Best place to file? Back in US?

[Tarisus517 2]

Hello ladies and gentlemen, I’m thinking about filing for my wife to start the process. Is it better to file in China or when I head back to US? Im thinking about flying in a month or two back to US. Coming back to China from US would take 40 days cause of the virus. 

[nastra30 2,287]

It is better to file online from anywhere you want. The entire process might take a couple of years.

[Tarisus517 2]

2 minutes ago, nastra30 said:

It is better to file online from anywhere you want. The entire process might take a couple of years.

Will I be receiving physical mails in the USA if I file online? I’m worried that my parents might see this but I love my wife and want to stay with her.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Tarisus517

[nastra30 2,287]

2 hours ago, Tarisus517 said:

Will I be receiving physical mails in the USA if I file online? I’m worried that my parents might see this but I love my wife and want to stay with her.

Yes you'll be receiving soft copies in your USCIS account and also physical hard copies in the mail. So if you share mailing address with your parents they'll see your mails from USCIS. They shouldn't be opening your mail without your permission though; that's another story for another day. If you don't want your parents to see your mails you can put c/o address of a trusted friend/family or use a work address as mailing address.

 

*So are you saying you eloped to get married without your parents knowing? Or your parents know you are married but the don't approve of it?

*I assume you are temporarily visiting China? And also you permanently live with your parents in the US?

*Since your plan is to bring your spouse to the US, you'll need to move out and find your own place if you live your parents. That is if you want to keep your marriage sane.

[Crazy Cat 41,857]

3 hours ago, Tarisus517 said:

Hello ladies and gentlemen, I’m thinking about filing for my wife to start the process. Is it better to file in China or when I head back to US? Im thinking about flying in a month or two back to US. Coming back to China from US would take 40 days cause of the virus. 

I would file as soon as possible.  The queue is not getting any shorter.  You need to do a lot of research,  Good luck.

 

[pushbrk 12,883]

15 hours ago, Tarisus517 said:

Will I be receiving physical mails in the USA if I file online? I’m worried that my parents might see this but I love my wife and want to stay with her.

Yes, there will be physical mail if your mailing address is a US address (filing online or not).  You can use any mailing address you want.  The I-130 allows for separate mailing and physical addresses.  If you are only a tourist in China, you don't reside there, so your physical address is NOT in China.  

 

If your parents don't know or don't approve of the marriage, that can also be an issue in your overall immigration success, and eventually, the success of your marriage.  Think this throuogh.

[Tarisus517 2]

5 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Yes, there will be physical mail if your mailing address is a US address (filing online or not).  You can use any mailing address you want.  The I-130 allows for separate mailing and physical addresses.  If you are only a tourist in China, you don't reside there, so your physical address is NOT in China.  

 

If your parents don't know or don't approve of the marriage, that can also be an issue in your overall immigration success, and eventually, the success of your marriage.  Think this throuogh.

Wait, how would my parents affect the success of immigration?

[Tarisus517 2]

18 hours ago, nastra30 said:

Yes you'll be receiving soft copies in your USCIS account and also physical hard copies in the mail. So if you share mailing address with your parents they'll see your mails from USCIS. They shouldn't be opening your mail without your permission though; that's another story for another day. If you don't want your parents to see your mails you can put c/o address of a trusted friend/family or use a work address as mailing address.

 

*So are you saying you eloped to get married without your parents knowing? Or your parents know you are married but the don't approve of it?

*I assume you are temporarily visiting China? And also you permanently live with your parents in the US?

*Since your plan is to bring your spouse to the US, you'll need to move out and find your own place if you live your parents. That is if you want to keep your marriage sane.

My parents won’t approve my wife cause she’s older than me. I’m here to visit and I’ve been here in China over 2 years now. Im thinking about coming back to US soon, is there anything I should do while Im still here with my wife before I leave the country?

 

 

[Family 3,988]

17 minutes ago, Tarisus517 said:

My parents won’t approve my wife cause she’s older than me. I’m here to visit and I’ve been here in China over 2 years now. Im thinking about coming back to US soon, is there anything I should do while Im still here with my wife before I leave the country?

 

1. Gather the Marriage Certificate/ wife’s Birth Certificate as listed here ( divorce if any) and kids birth certificate ( if any ) nnhttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/China.html      READ carefully where to get DOCUMENTS 

Getting 2 sets is a good idea , since she will need originals in the future, and it’s prudent for u to have a set and you will need to upload them to NVC in the future.

2. Gather proof of your life together in China ( bank statements, house payment/ lease contract/ bills for utilities/ phone / internet that shows your shared residence) . You can translate these yourself, just add “ certification of translation “ wording and sign . A few photos of the two of you. Upload these w I-130
 

3. Since you have lived in China for the last 2 years, and are choosing to file before you return to the US, you need to correctly list China as your physical address and designate a US mailing address.

 

4. Have your wife create an info sheet ( for use down the road at DS-260 stage ) w :

addresses she has lived at since 16 years of age

10 years of employment history ( co name , address, dates of employment) 

schools attended/ degrees if any and dates of attendance 

email, all social media usernames 

 

5. Good Luck ..but you know parents will find out ..if your mail goes to their house. You will also need to be wealthy or get a Job when u return to US in preparation for I-864 down the road 

[Tarisus517 2]

23 minutes ago, Family said:

1. Gather the Marriage Certificate/ wife’s Birth Certificate as listed here ( divorce if any) and kids birth certificate ( if any ) nnhttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/China.html      READ carefully where to get DOCUMENTS 

Getting 2 sets is a good idea , since she will need originals in the future, and it’s prudent for u to have a set and you will need to upload them to NVC in the future.

2. Gather proof of your life together in China ( bank statements, house payment/ lease contract/ bills for utilities/ phone / internet that shows your shared residence) . You can translate these yourself, just add “ certification of translation “ wording and sign . A few photos of the two of you. Upload these w I-130
 

3. Since you have lived in China for the last 2 years, and are choosing to file before you return to the US, you need to correctly list China as your physical address and designate a US mailing address.

 

4. Have your wife create an info sheet ( for use down the road at DS-260 stage ) w :

addresses she has lived at since 16 years of age

10 years of employment history ( co name , address, dates of employment) 

schools attended/ degrees if any and dates of attendance 

email, all social media usernames 

 

5. Good Luck ..but you know parents will find out ..if your mail goes to their house. You will also need to be wealthy or get a Job when u return to US in preparation for I-864 down the road 

She owns a house but I didn’t get any bills or papers under my name. I have recipes and photos of travel and Virus testing same day same time. 
 

if we get tickets for train together, would that help? What else can I do because I don’t have an ID here in China since I’m a US citizen. Everything is bought with my passport. Should I get a company to mail bills and stuff under my name?

[Family 3,988]

2 minutes ago, Tarisus517 said:

She owns a house but I didn’t get any bills or papers under my name. I have recipes and photos of travel and Virus testing same day same time. 
 

if we get tickets for train together, would that help? What else can I do because I don’t have an ID here in China since I’m a US citizen. Everything is bought with my passport. Should I get a company to mail bills and stuff under my name?

Bills in her name are fine , they show the shared address and you can add short explanation that she owned house prior to the marriage. 

Are finances co mingled ? Meaning do you or her pay for living expenses from shared source ? Telephone/ internet/ electronics..

Am assuming you have bank accounts , debit/credit cards..make purchases online that show a delivery address, for example. 

Do either of you work?

Am not familiar at all with China , but usually all employers and doctors have an emergency contact form that shows husband/ wife ? 

Train tickets are great along with any medicine/ prescription/ eyeglasses for example. 

 

Do the two of you have family/friends that attended the wedding and with whom you socialize..maybe they can write a letter that they know you as married couple , know you live together at the address.

 

Show your airline tickets/ boarding passes or itinerary from when u went to China 
 

****BUT do not delay or worry about not having tons of evidence FOR the 1st stage at USCIS. Uploaded what you have and write a short cover letter detailing that you have lived w ur wife in China for last 2 years.*** 

When she goes to the Consular Interview, it will be good for her to have as much as possible and hopefully you will fly down to escort her , so she can tell the Officer, my husband is outside waiting for you to approve our case. 

 

ARE you there on a VISA of some sorts? 

 

[pushbrk 12,883]

The passport stamps going in and out of China are all the evidence you need for time spent together in person.  If you've been there two years, that's plenty to go with photos together over time.

 

In this process, accuracy, honesty, details, etc. are very important.  If you've been in China two years without leaving, I doubt you did that on a tourist visa, unless some special consideration was given due to COVID.  What exact kind of visa do you have?  (I have a current 10 year visa that allows me to visit for six months at a time.  How did you stay for two years?)  Whatever the answer, that's part of your relationship evidence too.

 

Your parents approval or disapproval probably is overcome by the time you've spent together.  I'm guessing you are also at least ethnically Chinese.  Is that part of the picture you're leaving out?

[Tarisus517 2]

7 hours ago, Family said:

Bills in her name are fine , they show the shared address and you can add short explanation that she owned house prior to the marriage. 

Are finances co mingled ? Meaning do you or her pay for living expenses from shared source ? Telephone/ internet/ electronics..

Am assuming you have bank accounts , debit/credit cards..make purchases online that show a delivery address, for example. 

Do either of you work?

Am not familiar at all with China , but usually all employers and doctors have an emergency contact form that shows husband/ wife ? 

Train tickets are great along with any medicine/ prescription/ eyeglasses for example. 

 

Do the two of you have family/friends that attended the wedding and with whom you socialize..maybe they can write a letter that they know you as married couple , know you live together at the address.

 

Show your airline tickets/ boarding passes or itinerary from when u went to China 
 

****BUT do not delay or worry about not having tons of evidence FOR the 1st stage at USCIS. Uploaded what you have and write a short cover letter detailing that you have lived w ur wife in China for last 2 years.*** 

When she goes to the Consular Interview, it will be good for her to have as much as possible and hopefully you will fly down to escort her , so she can tell the Officer, my husband is outside waiting for you to approve our case. 

 

ARE you there on a VISA of some sorts? 

 

We use wechat pay but none of her bills are currently under my name. I’m going to go through every possible way to receive mail and electronic bills and try to put it under my name.

 

To work in China I had to provide proof of experience and no criminal record and some other stuff from US. Jobs are limited to what my college degree is. And I can speak mandarin but have difficulties reading and writing which makes it hard to find a job.

 

We do have trips traveled together, recipes with both our names. Some are electronic, is that okay? We have photos together with her family. 
 

thank you! I will do my best to come back when she needs to go. Will she know when she needs to go to the consular interview ahead of time? Cause it takes like 40 days to fly from US to China.

Edited May 2, 2022 by Tarisus517

[Tarisus517 2]

6 hours ago, pushbrk said:

The passport stamps going in and out of China are all the evidence you need for time spent together in person.  If you've been there two years, that's plenty to go with photos together over time.

 

In this process, accuracy, honesty, details, etc. are very important.  If you've been in China two years without leaving, I doubt you did that on a tourist visa, unless some special consideration was given due to COVID.  What exact kind of visa do you have?  (I have a current 10 year visa that allows me to visit for six months at a time.  How did you stay for two years?)  Whatever the answer, that's part of your relationship evidence too.

 

Your parents approval or disapproval probably is overcome by the time you've spent together.  I'm guessing you are also at least ethnically Chinese.  Is that part of the picture you're leaving out?

I only have one stamp back in 2020 Jan, coming into China. We actually started dating 8 months ago. We have family photos and tickets together. She also went to the consular in GuangZhou when I needed proof of single for the marriage. 
 

I was born here in China, so before taking the naturalization test, I had a physical address here. If one was originally a Chinese born, then I can get a visa for 5 years, each visit can be 5 years. I did a lot of 4 months renewal before 5 years one but used my mom(visiting family visa). I think there’s people who reside and work here in long term, not sure what they have though.
 

Yes, that is correct(I am Chinese but been in US over 20 years). My parents won’t approve of our marriage because she’s older than me.

[Redro 4,611]

15 minutes ago, Tarisus517 said:

We use wechat pay but none of her bills are currently under my name. I’m going to go through every possible way to receive mail and electronic bills and try to put it under my name.

 

To work in China I had to provide proof of experience and no criminal record and some other stuff from US. Jobs are limited to what my college degree is. And I can speak mandarin but have difficulties reading and writing which makes it hard to find a job.

 

We do have trips traveled together, recipes with both our names. Some are electronic, is that okay? We have photos together with her family. 
 

thank you! I will do my best to come back when she needs to go.

Do you live with your spouse in China? 

I am aware you're supposed to register the address you stay at when you're in China so even if you do not have any bills in your name you should have proof you live together. 

I uploaded the equivalent of our ID cards indicating we lived at the same address for our I-130.

 

9 hours ago, Tarisus517 said:

Wait, how would my parents affect the success of immigration?

If you are planning on living with your parents when you move to the US their disapproval of the union can negatively impact your relationship... 

But, you can use your address in China as the mailing address if you do not want them to know about your plans.

 

@Tarisus517 be aware you need to make 125% poverty level for your household size when you get to NVC stage. 

Is it just you are your spouse? If so... you'll have to make about $23,000 (in the US) when you file the I-864 or have at least $69,000 in savings. 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by ROK2USA