Schemes　to　generate　Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger　and　W　maximally　entangled　states　of　distant　photons　with　the　help　of　cross-Kerr　nonlinearity　and　parity-check　measurement　are　proposed　in　this　paper.　The　schemes　are　based　on　optical　elements,　single　polarization　photons,　cross-Kerr　nonlinearity,　and　the　conventional　photon　detectors,　which　are　feasible　with　existing　experimental　technology.　The　schemes　are　quite　different　a　higher　success　probability,　without　the　resorting　to　collective　unitary　evolution.　All　these　advantages　make　present　schemes　more　efficient　and　more　convenient　than　others　in　the　applications　in　quantum　communication.　©　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg　2013.