mbarido

Repeat from another thread - I need answers:

Let me tell my story:

My petition was approved 13-Dec-2007. Received NAO2 Dec 17. NVC sent letter to Ghuangzhou on Dec 20, 2007 per telephone discussion and letter with GUZ case number. 3-5 days DHL shipping - supposedly. Sound good? Not really. Guangzhou verbally told me it takes 2-4 months to get through Chinese customs. Told to call back in 2 months to see if arrived yet - February 15th or so. I do not know if true. Also, Ghuangzhou website says 3 months after NAO2 until they receive and process. DO I believe? Still more. They then do background check. Takes 3-5 months to send packet three with forms to fiancee after receipt of NVC papers. Then packet 4 later.

From the web site - http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/kvfaq.html - faqs for processing

1. How long does it usually take for the Consulate to receive the K-1 petition?

We normally receive K-1 visa petitions three months after they are sent out from the National Visa Center.

2. MY FAVORITE - Why does the K-1 process seem to be taking longer than previously?

The K-1 visa petition has become more popular as a means of immigrating to the United States. In 2000, we processed approximately 2,800 K-1 visas. However, we have received more than 4, 000 K-1 petitions in just the first half of 2001. At the same time, serious fraud problems have slowed down processing for everyone. Due to these issues, most K-1 applicants wait an average of three to five months to be scheduled for an interview after the Consulate receives their petition.

3. When should I be concerned about my K-1 petition?

If it has been three to four months after CIS has approved your petition and your fiancee has still not received an instruction packet, you should contact us or the original CIS office where the petition was approved. You may use this form to contact the Immigrant Visa Unit.

4. What if my petition expires?

Consular officers have the authority to extend the validity of petitions that have expired. Because many petitions often expire before an applicant can be interviewed, officers at the Consulate routinely extend the validity of K-1 petitions.

end of website quotes from faqs

There is a serious problem with disconnects and divergent information with what I am finding for answers. This website says 134 days from consulate receiving package to interview. Do not see how. Average 34 days from NAO2 to papers at consulate - obviously not applicable to China visas with consulate saying 3 months - read 90 days. Do not bother filing form for 3 or 4 months after NAO2 if consulate does not have. Oh, and consulate will not answer any emails until they have your NVC paperwork.

So, for Chinese immigrant:

1. 3 (or is it 2-4?) months for papers to get to consulate from NVC, 2. 3-5 months to schedule interview, and 3. 1 month from scheduling to appointment. 7-9 (6-10?) months using old fashioned math before possible immigration becomes real for any of us.

Think I am frustrated? You bet. Anybody have real live data? I just figured this data out yesterday and I have been depressed as h_ll! Told my fiancee, she actually is taking it better than me. I actually asked her to find out what it would take for me to immigrate to her country. Talk about me being more than a little angry. I understand security, I have had security clearances most of my life, but we are giving up freedoms here, and no one seems to care.

Somebody prove me wrong, I love to eat warm crow - especially on this time topic.

Let me tell my story:

My petition was approved 13-Dec-2007. Received NAO2 Dec 17. NVC sent letter to Ghuangzhou on Dec 20, 2007 per telephone discussion and letter with GUZ case number. 3-5 days DHL shipping - supposedly. Sound good? Not really. Guangzhou verbally told me it takes 2-4 months to get through Chinese customs. Told to call back in 2 months to see if arrived yet - February 15th or so. I do not know if true. Also, Ghuangzhou website says 3 months after NAO2 until they receive and process. DO I believe? Still more. They then do background check. Takes 3-5 months to send packet three with forms to fiancee after receipt of NVC papers. Then packet 4 later.

From the web site - http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/kvfaq.html - faqs for processing

1. How long does it usually take for the Consulate to receive the K-1 petition?

We normally receive K-1 visa petitions three months after they are sent out from the National Visa Center.

2. MY FAVORITE - Why does the K-1 process seem to be taking longer than previously?

The K-1 visa petition has become more popular as a means of immigrating to the United States. In 2000, we processed approximately 2,800 K-1 visas. However, we have received more than 4, 000 K-1 petitions in just the first half of 2001. At the same time, serious fraud problems have slowed down processing for everyone. Due to these issues, most K-1 applicants wait an average of three to five months to be scheduled for an interview after the Consulate receives their petition.

3. When should I be concerned about my K-1 petition?

If it has been three to four months after CIS has approved your petition and your fiancee has still not received an instruction packet, you should contact us or the original CIS office where the petition was approved. You may use this form to contact the Immigrant Visa Unit.

4. What if my petition expires?

Consular officers have the authority to extend the validity of petitions that have expired. Because many petitions often expire before an applicant can be interviewed, officers at the Consulate routinely extend the validity of K-1 petitions.

end of website quotes from faqs

There is a serious problem with disconnects and divergent information with what I am finding for answers. This website says 134 days from consulate receiving package to interview. Do not see how. Average 34 days from NAO2 to papers at consulate - obviously not applicable to China visas with consulate saying 3 months - read 90 days. Do not bother filing form for 3 or 4 months after NAO2 if consulate does not have. Oh, and consulate will not answer any emails until they have your NVC paperwork.

So, for Chinese immigrant:

1. 3 (or is it 2-4?) months for papers to get to consulate from NVC, 2. 3-5 months to schedule interview, and 3. 1 month from scheduling to appointment. 7-9 (6-10?) months using old fashioned math before possible immigration becomes real for any of us.

Think I am frustrated? You bet. Anybody have real live data? I just figured this data out yesterday and I have been depressed as h_ll! Told my fiancee, she actually is taking it better than me. I actually asked her to find out what it would take for me to immigrate to her country. Talk about me being more than a little angry. I understand security, I have had security clearances most of my life, but we are giving up freedoms here, and no one seems to care.

Somebody prove me wrong, I love to eat warm crow - especially on this time topic.

Go to your Human resources person. Explain it is the government wanting it and show the I-134 form where it says what is needed. Should work with a little explanation.

My company did their own thing about the wording. I gave them the wording, they chose to ignore, but the intent was correct and usable

I feel for you. I am engaged to a Chinese woman who like the whole world thought Americans are all rich. We make a lot of money, but we have to spend a lot of money so we are really not better off than the rest of the world.

I was lucky that my fiancee learned English very, very quickly. This feat allowed me to explain my budget in great detail. It helped that we have computers (I bought hers so we could talk) and talk every day on SKYPE. I could show her fruit and vegetables and tell her how much I paid. She would tell me what she paid for the same fruit. We talked about any money things, but she never asked for money until.....

Eventually, she came to understand that I am not rich, but comfortable. I have made 2 trips - one in July one in November, and a planned one February. Having enough money to travel from Houston, TX to Shenyang, China does send a message that I have some money, but it took a while for her to understand that the love and separation is what is driving me to show up on her doorstep every 2-3 months.

I wanted her to learn English as quickly as possible. I pay $300 (RMB 2000) a month for her to go to school with a professor from London England so she has correct pronunciation. (London English, not Houston English - that is where talking to me on the computer (free) gives her much practice talking like me). She had to stop working full time 5 out of 6 days. She was already paying for her sons school and had very little money. She has lived with 3 sisters and her mother since her divorce in 2000 because an apartment is $50 a month, but she only has $125 a month to spend. Imagine living on so little. It was at that point that she told me she really liked the idea of English school but she could not unless I helped. I agreed because I am the one to suggest the schooling while waiting for the visa paperwork to move excruciatingly slow. Another story for another time. I do supplement her income more than she had before, but her living standard was so low....

Bottomline: Getting her involved with my expenses and constantly talking for her about the cost of everything she understood and things that only we Americans deal with finally get the message to her that I am spending as much as I can to help her until she gets here. My suggestion is open, blunt and naked truth about your expenses, especially since you are married. With friends like his, you do not need enemies. My fiancee has friends at the hospital that do not understand why it is taking so long for her to get her visa - that took many times explaining that her friends daughters went to America before 9/11 and Homeland Security - it is a different world out there.

Lay it all on the line - you will know the right thing to do after discussions. Hope I made sense and hope this message helps.

There is a comment about "touch" of records at Homeland Security and the I-129F process. Petition was approved on 12-13-2007. There were NO touches until that day. I looked at 0900 that morning it still said Sept 2007. That afternoon - boom - Dec 13 data and NOA2 approval. When I called the lady said they are not updating the web site.

So I think touches went the way of "no money" to keep the taxpayer informed

mrb