?

No, some other people here have also reported that documents sent to the embassy are often received by the "White Swan Hotel." Don't worry, they got it.

Thanks, Ryan, I thought I posted a response to that, but apparently I didn't let it go through before changing pages.

The place I mentioned in my post about it, go out the line 3 Zhujiang New Town subway exit A or B (it's the A/B exit hall and is the first exit path on your left down that hall). You'll emerge with an intersection to your left, and the correct medical center is the second building on your right (down the smaller looking street).

They go to lunch from noon to 1, but you can wait inside the area on the 5th floor (pretty sure the 5th), it has the lights off. And you can still pick up your results the next day at three.

There IS a clinic at the bottom of the building with the consulate, but I highly doubt they would accept a medical exam from there, referring to the document Ryan posted.

And one more note I only just remembered, the document says it's 800rmb for adults, but my wife was charged nearly 1300. So was everyone else she heard. Just to give you guys a head's up.

Luigi, quick OT question. Did your wife have any shots before the med exam or records or her vaccines? Can they do the shots same day? Thanks!

thank you for your response ,i am too far from naturalization it is my first year in USA,i really don't know what to do

thank you so much for your help all of you guys

Hang in there, I think all you can do is wait at this point.