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Operator

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Posts posted by Operator

  1. Not sure if any of you have heard about a massive apartment fire in the Jing'an district in Shanghai today, unfortunately it was my finacee's apartment building. Luckily she was at work at the time the fire started and is fine. Homeless but fine.

    She is scheduled to be in the states for the holidays so hopefully she can get her passport reissued quickly. The US embassy already told her they would reissue her tourist visa. Both of us are going back to China to celebrate CNY in Feb.

    So about changing her address on our K-1 pettition. It's likely she wont seek a permanent residence back in Shanghai because hopefully by spring she'll be residing with me here. Should she use her mother's address in Hubei as her address? It's the most stable and wont be changing in the near future. We only submitted at the end of October so I know its not that critical now but I want to make sure that we keep the application up to date.

    IMAG0022.jpg.scaled.500.jpg She lived on the 27 floor of this 28 story building. So thankful she's ok!

  2. Since we are discussing it....

    How important is it that the USC go to the interview. I know she has to do the interview solo but does it help if I'm there (other than the obvious moral support). She's fluent in English so that's not a problem for her. We are going to be in China in February and I'm wondering if I need to start planning another trip back for the interview.

    Thanks

  3. Um.. illegal. She SHOULD NOT sit on your lap. It's SO most definitely illegal. Wow. No.

    Pay someone to teach her. I read all over the place the is the best thing for you, her and your relationship.

    Telling a Chinese person that something is illegal doesn't always have that much impact but I know what you mean, it's probably not that safe either.

    Oh yeah absolutely better on the relationship to hire a pro.

    :thumbs:

  4. I never thought to sit her on my lap...great idea! I just sat her in the drivers seat and tried to talk her through it. I take so many things for granted I guess because I sat in the car watching my parents until I was old enough to drive it came naturally. Not the case for her. The funny thing is she can't ride a bike either...sorry baby. :innocent:

  5. **Waiver** I'm not trying to stereotype or make any sort of derogatory comment.

    I'm looking for comments from anyone with experience (or an opinion), who have taught their Chinese wife or girlfriend how to drive. I've given Jane a couple of driving lessons during her visits to the US only to be given lessons myself about my communication skills, or lack thereof. I know that one key to feeling independence as a forigner in this country is a drivers license, so at some point I'd like her to have one.

    I have a colleague in Beijing who is a woman, she's 55 and got her license about 3 years ago and I've survived a couple of trips with her but for the most part I think there are very few Chinese women who have much experience behind the wheel.

    I guess I'm looking for some guidance for the sake of safety. How have you handled this with your better half?

  6. Yes, I realize I will need to do all the legwork, and it's not so much the standard paperwork or the gathering of information, but more, the supporting documents. Do I really need to send a 100-150 page presentation? What and how much needs to be included? I have 3 years worth of emails, most discussing general stuff like the weather, and what we did on the weekend, all the lovey stuff people talk about, seriously, how many emails do I need to include, and phone records (again years worth), and photographs (I have about 100 of us together). No where have I been able to find a guideline or recommendation or even an outline on this. This is what's really freaking me out.

    I don't mind paying for help as long as it's helpful, but I don't want to get ripped off either. I've read sooo many horror stories, and I really don't want to add mine to the list!

    China Embassy, yea that's another bag of worms I'm worried about.

    Two years ago my finacee tried to obtain a visitors visa, but was denied, she didn't have sufficient reason to return to China, and she said the guy was very mean to her; I've also read the consulate in China is, shall I say, not so nice.

    Bearing in mind that I only submitted my pettition a couple of weeks ago I'll tell you what I sent based on the advice I've recieved here. I sent two photographs per year of our relationship (total of six) as proof that we have met personaly in the past two years. I also sent twenty pages of emails from over the past couple of years to prove an ongoing relationship. I sent an evolution of relationship statement as supplement to question 18, which is basicaly a narative of how we met and all the visits we've made back and forth since we met, also copies of her visas with entry and exit stamps and copies of boarding passes.

    I agree that front loading the pettition is a good idea when dealing with the consulate in Guonzhou and bringing additional proof of the ongoing relationship to the interview is key. Phone records, chat logs, additional emails and the like are helpful. In all my package was 52 pages but it hasn't been tested yet. I followed the guides here and asked lots of questions and I feel very confident with what I sent.

    Good luck!

  7. liu and i, 45/57, are in this process of getting forms ready. my main question right now is i am from the united states andshe is in china. i have read conflicting reports on where to send the forms???? i have been to china in sept 14 to 24 and i am returning 01/03/11 to 01/14/11. we figure we will file after i return home. this way we can makes sure it is all accurate when we are together in january, as well as using january information. so, please. which center in USA should i send info????thanks so much:-)...todd and liu.ps...sorry, K1 visa:-)

    Follow the guides they are a real time saver. All K-1 pettitions (I-129F) go to the Texas lockbox. Good luck and ask lots of questions here.

  8. Greetings everyone! This is actually the first forum I have ever signed up for! I have always considered postings on forums for purely entertained or general information purposes. Honestly I have never taken them seriously. However...

    Something has come up in my life that has taken me completely off guard. Something exciting, something scary, but something worth fighting. For this reason I have joined VisaJourney. I am looking for anyone who can help me with getting the girl that I love here to America. She is a German citizen who came to America for one year as an Au Pair. She is a high school graduate in her country and has attended some college but has no degree. We haven't been together long enough to get married, but long enough to hate being apart. Right now she is trying to work in this country and attend college so we can be together. If anyone has any information on what kind of Visa would best help us, or any other suggestions or advice, I would be eternally grateful! This stuff... Is very complicated... and I have "no where to turn!" :-(

    Thank you and its a pleasure to be here!

    Brian

    Since Germany is a VWP country would it be possible for her to attend school and while doing so the two of you could spend time together ? I don't think you can adjust that type of visa status but it may allow for the two of you to spend more time together to decide if you want to get married and then possibly go the K-1 route.

    I'm sure some veteran has a much better idea.

    Good luck

  9. OK VJ Vetrans another rookie question. Got the hardcopy of NOA-1 today and it was from the Vermont Service Center. I sent it to the Dallas Lockbox. Just out of curiosity is the Dallas Lockbox just a distributon center sending the pettitions out based on workload, or, do they also process?

    Also should we be on the lookout for any unique issues based on this service center?

    Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

  10. I'm asking this question for people that are married to someone from another country other then an english speaking country. If your wife or husband is from Germany or France and has made friends from the same area that she or he happens be from.

    If all three of you go out for lunch or something like that, do they speak in their language, or speak in english to help you be part of the conversation?

    I grew up next to the mexican border and had many spanish speaking friends and knew couples that were of mixed race. They always spoke english but the only time they ever talked in spanish is when they don't want the english speaker to hear something.

    My story is: my wife hasn't been in the country that long, just over a year now. Her english is improving but doesn't try very hard. She always complains that she wants to improve and study more but all she has made here are friends from her country. Most of them have been here for more then 20 years and their english is perfect. When we get together I end up feeling like the third wheel because I can't understand anything and can't add to the conversation. I've explained to her that she could speak english to help improve and it would help me because I can be part of the conversation rather then me just sitting there looking bored.

    I know I can work on learning her language, and I have. I've been working on learning new words and phrases each week and will try to speak or say something, but she doesn't correct me or even give an answer other then in english, she acts like she doesn't even want me to learn her language.

    I just want to hear your 2 cents worth.

    Thanks

    Well we aren't married yet but have been together for a couple of years. i'm fortunate in that her english is excellent but a lot of her friends in China don't, or won't speak english and my Chinese is limited. When in China she always makes sure that I am followinig the conversation. I continue with the lessons and am getting a little better but as you know its a tough nut to crack. I live in the south and when she's here she has difficulty with the strong accents but is never affraid to ask somone repeat themselves. Normally people will start to speak slower once they realize she's not a native speaker.

    I do know that when she's here for an extended time I think she misses speaking chinese on a daily basis so when we go to the chinese market we end up spending most of the day while she chats with the people that work there.

    Have you told her how you feel? I would think that she would be motivated to teach you so she would have someone to speak chinese with. Good luck.

  11. Hello. I have been lurking on this forum for months now and I am about to file my first packet to start my K1 visa journey. I am American and marrying a Canadian, but we are doing it through Mexico as he is a Mexican resident and resides there. My latest question is, I am requesting an expedite due to my medical condition which is unfortunately terminal. I have already gotten letters from my doctors with supporting documents, and a congressman ready to assist once I get a case number. Do I just send it with everything else (I-129F, etc.) ? Do I send it anywhere else? I will be going through the Vermont office. I just want to do whatever I can to get the best shot of getting approved. Is there a link to any approved expedite letters on this site that I just can't seem to see? Thank you as always, it is so great to have this forum to help get through this cofusing stuff!

    You say you are going through the Vermont office? I thought all 1-129F, K-1 pettitions went through the Dallas lockbox now. I'm a bit new at this but I would certainly check on it before I sent it to Vermont.

    Check out this link. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1872aca797e63110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

  12. "This is the social norm in Filipino culture that foreign spouse should understand. I didn’t say that the foreign spouse should accept the fact that it’s part of Filipino culture, but at least understand it, the way they understand the individuality of their Filipino spouse. And probably come up with a compromise in such a way that it didn’t hinder the progress of the relationship of being husband and wife."

    adiiann you could replace Filipino with any other nationality in your comment above. These are very true words that all of us in multi-cultural relationships should try to comprehend.

    I agree with you 100%.

  13. Hi, I am looking for advice from anyone who has dealt with this kind of situation before.

    I am American, my gf is Chinese. Our situation is strongly based on emotions, I have to admit. I say this because I have to leave China abruptly because I have been diagnosed with cancer. Otherwise, I would spend my life here with her. So, because life has thrown me a curve ball, my gf would like to come to America (as a tourist) to visit me and aid in my recovery, asap. It will be emotional torture to go through recovery with my girl half way around the world.

    But I am not posting this looking for sympathy. I just want to know, what kind of tips can people offer to my gf so she can obtain a tourist visa to see me?

    Should she bring a bank statement to show how much money she has? A letter from her University showing she intends to come back to study? Proof of a return ticket? All three? All three and more? Maybe an invitation letter (from me)?

    Any help would be great!

    Hello,

    Sorry to hear about your situation and wish you a speedy recovery.

    My fiancee applied for a B2 (tourist visa) a couple of years ago through the consulate in SH. She was very nervous however the process was very straight forward and rather quick and she was successful. While its certainly not easy for a younger single chinese woman to always prove strong ties to China that is what she must do. USCIS assumes that everyone who applies is a potential immigrant and what she'll have to prove is that she isn't. Bank statements, rental agreements, employment contracts, a letter from the university are the types of proof that are sometimes necessary. An invitation letter and itinerary are must. Don't forget that even with the visa she can be turned around at the immigration inspection at her POE so it's advisable to bring all that documentation with her when she arrives in the US.

    You've come to the right place for guidance. Some of the senior members are true experts.

    The very best of luck to both of you!

  14. I am a Chinese woman, I lived my whole life in China, I want say something about Chinese woman as a response to justashooter.

    From shooter’s post I find it’s obvious you and your Chinese woman are fighting very hard for POWER, you are not happy about this. It’s good to realize there is something wrong, and more importantly is to think about why and how to make it better.

    By making simple conclusion like: "chinese women like their man to be "in charge", these comments valid for most chinese women." Firstly it doesn’t help your relationship, because you are not facing the real problem you both have, secondly, it’s not fair and sounds offensive to make statement like that in a public forum.

    Chinese woman does wish their man/husband having a good job, they want to look good in front of their friends and family, but the way you look at it is too extreme, be fair and honest, I never seen a woman prefer a looser. And if a man could choose, he wouldn’t marry a woman who is lazy, doesn’t have a job and doesn’t have ability to survive. It’s not problem with Chinese woman, it’s common with human beings. Back to Chinese woman, chinese woman are serious and loyalty to relationship and willing to support her partner the best way they could, a Chinese will always help their families when they need, it comes from the family oriented culture, after married, you are family too.

    An old Chinese saying says gentleman wouldn’t argue with people in different opinions, argument will only lead to another argument; it never bring you the solution. I hope you wouldn’t see my response as a bullet but as an advice of looking at things in a different way. I hope you could figure out your relationship from deep inside, complaining all Chinese women here will certainly not help you but pushing you away from the real problems, wish eventually you could find a solution and be happy as most people who are visiting VJ do.

    Regards from China.

    I'd say this comment is more representative than that of a non-Chinese male.

  15. I-94 is one of the most efficient ways in which the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) can track temporary visitors in the US. Your friend needs to return the I-94 before he boards the final outbound International flight from the US.

    He will need to contact a local USCIS office and they will most certainly ask him to fill out a form, I-102 which is used to replacement for I-94. Ask them for an expedite as it might take a couple of months to get this processed.

    Hope this helps and good luck to your friend!

    KnR aka slider100

    Thanks very much! Very helpful.

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