GODgavemeYou<3

My wife (at the time fiancee) and I just recently took these exact return flights (Philippine Airlines to Shanghai - American Airlines to Chicago) and here was our experience:
In China, they DID force us to claim all of our bags on arrival and then re-check them at the American Airlines desk. I don't know what the luggage tag said for that first leg of the trip, but I do remember that after re-checking the bags the American Airlines agent gave us new tags with the final destination on them (I remember her asking me to confirm our final destination before she applied the tags).
We were surprised by this because, as the posters above stated, they don't usually make you do this for a simple layover. But China (and/or Philippine Airlines) sure did it to us. I don't know why because I've switched airlines internationally several times before, with several different combinations of airlines, and have never had to do this.
It was kind of a hassle because you arrive/claim bags on the gound floor and have to go up to the second floor to check-in/depart, so we had to fight to push our baggage cart into one of only two elevators they had, and it was very crowded in that area as everybody was attempting to do the exact same thing.
Also, at the Shanghai airport, you have to go through immigration to arrive, and again to depart - even just for a connecting flight. Be sure to have the arrival/departure cards filled out, even though the answer to most of the questions on the arrival card will be "none" or "N/A" for someone who is just connecting. They won't let you pass to your connection without filling them out. I found that out the hard way by only filling out a departure card at first, thinking they wouldn't require the arrival card from someone that was just passing through - I was wrong and had to step to the side at the booth to complete it. [On the arrival card for the question "At what address will you be staying in China?" I was tempted to put "Gate D19" Hahaha!]
It took us every bit of our three hour layover to do all of this and when we finally approached the gate of the American flight it was already boarding.
It's not my intention to scare or worry you, I just want to let you know what happened to us back in November. Mentally, be ready for this. If I had known to expect all of that, it would have been a lot easier to figure out what I needed to do, where I needed to go next, etc...
Good luck to you!
[side note: After that last trip, we decided that next time we would go through Incheon airport in Korea again. It's way smoother! You can get to the gate of your connecting flight in about 20 minutes there - no baggage claim - no immigration lines - just a security checkpoint that has always moved quickly in the previous three times I've been through there. The only reason we went through China last time was because the price was much cheaper].

It's okay NYYankees. As we talked about yesterday, I never received my email notification either - for NOA2 or NOA1 (even though I used the G-1145 form). But I have no doubt that your paper NOA2 will be showing up in a few days - as will mine. Good luck to you all the rest of the way. And since we were approved on the same day, maybe our fiancees will interview on the same day, too!

I am the US citizen, and I will soon be attempting to use the online system to schedule the interview appointment for my fiancee. I know that once I have the MNL case # from NVC, and once my fiancee makes the payment, (and we wait until it clears their system) I can then go online to begin this process. I've studied up pretty good on what selections to check and what information of hers I will need to complete the registration, but my question is this:
When I set up my log-in username and password at that site can I use my first & last name and my email address? Or will later attempt to use this information to automatically populate the applicant's data? [i'd like to be able to log in as me, but I know I must register for the appointment as her - and I don't want to mess up before I even get started]
Also, can I use my email address during the appointment registration even though all other information I enter will be pertaining to my fiancee? I'd like to be the one to receive the confirmation email since my fiancee has to go to a cafe for internet access.
Any insight from those that have done this on behalf of their beneficiary fiancee would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hope more approvals comng soon!

You know guys, this is a very tough wait for all of us but I'm very glad I found this forum with you guys inside!
Nobody else outside of the visa process seems to quite understand and emphatize with the situation.
We're very close now, I hope by the end of the week most of us will hear some good news!!!! 4 more glorious visa approval days to come!!!!

While waiting for NOA2, we can start gathering those documents to keep ourself busy a bit. By the time the embassy gets our approved petition we can turn in required forms ASAP to have interview appointment scheduled at earliest possible date.
This week is our week!

No, don't even think like that guys - try to stay positive! It's a new week, and new luck. Hopefully by the end of the week, many of you will have their NOA2. We all here are rooting for those of you who are still waiting!

I am a March filer who was approved and received my NOA2 on 9/20. I received my NOA1 on 3/26 and was processed at the VSC. I wanted to update the forum for all of you who are waiting and watching. My prayers are will all of you for a quick processing!