What is required for your CR1 package

[Sino-Italiano 0]

Hi. We recently married overseas in China. We met nearly 2 years ago and I have made 3 trips there to see my new wife. We love one and other and are very happy together. We wish to expidite this slow process without having any glitches along the way.

I have been told that I need an attorney for best results and then I have beeen told I would be wasting my money I can do everything myself.

What are the items USCIS requires to get really get started on this? IE. Photos, boarding passes, e-mails copies, divorce decrees etc. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated very much.

Thanks.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

read your instructions and quides and no a attorney is not necessary, most continue on alone and do a good job (unless you see problems ahead) knowing u know your own case

[AddyG 0]

I would say the majority of the people here are using VJ to help them get through all this with out a lawyer. There are a few that have lawyers who say they never would have if they had known about this site before, and there are a few that prefer to have the lawyer so that they don’t have to do the work. It depends on how involved you want to be really and if you mind spending the $$$. The misconception is that people think lawyers can speed up the process - this is not true. In fact sometimes because everything is going through yet another party, it might take even more time. In my opinion if you can read English and follow these guides there is no need for a lawyer.

The first thing you need to do is decide between the K-3 and the CR-1 paths. (since you are posting in the CR-1 forum maybe you have already done this. There is a guide that helps compare the two choice for already married couples: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

Everything you need is on this site, and if you can’t find something you can always ask – there are lots of helpful people here!

Edited January 31, 2009 by A & M

[Sino-Italiano 0]

I guess I am a little confused here. I have been told that I need my wife's police report from her home city. She must also fill out a special tax form so I can claim her on my income taxes since she is not living in the USA. Also do I have to deal with IMBRA? We never used a marrige broker or a translator service all our correspondence has been one on one. We did meet on Asian Friend Finders.

Any suggestions on this.

[Lindsay G 0]

I guess I am a little confused here. I have been told that I need my wife's police report from her home city. She must also fill out a special tax form so I can claim her on my income taxes since she is not living in the USA. Also do I have to deal with IMBRA? We never used a marrige broker or a translator service all our correspondence has been one on one. We did meet on Asian Friend Finders.

Any suggestions on this.

She will need police reports... but not until NVC. I suggest you take the time to read the guides here and research so you know the process really well. After you have an understanding of the process from the guides, post questions for clarification.

[pushbrk 12,568]

I guess I am a little confused here. I have been told that I need my wife's police report from her home city. She must also fill out a special tax form so I can claim her on my income taxes since she is not living in the USA. Also do I have to deal with IMBRA? We never used a marrige broker or a translator service all our correspondence has been one on one. We did meet on Asian Friend Finders.

Any suggestions on this.

She will need police reports... but not until NVC. I suggest you take the time to read the guides here and research so you know the process really well. After you have an understanding of the process from the guides, post questions for clarification.

A couple specifics the guides won't mention are that you'll need a Notarial Translation of your Chinese marriage certificate from the local Gong Zheng Chu in the County the marriage took place. If she was previously married, you'll need divorce decree or death certificate Notarial translations too. If you don't already have those and a signed G325a from your wife, that's where to start.

For support specific to China, I suggest you join http://www.candleforlove.com

Edited January 31, 2009 by pushbrk