NY-Viking

Well .. that is odd then ... in the past I have always entered and exited on 6 month multiple entries and the PSB has seemed fine with it. My multiple entries were unlimited stays though ... so maybe that accounts for part of the difference.

That seems a bit odd, but I think the problem was that each stay on the visa (it was a double entry L ...right?) was limited to 30 days... in which case they may have been looking for the second stay. Wusong Lu won't help much. My experiences is that they're separate departments and don't have much to say what each other does. I've had friends that have gone to Wusong Lu to renew a visa without a yellow registration slip and were sent away. The visa officer told him to get a slip; he said he would be fined RMB 500; he said he could stay in a small hotel for a night for RMB 150. The visa officers said, "oh, go do that then".

Interesting. This is the first time I have heard of them actually tracking someone down. I know a few people that were fined in Shanghai, but it was in connection with something else. One friend had gotten into an argument with a taxi driver that got out of hand and was being fined (I'm not sure for what exactly, since I wasn't there), but the police wanted to see his passport and temporary residence form, and since he hadn't registered and didn't have the form, they tossed an additional fine on to whatever he was being fined for in the first place. (It's possible that he didn't have an original fine, and this was the extent of it. I'm not sure as he didn't speak much if any Chinese, so it is possible he was just paying a fine for not having registered in his apartment.) The second friend was this Canadian woman and her boyfriend whose house had been broken into in Shanghai. They called the police to report the break-in and when the cops came to investigate, they asked to see their registration forms. They didn't have them, and bam, they were hit with a fine. Talk about insult on top of injury. The fine is supposed to be RMB 50 per day late, but I thought you had 48 hours after you entered the country (or moved to a new residence), but it may only be 24. In practice you can usually bargain the fine down and maybe even have it completely dismissed. Mostly just act stupid but really nice and agree to register and say you'll never do it again. Arguing a fine down from not registering is much easier than trying to argue against over staying a visa, which cannot be negotiated much (if at all); so don't overstay your visa! But on to my bigger and original point, this is the first time I have heard of them actually going after someone because they didn't register. I have made it a practice go to the PSB every time I enter the country on a new visa just to be on the safe side, and have advised anyone that was visiting me to do the same. If you do something like lose your passport, and have the registration slip, it may be of help when you have to make a police report (which the U.S. Consulate generally wants if you have to get a new one). Also, if you decide to extend your visa in China (like on Wusong Lu in Shanghai) you'll need the yellow temporary registration slip to apply for the visa extension. I suppose this might be because you listed your wife's cell phone on your entry card at entrance in Pudong airport? Possibly as things become more computerized and networked they'll start keeping track of people more. One way around that would simply be to not list any phone number or address on the entry card and simply tell them you're still looking for a hotel. But following the law and registering is the best. It's free and not too inconvenient, generally. As far as having to re-register, you have to re-register everytime you enter China on a NEW visa. So, if you have a six month multiple entry visa, the first time you registered at the PSB they put you down for the entire six months, and you are good for the entire period no matter how many times you enter and exit the country on that visa (unless you change residencies). BUT if you originally had a 30 day visa and the 30 days were put on your temporary registration slip, but you subsequently leave the country within that period and enter again on a NEW visa, you have to register again, since you have a new visa. Think of it less as something like registering your stay with a hotel, and more as informing the government where they can find a particular visa holder for the period of the visa's validity. If you move, you'll need to register within a day or so after moving, and you'll need to show your temporary residence slip from the last residence in order to register your new residence with the PSB without being fined. Now, something I'm not completely clear on (and it seems that the PSB are not either) is if you enter the country on one visa, register within the required period and obtain the temporary registration form and then decide to extend your stay and obtain a visa extension (technically a 0 entry visa, so it is actually a new visa) whether you have to re-register. This past summer I did that in Shanghai, but was told by the nice woman in the PSB that I would only have to do it if I left the country and entered on a new visa or if I moved; if I extend a visa and stay at the same address I wouldn't have to register again. About a month later I heard of someone who was told exactly the opposite, well of the last part, that is, he was told that if he extended his visa at Wusong Lu he had to register again. Probably best to go to your local PSB and try to do it anyway.

Wimp. I hope that you at least enjoyed the webbing of the duck feet.

The restaurant's name is Quan Ju De. There are probably better places, but it's the most famous.

Well for me, I lived in China for many years and met, started dating and even lived with my fiance while I was there. I would have just as soon married an American woman (and not had to deal with the visa hassles now), but I'm in love with her. The fact that she's Chinese certainly has something to do with who she is, but it's not why I chose to marry her.

You might get a little cheaper than that .. but that's really pretty good. In Shanghai I remember United, ANA and JAL (and sometimes other airlines) would often offer roundtrips to the east coast for under RMB 6,000, but they were originating in Shanghai.

Make sure you get there as early as possible. If it's anything like Shanghai, eventually they will say they don't have time to see everyone.

Hey animatormark - Did you ever call DHL? I just spoke to NVC this morning and they said ours was sent to Guangzhou same day (August 16). I guess ours is with yours. Let me know if you got any further info from DHL, or I'll make the call for the both of us.

Oh one more thing - if you're refused, it should have an effect on applying for a 129 later, unless you're refused for a reason other than they think you have an intent to immigrate. An American friend in Shanghai had his Chinese wife refused a B-2 visa, but then they applied for her immigration visa, and it was approved in the normal time frame.

My understanding is that once you file a 129 or 130, it's pretty impossible to get a B-2, since you've shown a definite intent to immigrate, and they'll view it as you're trying to get around the system, BUT if you have some pretty convincing evidence that you'll come back, then it should still be possible. Simply saying you're going to visit his parents though, probably won't cut it. Now if no 129 or 130 has been filed and you have a good job and good travel record to western countries, you probably have a pretty good shot at getting a B-2 now, BUT you'll still need to have convincing evidence that you intend to return. My fiance was able to get 4 B-2 visas, but for the first three times I was with her in China at the time, so they believed she'd come back. If you can show you're visiting for a specific reason - like Christmas or something, you might have a better chance than if you just say you're "going for a visit".

John, it's not impossible, just not easy. Basically, a Chinese citizen has to prove that they are definitely returning to China. And like the interviews for K-1 and K-3 visas, it seems it depends A LOT on who does the interview. My fiance (before I filed the 129-f) came to the States 6 times on four different visas. We were really surprised she was able to get the visa the first time and the Consular Officer looked at EVERYTHING she brought to the interview (letter from her office about her employment, bank statements, letter from me about our planned trip, invitation letter from my mother, pictures of us travelling several places in China and Thailand, and probably some other stuff I don't remember now too). Somehow I guess the Consular believed her, because she approved her for the visa and we were able to go for Christmas in 2000. Once you have one tourist visa, and you enter and exit like you're supposed to, the next one is supposed to be easier because of a previous travel program, but the second one my fiance obtained was actually more difficult. There is a "Drop Box" program in CITIC banks for prior travel holders that we used; RMB 200 fee, but no interview and no wait for an inteview if all goes well, but my fiance was told she'd have to go in for an interview. So she went in and the visa officer this time was a little less believing. He didn't want to see any of the documentation that she brought - he told her she needed to see (1) my work visa (2) my PRC residence permit (the green book) and (3) my work contract. Well, I didn't have any of those (despite the fact that I'd been working in China for over two years at the time ... quite common actually), so my boss agreed to write a letter. The Consular Officer wasn't quite happy with that, but he agreed to issue the visa. Essentially, they believed we had a relationship, and wanted to know if I (not she) had sufficient ties to China to bring me back. I've had a few friends go through similar tasks with their wives/girlfriends. Some have been told specifically that they had "immigration intent", while others have been able to show the U.S. citizen would be coming back to China. The thought being that a couple might be trying to avoid the fiance/spouse visa process (quite understandable concern, but they could make the K visa a bit faster!). I think she went on two or three trips on that visa, including Christmas 2002. The two subsequent visas were issued without interview or question, and they were both issued within a month or so after the previous one had expired. She hasn't applied for a new visa since they started doing finger printing, but I understand they do a very short "interview" when you go for fingerprinting now. They don't call it that, but when a friend went in to get a visa, they asked her a few questions. She said someone was rejected, but it wasn't the kind of thing where they looked at all your documents for proof that you were returning. Evidently the person rejected had had some sort of problem. So, basically a Chinese citizen can get a B-2 (visitor) visa, but they have to have enough evidence that says they'll be coming back, which may take into question their relationship with a U.S. citizen.

I've never been to northern Thailand, but will make it some day. I think my travels in southwestern Yunnan would be similar though. I was going to go to Changmai last summer, but decided to learn to dive with a friend instead on Koh Tau. I've been to Thailand several times, and did a trip around 6 weeks through Southeast Asia myself, with stops in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). I've been to northern Vietnam as well (Hanoi and Halong Bay). The two weeks I spent travelling in Myanmar were really fascinating and I highly recommend a trip. Cambodia has been on my list for a long time; I hope Tomb Raider doesn't ruin the experience for me when I finally do make it there. Me too!

Well, I used to keep a journal with all my impressions, but that ended a long time ago. When you first get to a new place (whether it be a new country, a new city, or school or whatever) lots of experiences are new and seem exciting. After a while though, everything just blends together and things seem like home. Shanghai has developed at such a rapid pace that it would be impossible for me to say I know everything about the city, but I've lived in China long enough that things like going to the supermarket or finding a restaurant are no longer an adventure. It's been interesting for me to read people's impressions of their first visits to China on this site. I had some similar feelings when I first came in 1994. Whole different country back then, though. When I get some time I'd like to travel more around southwestern and western China. But that's going to have to wait a few years.

Good point.

Thanks for the welcomes. Yes I know I am lucky to being going through VSC, and actually had somewhat of a choice and picked it because of information I got from sites like CFL. I'm originally from NY (hence Vermont) but am currently going to school in Minnesota (which would have been Nebraska), but Vermont seemed to be processing K1 visa apps a bit faster, and since I haven't officially established any kind of residency for Minnesota, I decided to go for Vermont. Seems to have worked to my advantage. So, I'll still be separated from my fiance for a bit too then - back to school in a just a few weeks. I studied a few times in China, and then worked here (in Shanghai) for about 4 years, before deciding to return to the U.S. for school. I've been seeing my fiance for .. oh .. about 5 years .. so if I'd found CFL this time last year, I would have started the application process a bit earlier and we'd be good to go now. Oh well.

I've been lurking around CFL for a while now and gotten some helpful info with our application, so I thought I might make a few postings with our schedule and what not in the event that it is helpful to someone else. Our situation looks a bit different from many of the others I've read on here, since I've lived in China for about 6 years, met my fiance here and she's traveled to the U.S. several times, but I'm guessing we'll face the same hurdles as everyone else. Feel free to ask me any questions.

That sounds expensive. My fiance taught me how to use a tupperware bowl in the microwave. That's gotta only be around US$2 at the most. You do have to have a microwave though.

I can read it in Shanghai. Thanks. And yes, Geocities is blocked here.