MM&RO

All
After receiving the K1 visa approval for my fiancee’ in GZ this week, and the celebrating done with for now, we wanted to share insights and advice on the steps taken to reach this outcome, as many in the past have shared their journey as well.
First, each visa journey is different. In our case, we met at work in China, are both college educated (she speaks English fluently, he speaks Mandarin better after some years in China), and have very supportive families behind us. There is a mild age difference (decade), and a divorce in the case file. She studied / worked outside the PRC, and he has worked both in the States and China. Simply put, we are the typical, 30-something middle class ‘couple-to-be’ who met at work, and just happen to come from two different countries.
Second, like everyone we started with only a few clues how to proceed. Online research helped, including the VJ website, which were helpful. Though for every useful website, there was a contradictory one. Best advice, check and compare answers found online, and look for dates / times of those messages as the process seems to constantly change. We did engage an immigration attorney in the States who was referred by another attorney / friend, and that was helpful in the first phase (getting the paperwork in order for the USCIS filing I-129F).
Not sure about the costs of a lawyer? Think carefully about whether you have the time and patience to navigate the various government forms and agencies. Yes it is a cost, and so is your time and patience if things are missed. Also, a lawyer is not a guarantee of approval for NOA1 or NOA2 (notice of action for those new here). It comes down to what you feel comfortable doing, have the time to do, and are willing to wait for. Also, the lawyer only goes so far, you have to do the leg work and paper gathering yourself, especially once it gets to P3 and P4 stage in China.
Third, be ready to wait. What seems to be a simple process on paper / screen, can be at least 9 months (some experience 2+ years) and has many side steps which the government can put up. There are different agencies / websites involved these days. You will want to become familiar with UStraveldocs and the CEAC website (research here those links in VJ). And definitely the US State department website itself, related to immigration of fiancée.
Fourth, it seems the processing goes much quicker once the case file is approved in the States (NVC), and is punted to Guangzhou for in country conclusoin Yes, there are some horrendous stories of lost files and paperwork. It can, and still will, likely happen to some. It did not for us, and we are eternally thankful. That said, make triple copies of everything you submit or receive. Do not flake on this, it will help you sleep at night.
Five – follow the steps they give you. Once GZ IV is ready to go to the next step - packet 3 does come to your ‘better half’ in English / Chinese via registered mail these days. And to note – the DS160 for K1 filers is all that is required since October 2013. Interesting for us, the post office called and confirmed the delivery, and made sure the English address was translated to Chinese for sake of assured delivery. When you submit P3 – be sure to include her / his email address in China and their mobile #. This will ensure P4 happens properly.
For those in the States, you will need to demonstrate ability to support (economically). I-134 is the form, download it and gather your supporting documents (bank statements, W2, tax forms which have been filed in the past years, confirmation of employment and salary at work). This can take weeks to chase down, so best to get started while he/she is processing the P3 in China.
Sixth - Packet 4 is an email– the letter noted you are confirmed to schedule your appointment and advising gather the materials. Follow the instructions to the letter (e.g. if your better half studied / worked outside China, get the police in that country / city to confirm a clean record as well as the local China home town). The ‘white books’ contains translated and certified copies of birth certificates, ability to marry, etc. Take this requirement seriously and check the translation of the documents.
Evidence of relationship – yes every time you and your better half interact, document it. Start now, and go back to when you first become a couple. Pictures, letters, emails, online chat sessions, etc. Print them out. If you travel to China, keep the ticket stubs and receipts (hotels, restaurants, cabs, etc.) The thicker the binder submitted (for I-129 at the beginning or P3 or for the interview), the better. Keep track of your evidence in a single place. Also – make color copies of everything. Just in case. Remember, 3 copies!
If you can both afford it – get a scanner / printer on both ends and have access to a trustworthy laptop and Internet access. This helps immensely in sharing material, etc.
Seventh, interview scheduling upon P4 notice- via the UStraveldocs website - the interview will be scheduled / confirmed (USTravelDocs registration is how you do that, after P4 email is received) – also here is where you pay your registration amount in RMB for the domestic processing (usually he/she will do in China via CITIC bank or some other means – UnionPay card for example). The dates available are released without clear structure – so do not assume you can ‘freely book’ any day you want in a week / month. Also, scheduling wise, remember your better half in China goes to the doctor for the medical check (do not open the sealed file!) a week or two before the actual interview in China.
Finally - On the week of the interview she / he will travel to Guangzhou the day or two before the interview. Realize it is nerve racking for her / him, be helpful / supportive (go and support them in GZ if you are able to take time / afford to). The hotels in GZ are affordable to westerners (300 to 600 RMB per night /$50 to $100 per night US gets you a Best Western / La Quinta equiv. experience or better).
The consulate in Guangzhou is now in the heart of the business district (think downtown San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, NYC) – tall office buildings with thousands of people walking in and around all day long. There is a line which forms outside the brand new consulate building for all sorts of visa matters each morning by 7 am (get there by 7). The building is well appointed, and the area itself is fairly nice and definitely safe.
Across the street (four to six lanes of traffic) directly is an office building with a Starbucks in the lobby which opens at 7 am, there is another around the corner of the consulate on an adjoining street, and within 5 minutes walk a McDonalds, three domestic coffee shops, a Four Seasons hotel (built last year), and any number of parks to sit in. All have free and clean washrooms. All indoors spaces are air-conditioned heavily (summer or winter). Take a jacket, and an umbrella if you are sitting and waiting for your better half.
The interview process is like any government activity / visit – long line, security screening, paperwork processing, given a number, sit and wait, and called for the interview to a window with the consulate officer looking at a screen. Nothing can be taken inside but paperwork (no phones, no laptop, no bags, - just her / his paperwork). This may be tough for you both – wondering how things are going and when will they emerge. Make a plan where you will meet afterwards just in case you miss each other.
Finally, the interview. The interview process, as we have come to learn, is important to the US government to ensure there is no fraud occurring (Marriage or government benefits). Which means, they will ask some personal and at times, tough questions. There is no predicting the ‘type’ of consulate officer (some seem happy, some are tough, some are great poker players). All will speak Mandarin fluently, your better half being able to speak both English and Mandarin in the interview seems helpful, though not required.
Some of the questions we have seen reported here and elsewhere to prepare for:

Where do you work? Where does he / she work? Where were you born? What do your families do? Where did you meet? When? How often have you made contact? In person or online only? What are your job plans if given an entry visa? How do your families feel about the relationship? Does (insert future spouse name) prior divorce worry you? What do you know about that divorce? When will you come to the US if approved? What sort of meals do you enjoy together? What does he / she like to eat? How do you communicate (if you both do not speak the same language fluently) Where do you plan to live once you come to the US? How did he/she propose? When and where?
We would encourage practicing the questions a few times and take it seriously. You will benefit from this once the actual day comes (the anxious ride in the taxi, and jump into the line at the consulate seems to wipe a lot of preparations out of one’s head).


With all that said, do not let the time it takes, or the paperwork, deter you. If you love someone and they will make a difference in your world, it should not matter. Be patient, do not avoid doing the paperwork, and support each other.


Good luck to all who follow. Long post, hope it helps calm the nerves and clarifies a few things for those who follow. And Darnell and others here who routinely support the questions ask by so many, god bless you for your good works.

All
After receiving the K1 visa approval for my fiancee’ in GZ this week, and the celebrating done with for now, we wanted to share insights and advice on the steps taken to reach this outcome, as many in the past have shared their journey as well.
First, each visa journey is different. In our case, we met at work in China, are both college educated (she speaks English fluently, he speaks Mandarin better after some years in China), and have very supportive families behind us. There is a mild age difference (decade), and a divorce in the case file. She studied / worked outside the PRC, and he has worked both in the States and China. Simply put, we are the typical, 30-something middle class ‘couple-to-be’ who met at work, and just happen to come from two different countries.
Second, like everyone we started with only a few clues how to proceed. Online research helped, including the VJ website, which were helpful. Though for every useful website, there was a contradictory one. Best advice, check and compare answers found online, and look for dates / times of those messages as the process seems to constantly change. We did engage an immigration attorney in the States who was referred by another attorney / friend, and that was helpful in the first phase (getting the paperwork in order for the USCIS filing I-129F).
Not sure about the costs of a lawyer? Think carefully about whether you have the time and patience to navigate the various government forms and agencies. Yes it is a cost, and so is your time and patience if things are missed. Also, a lawyer is not a guarantee of approval for NOA1 or NOA2 (notice of action for those new here). It comes down to what you feel comfortable doing, have the time to do, and are willing to wait for. Also, the lawyer only goes so far, you have to do the leg work and paper gathering yourself, especially once it gets to P3 and P4 stage in China.
Third, be ready to wait. What seems to be a simple process on paper / screen, can be at least 9 months (some experience 2+ years) and has many side steps which the government can put up. There are different agencies / websites involved these days. You will want to become familiar with UStraveldocs and the CEAC website (research here those links in VJ). And definitely the US State department website itself, related to immigration of fiancée.
Fourth, it seems the processing goes much quicker once the case file is approved in the States (NVC), and is punted to Guangzhou for in country conclusoin Yes, there are some horrendous stories of lost files and paperwork. It can, and still will, likely happen to some. It did not for us, and we are eternally thankful. That said, make triple copies of everything you submit or receive. Do not flake on this, it will help you sleep at night.
Five – follow the steps they give you. Once GZ IV is ready to go to the next step - packet 3 does come to your ‘better half’ in English / Chinese via registered mail these days. And to note – the DS160 for K1 filers is all that is required since October 2013. Interesting for us, the post office called and confirmed the delivery, and made sure the English address was translated to Chinese for sake of assured delivery. When you submit P3 – be sure to include her / his email address in China and their mobile #. This will ensure P4 happens properly.
For those in the States, you will need to demonstrate ability to support (economically). I-134 is the form, download it and gather your supporting documents (bank statements, W2, tax forms which have been filed in the past years, confirmation of employment and salary at work). This can take weeks to chase down, so best to get started while he/she is processing the P3 in China.
Sixth - Packet 4 is an email– the letter noted you are confirmed to schedule your appointment and advising gather the materials. Follow the instructions to the letter (e.g. if your better half studied / worked outside China, get the police in that country / city to confirm a clean record as well as the local China home town). The ‘white books’ contains translated and certified copies of birth certificates, ability to marry, etc. Take this requirement seriously and check the translation of the documents.
Evidence of relationship – yes every time you and your better half interact, document it. Start now, and go back to when you first become a couple. Pictures, letters, emails, online chat sessions, etc. Print them out. If you travel to China, keep the ticket stubs and receipts (hotels, restaurants, cabs, etc.) The thicker the binder submitted (for I-129 at the beginning or P3 or for the interview), the better. Keep track of your evidence in a single place. Also – make color copies of everything. Just in case. Remember, 3 copies!
If you can both afford it – get a scanner / printer on both ends and have access to a trustworthy laptop and Internet access. This helps immensely in sharing material, etc.
Seventh, interview scheduling upon P4 notice- via the UStraveldocs website - the interview will be scheduled / confirmed (USTravelDocs registration is how you do that, after P4 email is received) – also here is where you pay your registration amount in RMB for the domestic processing (usually he/she will do in China via CITIC bank or some other means – UnionPay card for example). The dates available are released without clear structure – so do not assume you can ‘freely book’ any day you want in a week / month. Also, scheduling wise, remember your better half in China goes to the doctor for the medical check (do not open the sealed file!) a week or two before the actual interview in China.
Finally - On the week of the interview she / he will travel to Guangzhou the day or two before the interview. Realize it is nerve racking for her / him, be helpful / supportive (go and support them in GZ if you are able to take time / afford to). The hotels in GZ are affordable to westerners (300 to 600 RMB per night /$50 to $100 per night US gets you a Best Western / La Quinta equiv. experience or better).
The consulate in Guangzhou is now in the heart of the business district (think downtown San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, NYC) – tall office buildings with thousands of people walking in and around all day long. There is a line which forms outside the brand new consulate building for all sorts of visa matters each morning by 7 am (get there by 7). The building is well appointed, and the area itself is fairly nice and definitely safe.
Across the street (four to six lanes of traffic) directly is an office building with a Starbucks in the lobby which opens at 7 am, there is another around the corner of the consulate on an adjoining street, and within 5 minutes walk a McDonalds, three domestic coffee shops, a Four Seasons hotel (built last year), and any number of parks to sit in. All have free and clean washrooms. All indoors spaces are air-conditioned heavily (summer or winter). Take a jacket, and an umbrella if you are sitting and waiting for your better half.
The interview process is like any government activity / visit – long line, security screening, paperwork processing, given a number, sit and wait, and called for the interview to a window with the consulate officer looking at a screen. Nothing can be taken inside but paperwork (no phones, no laptop, no bags, - just her / his paperwork). This may be tough for you both – wondering how things are going and when will they emerge. Make a plan where you will meet afterwards just in case you miss each other.
Finally, the interview. The interview process, as we have come to learn, is important to the US government to ensure there is no fraud occurring (Marriage or government benefits). Which means, they will ask some personal and at times, tough questions. There is no predicting the ‘type’ of consulate officer (some seem happy, some are tough, some are great poker players). All will speak Mandarin fluently, your better half being able to speak both English and Mandarin in the interview seems helpful, though not required.
Some of the questions we have seen reported here and elsewhere to prepare for:

Where do you work? Where does he / she work? Where were you born? What do your families do? Where did you meet? When? How often have you made contact? In person or online only? What are your job plans if given an entry visa? How do your families feel about the relationship? Does (insert future spouse name) prior divorce worry you? What do you know about that divorce? When will you come to the US if approved? What sort of meals do you enjoy together? What does he / she like to eat? How do you communicate (if you both do not speak the same language fluently) Where do you plan to live once you come to the US? How did he/she propose? When and where?
We would encourage practicing the questions a few times and take it seriously. You will benefit from this once the actual day comes (the anxious ride in the taxi, and jump into the line at the consulate seems to wipe a lot of preparations out of one’s head).


With all that said, do not let the time it takes, or the paperwork, deter you. If you love someone and they will make a difference in your world, it should not matter. Be patient, do not avoid doing the paperwork, and support each other.


Good luck to all who follow. Long post, hope it helps calm the nerves and clarifies a few things for those who follow. And Darnell and others here who routinely support the questions ask by so many, god bless you for your good works.