httuner

Thank you everyone. I shipped as express international mail with USPS, which with the insurance didn't cost too much more than doing priority with insurance. However, I was told to be honest with my package (and the fact that I'm insuring it), so I actually did put the whole amount. I was warned by my fiancé of a possible customs fee, but hopefully it's not too bad. I was hoping originally the gift will be a surprise, but apparently shipping leaves for no surprises.

Let me know how it turns out once it arrives and gets delivered. I am in the same situation just about and am curious to know results.

It's around Christmas time and I wanted to send a Samsung Galaxy S5 Phone to my father in law, along with 3-4 bottles of Loreal facial care products to China. Can I send these items? I searched around and it was stated that I could send a Phone with the battery installed as long as I state it. I wanted to know if these products are allowed to be sent? I get mixed answers so far on every google search I've found. Some say its okay, others say its not.

I want to avoid custom and duty fees if possible, but don't mind having to pay them if needed, its just these are gift items only and not for resell or commercial use.

Now I plan to ship it via USPS International priority express.

How should I package the items? I was hoping to tape off the contacts on the phone's battery and have it installed inside the phone, or leave it out. Bubble wrap the phone and the battery. Maybe use plastic baggies to place the facial care products inside of them, then bubble wrap them(Loreal products are sold in China too so these are not prohibited items). I want to ship it properly.

I'm not sure if I am prohibited to send any type of fluids, as facial care products may be consider a fluid?

What should I write on the package? GIFTS? do I have to write whats in it? Should I declare a customs value if its just gifts?

So with the phone and all, its probably around 900USD worth of value, I will insure the package. Any tips will help greatly as I want these items to arrive safely and to their destination.

Thank you all so much in advance for any input.

So here is my situation and I thought I would post this in hope someone has answers to what I'm trying to ask. My wife finally has her Green card and is now pregnant with our first child. We sorta live on our own and my wife wants to born the baby in China so that her mother can help take care of her and the child through the first couple of months before she'll make her way back to the United States again with our baby.

If my child is born in China, I was told that I can go through a process to make sure the child gets an American Citizenship because I, the father is an American Citizen. This process I can understand a little but how complicated is it? Do I need to be present during childbirth so that I may be on the birth certificate or do I need to be present to tell the US Consulate about my child being born there in China so that my child may get an American Citizenship?

If I am needing to be present, it may prove difficult as my work is quite busy and I may not leave work so often to travel to China to be present for such as I was told there may be an interview involved?

Lets start with these questions first =] Thank you all so much in advance.

Hey Vj Members,

I have had my biometrics since the 8th of may and still my case status for my I765/EAD remains on initial review, I am filling at the baltimore offie area. Is this normal or am i just been too anxious cos i read on other people's timeline and by now i guess i should have gotten a notice or at least have my case status changed to something else.

Somebody please help me out as i do not know what to do, I am freaking out.. Thank you in advance!

Philip...

Be patient and wait a little longer, sometimes it doesn't change at all. When we worked my wife's case, we never had a change in case status online but eventually was sent a letter for aos interview which took a while.

Today, we went in for my wife's interview for her AOS, we were quite nervous. Overall we had nothing with our names together, not even bank statements together.

Things that we brought to our interview:

Letter of AOS interview appointment
Photos of us together (never asked for)
My citizenship certificate (interviewer made copy)
My wife's passport, state ID and social security card.
My ID

We went in and the interviewer asked for our Identification cards and my wife's passport, she than asked how am I a citizen, whether I was born in America or what not? I provided her with my original citizenship certificate and told her I became a US citizen through my parents. The interviewer made a copy of it and than started asking my wife questions going through all the questions on the I-485 form asking my wife about all the information provided on our original form we submitted. Asked my wife what her parents names were, where was she born? and such and went down the list than reviewed the yes/no questions with my wife.

After that she questioned if we have any other evidence or something with both our names on it together, I told her that we rent from my brother so I don't have any lease or bills in both our names. I explained to her that my wife isn't on my health insurance from work due to me having to wait until our next annual enrollment to get my wife on there. The interviewer was understanding and said that its okay because we recently just got married so she can understand why we wouldn't be able to provide additional evidence.

I was asked about where I worked and how long I've worked there, than after that she looked at me and said that we are approved and should wait 2-4 weeks for the green card to be sent out in the mail.

Our experience was good and the interviewing officer was nice and understanding, even took the time to explain some questions on the I-485 forms to my wife since my wife's english isn't that good yet. The interviewing officer told us that after 2 years when we apply for the extension for my wife's green card, we should use this time to get evidence of our marriage, bank accounts together, health insurance plans and so on. I thought I would take the time to share this and goodluck to all.

Use the example letter and just have him sign it. Then have him scan it and send you a copy of the letter signed by him. print this out and send it to them (including a letter written and signed by you too) Real easy, worked for my case. Best of luck =]

Thanks, yeah I did some searching and found my answer, I should've done that in the first place =]

I can't purchase a money order of more than 1000 USD, so can I buy two money orders to include it into my I-485 AOS package?

for example, $985 for the I-485 fee and $85 for the biometrics fee?

so two money orders in total, or does it have to be just one single check for $1070?

My wife(whom is here on a k1 visa) and I went to a local family medical center here in Wasilla Alaska (this is also an approved civil surgeon by USCIS as listed on their website) and got the last 2 required vaccinations and now all her vaccinations are completed for life (as said by so doctor)

We have a copy of the DS3025 that was given to us from the medical exam done in China.

I ask if the doctor whom gave my wife her vaccinations would transcribe our DS-3025 to the I-693 and she told us that it would require my wife to do the entire medical exam (which is quite expensive).

this doctor won't do it without having the entire medical done by them, just for the last two required vaccinations cost us 425 bucks! I don't dare want to know how much they would charge us for the entire medical exam.

Does any fellow VJ'ers know of a civil surgeon in Anchorage, Alaska or Wasilla, Alaska whom would transcribe the DS3025 to the I-693?

I have used the locater provided by USCIS and have been calling around but no one seems to know what I am wanting to do.

I am the petitioner and currently in the process of doing AOS for my wife whom came here on her K1 Visa.

On this form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) on Other Information question: 5. Alien Registration Number (A-Number) ; so this is asking me for my A number? Or my wife's A number?

On the form I-797 (Notice of Aproval; NOA2) it lists the A- numbers that were given to my Wife and it also gives me an A number for me

Edit**

I figured it out, its part of Part 2 and is asking for my Wife's A number and not mine.

I really suggested to wait until you received P4 (Which is basically an email stating that you can now book an interview date), Yes those are pretty much all the required paperwork/documents to send to them for now. There should be an instruction sheet with space provided on the top left to write in your GUZ(Case Number), just make sure to have your case number written there and send it back with everything they request for.

It could take a good 3-5 weeks(varies) to get the P4 email. If you book too early and don't get the P4 email, you'll have to reschedule your interview and from what I've seen and read from other threads is that many people have problems rescheduling sometimes because the CGI Stanley website is so buggy and can cause problems with rescheduling, or it could work then not give you any opening dates to reschedule to.

For now, you can start preparing all your required documents :]

I waited the enduring 28+ hours for her to arrive here in Alaska, didn't hear anything from her at the airport in SF, she told me she couldn't find any payphones, but at last she is here =] It felt like a dream after almost 3 long years of being apart!

Thank you guys so much and especially thank you Dave&Roza for the extended information, I appreciate it and would use it when the time comes, which should be soon =]

johnim, I am hoping the free Wi-Fi would be of great use to us, we do have Viber and imessage so we can communicate if shes able to get a connection at the airport.

Thank you_

I am constantly searching google for a cellphone option of some sort_ but can't seem to find anything. Of course payphones are always an option I suppose but last I check those don't accept quarters anymore? She has a bank card but thats union pay and I don't know if the payphones will accept that. Lets hope so.

Okay, so we finally purchased flight tickets for the 24th so my fiancee will be here then.

When she lands here in the United States, she'll be going through San Franciso international airport as her Port of Entry. We know to bring the Visa Packet to show at POE, now in terms of being able to file for social security number and doing our adjustment of status.

What does she need to bring in terms of important documents?

I just know perhaps her Birth Certificate and thats pretty much about all I can think of, what else should she bring?

Another question about the cellphone, so when she arrives here, I want her to be able to contact me because she'll be on a layover in San Franciso for about 7 hours, I hate not having any way to contact her since she doesn't have a sim card that works in the U.S.A.

She does have an unlock GSM iPhone, at first I thought about sending her a sim card but its a little too late now since it won't arrive in time for her to fly, how did anyone go about doing this? I heard of companies at the airport that can provide her with a simcard but that's very unclear. Someone got some tips or info?

Please and Thank you's =]

You will recieve Packet 3 first, which comes in the mail to the beneficary_ It'll contain a letter saying that your case has been approve and ready to continue on to the next steps, a copy of the I-129F Form with approval stamp, instruction sheet requesting what you need to do.

Write your GUZ Case number on the Instruction sheet on the line provided(you will need to retain a copy for your records and send a copy back to the Consulate)

The instruction will request you to include 2 2x2inch passport style photos, a copy of the beneficary's passport information page, it might request for a copy of the DS-160 confirmation page but to some it has requested PART 1 of the DS230 Form(Send in whatever form it requests for)

After that, wait for Packet 4 (Which is an email sent to the beneficary and you)

I quoted a post I posted a while back to another thread:

Start preparing for the P3, Get 2x2inch passport style photos made_ you will have to submit 2 pictures(I recommend to make at least 10 pictures because at the Medical exam, your require to submit like 5-6 photos and than you have to submit 2 more photos during the visa interview), A copy of your fiance(e) Passport information page(Copy it in color and make sure to sign the bottom of the paper and date it) For some people it has asked to submit Form DS230 Part 1 only, for others it asks to submit DS160 Online Form and then send a copy of the confirmation page from the DS160 once you have submitted it online. I suggest you fill out DS230 part one now, so you have it filled and also go online to fill out the DS160 Online Form : https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/default.aspx

Everything moves really fast from here on out so prepare for the P4 too, you need to go and get your Notarized Documents made, (Police Certificate, Certificate of Marriageability(Stating that fiance(e) is single and able to marry), Birth Certificate, any other required notarized documents) Make sure everything in Chinese is translated to English and notarized! This process took my fiancee about 2 weeks to get because the notarized office took their time to translate all the Chinese documents to English than Notarized the Chinese documents and English translated documents.

You must fill out DS260 because it is now required for K visas in China (contact NVC and request them to give you your case number and case invoice ID number) You can fill this form out here : https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx

Follow instructions here too:

http://ustraveldocs.com/cn/K1%20Instruction%20DS160-2.pdf
(a side note: this instruction packet here will be needed during the medical exam, they will request to see this instruction packet along with the P4 email letter)

Start preparing for the P4, once you get the P4, you can go ahead and schedule an interview. It takes a while to get ready for the interview, so best prepare now.

Yes it is needed, go complete it now_ because they will collect the DS-160 confirmation page during the interview appointment

I filed in april and I'm already approved, have you tried calling USCIS to check if they can locate the progress of your case?

It's hard, everytime I went to China to visit my fiancee for weeks at a time and end up having to return home after my vacation was over, I always held back tears. Haha, but I think she's stronger than me, she never looked back when she walked away as I enter through security and head towards the terminal to get on the airplane. I'm always the one looking back to see her, but she runs off quickly so I wouldn't see her, it was her way of telling me to stay strong.

I held back tears all the way home, going through 22-27 hours of flight time and layovers. It never gets easy, you just learn to accept that with the distance, this will be the challenge but with the help of this website we will all bring our love ones close to us someday.

Be strong =]

It's only a single day process. Make sure you're prepared for it and have all the required documents during the interview date.

They do fingerprinting, document intake and interview on the same day. Make sure they get really good fingerprints, my fiancee had to return to do fingerprinting a second time to which we think that the first time they printed her it wasn't good enough.

So my case finally changed from AP to ISSUED! I'm excited to finally see movement, now we wait until we have the visa in hand and purchase flight tickets.

One other question, Do they do the fingerprints on the day of the interview, or is that a separate step?

They do it at the interview, but I would make sure to ask the person doing the fingerprinting if the fingerprints are correct and acceptable, my fiancee did hers during her scheduled interview, but we had to return again weeks later just to redo them over, they never told us why but we just did as they told. It did cost us more money to have to fly back there just for prints. There is no escaping their requests.

Hey guys. I applied for J-1 Visa at Beijing Embassy on 19th November, 2013. After my interview the visa officer said that my visa is approved but they need to do further administrative processing and they retained my passport.

Since then I kept checking my visa status and passport status. My visa status is the same "Administrative Processing". But I do not understand that why my passport status has been changed from "Your passport is still with the post" to "There is no status update available for the passport number submitted".

Can anyone explain, please?

I had the same situation, its just a minor fault in there tracking system from what I can tell, if you call the phone number provided it'll tell you the current status of your passport.

It's been nearly a month since my K1 visa case was approved and only one week since we were requested to return for finger printing and nothing yet, I'm still in Administrative Processing and its starting to worry me. But I suppose as long as they have the passport and all the correct documents, its all just a waiting game until your able to find out anything.

ya, some internal working things at the IV Unit, based on what I was able to glean with my wife's passport and AP document tracking. 'No Info' for my wife's set, after the IV Unit received it, but some info prior.

However, there is a # to call in the USA, that trips over to a helpdesk at CGI/Stanley in China - a human there can tell you a bit more about where the passport is on any given day. It's sorta wonky to get a human, punching through the AVR options, but once you get a human, they can tell you more. I also called the Guangzhou helpdesk #, when they were open, thinking since they are in the same city, they'd have 'more accurate info' or a supervisor would be available to rattle. I usually called 11 PM CST, my fav time was Sunday evenings here.

also keep checking ceac.state.gov for status - it'll shift from AP to ISSUED, usually within 2 weeks of the AP requested materials hitting the IV Unit mailroom.

I'm praying that by the end of this week my fiancee should have her Visa in hand, this way she can be here for Christmas, still patiently waiting_ although I'm going to contact the helpdesk today to find out more information on the status of our visa.

Okay so my fiancée went back for fingerprinting on the 26th of this month and I checked our passport status,

It now says there is no status update information with the passport number you've submitted(something along the lines of that)

Before it use to say, your passport is with Post.

I hope there is some movement now?