SWA2

“To a foreigner a Yankee is an American.

To an American a Yankee is a Northerner.

To a Northerner a Yankee is a New Englander.

To a New Englander a Yankee is a Vermonter.

To a Vermonter a Yankee is a person who eats apple pie for breakfast.”

(Traditional saying) Michael Owen Jones

Journal of American Folklore (Spring 2007)

As others have said, your fiancee will need a passport. Below is the Letter to K1/K2 Applicants from the Consulate in Guangzhou. Note that the letter says a visa must have a validity of at least 8 months beyond the Visa issuance date, not 6.

K1K2 Appointment-Nov 10.pdf

Your fiancee will still need a Chinese passport when she comes to the United States because she will still be a Chinese citizen, not an American citizen. The passport will be her means of identification until she receives her green card. Even after she gets her green card she will not be able to become a U.S. citizen for 3 years and will still need her Chinese passport. As she will still be a Chinese citizen she will need a Chinese passport to travel outside of the country.

When my wife went back to China two years ago she tried to get her passport renewed while she was visiting. They would not allow her to renew her passport more than 6 months before it expired. She had to get it renewed at the Chinese Consulate in Chicago later that year when we passed through on vacation. It would be easier for her to get the passport while she is still in China anyway. The Chinese passport has a validity of 10 years.

So we have been going down the path of getting a K1 visa and we are close to getting the interview date set, assuming mid May 2011. My fiancé can communicate just fine with friends, my family, and myself just fine in English. However, we know that her vocabulary is limited so we know the correct word to use, or know how to re-phrase the question such that she knows what is going on. My concern is the interviewee will not do this. I have read on day 1 of the process in Guangzhou she is asked what langauge she should take the interview in. What it be a good idea to tell the consulate she will have no problem answering the questions in English but may have a hard time understanding the questions because of a limited vocabulary? This way the interviewee may rephrase or ask in Chinese.

Any advice would be great.

Rather than give advise or make a recommendation I will only explain what happened at my wife's interview. My wife says the interviewer was a younger American male (younger being relative as my wife was 54 at the time). He first went over the I-134 and asked her a few questions about that. My wife had a difficult time understanding him and asked him if he would please conduct the interview in Chinese. He then began speaking Chinese, but my wife said his Chinese was worse than her English (her opinion) so she asked for someone else to conduct the interview. A Chinese woman came in to help conduct the interview. When asked for evidence of an on going relationship my wife presented about 15 emails and 15 print outs from Yahoo Messenger chats that represented steps in our relationship. These were presented with a cover letter briefly explaining the content of each print out. All the email and chats were in English so it was obvious to him that we were able to communicate with each other in English. My wife brought print outs of the other 400 or so emails and Yahoo Messenger chats just to show how often we communicated but he did not ask for these. We had other information also, but he never asked for it. He was satisfied that the content of the print outs were proof an on going relationship and approved my fiancee.

You know you are married to a Chinese when you take your lunch to work and you have chop sticks instead of a fork. I did introduce my wife to the American food of pie and she likes it. That's about the only time we ever use forks.

Hello guys

I am the beneficiary, and today my fiance and I went to the DPS in order for me to get an ID state, but the lady we spoke to, told us that it will not be possible since my I-94 would need to have a validity of 1 year.

I came to the US on Oct 04 2010, and my I-94 will expire on Jan 02, 2011.

So what can I do?? Do I need to wait until I get a GC as the lady said? or try it with the NOA1 of AOS? Do i have any other option?

By the way, yesterday we went to get my SSN, they said they will send it in 2 weeks, even though we didn't have to fill any form as I read in the guides.

We live in Texas. and we are getting married next week.

Am i missing something?

Please visajourney experts help me. Thank you so much for your time and advice!!

I'm from Minnesota, but the laws are similar to Texas and we had the same problem. I believe you have to prove that you are a legal resident for a minimum about of time, either 6 or 12 months before they will issue you an I.D. We married immediately and then applied for AOS and a social security card. After the social security card arrived I had my wife added to my checking account and made her an authorized signer on my credit card. We wanted the I.D. for writing checks, credit card, etc. We went to the local Dept. of Motors Vehicles office and filled out an application for an I.D. using her Social Security Card and passport. However, we soon got a letter back from the state saying she would be unable to get an I.D. because her I-94 was good for only 90 days. I called the office and they told me I could come in and make an appeal. When I got there they gave me the 6 month - one year spiel (I forget what time frame) and that the I-94 was only good for 90 days and that my wife would need a green card or EAD. I pulled out the Advance Parole Notice we had just received and showed them that it was good for a year. They decided to accept this as proof. Of course, the EAD came in the mail about 3 weeks later so we didn't really buy much time.

So my fiance and I are Christian and it's important to us that we have a church wedding before we consider ourselves married...ie. having sex. Since I really want to have my church wedding at my home in Canada, we are planning on having our legal wedding in the states, living at his parents together, not as a married couple, and then as soon as I get my green card we can go back up to Canada and have a church wedding, at which point we will actually consider ourselves married. I know this seems backwards, but its the only way we could come up with to have our wedding in Canada and still fullfill our Christian beliefs.

My question is, is this going to be a problem at the AOS interview? We will be living in the same household, will most likely open joint bank accounts and credit cards, have a legal wedding certificate, and will already have committed to being with each other forever. We just wont be sleeping in the same bed and will be having a second wedding after I get my greencard.

I plan on being completely honest, providing plans for our wedding in Canada, if asked, and probably letters from our pastor explaining the importance of a church wedding, etc.

Thoughts/advice?

There's no reason why your legal wedding in the U.S. can't be a Christian wedding. Depending on your state, there's usually a waiting period of 3 to 5 days after you apply for your license before you can get it. I actually applied for our license while my fiancee was still in China. You can no longer do that in Minnesota as both people must now be present to get the license. I had the option of having them mail me the license or go down to the Court House and pick it up if I wanted it sooner. As my fiancee was still in China I had them mail it to me. You don't have to a judge or justice of the peace perform the ceremony. Just take the marriage license to your local church, bring a couple of witnesses, and have the minister do the wedding. Once you get your green card go back to Canada and renew your vows with a formal ceremony.

Hi, I'm still a newbie, trying to prepare my I-129F form to submit, and I got to #18 and realize I can't fit everything to print out, how do I make a supplement page? Do I add additional form ? How did you guys do it? Any tips would be great. Thanks

All they are asking for is how you met. No need to go into any detail. Save that for the interview. As an example, all I wrote was "Met in person from Sept.3, 2006 to Sept.10, 2006 after communicating for months over the internet." The dates served the purpose of showing we had met within the two year time frame required and matched the dates on my boarding passes, passport stamps, and hotel receipts.

My husband entered on a K-1 over 90 days ago. We are now married and have filed our AOS. My question is about driver's license/permit requirements. He does NOT have a UK Driver's license or permit. When he came here, he was able to take the test and be issued a permit. However, the permit expired at the time of his K-1/I94. They told me at that time that he would not be able to drive anymore until he is able to prove he is here legally. They were a bit vague about what they would accept, I don't think they were very familiar with the situation. Does anyone have any experience with this? I seem to remember reading somewhere that he needs his EAD, but that seems a bit unnecessary to me. Any idea if they would accept a NOA from adjusting status?

I see you're from Minnesota. My wife had the same problem. They need proof that you will be a permanent resident for at least 6 months and the I94 is only good for three. My wife was applying for a state ID card from the DMV and the rules are the same as for a drivers license. The local office approved it, but the state wrote back and told her they could not approve without proof of permanent residence or proof that she would be in the country at least 6 months. I called and they told me I could go to their Saint Paul office and appeal. We went downtown and they told me they would not approve without an EAD or Green card. I showed them my wife's Advance Parole, which was good for one year, and they approved.

My fiancee flew alone. She's a big girl and had flown internationally before, but I tried to make it as easy for her as possible. I made sure she flew Northwest Airlines from Guangzhou to Tokyo and from Tokyo to Minneapolis/Saint Paul so her POE was her final destination. I knew the Northwest attendants on the Guangzhou/Tokyo flight would speak Chinese and help her with her connection if she needed it. Also, Northwest had a special "Welcome to America" one way price that was about one half the cost of a round trip ticket. All she had to do was show them her K1 visa in order to get the discount. Price was definitely a factor as the cost would have been 3 times the amount if I had gone to pick her up.

Yes, you can request that the interview be in Chinese. My wife says that when she had her interview the man began conducting the interview in English. She requested that the interview be conducted in Chinese. The interviewer then switched to Chinese, but my wife said his Chinese was no better than her English. She then requested that someone else be brought in to assist with the interview and a woman who was a native Chinese speaker came in to help.

I had problems similar to yours. I was able to add my wife's name to may bank accounts as she had her social security number. We also showed our marriage certificate and her passport when we added her name to my accounts. They did require a social security number as they are required by law to report interest earned on any savings account to the IRS.

We went down to the local office of the Dept. of Motor Vehicles office to get her a State I.D. card. The local office allowed us to apply for the I.D. using her passport, SSN, and our marriage license. However, the state refused to issue one because there were not enough days left on her I-94. I called the state office and they said we could go down town and appeal. When we got down there they explained that she needed some proof that she would be staying in this country at least 180 before they could issue an I.D. and I would probably have to wait until she received her green card. I pulled out her Advance Parole and pointed out that it was good for one year. After consulting with a few other individuals it was decided that they could issue her an I.D. based on the date on the Advanced Parole.

When I downloaded the marriage license form from our county (Dakota) web site it said that the social security numbers of both parties were needed in order to issue a marriage license. I called an immigration attorney and asked him about K1 fiancees as they would not have a social security number. I was told it was a state law that was still on the books but almost all counties were waiving the requirement for holders of K1 visas. He told me the only county he knew of that had actually required it was Hennepin County (Minneapolis) and they no longer required it due to a threat of a law suit by the Minnesota Bar Association. I was told if Dakota County required a social security number that I should call him and they would gladly take the county to court on my behalf, but a more practical approach would be to simply apply for a marriage license in Hennepin or Ramsey County where the rule was waived. Went I went to Dakota County to apply for a marriage license they waived the social security number requirement for my fiancee. I see the state's new marriage licenses no longer require a social security number if you don't have one.

I see Burke County is surrounded by 6 or 7 other counties. I would call one of the other counties and see if they would waive the social security number requirement. Be sure to explain to them that your fiancee does not have a social security number as she just arrived on a K1 visa.

It was over two years ago so I can't remember exactly what we used, but all we would have had was my wife's passport with I-94 and K1 visa, our marriage certificate, and a certified copy and translation of her birth certificate. Notice that the instructions say OR parents names, not AND parents names. It only took us two weeks to get her Social Security card.

In Minnesota only one person needs to be present to apply for a marriage license so I was able to obtain a marriage license two weeks before she arrived in the country. I used her certified copy and translation of her birth certificate to obtain the marriage license. We were married just a couple of days after she arrived so we had our marriage certificate by the time we applied for her social security card.

my fiance just recieved a letter from US embassy in bangkok stating "This office is pleased to inform you that it can begin to process your finance (e) visa case. Please read and follow all of the enclosed instructions very carefully."

.....but thats it, Nothing else. is this normal or they forget the "enclosed instructions"

what should i do

All forms and instructions are downloadable at the embassy web site. See link below . . .

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/packets.html

Green Card arrived in mail today (11-02-09).

To my understanding, I thought we had to submit 2 passport-style photos with the I 751.

But from looking at the instructions, it says this under the section for military who reside overseas to include passport pics.

Do all others also need to submit passport pics?

I'm a bit confused!

No. Pictures are only required for those who live overseas. Others will have their picture taken at their biometrics appointment.

No updates September filers?

How's VSC group doing? ANy more approvals from CSC?

Saw this post today. We mailed my wife's I-751 on September 5 just before we went on vacation for two weeks. The NOA and appointment for biometrics came while we were on vacation. It was dated September 16. Biometrics appointment was for October 13. USCIS sent an email on October 26 with approval and said card was in production. The actual notice arrived in the mail on October 29. It took 8 days to get green card after the approval date the first time. We'll see how long it takes this time. Not too concerned though as the old card doesn't expire until 12-4-09.

By the way, the CTRL - works pretty good for seeing the tables.

Hi,

Just wanted to share that last time I came over to visit I was fed up with not being able to get around easily. (CA Bay area). It will be a while till I get my drivers licence, and now we are here properly there is school to sort out etc. Anyways, I bought a couple of folding bike yesterday. Older daughter had one already. They are fantastic fun. East to get to the BART and they go on the bus etc. 11 year old can fold it easy too. We have been out and about exploring the area and the weather is great for cycling just now.

So my top tip for adapting is buy a bike ! Makes all the difference when you can put the washing on and head off to have some fun outdoors. Exercise keeps you cheery too.

I bought my wife a bicycle the very first week she was here in this country. A bicycle was her main mode of transportation in China. Fortunately, we live in a very bicycle friendly area with bicycle paths along side all the major roads.

Hi gang, I am new at all of this but have been told by people this is where to find out the best answers.

#1, I have a fiance from Anshan China she is 45 and I am 59, does age difference make a difference, as we are so much in love?

#2, I have been trying to teach her as much english as possible, and she goes to english classes every Thursday after work and on Saturdays and Sundays. She still has a hard time understaing. At the interview, i am sure they want them to communicate in english, but if they don't understand something, will they explain in chinese or is that a red flag?

#3, I have been talking threw the computer for over 1 year to my fiance and seeing her on the webcam and writing and learning on the computer while we see each other, this is every morning and every night for over 1 year. I am not good at the computers, just on and off and a few other things. I just found out how to save our conversation on line, is this a problem with the time gap between now and when we started talking on the computer, as I don't have copys of those talks. I have all phone records also

#4, I have been to China to see my fiance 4 times in the last 10 months with the last trip for 2 weeks on april 13 and coming home on april the 30th. I have copys of all airline tickets etc. We have many pictures with us and her family, our engagement dinner at her brothers home, pictures in 10 different citys, pictures of her son with us at times, will I need more then 1 picture of each?

#5 I filed for a K2 for her son that is 20, he turned 20 on April 13, will they interview him too?

#6, is there anyone who is out there that can tell me what I am missing and should have and bring to her interview.

#7, Is there any chinese lady out there that has been threw GZ that is willing to email and talk to my fiance, as many things I just can't get threw to her, her english is still poor, even after 15 months of being together.

When my wife had her interview the man started to conduct it in English. My wife (finacee at the time) asked if she could please have the interview have the interview in Chinese. The interviewer then switched to Chinese but he was not a native speaker. My wife told me that his Chinese was not that good so she asked for someone else. After her second request a Chinese woman was brought in to help with the interview. My suggestion is that you have your finacee do the same.

I have never really known what the right limits are for car insurance coverage here in the US... I think I might be overinsured but I've never known any way of checking. Does anyone know of any websites with suggested coverage amounts that I could use as a guideline?

Thanks!

Try this link. I think it may be what your looking for.

http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/content1.aspx

How does a immigrant go about establishing credit.

Looks like banks have put a stop to giving peeps credit cards easily.

I'm trying to get my wife a credit line of any kind. So far alls she gets for a reply when filing for a card is "No credit report".

She has a GOOD job as a CNA and makes about 30K a year.

Where can she start?

She has credit cards with my accounts but I guess that don't count!

I did what you did - put her name on my Visa account. After her card arrived she went to Macy's with a friend and presented her new card for a $20 purchase. The first thing they told her is they would give her 10% off if she applied for a Macy's card. My wife, little Miss Thrifty, immediately applied. A week or two later she goes to Kohl's and hands the clerk her Visa card. "15% off if you open a Kohl's account." Now she has a Kohl's card. A couple of months later I go to the Credit Union and they're printing out free credit reports for customers. I discover my wife has a credit rating of 720.

We was planning for a marriage here in the USA with in 2 weeks of my fiancee ariving, the reason is her mother might be coming and she can only stay 2 weeks.

Well, then I notice a problem... Social Security Card... Texas requires a SS card/number to get a marriage license here, which it seems you have to wait 2 weeks to apply for (so it will be in the system) and another 2 weeks for it to arive. Hmm.. anyone else deal with this situation, have any tips for a solution? I cant afford to go out of state for a wedding, the wedding is going to be simple as it is already.. whew.

I would double check with different counties. Minnesota law also requires a Social Security Number. I called an immigration attorney about this and he told me only one county in Minnesota had been enforcing this and they stopped when threatened with a law suit. I also checked Dallas County in Texas and nothing on their site says anything about needing a social security number. I pulled up the online marriage license on their site and there is no place on the form to enter a social security number. Check with other counties close to you. My guess is you can find one that will not require a social security number.

My wife and I were married in Minnesota 18 months ago. Minnesota law says a Social Security Number is required, but they don't enforce it. In fact, at the time I called an immigration attorney about this and he told me only one county in Minnesota had been enforcing this rule with K1 visas and they had agreed to stop under threat of lawsuit. In Minnesota there is a 5 day waiting period after the marriage license is issued before you can marry. Only one person needs to be present when the license is issued so I got the license on July 18 even though my fiancee did not arrive until August 4. When my wife got copies and translations of her birth certificate and divorce decree she had two sets made and sent one set to me. These were the only official documents I had and I was able to obtain a marriage license with them.

How long does it take to get the SSN?

Does this mean I need to have my birth certificate translated to English, too?

Uhh. The more I read, the more I get confused, actually. =/

No, you will not need a Social Security Number to get married in Minnesota. Yes, you will need a copy of your birth certificate at your interview. Foreign documents usually must be accompanied with English translations. See the attached link. It looks like you may not need a translation for the interview based on the information at the link as long as the birth certificate is in English or Croatian (Slovene, Bosnian, Serbian). However, I would think you would want a translation when you apply for a marriage license as the chances that someone at the county courthouse can read Croatian are probably zero and none.

http://zagreb.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant/checklist.html

It depends on the state you are getting married in to what the requirements are.

We'll be getting maried in Minnesota.

Does my fiance need to contact his whatever local authorities to find out what exactly is required? I mean, once I enter the US on a K1, I can't just fly back home to bring whatever I might end up missing.

The only theory I have in my head is - K1, since it's issued after all kinds of background and other checks, at all levels (US, then the beneficiary's country, as well), actually serves as the one and only proof that the both of us are free and able to legally marry.

If that's not the case.. then what? It's kind of odd, if what I just said wasn't true, that the instructions the Embassy gives you doesn't state what kind of things the beneficiary would need to bring to the States.

My wife and I were married in Minnesota 18 months ago. Minnesota law says a Social Security Number is required, but they don't enforce it. In fact, at the time I called an immigration attorney about this and he told me only one county in Minnesota had been enforcing this rule with K1 visas and they had agreed to stop under threat of lawsuit. In Minnesota there is a 5 day waiting period after the marriage license is issued before you can marry. Only one person needs to be present when the license is issued so I got the license on July 18 even though my fiancee did not arrive until August 4. When my wife got copies and translations of her birth certificate and divorce decree she had two sets made and sent one set to me. These were the only official documents I had and I was able to obtain a marriage license with them.

I imagine it's country dependent, but she may not be able to get it renewed that far in advance. I say this because my wife, who is a Chinese citizen, just came back from a trip to China. Her passport expires in November of 2009. I reminded her to have her passport renewed while she was there. She was told that she could not have it renewed more than 6 months before the expiration date. The government officials told her she could not renew it before May.