(Many) Questions about K1 Visa Interview in Guangzhou, China

[meccha 0]

My fiance is schedule to have her K1 visa interview on the 29th of October. I don't know why, but I have been really worked up about it since I scheduled it for her; not able to sleep well over the weekend. So here are my questions:

1. Can I attend the interview with her at Guangzhou, specifically? I know it's allowed in Manila as I read it on Mrs P's blog.

2. If yes, does it help in any shape or form? I know my absence does not have negative impact, but would it help if I show up?

3. In regarding to I-134, I have never done tax returns, and my employment started mid August of 2015. My annual salary is enough for 125%+ of the federal poverty guideline. But would the short employment period be an issue? I have the employment letter. pay stubs (I get paid bi-weekly). For co-sponsorship, I am undecided between using my brother or mother. My mother has filed for visa petitions for her siblings. They are still in the process. Does that affect her credibility as a co-sponsor? My brother started his full time employment a week earlier than I did, but he has filed for taxes for two years now. Neither sponsored anyone before and their incomes are enough to sponsor my fiance.

4. For evidence of relationship, in your experience, is it necessary to go overboard(ie. have extensive logs of calls and messages, photos) and what worked best?

5.Any overall tips for the interview? I have read reviews and experiences on this forum and others. Many people seemed to be satisfied and some were surprised how quick it was for the actual interview with the officer. But those rare cases of visa denial just turn my stomach.

Thanks in advance and thank you for reading!

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to China Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is consulate-specific~

(Mod hat off)

Welcome to the forum.

My fiance is schedule to have her K1 visa interview on the 29th of October. I don't know why, but I have been really worked up about it since I scheduled it for her; not able to sleep well over the weekend. So here are my questions:

1. Can I attend the interview with her at Guangzhou, specifically? I know it's allowed in Manila as I read it on Mrs P's blog. No, the petitioner is not allowed. This isn't Manila.

2. If yes, does it help in any shape or form? I know my absence does not have negative impact, but would it help if I show up? Review similar themed regional forum threads for other ideas.

3. In regarding to I-134, I have never done tax returns, and my employment started mid August of 2015. My annual salary is enough for 125%+ of the federal poverty guideline. But would the short employment period be an issue? I have the employment letter. pay stubs (I get paid bi-weekly). For co-sponsorship, I am undecided between using my brother or mother. My mother has filed for visa petitions for her siblings. They are still in the process. Does that affect her credibility as a co-sponsor? My brother started his full time employment a week earlier than I did, but he has filed for taxes for two years now. Neither sponsored anyone before and their incomes are enough to sponsor my fiance.

4. For evidence of relationship, in your experience, is it necessary to go overboard(ie. have extensive logs of calls and messages, photos) and what worked best? What you are describing is called "front-loading" and is often done for high-fraud countries with the initial I-129F petition filing. Kind of late in the game to be contemplating this action. Await other responses.

5.Any overall tips for the interview? I have read reviews and experiences on this forum and others. Many people seemed to be satisfied and some were surprised how quick it was for the actual interview with the officer. But those rare cases of visa denial just turn my stomach. It can go either way in Guangzhou.

Thanks in advance and thank you for reading!

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[meccha 0]

~Moved from K1 Process to China Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is consulate-specific~

(Mod hat off)

Welcome to the forum.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Thanks for the quick reply!

[Lian&David 6]

My fiancee has her interview in Guangzhou on October 6th. We have put together some pictures from a second trip and a new intent to marry letter dated in September. We made sure to have plenty of pictures with parents and family. We don't think she will need all of this but will have just in case there are issues.

I can update you after her interview. Just follow our timeline.

[meccha 0]

My fiancee has her interview in Guangzhou on October 6th. We have put together some pictures from a second trip and a new intent to marry letter dated in September. We made sure to have plenty of pictures with parents and family. We don't think she will need all of this but will have just in case there are issues.

I can update you after her interview. Just follow our timeline.

Thank you for your response. I will make sure to come back and check. Good luck to both of you!

[Daveykins 17]

Please check out my timeline, I wrote about the entire interview process in GZ and should give you some general ideas. It was 2 years ago, but still applies I'm sure since they were in the new building compound.

If you're planning on going to GZ and waiting outside for your Fiancee during the intervew, I highly recommend creating a "evolution of relationship" document and scheule an a US citizen services appointment at the Consulate the day before the interview and get the document notarized by them. The US citizen area is directly above the Visa interview floor and you walk right past it all on the first floor on the way in and out. It gave me a very good idea of the process and really helped understand it better. Search on here for evolution of relationship for more details about this document. It was required in the initial K-1 paperwork up until about 4 years ago.

Edited September 30, 2015 by Daveykins

[meccha 0]

Please check out my timeline, I wrote about the entire interview process in GZ and should give you some general ideas. It was 2 years ago, but still applies I'm sure since they were in the new building compound.

If you're planning on going to GZ and waiting outside for your Fiancee during the intervew, I highly recommend creating a "evolution of relationship" document and scheule an a US citizen services appointment at the Consulate the day before the interview and get the document notarized by them. The US citizen area is directly above the Visa interview floor and you walk right past it all on the first floor on the way in and out. It gave me a very good idea of the process and really helped understand it better. Search on here for evolution of relationship for more details about this document. It was required in the initial K-1 paperwork up until about 4 years ago.

Thank you for the information! I have read your review. I noticed that it took you a month from the interview to actually getting the visa. Is that a normal range of time?

I will read more into the "evolution of relationship."

Thanks again.

[Daveykins 17]

Thank you for the information! I have read your review. I noticed that it took you a month from the interview to actually getting the visa. Is that a normal range of time?

I will read more into the "evolution of relationship."

Thanks again.

No problem! Ours seemed to take longer than normal. Everyone else in our QQ group had theirs in 2 weeks. I think we got the passport back only because I put in a request for help with my congressperson's office to get it expedited.

Good luck!

[meccha 0]

No problem! Ours seemed to take longer than normal. Everyone else in our QQ group had theirs in 2 weeks. I think we got the passport back only because I put in a request for help with my congressperson's office to get it expedited.

Good luck!

Two weeks time frame seems to be the average. Hopefully it's two weeks or less for us as well. Thank!

[progzeon 7]

My fiance had her interview on Wednesday and they barely asked any questions. She said it was really easy and she did not have to be so nervous. So I think y'all will be fine, just be prepared to have all the required documentation. Reading through the reviews of the Guangzhou consulate will help too as a lot of posters posted the questions they were asked and what the procedure was.

We're worried though because they did not take her passport photos so unsure where that leaves the visa.

[meccha 0]

My fiance had her interview on Wednesday and they barely asked any questions. She said it was really easy and she did not have to be so nervous. So I think y'all will be fine, just be prepared to have all the required documentation. Reading through the reviews of the Guangzhou consulate will help too as a lot of posters posted the questions they were asked and what the procedure was.

We're worried though because they did not take her passport photos so unsure where that leaves the visa.

Thank you very much for sharing that! Hope everything went fine for you!

[Lian&David 6]

We were nervous too, but my fiancee was prepared and things went well. I answered some of your questions below. I hope things go well!

1. Can I attend the interview with her at Guangzhou, specifically? I know it's allowed in Manila as I read it on Mrs P's blog. [No]

2. If yes, does it help in any shape or form? I know my absence does not have negative impact, but would it help if I show up? [N/A]

3. In regarding to I-134, I have never done tax returns, and my employment started mid August of 2015. My annual salary is enough for 125%+ of the federal poverty guideline. But would the short employment period be an issue? I have the employment letter. pay stubs (I get paid bi-weekly). For co-sponsorship, I am undecided between using my brother or mother. My mother has filed for visa petitions for her siblings. They are still in the process. Does that affect her credibility as a co-sponsor? My brother started his full time employment a week earlier than I did, but he has filed for taxes for two years now. Neither sponsored anyone before and their incomes are enough to sponsor my fiance. [My fiancee said she turned in the I-134 form once she arrived. Then was called for the interview. Please refer to other threads for co-sponsors. I am not familiar with the requirements.]

4. For evidence of relationship, in your experience, is it necessary to go overboard(ie. have extensive logs of calls and messages, photos) and what worked best? [We did something similar to what we did on the I-129. We put in about 10-15 chat screen captures, pictures, boarding passes from second trip, new intent to marry from both of us, copies of money transfers. The interviewer just asked to see some recent photos. We have several with me, her and her family.]

5.Any overall tips for the interview? I have read reviews and experiences on this forum and others. Many people seemed to be satisfied and some were surprised how quick it was for the actual interview with the officer. But those rare cases of visa denial just turn my stomach.[My fiancee's interview lasted less than 5 minutes. We front loaded on the I-129. Make sure to bring all of the items requested in the interview checklist that came in the email. The interviewer asked my name, address, kids names, kids ages, what they do, then asked for some recent photos. Good luck! ]

[meccha 0]

We were nervous too, but my fiancee was prepared and things went well. I answered some of your questions below. I hope things go well!

1. Can I attend the interview with her at Guangzhou, specifically? I know it's allowed in Manila as I read it on Mrs P's blog. [No]

2. If yes, does it help in any shape or form? I know my absence does not have negative impact, but would it help if I show up? [N/A]

3. In regarding to I-134, I have never done tax returns, and my employment started mid August of 2015. My annual salary is enough for 125%+ of the federal poverty guideline. But would the short employment period be an issue? I have the employment letter. pay stubs (I get paid bi-weekly). For co-sponsorship, I am undecided between using my brother or mother. My mother has filed for visa petitions for her siblings. They are still in the process. Does that affect her credibility as a co-sponsor? My brother started his full time employment a week earlier than I did, but he has filed for taxes for two years now. Neither sponsored anyone before and their incomes are enough to sponsor my fiance. [My fiancee said she turned in the I-134 form once she arrived. Then was called for the interview. Please refer to other threads for co-sponsors. I am not familiar with the requirements.]

4. For evidence of relationship, in your experience, is it necessary to go overboard(ie. have extensive logs of calls and messages, photos) and what worked best? [We did something similar to what we did on the I-129. We put in about 10-15 chat screen captures, pictures, boarding passes from second trip, new intent to marry from both of us, copies of money transfers. The interviewer just asked to see some recent photos. We have several with me, her and her family.]

5.Any overall tips for the interview? I have read reviews and experiences on this forum and others. Many people seemed to be satisfied and some were surprised how quick it was for the actual interview with the officer. But those rare cases of visa denial just turn my stomach.[My fiancee's interview lasted less than 5 minutes. We front loaded on the I-129. Make sure to bring all of the items requested in the interview checklist that came in the email. The interviewer asked my name, address, kids names, kids ages, what they do, then asked for some recent photos. Good luck! ]

Sorry for the late reply

Again, thanks for your information!

Do you have a date for when your fiance will get the visa or did she get it already?

[Lian&David 6]

She was approved on October 6. So we are expecting her passport and packet to arrive within the next week or so.