Please help someone totally new and clueless about DCF in China

[dakelei 3]

Hello everyone!

I consider myself at least decently intelligent, educated and literate yet browsing through this website is making my head spin. My Chinese wife and I married on July 4, 2013 and we are now beginning the process of getting the two of us to America together. Ideally we want to arrive in the USA in July, 2014, right after my current contract with my Chinese university expires. What is the very first thing I have to do? I've downloaded the I-130 form and filled it out. Do the 2 of us now need to go to Guangzhou and drop it off in person? We're about 4.5 hours from there by bus. What other forms would we need the very first time we go? I'm very confused about all of this. Sorry if I sound like an idiot.

Another few questions: Is the Guangzhou consulate staff actually helpful when you call or email or do they behave like you're bothering them and just wish to be left alone? I visited the consulate a little while back to get a new passport and I was impressed with the level of courtesy and professionalism I observed there. Is this also true with visa issues? Is there a separate number and email address for American citizens to contact the consulate or is the same one Chinese use? OK...one more question: For reasons that aren't necessary to get into right now my wife and I were married in Hong Kong. Does this matter? Should I apply for my wife's visa in Hong Kong?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

[LBeachey 45]

Well one of the problems is the process constantly changes....

The good news is if you want to leave in July 2014 and you are eligible for DCF you still are a little bit early to apply. Still it is possible to delay this process but next to impossible to speed it up.

DCF typically takes 3-6 months from filing I-130 to getting the visa unless your wife is CCP (member of the Communist Party) which can add 3-6 months. The issue with going too early is the visa is only good for a maximum of 180 days (due to medical which is done right before the interview)

So the first thing you have to do is file the I-130 at the USCIS office in Guangzhou, assuming you are in the Guangzhou Consular district which you sound like you are. There is also a USCIS office in Beijing which covers the rest of China.

You will need the I-130 but more than that, this thread is pretty old but the first entry gives you a good idea what you need to file with the I-130

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/297900-how-i-did-dcf-in-beijing/#entry4642542

When you are ready, make an appointment with the USCIS office in GUZ. See the Consulate website for phone numbers and email. The USCIS office like American Consular Services is generally pretty helpful. The GUZ immigrant section tends to be difficult to deal with due to the volume of applicants. The immigrant section can only really be contacted by the web form on the web site and can be a source of frustration.

If you reside in the Mainland, you will not be able to DCF in Hong Kong. It doesn't matter where you got married other than all documents not in English need to be translated in English.

Good Luck.

Edited September 13, 2013 by LBeachey

[dakelei 3]

Thanks! Very helpful. I am totally dreading this whole process. I haven't lived full time in the USA for more than 7 years now. I don't have a job lined up as yet and have no assets either so I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a co-sponsor. I'm not looking forward to asking someone to do that for me.

[LBeachey 45]

Thanks! Very helpful. I am totally dreading this whole process. I haven't lived full time in the USA for more than 7 years now. I don't have a job lined up as yet and have no assets either so I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a co-sponsor. I'm not looking forward to asking someone to do that for me.

Yes, you need to take this one step at a time. Though DCF can go quick so try and be ready

Yes, you will need a co-sponsor. The other thing you likely will need to do is file tax returns for the last three years. Even if you did not owe, you need to file showing no liability for the I-186 at Interview time.

You will also need to show domicile or in your case intent to domicile in the US. The standard for this is pretty low. A letter from a friend agreeing to let your stay with them when you come back, proof of applying for jobs, a bank account in the US, a US driver's license all have been successfully used.

The good news is DCF disapprovals are pretty rare but just make sure you make your best case.

There is also good info at Candle for Love and China Visa Family Forum (Google Them)

[Daveykins 17]

Welcome to the start of the Journey! I'm finishing up the journey myself on a k-1 for my Fiancee, but the processes are similar.

The DCF guide is here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

That should be a good starting point.

With regards to your questions now.

The ACS branch of the consulate is a completely different animal than the IV unit. The ACS branch I found to be very kind and helpful in Guz like you have. The IV unit has been nothing but a nightmare, so glad it's over for us.

When you email them, about 33% of the time they'll actually take the time to reply to you from the web form on the IV unit site. 66% of the time they won't even reply to you! I've sent about 6 emails to them over the course of the last 2 months and I've only ever gotten 2 replies. From those 2 replies, they were both very "stop bothering us! We will get to it when we do!" attitude. It's not like anyone actually holds them responsible for delaying my Fiancee's passport return by almost a month, anyways. They used to list a phone number for the consulate at the old location, but the new location the number completely disappeared. There is a number for the USCIS office, but they won't transfer you and not very helpful either since it's not the state department.

If you're both in mainland china like it sounds like you are, then you'll want to apply at Guz, not in HK. Just be sure to have a certified copy of the marriage certificate to submit from HK.

Good luck!

Hello everyone!

I consider myself at least decently intelligent, educated and literate yet browsing through this website is making my head spin. My Chinese wife and I married on July 4, 2013 and we are now beginning the process of getting the two of us to America together. Ideally we want to arrive in the USA in July, 2014, right after my current contract with my Chinese university expires. What is the very first thing I have to do? I've downloaded the I-130 form and filled it out. Do the 2 of us now need to go to Guangzhou and drop it off in person? We're about 4.5 hours from there by bus. What other forms would we need the very first time we go? I'm very confused about all of this. Sorry if I sound like an idiot.

Another few questions: Is the Guangzhou consulate staff actually helpful when you call or email or do they behave like you're bothering them and just wish to be left alone? I visited the consulate a little while back to get a new passport and I was impressed with the level of courtesy and professionalism I observed there. Is this also true with visa issues? Is there a separate number and email address for American citizens to contact the consulate or is the same one Chinese use? OK...one more question: For reasons that aren't necessary to get into right now my wife and I were married in Hong Kong. Does this matter? Should I apply for my wife's visa in Hong Kong?

Thanks in advance.

Chris