lassetter

History is interesting, but living through the history of Cultural Revolution is a nightmare. I spent the first 15 years of my life in hell. I spent the second 15 years running out of the hell. Then I tried the next 10 years to forget the nightmare otherwise it will ruin my life. My mother is very fond of bringing up the history then cries! Mao's favorite son got killed in north Korean by Americans - that's the curse of Mao's victims or God's will? 202289[/snapback] SmilingAsia. My SO would agree with you! Her experiences seem to be similar. My SO's mother could write that no-one would believe. Rup

Look. The biggest problem that faces China now (and in the past) is that China likes to live in denial about the past. They create a web of B/S that hurts them culturally. Even when criticism or analysis is permitted it is constrained within certain parameters. It doesn't matter if my SO thinks cannabalism in Guangxi "didn't happen," or chooses "not to believe," etc. etc. Modern research indicates that it most certainly did happen!!! The main question that remains is, "Why did it happen?" Chinese people seem to personalize their history. They appear to think that if one, for example, says that Mao's economic policies were a failure that one is attacking Chinese people. This leads to collective B/S thinking. If one criticizes the Chinese government to my SO one runs the risk of hurting her feelings! In fact if a foreign dignatary critiques China he runs the risk of hurting the feelings of all China. I do not talk to my wife about Chinese failures because I want her to be happy. You see, even I am falling for this sort of manipulation!!!!!! Mercifully, the Party has sanctioned the heresy that, Mao was not a brilliant economist. My amusing and delightful SO said that it is official that Mao's economic policies were 1/3 wrong!!! The West and East view the role of the historian in entirely different ways. Rup

Guangxi is fairly isolated but more importantly it is extremely poor. Guangxi suffered terribly during the 19th century. The Taiping Rebellion originated in Guangxi and the civil war (when the Nationalists fought the warlords)s was especially savage in that region. WW II and in the Communist Revolution that followed it was horrific. Nanning was taken by the Japanese. That would not have been lovely. The Cultural Revolution of the 1960's and early 1970's would have been stressful to say the least. The hatred of the landlords led to a series of "trials" in which the accused were literally hacked to pieces with various agricultural implements. It is those people that sometimes got eaten. Rup.

The issue of cannabalism in Guangxi is very well documented. It had nothing to do with hunger. Hatred and anger appear to be the causes. Rup

I think that the Chinese believe that we "big noses" are "very funny." I am not sure if that is good or not! We have been married two years and there is a lot of things I am not sure about! My SO seems to think that big noses are veryviolent. Surprises me in view of the enormous violence in China the last 60 years. Rup

From what I have read and heard the Guangxi province had a particularily brutal experience during the 1950's and 1960's. I have a sneaking feeling that some of our SO's could tell stories that would curdle your blood. You don't have to be too old to have experienced the Cultural Revolution. Many of our SO's were youngsters and saw many horrible things back then. My SO calls them "Bad Men." Of course she calls me "bad man," too. Rup

Yes, my SO does refer to us as big noses! I was under the impression that it was a common expression in China. I remember touring China a few years ago with my SO and we were in one of the beautiful Guilin Caves. In our tour group their was an Englishman who must have been 7ft tall and had the biggest nose I have ever seen in my life!!! He had a cold and every minute or two he would blow his nose. It sounded like thunder! This caused enormous gales of giiggling from the Chinese. Rup

My SO has been here 9 months. She has a very cheerful nature and is friendly and happy. But she does sometimes miss her home town. This happens when she is not feeling well. She likes "big noses" and does not crave Chinese friendships. She has met a few Chinese people. Here is a list of things we did right! Of course we did things wrong, too. The things we did right were: 1. We bought here a good computer in China setup for talking overseas. 2. We got satelite TV with Chinese programs. 3. We cook Chinese food at home. Chinese art hangs on the wall. Some of it is beautiful and some of it is ugly. 4. I delayed buying a house until she got here. Very good move!!!!! 5. I worked rapidly on AOS. 6. We started the terrifying process of getting a driving license on arrival in the USA. Vital. 7. She got a job. Went on her own to the interview. Gutsy move on her part. The accomplishment of earning money gives her enormous confidence. 8. I shower frequently. 9. We try to do something interesting and different every week. 10. Bought her mooncake and we try to celebrate Chinese holidays. rup

It is difficult. it is a particularily inhumane regulation if I am right. I know that a LPR can file an I-130 but can they file to adjust the status of a K-4 visa that has technically expired. This thread is identical to the topic being discussed by MEI1964. Perhaps we can move there. Rup

Hello Mei: I understand your position very well. I have gone through this process, too. My wife came on a K-3 visa. My wife has a daughter who was over 18 when we married. Just like you. The posters here know their stuff. Your daughter can get a K-4 visa and accompany you to the USA. It is routine and does not require any special effort. Do not worry about that. But the problem for you will be allowing your daughter to Adjust Status so that she can remain in the USA. It is a serious problem. I suggest getting the best Immigration Attorney possible. The experienced CFL members can advise you. Look at the Papa Bear thread that is discussing the same issue. Good luck, Rup

I don't know if they are different. It is an interesting point. As I understand it there is no difference. True, a K-1 visa petitioner files an I-130 after marriage in this country. But the I-130 rules still apply - a petitioner CANNOT (no and ifs or buts) submit an I-130 on behalf of a stepSON or stepDAUGHTER if they reached 18 by the time of the marriage. Then the catch-22. When the stepson or daughter reaches 21 or the natural parent "adjusts status" they are not in compliance with the K-4 rules. Yes, it is true, the LPR can file an I-130 but the wait for an immigration number is six to seven years. The stepson or daughter has no visa - they must leave. Rup

Pushbrk does cite text that seems to make it clear that K-4 visa holders are dependent on their parents (natural and step) status at the time of marriage and the age of the child. 18 is the key. We all know that a stepparent can't file an I-130 on behalf of a stepson or daughter in this situation we have been writing about. That makes AOS impossible - I think. I don't see anything written anywhere that contradicts the brutal fact that my stepdaughter is wasting her time come to the USA if it means that she cannot adjust her status to LPR and cannot switch from a K-4 visa to some other type of visa (like student F-1). She will have to leave the USA. My wife can file an I-130 for her daughter when she adjusts status. If all that we believe is true then at some point we do need to alert all CFL members of this problem - it is a very serious consideration for some families. A pinned post with the relevent law could help other members. Rup

Frank: You could be correct. But when a person files the AOS form they must provide the I-130 form as part of the supporting evidence for the person changing status. A stepchild over 18 years of age WILL NOT HAVE an I-130 filed, unless the marriage was before the child reached the age of 18. That's the catch. I think it all goes back to the catch-22 that Papa Bear wrote about a few months ago. First, a child over the age of 18 is not a child for immigration purposes - they are a daughter or son. Secondly there is a very real difference between a stepchild over 18 and under 18 at the time of marriage. Thirdly, their is a clear distinction between an American citizen's child and an immigrant's child. Yes, a stepchild who was over the age of 18 at the time of marriage can come into the country as a K-4. However, they cannot adjust status until their parent (not stepparent) obtains permanent residency and files an I-130 filed on their behalf. Of course, their K-4 visa expires on the day that the parent receives their green card! The child cannot cannot switch from a K-4 visa to any other type of visa. As I understand it they are at the end of the road. I would love to be wrong! Believe me. Rupert

Thanks for the info: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A.2.7.2 CSPA in regards to Step-children: "Under INA Section 101, a step-child can only be considered a "child" for immigration purposes if the relationship was formed before the child reached the age of 18. Therefore, when the step relationship is formed after the age of 18, the U.S. step-parent may not be able to sponsor the step-child although he or she could still accompany the natural K-3 parent on a K-4 visa. A child caught in such a gap would presumably be sponsored by the natural parent when he or she becomes a permanent resident." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sadly, this is the key to the problem. Does this force the step-child to leave the USA once she/he reaches the age of 21? I see no way around this for K-3/4 applicants. The K-4 visa appears to be a dead-end visa as far as I can see. I Rup Rup

Yes Tywy 99, you are dead right. That is the only way. It will take years. My wife will file an I-130 for her daughter. Sadly the K-4 visa does NOT permit her to stay in the USA because she was over 18 when we married. Her K-4 visa would only permit her to stay in the USA until her 21st birthday. Not worth disrupting her education. Rup