Gathering documents for Chinese K-1

[I love San Diego 18]

Hello friends,

I will be petitioning for a K-1 visa for my Chinese girlfriend shortly and she would like to start gathering things she will need for the process now. There are some things I see mentioned here that I do not see on the K-1 visa guide. I am also not sure exactly what needs to be translated. She was married and divorced, and has the divorce decree. What items will she need, and which need to be translated? I see the Hokou book mentioned, but I do not see that in the K-1 guide.

These are things I think she will need:

Divorce decree

Police record

Medical check

Are there more? And will these need to be translated? What things can she start preparing now?

Thank you!

[ama537621 3]

White book with her Birth Cert translated into English. Should be able to get that the same time as the Divorce Decree. You should wait on the medical check until you have the interview date. Every document will have to be translated into English and put into a "White Book".

The white books are just the Divorce decree, and birth information with Govt stamps on them with the translation to English in the back.

I suggest that you send a few letters via snail mail have her keep the letters and envelops. You can send them at the cheap rate and they will have plenty of time to arrive. It will just give you more evidence of relationship for the interview. Not necessary but the more information that you can use to prove the relationship the better.

Just curious why go K1? The CR1 cost a lot less in the long run. I went with K1 and wish that we would of gotten married in China and gone the other way. Would of saved us a lot of money and hassle once she was in the states.

[I love San Diego 18]

Thank you for the information. I will tell her this and see if she has any questions.

As for the reasoning, I think the K1 takes 6-9 months, and CR1 takes 9-12 months is this correct? That was really my main reason.

Thanks again for the information.

[azndailo 2]

I think the CR1 requires more "proof" vs. K1. Thanks!

[I love San Diego 18]

I think the CR1 requires more "proof" vs. K1. Thanks!

I understand the need to prevent fraudulent marriages, I guess this process is just the cost of living in a great country. It can be a bit of a hassle though.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Welcome to the forum.

There are many things that you will find that are requirements/instructions that you must follow to successfully navigate a K-1 visa through the Guangzhou consulate. They are not listed on the general VJ guide as that they are country-specific. Many female Chinese fiancees are active in QQ internet chat groups that deal specifically with US immigration issues, encourage your fiancee to become involved in one of those groups. Review some China regional forum threads for examples and numbers of those QQ groups. Additionally, become acquainted with the pinned thread at the top of this forum page, Chinese Marriage Visa Terms and Definitions.

• Here is a link to a fairly recent K Visa Instruction Sheet from the US consulate in Guangzhou. If I recall correctly, this is their Packet 3 info sheet. It lists their old address, they have since moved, and there may be some updated forms needed: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/guangzhou/47024/IV/K1%20Instruction%20GSS%202013.pdf
• Check with the consulate site for more information: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/immigrant_visas.html
• Be sure to review the VJ Info page for the Guangzhou consulate: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=China&cty=Guangzhou
• You will need to set up an account with CGI Stanley: http://ustraveldocs.com
• The preferred method of communicating with the the Guangzhou consulate is via their email form: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/immigrant-visa-unit-question.html

My wife and stepson had several copies of "Notarial Certificate(s)," AKA 'White Book(s)' prepared of their birth certificates, divorce decree, school transcripts. My wife even had a White Book prepared of the notarized statement from her ex-husband permitting their son to immigrate to the US. You may find it necessary to provide those types of White Book documents later on in the US. It is much easier and cheaper to get several White Book copies prepared now rather than later. The Guangzhou US consulate is very familiar and readily accepts White Book documents.

Lastly, review some of the recent K-1 visa threads in the Regional forum. There is a lot of great useful information to be easily found in those threads.

None of this process is a walk in the park, nobody ever said that dealing with huge federal bureaucracies was easy. You aren't the first to attempt it, and very likely not the last. It certainly isn't for the faint of heart, nor light of wallet. However, the end results are certainly worth the effort.

Good luck on your visa journey.

Edited March 2, 2014 by A&B

[roxer 3]

Just my two cents, but you may want to wait on the police check until you get to the P3/P4 stage. I think it has to be current (within 6 months) when you get here as it is part of the package that comes with her.

Do lots of texting and keep the logs - free. We used IMO on our iphone/ipads/PCs that allowed me to download the logs into text documents. Keep the logs as you both need to submit evidence. You will do it to start the process and she will do it for the interview. We had over three years of text (over 7000 pages compressed).

Skype and Face Time - free. Spend some time on the calls. Download the logs to use as communications for her interview.

Pics with her family is good and in many different places.

[I love San Diego 18]

Awesome guys! Thanks for the very useful posts. I will re-read them later on and go through all the links. Yes it is a lot of work, but I do agree it will be worth it.

Thanks very much!

[lostinblue 1,989]

I would be sending her by snail mail cards and letters. and have her send you the same... After a time send the cards and letters she sent you back to her to take to the interview.... You are looking to establish proof of communication. Also Many copies of her birth certificate translated into english and stamped with the government stamp. Any university degree papers? Once she is here it would be difficult if you need the these items in the US for opening bank accounts, driver license, further collage here , and SS number. ect.