Eric & Jin

Going through Customs/Immigration is nothing to worry about when taking the train between HK & GUZ as you do not have to stop at the border and get off the train to go through immigration like you do when taking the bus. You go through exit Customs/Immigration at the HK or GUZ train station (depending where you are departing from) and then go through entry Customs/Immigration when you arrive at either GUZ or HK. Both check points are quick and easy to get through. I actually transited between HK and China 3 separate times via the train on my last trip (we took a shopping trip to HK while waiting for the visa to be printed) and had no problems on either end.

Its a general #######-for-tat silver..Not a place for details about your case.

Mostly thats all. Kinda like a phone call to uscis in person. You can

push your case but might not get any results..Been there more than

once, our home is in GZ..Check out IKEA next door.

I gave up waiting in the building

This is one person's opinion/suggestion but would certainly not be my own. I attended ACH before my now wife's interview in June and found it to be extremely beneficial. I asked very detailed questions about my particular case concerning several concerns that I had and was given detailed and helpful answers in return. The VO to whom I spoke with at ACH also offered several suggestions for my wife's interview the next day. I found the VO at ACH that I encountered to be very courteous, professional and willingly to offer help - I would highly recommend that you attend ACH if at all possible.

http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/

A website I use to get an idea of train scheds and prices within China (not HK). Get your SO in China to buy the tickets for you to get the best (and maybe better) deal.

Last time I looked HK to GUZ usually costs under $30 each way for an adult, under $12 for children, taking a couple hours. Trains leave often until about 8 pm.

What sites do you use to check train scheds and fares?

This link shows you the fares between HK & GUZ - fares are shown in HK dollars. The price is $190HK or $25US/170rmb

http://www.it3.mtr.com.hk/B2C/UserPage/sysFareTable_Eng.asp

This link shows the schedule of the HK/GUZ train - 12 trains run daily.

http://www.it3.mtr.com.hk/B2C/UserPage/sysTimeTable_Eng.asp

Ok so now I am trying to make plans to go for interview. I want to fly into HK and then train it into Guangzhou. From what I can figure the trains only run until 7:30 at night. If I come in in the evening I guess I would have to stay overnight in HK, but I am concerned about cost, because if I am sitting at the airport in HK and need to stay somewhere it is probably very expensive. I like th eidea of training it for the view and experience, but is it cheaper and better just to fly into GUZ? Last year I flew to HK and took the train and stayed at the disneyland hotel and that was fun in the sun, but I am more interested in the good advice on what to do. Thanks

I did the exact same thing that you are thinking about doing (flying into Hong Kong and then take the train to GUZ) last month and in my case it was much more cost effective to do it that way instead of flying directly into GUZ even with 1 night in a HK hotel figured in. I was able to get a much cheaper airfare into HK than I could into GUZ. And yes you are right the last train to GUZ departs around 7:30pm - but the train ride was nice and very easy to do.

So you think we will not need to get entry permits to HK?

Plan:

Go to interview. (pass the test)

Wait for visas and book flight to USA, print out boarding passes.

Get visas and go to HK.

Stay in HK for a couple nights.

Get on flight to the USA.

You will be good to go without HK entry permits if they have the K-1 & K-2 visas in their passports.

http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_9.htm

Transit

14. Chinese passport holders who are in transit through Hong Kong to and from another country or territory may be granted a stay of seven days on each landing without the prior need to obtain an entry permit provided that usual immigration requirements are met, including possession of valid entry facilities for the destination and confirmed onward booking for the overseas journey.

My fiance is in China, and I researched some threads regarding the time line. is it me, or does it seem that China K1's take longer than normal? i see some other ones with the whole process taking 6 months, but China ones from the one I've seen are taking 9+months. Opinions welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, it is true that Guangzhou takes longer to process visas than many other consulates around the world for the reasons already given by others - namely that it is one of if not the busiest consulates as far as visa processing goes. My fiancee just had her K-1 interview last month and it took just under 9 months, so that does seem to be about the current timeframe.

I want to have medical exam in Beijing. The Consulate recommended 3 hospitals: Beijing International SOS Clinic, Beijing International Travel Healthcare Center and Beijing United Family Health &Wellness Center. I dont know which one to choose. I have no idea how to choose-what are the criteria? the price? or some special services?

I have no experience with any of the Beijing clinics since my fiancee had her medical done in Guangzhou. The only thing that I can help you with is the price at each one.

Beijing International SOS Clinic ...........................900rmb

Beijing International Travel Healthcare Center....880rmb

Beijing United Family Health & Wellness Center...950rmb

If you post this question in the China subforum here or at www.candleforlove.com you will probably get some more specific answers/information regarding the Beijing clinics.

5 days hotel at 250 yuan per day $182

2 medical exams 1600 yuan $234.05

interview fee 900 yuan $131.65

total $547.72

does this sound about right for total cost to get visa?

You have 2 medical exams listed so I assume that you must have petitoned for both a K-1 and K-2. If so, then you will need to pay the $131 for each of the visas for a total of $262 - the $131 is a visa application fee not an interview fee so you will need to pay for 2 of them. Also after the interview your fiancee will need to pay a small fee (forgot exactly how much it is) to mail the immigrations packet to the post office. The expenses definitely add up!!

My fiancee just had her interview on 6/02/2009 and it took 2 days to get the visa and everyone that we knew who got approved the same day also all got their visas in 2 days. There is no expedited service available.

That's a good news to me!I am going to stay at my friends' place and my 3-4 days' staying won't bother them much...do we get passport with visa at one post office?

Yes, you will pick up 1 package at the post office in Guangzhou which will contain your passport with new visa inside plus the sealed brown envelope which contains all of your immigration paperwork.

with 2 day to get medical exam

Have your fiancee get her medical done at the Guangzhou United Family Clinic because same day service is standard - we were in and out of there in about 3 hours with exam results in hand. It is also closer to the consulate than the old clinic on Shamian Island and the cost is the same - 800rmb.

My fiancee just had her interview on 6/02/2009 and it took 2 days to get the visa and everyone that we knew who got approved the same day also all got their visas in 2 days. There is no expedited service available.

That would represent a change in the norm from my past experience. Sounds like a good one. The old way was more like pulling a date out of a barrell. Also May P4's getting June interviews represents an improvement over the past when July interviews would be scheduled in May.

I was a bit suprised how short of notice that we had as far as the interview date goes - On May 5 we learned that our interview was scheduled for June 2. It was a good thing that I was calling DOS everyday, otherwise it would have been another week before we received the interview date with the arriival of our P4. As it was I had to scurry to make vacation plans and purchase airline tickets, so I am glad that I had that extra week to do all of that.

What is the number that you called?

what did they ask of you for your info before you ask them what?

because I am in China I was going to get my brother to call for me and I need to know what information he needs first.

to know before calling.

The number to call is 202-663-1225 then press 1 then 0 - this will get you to a real live person. They will ask for the GUZ Case Number as well as the beneficiary's name and sometimes her birth date - ocassionally they would also ask the name of the petitoner. Have your brother just ask them if an interview date as been scheduled yet. Based on my recent experience I would expect GUZ to schedule another batch of interviews early next month for the first half of August - hopefully you will be included in that batch!

That would represent a change in the norm from my past experience. Sounds like a good one. The old way was more like pulling a date out of a barrell. Also May P4's getting June interviews represents an improvement over the past when July interviews would be scheduled in May.

I was a bit suprised how short of notice that we had as far as the interview date goes - On May 5 we learned that our interview was scheduled for June 2. It was a good thing that I was calling DOS everyday, otherwise it would have been another week before we received the interview date with the arriival of our P4. As it was I had to scurry to make vacation plans and purchase airline tickets, so I am glad that I had that extra week to do all of that.

what is the latest inverview any one knows of now?

There are a group of people on CFL who have interviews the second half of July but I don't think that anyone has reported being assigned an August interview date yet.

No, other than keeping track of what other people are reporting on CFL there is no real way to determine when GUZ will be scheduling interviews and for which days, just as pushbrk suggests. Speaking from recent personal experience it seems as though GUZ is currently scheduling interviews twice a month - they do 2 batches per month. Back on May 5th there were about 8 of us CFL posters who had our June interview dates scheduled - these dates ranged from June 1-12. No one on CFL had reported having an interview scheduled several weeks prior to May 5th and then about 2 weeks after May 5th another group of CFL posters reported having their interviews scheduled within the later half of June. My advice is to call DOS every day to see if an interview has yet been scheduled - that way you will find out about a week sooner than if you just wait for the P4 to be delivered.

Is the ACH every Monday or is it just once or twice a month?

It is every Monday, except on Holidays.

One more question since you're all so helpful:

He heard that even after the interview, he might need to be there for something the following week? Does anyone have any idea about what this is?

No, I have never heard of anything like this before unless maybe he is referring to the interview resulting in a possible blue slip (request for more information) but even then the additonal information that is being requested is generally mailed in. After my fiancee's visa was approved it took 2 days to print the visa and then we picked it up at the designated post office in Guangzhou - maybe he was referring to this perhaps - not sure?? Sorry.

Chinese fiancees are recommended to pay application fee in any branch of CITIC Bank in mainland China and are obliged to have interview in Guangzhou. at the same time the Consulate says that the CITIC Bank , for example,in Beijing may advise you of paying it in Guangzhou. That insecurity confuses me.I live in Beijing and plan to pay this fee in Beijing and go to Guangzhou the day before the interview with receipt paid and medical exam undergone. Has anyone paid this fee in city other than Guangzhou?

I am not exactly sure what you mean when you said "at the same time the Consulate says that the CITIC Bank , for example,in Beijing may advise you of paying it in Guangzhou". The letter concerning the visa fee that you receive from the Consulate in Guangzhou states the following: "All K nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of 131USD (or equivalent in RMB) at a CITIC Bank prior to the visa interview. The fee can be paid at any of the branches of CITIC Bank in mainland China."

Many applicants have and do pay the visa fee at CITIC branches outside of Guangzhou without any problem - just be sure to take your payment receipt to the interview and you will be fine.

Yes, I would definitely recommend that your friend be in Guangzhou during his wife's interview. Guangzhou is one of those consulates where you should definitely take advantage of anything at all which may improve your approval chances. He will not be able to attend the interview itself but he can give his wife his passport to give to the VO who is conducting her interview which will prove that he is there. I would also recommend that he attend an ACH (American Citizens Hour) session which are held on Mondays at 2:30 if at all possible where he can ask any questions that he may have about his case or the process in general but more importantly his presence will be noted in the computer.

I attended my fiancée’s interview in Guangzhou about 3 weeks ago and also attended ACH and I feel that it benefited our case a lot. I wanted to be there not only to let my presence be known but also to be there for support after the interview in case my fiancée’s visa was denied. My question is why anyone would not make sacrifices to be there for the interview being that it will probably be one of the most important days in both their lives. If they aren't there and the visa is approved then great but if they are not there and the visa is denied then they will be kicking themselves for not making the trip.

With Chinese mainland citizens needing a pass to enter Hong Kong.

Do they need one to board plane in Hong Kong on way to usa?

After receiving visa in hand from Guangzhou consulate.

Would the Chinese citizen just be transiting through the HK airport - that is would they arrive from the mainland on one flight and then change planes to a flight headed to the US without exiting the airport? If so, then no HK pass/visa would be needed provided that they have a valid passport and US visa.

What happens if you can't attend the ACH?

Every post I read says it has no impact on the outcome of the interview, yet people's subtle undertones suggests otherwise.

Also, the majority of the interview experiences I have read seemed like outcome is pre-determined before the interview starts.

So confused.......

Will you be able to be in GUZ for your fiancee's/wife's interview? If so, be sure and give her your passport which she will in turn give to the VO - this will make up for your not being able to attend ACH and will show that you are there to provide support to her.

First, I gotta say I recommend getting to Guangzhou at least 7-12 days prior to the interview. I think if I came down with 5 to go we would have been shot down.

The medical exam took us three business days to get back, but 5 actual days (she got her exam on a Friday.) And it seemed like almost every day I was finding something else that I should have included in our packet, right up to the day before.

Wow, I have to say that I think arriving in Guangzhou 7-12 days prior to the interview is a little overkill but whatever works best for you is what matters. I had been continously working on our packet/evidence since the day that we decided to file our I-129F and had everything to go well before arriving in GUZ so we did not need any extra days to work on any of that. We arrived in GUZ on May 30, my fiancee had her medical exam done on the May 31 at the Guangzhou United Family Clinic which provides same day results as part of their regular service - the exams here cost a bit more than at some of the other clinics (800rmb) but we were in and out in about 3 hours with the results in hand so it was well worth the added cost.

My fiancee had her interview on June 2 and was loaded for bear with any possible type of evidence that one could think of and also had reviewed about 200 of the most commonly asked questions and had answers for each of them well thought out. But as it turned out it was what she called a very easy interview - it went like this:

Jin: Good Morning

VO: Good morning - can I see your passport?

Jin: Do you need my fiancee's passport also?

VO: Yes - is he here now?

Jin: Yes

VO: How did you meet

Jin: Online

VO: When did you first meet in person

Jin: August 2008

VO: How many times has your fiancee come to visit you?

Jin: He has visited me 3 times including this visit.

VO: Can I see your photos?

VO: Where was this picture taken?

Jin: Gulang Island

VO: It is very beautiful there

VO: What is your fiancee's job

Jin: He is a Quality Assurance Manager with a software company

VO: What is your job?

Jin: I am an English teacher

VO: How do you maintain contact with each other?

Jin: By phone calls, emails and MSN. Do you need my phone bills?

VO: No

VO: (typed into computer and looked at it for a couple of minutes, then took out pink slip and attached the appointment letter to it and handed these along with my passport back to Jin). You are no problem!

We picked the EMS package containing her passport/visa and immigration packet up at the China Post office yesterday, so it only took 2 days to receive it. All in all our experience with the consulate was very positive. I attended both ACS and ACH and both of the VOs that I encountered were very pleasant, courteous and acted in a professional manner. I was able to talk about several details of my case at ACH and the VO even made several notations in the file detailing one of my concerns about our case.

We are flying out of GUZ to Xiamen in a couple of hours so that I can spend a couple of days with my fiancee's family before I head back to the states. My fiancee will follow me about 3 weeks later after she wraps up her current committments at work.

I stopped by the consulate earlier this afternoon to get a couple of questions answered and found out that Monday the 25th of May, they won't be having this because of the Memorial Day holiday.

Kind of a bummer for me, because my fiancee's interview is the Tuesday the week after. And they said that's the only time the vo's are availing themselves for questioning.

My fiancee's interview is also on Tuesday, June 2. I plan on attending both ACH & ACS on Monday, June 1 - I already have an appointment scheduled for ACS that morning. Maybe I will see you there.

Get passport photos before Medical.. The Med center will want them to attache to DS-156 and seal into the medical envelope.

The Hospitals no longer collect any of the non-medical forms - the DS-156, DS-156K, DS-157 and GNI-2 are all now submitted directly to the consulate at interview time. But you will still need to submit passport photos during the medical exam - I believe they attach at least one to the medical forms. GUZ changed the procedures at the beginning of the year.

http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/up...cant-May_09.pdf

I see it is costing you in the $1K range too. You have in-China flights too.

Off-topic, why get married instead of contesting the denial? Of course I hope you both are approved!

Yea, I always use ctrip for my inter-China flights as well - I always get a good deal there.

Unfortunately if you get denied you almost never get the chance to contest it. You can not contest a denial with the Consulate and most of the time when GUZ sends back the denials to USCIS the petitions have already expired (good for only 4 months) or USCIS will let them expire before they review them. If on the slight chance that USCIS does review them it will be many many months (if ever) that they do - so for me I would just rather get married and start a CR-1 petition.