End of the road

[Robertt S]

Gerry,
   Just to clarify a few points for you. She can travel as soon as she gets her green card which usually takes about 45 days after her arrival here. She can also work as soon as she gets the SSN card ( no EAD needed for CR/IR1 visa holders) If you requested her to be issued the SSN card on the DS-230 form the card may or may not be sent automatically(my wife's was not sent automatically) If she does not receive the SSN card within the first 4 weeks she is here, then you can visit the local ssa office. Wait at least 3-4 weeks after her arrival to give her name and data time to be entered into the SAVE system. Her name must be in that system for the SSA to verify her status and eligibility for the SSN card.I waited 4 weeks then applied for my wife's social security card and received the card about 7 days later. The CR/IR visa has many advantages over the K-1 or K-3, because you can work and travel almost immediately after arriving in the US. The removal of conditions will be due within the 90 day window prior to your wife's 2 year anniversary of her ARRIVAL DATE in the USA. That date is stamped in her passport if you forget. The I-751 filing fee is currently $ 505 USD and $ 85 USD for a total of $590 USD whereas the AOS for K-1/K-3 is $985 USD and $85 Biometric fee for a total of $1070 USD. Good Luck and hope your wife likes snow! Regards, Robert   

[Pineau]

Hey Rhonald, of course I carried her across the threshold.

Well we spent our first night here.  we had to sleep on an air matress. But it was ok. we were so exhausted from 48 hours on the road we just took a shower (she used most of the hot water) and colapsed into bed.  We ordered a new bed ( I burned the old one that Jing used to sleep in. I am sort of weird that way.

so so many thing to do.  nothing works. the refirgerator died while I was gone. My 24 inch monitor died but somehow I got it working again. the computer that I built for her refuses to install windows 8 Chinese.  And the damned phone does not work. It was working fine when I left.

Aint it great to be back home. 

[Arnold]

I think it's about time that things go "Easier" for you two, I have enough... feeling sorry for you! 

Anyway, no place like Home and that it will be in no time at all... with a chinese touch of course!

[shaun]

Gerry if everything was easy then you wouldn't appreciate the good times as much.

I'm glad you are both here and enjoying life together.

[LP]

Hi,I'm new here.Gerry! can you tell me which forms did you use.Was it the CR1?I love reading your story

[Pineau]

Thanks LP.
I am not sure what it is your want to do. There are many forms and I do not recall the Cr17 as one of them.


Tell us a little about yourself and your situation so we can make better suggestions.

[Robertt S]

CR-1 is a visa type, you will need to file an I-130 form with USCIS to receive a CR/IR-1 visa. If you wish to apply for the Fiancee visa ( K-1) then you need to file the I-129F form. You can apply for the K-3 visa but your case will most likely be converted over to CR-1 when the case reaches the NVC since most I-130 forms arrive at NVC at the same time as the I-129F and the I-129F is administratively closed at that point. Regards, Robert

P.S. You can check out my site below by clicking the " USA Immigration " link. Look at the page concerning visa types and overviews, that will explain each type of visa to you.

[Pineau]

Surprise, surprise. 15 days after arrival there is a 10 year green card siting in the mailbox..

[Arnold]

Surprise, surprise. 15 days after arrival there is a 10 year green card siting in the mailbox..

So was it "Your's" or Fiona's? After being out of the Country soooo long, thought you might have to apply for one too!

[Neil]

I'm so envious of you, Jerry.  Congratulations again.

Some days, I'm really tempted to pull the pin on my job, rent my house to a handful of Australian ski bums and head to China until this thing gets sorted.  If I hated my job, it would have happened by now.

[Pineau]

That's funny but back before the interview, because I had been gone so long I had to prove the the USA was my country of domicile. Luckily I still held property and paid my bills every month.

[Pineau]

Neil. a lot of guys (most) get married or file for a fiance' and head back home to wait.  Many times I wish I had done that but  just didn't want to be without her.  It really  is painful waiting even when you are in tame house because you will miss all the things in your country that made it home. China for a long term is not the place for a novice. It will wear you down. The best comprise is to travel back and forth while your waiting. I am so very thankful that the waiting for VISA is over.

[Pineau]

 The next portion of the journey is going to be just as frustrating. Driving, instructions, English lessons and learning to dance with a new partner. We have already had a few "moments" of wanting to die or kill each other over communication and bull headedness.  I don't remember this being such a problem with Jing but I think it was because I was very much her senior and dominate the relationship. With her being so young she treated me like and older brother or father. Things were much smoother. Fiona on the other hand has been alone since her daughter was born and is very much independent and tries to dominate me. ( I guess because I am so lode and feeble.

[Robertt S]

Here is 2 links that might make life a little easier for you.
http://www.xingfulove.com/forum/topic.php?topic_id=95    ESL lessons for native Chinese speakers

http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/foreign_hdbk/dl600C.pdf    California Drivers Manual ( Chinese Version ) 2012

Good luck, Robertt

[shaun]

Gerry be careful.  She might hide your Geritol.     Get it - Get it!!!