First steps to marry a Chinese woman

[marrylaopo 0]

Hi All.

I have known my future Zhuhai laopo about six months now ... we hope to meet for the first time in November/December and marry. I am an American (sorry!).

We will have to go through the Beijing US Embassy. Because I was divorced, I will have to get the "Affidavit of Marriage" stamp at the Beijing Embassy, correct? [she was born in Hebei province and we must go to the Hebei capital city, SHI JIA ZHUANG（石家庄）, to marry I think.]

Will it be so easy as to go during ANY of the Beijing Embassy open hours for ACS (American Citizen Services) and get the stamp? Do I need the whole divorce decree or just the 1 page "summary"? Is it possible/wise to make an appointment? I am concerned that I may think "Oh, I can just breeze right in and get the stamp" whereas the reality may be "it will take days to get it"?!?! Is there a way to get the stamp while still stateside?

Then we will go to SHI JIA ZHUANG（石家庄）to get married ... I understand that should be straightforward if I have the stamp.

What else should I think about for the CR1 later? I would like to start that as soon as we are married because I know it is a long process!

Also a side question. Because she is 37 and I am 45 we plan to have a baby soon, so birth control is not foremost on our minds. But how does that affect the CR1 if she gets pregnant will awaiting approval? Will it delay the whole process? [My guess is that if she does not give birth while waiting for approval ... no problem. But if the baby comes before approval, what happens?]

Thanks!

[Phillip2 3]

Yes, my wife is from Handan and lives in theHebei providence. You will need a Affidavit of single staus. You can get the example form off the china Embassy website. make your own copy in word. Then go to the bank and get it notarized. The you should send the secetary of state a certified copy of single staus to get it athenicated. They will need to see your divorce decree and the notoarized statement of single status you you got done. They will put a stamp on it. Then once that is done you will send all of it to get done at your closest Chinese embassy to have the same thing done.

all you have to do after that is take the divorce decree, affidavit os single staus and your birth certificae with you to get married in China at the capitol. You can get thetranslation in chinese and photho's you need right around the corner were you get your marriage certificate.

The baby will not speed you up or slow you down. But, don't expect to get through the process unitl about 10 months after all the paperwork in submitted and that is if your lucky.

It is much easier to take the paperwork to summit to immiigrations with you. fill it out, get it translated and notrized. it will be fatser and much cheaper to do it this way. It sounds like you have plenty of time to get this done. She will need to get a lot of this done while you wait for the time to go.

There is many things you need to submit with the I-130 and it would be wise to get it done. The sooner the better the less wait. Trust me I've been married since Deceber of 07 and I am still going through the process.

[jbhypno 0]

You can get you divorce authenticatecd here in the US. It was what I did and didn't have a problem. You need to get a certified copy of you divorce papers and have them exemplified by your county clerk. Second you need to take them or send them to your states authentication office to get them certified to use in another country. After they are authenticated you then need to take or send it to the Chinese Embassy for specific authentication to use in China. They will put the necessary stamps on it.

JBHypno

[jbhypno 0]

You will need the Affidavit of single staus as well. Use the same procedure as your divorce papers to get them authenticated.

JBHypno

[rmncm 0]

Having a child abroad wont effect the speed of a cr1...what it can effect is when she can travel and it can slow you down in regards that you have to file a birth abroad for the baby. Also the child will be a dual citizen (based on your wifes and your nationalality) Where a big delay can come is if the embassy has any questions on the paternity of your child, they can request a dna test and it could take a few months.