She wants to bring her son.

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

Li’s son is 20 years old and has served a two year term in the regular Chinese Army.

The original plan was for him to ‘inherit’ Li’s house in China and continue with the career plans that had been in place for him for years.

When the P3 arrived, Li insisted that she wanted to apply for her son to go to America too. I have no real problem with this; her son is a very nice boy. However, I wish this decision had not been put off until the last minute.

I think it will be a difficult adjustment for him here and that he will have to work about three times as hard as an American his age to be successful. However, I also believe that he can and will do what it takes.

When she filled out her DS-230, I had her enter his name in line 21a (persons who will be traveling to America with you now). We also filled out a separate DS-230 for her son.

She will get everything listed on the OF-169 for him. She knows she needs to provide proof that she is, in fact, his mother. I will get him an air ticket so that he can go to the interview in Guangzhou with us.

Is there anything else I need to know or that I should do? Opinions and comments are also welcome.

[pushbrk 12,598]

Li’s son is 20 years old and has served a two year term in the regular Chinese Army.

The original plan was for him to ‘inherit’ Li’s house in China and continue with the career plans that had been in place for him for years.

When the P3 arrived, Li insisted that she wanted to apply for her son to go to America too. I have no real problem with this; her son is a very nice boy. However, I wish this decision had not been put off until the last minute.

I think it will be a difficult adjustment for him here and that he will have to work about three times as hard as an American his age to be successful. However, I also believe that he can and will do what it takes.

When she filled out her DS-230, I had her enter his name in line 21a (persons who will be traveling to America with you now). We also filled out a separate DS-230 for her son.

She will get everything listed on the OF-169 for him. She knows she needs to provide proof that she is, in fact, his mother. I will get him an air ticket so that he can go to the interview in Guangzhou with us.

Is there anything else I need to know or that I should do? Opinions and comments are also welcome.

Did his military service result in membership in the Chinese Communist Party?

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

No. He is not a Communist Party member. (I know that would disqualify him.)

Like a lot of kids here, he just served a minimum term for the primary purpose of getting the associated benefits and enhancing his career options.

[pushbrk 12,598]

No. He is not a Communist Party member. (I know that would disqualify him.)

Like a lot of kids here, he just served a minimum term for the primary purpose of getting the associated benefits and enhancing his career options.

If he wasn't listed on the original I-129F petition and didn't get his own P3, you'll want to email the Consulate to make sure he gets a P4. He can definitely qualify to come with her, provided the interview takes place before his 21st birthday, that's 21 by Western standards, not Chinese culture. I know it sounds silly and you probably understand the difference but they do tend to call a child a year older than we do, as in age 1 at birth.

[YuAndDan 153]

Army service will-not affect the visa, my wife did 3 years in the army, and we noted this on all visa applications.

Edited April 28, 2010 by Captain Ewok
content removed per request of original publishing author

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

Actually, I didn't know that (a Chinese child is one at birth). I learn something new everyday.

Yes, the age I'm referring to is by American standards. The interview will be before his 21st birthday.

I did include him on the I-129f (at that time, I wasn't sure what we would do). We didn't get a different mailing for him, but we did get two copies of everything. He is also listed on the email I got from Gunagzhou as her child (under one case number).

Does this indicate a P3 was issued for him?

[pushbrk 12,598]

Actually, I didn't know that (a Chinese child is one at birth). I learn something new everyday.

Yes, the age I'm referring to is by American standards. The interview will be before his 21st birthday.

I did include him on the I-129f (at that time, I wasn't sure what we would do). We didn't get a different mailing for him, but we did get two copies of everything. He is also listed on the email I got from Gunagzhou as her child (under one case number).

Does this indicate a P3 was issued for him?

I would have expected him to get his own OF-169 bearing his own name. My wife's daughter did. Definitely contact the Consulate by email using their website.

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

Army service will-not affect the visa, my wife did 3 years in the army, and we noted this on all visa applications.

Thanks! We were a bit worried about that. I'll let Li know this afternoon when I talk to her. She'll be relieved to hear this.

The other info is also much appreciated.

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

Will do pushbrk.

Thanks once again for sharing your knowledge. It's very much appreciated!

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

Time to go to work.

I'll be away from this thread for about 10 or 12 hours. But, I'll check it again tonight and reply to anyone who has responded.

Thanks all.

[Eric-Pris 1,604]

-Everybody who is applying for a visa (k-1 or k-2) MUST be present at the interview.

-Everybody must go thru the same process (medical, x-ray, vaccinations, documents)

Basically, whatever instructions she received in P3, they also apply to him.

With all due respect... have you thought about why this was sprung on you at the last possible moment and that she "insists" on it? Personally, that wouldn't sit well with me. But that just may be because of how I am.

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

With all due respect... have you thought about why this was sprung on you at the last possible moment and that she "insists" on it? Personally, that wouldn't sit well with me. But that just may be because of how I am.

The way I phrased the original post, your point is valid. However, in my case, its not a problem. The misunderstanding is my fault.

Li & I were discussing his job and his plans for the future. The corporation we expected to hire him after his military service has no positions available (and apparently won't for the foreseeable future). He is working at a temporary job without a real plan for what to do when that is completed.

His father died young while working for the company and I had the impression that hiring him was a sort of benefit for the family. Now, I think I was mistaken about that. I don't really understand some things about China.

I told Li that if we waited until after his 21st birthday, it could take a couple years (or longer) to get him to America. Once she understood that, she 'insisted' that we apply for his visa now.

I really want the best thing for him. His career plan in China is not panning out. He might as well stay with us, polish up his English, and go to college in America.

[pushbrk 12,598]

With all due respect... have you thought about why this was sprung on you at the last possible moment and that she "insists" on it? Personally, that wouldn't sit well with me. But that just may be because of how I am.

The way I phrased the original post, your point is valid. However, in my case, its not a problem. The misunderstanding is my fault.

Li & I were discussing his job and his plans for the future. The corporation we expected to hire him after his military service has no positions available (and apparently won't for the foreseeable future). He is working at a temporary job without a real plan for what to do when that is completed.

His father died young while working for the company and I had the impression that hiring him was a sort of benefit for the family. Now, I think I was mistaken about that. I don't really understand some things about China.

I told Li that if we waited until after his 21st birthday, it could take a couple years (or longer) to get him to America. Once she understood that, she 'insisted' that we apply for his visa now.

I really want the best thing for him. His career plan in China is not panning out. He might as well stay with us, polish up his English, and go to college in America.

One thing about the Chinese culture is that when the right solution appears to be a no brainer, there is no hesitation to decare it so. The future of their children is of supreme importance because the culture expects the children to support the parents in their old age. The idea that it might be otherwise in the US takes a long time to sink in.

It's taken quite some convincing for my wife to agree to her daughter pursuing the career of her choice, since it is not what her mother had in mind for her.

Since her son is a man of the world, you might want to have him arrive a couple months later so you and you wife have some adjustment/honeymoon time.

[Ursa Tripudio 2]

One thing about the Chinese culture is that when the right solution appears to be a no brainer, there is no hesitation to decare it so. The future of their children is of supreme importance because the culture expects the children to support the parents in their old age. The idea that it might be otherwise in the US takes a long time to sink in.

It's taken quite some convincing for my wife to agree to her daughter pursuing the career of her choice, since it is not what her mother had in mind for her.

Since her son is a man of the world, you might want to have him arrive a couple months later so you and you wife have some adjustment/honeymoon time.

Once again, you're absolutly right.

I just got done talking to Li. She said that her son will take care of us when we're old (just a few minutes ago). I told her: I'm already old, he can take care of me now.

I hadn't thought about putting him on a later flight. That actually would solve a few problems in terms of getting things ready for him here (and some more honeymoon time with Li here would be nice too). We will be doing some honeymooning in China: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, and Xi'an.

BTW: I sent the email you suggested to Guangzhou (via their website).

[pushbrk 12,598]

One thing about the Chinese culture is that when the right solution appears to be a no brainer, there is no hesitation to decare it so. The future of their children is of supreme importance because the culture expects the children to support the parents in their old age. The idea that it might be otherwise in the US takes a long time to sink in.

It's taken quite some convincing for my wife to agree to her daughter pursuing the career of her choice, since it is not what her mother had in mind for her.

Since her son is a man of the world, you might want to have him arrive a couple months later so you and you wife have some adjustment/honeymoon time.

Once again, you're absolutly right.

I just got done talking to Li. She said that her son will take care of us when we're old (just a few minutes ago). I told her: I'm already old, he can take care of me now.

I hadn't thought about putting him on a later flight. That actually would solve a few problems in terms of getting things ready for him here (and some more honeymoon time with Li here would be nice too). We will be doing some honeymooning in China: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, and Xi'an.

BTW: I sent the email you suggested to Guangzhou (via their website).

I take it you're talking about a pre-honeymoon in China, as the actual marriage for a K1 visa holder must occur in the USA.

Maybe somebody will verify whether the son must enter and/or file to adjust status before he turns 21. I don't recall past discussion on that issue.