China, Guanghzhou - How can I get my new wife home?

[Randy Petersen 0]

Hello,

I married my chinese national bride on December 29th, 2006!

I had read where a US Citizen residing in China could file the I-130 with the local office. So I wanted to get the ball rolling, since I have lived and worked here for 8 months, I would say I am residing in China. Turns out "residing" means you have to have a "Permanent Residence Permit" from the chinese governement. To get one you need to be in the country for 5 years. So that is out.

I really want to take my new wife and show her my country, I am really excited.

Can anyone offer any suggestions on a quick way to achieve this? I was thinking perhaps I could go to another asian country and teach english and file for DCF there? Or wouldnt that work... I'm grasping at straws here... I would like to stay with my wife and go to U.S.A. together.

Thanks for any ideas...

Randy

[YuAndDan 153]

First off if you have not found "A Candle for Love" you will want to join that site, they know all about the visa processes there in Guangzhou. http://candleforlove.com Many there do DCF, CR-1, and K-3 visas.

No matter how you slice it you are looking at 8-10 months for the process, you will be filing for a CR-1 or K-3 visa through the USCIS. She can only immigrate through Guangzhou, unless she also were resident in another country for quite some time, moving elsewhere won't make the process faster.

See:

USCIS Guangzhou Sub-Office

http://guangzhou.usconsulate.gov/immigrant_visas.html

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

[Yodrak 7]

Randy,

You say that you want to "show her my country". Have her apply for a B2 visa. If you are living and working in China it should be possible.

Yodrak

Hello,

I married my chinese national bride on December 29th, 2006!

I had read where a US Citizen residing in China could file the I-130 with the local office. So I wanted to get the ball rolling, since I have lived and worked here for 8 months, I would say I am residing in China. Turns out "residing" means you have to have a "Permanent Residence Permit" from the chinese governement. To get one you need to be in the country for 5 years. So that is out.

I really want to take my new wife and show her my country, I am really excited.

Can anyone offer any suggestions on a quick way to achieve this? I was thinking perhaps I could go to another asian country and teach english and file for DCF there? Or wouldnt that work... I'm grasping at straws here... I would like to stay with my wife and go to U.S.A. together.

Thanks for any ideas...

Randy

[The Portfolios 0]

Randy,

No choice but to go through Guangzhou. However, your info about the "5 years" is misguided. You can apply the I-130 direct in China provided you have a Z-visa (full working papers). If you are working for a seriously legit company, they will provide this. If your situation is sketchier, you probably have an F visa, which means you have to submit the I-230 in the US. I have been living in China 4 years with my Chinese wife (we married Feb 2005). We submitted the I-230 in Shanghai in April 2006, got some papers later that summer, finally collected all the docs we needed by Oct (we were a little slow at that) and had our interview in Guangzhou today.

Sadly, we were denied because I do not have a job or any property in the States. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME BEFORE. For her to immigrate, you apply as the petitioner, which means you submit an affadavit of support (I-864). This has to show that you can support her in the US - THEY WILL NOT MAKE THIS CLEAR TO YOU UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. So, today she was denied because "the petitioner [that's me - or you] does not have legal domicile in the US. Return with evidence he/she intends to return to the US and establish residence there and intends to relinquish his/her residence overseas"

In other words, show that you have a job offer in the States with adequate income to support her.

Re the B2 (tourist visa) option, I would not recommend it. My wife successfully got a B2 before we were married. We tried to get another after we were married and the officer said forget it - you have to apply for immigrant visa. They just assume that she is going to immigrate because you guys are married. They may give you the benefit of the doubt if you can show STRONG ties to China, e.g., you have an awesome job in China that you will return to, and so does she; but my instinct is that applying for B2 is just a wate of US$100.

Good luck

Rindy Portfolio