Magnus1977

Just got finished with an interview for a teaching position in China. My wife is Shanghainese. The recruiter (American) said something about a new VISA in China that allows Chinese citizen's spouse and children to get a visa to go to China AND WORK! Is this true? Have you heard this before? To go to China and live with my children and my wife, we could get a new visa that allows me to work and isn't dependent on me having a job...? Nice. not sure if it's true though... Please inform.

We might be planning to head to China. My question is, how long can my wife be in China with a Green Card and not lose the Green Card? Do we need to "establish residency" at some point in a few years? Anybody can shed some light on this subject?? Thanks.

Great collection here about the Chinese University Entrance Exam. It's a great topic for Chinese since most if not all have been through it and have horrible stories to tell. See the difficulties of these kids as they go through this right of passage. China Stories: 4 Videos on China's University Entrance Exam: NYTimes, NDTV and CRI English: Just a quote to whet your appetite. "Nine million students took China's college entrance exam this year, competing for fewer than 7 million university spots."

Hey everyone...I have a couple questions for you all again! My wife (green card holder) and 2 kids and I are thinking of heading back to China this year. She'll go first most likely with the kids (she's brave) and I will follow when school is out. I have a couple questions though: 1. My wife's Chinese passport has expired. Is that as simple as going to the Chinese embassy in NYC (we're in Western Mass) to apply for another one? Anybody been there done that? 2. How long does it take to get US passports and Chinese VISAs for 2 kids? Are we talking forever or a week or what? 3. My wife is a US green card holder. She won't have any problems leaving, arriving in China, leaving China and coming back to the USA right? Or is there something we need to know before all of this? 4. In all of your wisdom, should we secure the passports and visas first and then get plane tickets?? Thanks again for your help!

Thanks Yu and Don. Question though. your links didn't work at all. I found this information on the Beijing Embassy website: Visa Renewal/CITIC Bank Drop-off Service Repeat travelers to the United States may qualify to use the CITIC Bank Drop-off Visa Renewal Service to renew their visas. This process allows qualifying applicants to apply for a new visa by submitting their visa application via CITIC bank. Using the service may eliminate the need to come to your nearest Embassy or Consulate. The use of the drop-off service does not guarantee visa issuance. The Embassy or Consulate may in some cases, after reviewing an application submitted through CITIC Bank, require an applicant to appear in person for a visa interview. Due to increasing demand for visa interview appointments, we strongly encourage visa applicants who are eligible for our drop box system to take advantage of this service. Applicants may drop-off their visa application at participating branches ofChina CITIC Bank, if they meet the following requirements: FOR ALL APPLICANTS: You must be physically present in China. Your previous visa was a B (temporary visitor for business/pleasure); C1 (transit); D (crewmembers); C1/D (combined transit/crewmember);F (students); J (exchange visitors); M (nonacademic students) or; O (visitors with extraordinary abilities). Your previous visa must be currently valid or must have expired within the last 48 months. You must be applying for the exact same type of visa. You must have provided all 10 fingerprints during a previous visa interview (see example below). Note: The U.S. Embassy and Consulates did not start collecting 10 fingerprints until November 15, 2007. If your previous visa was issued before that date you may not have submitted 10 fingerprints, and are not eligible for this program. Applicants renewing F1 visas whose previous visas include an annotation "clearance received" and whose visas expired less than 3 years ago should apply through the drop box submitting all documentation found here. To use the drop box, F1 visa applicants must plan to continue attending a U.S. school or institution in which they are already enrolled. Applicants renewing other eligible visa classes whose previous visas have the "clearance received" annotation should schedule an appointment to apply in person. Applicants renewing J1 visas may use the drop box if they are continuing in an exchange program in which they are already participating. If you are renewing an H, L, or P visa then you may use our CITIC drop-off service 12 months after the visa has expired. For example, if you visa expires on January 31st, 2012 then you can use the drop-off service up until January 30th 2013. Additional information on visa application procedures can be found here -------------------------- But I have a problem...Are they supposed to fill out the DS-160 just like everyone else?? But then write down that they have already applied or what? Also, has anyone filled out an application for another person in China before? They say something like this: Can Other People Assist Me with my Visa Application? Yes, you can get assistance from other people. Be aware, however, that under U.S. law (22 C.F.R. 41.103) you must electronically sign and submit your own application unless you qualify for an exemption. This means that you (the applicant) must click the "Sign Application" button, even if someone else helped you fill the application out. If someone else clicks the button instead of you, your application may not be accepted What in the world is that?? What does that mean??

We always seem to come here when we have a problem or question. Many thanks to all of you who monitor this site. Back Story: My mother and father in law (in China) have come to America and have gone back to China. The separate visits were good and now my wife (MX) is pregnant and the idea is that we want the both of them to come to the states again before the baby is born. They had a tourist visa and went back before the deadline so everything was legal and good. Question: WE want them to come again, what do they need to do in China to get the visa again? I've heard the second time it's easier? Just a letter? To who? To where? DO they have to wait in line again? How long does the second one take?? Anybody have this kind of experience?

Hey everyone. Thanks for the great advice and suggestions and the congrats! I have more information. Dad Wu's B1/B2 visa is from April 2011 to April 2012. He had things going on all year and now was when he could come. He'll be going back in January. So no problem there. But both Dad Wu and Mom Wu would like to come in June or so to be with us for the birth and ×øÔÂ×Ó¡£ So... mid January to June... is that enough time to get another visa for the both of them? Their visas both expire at the same time. To explain more from my first post... Dad Wu's question was that he's heard that in this situation he feels that they wouldn't be able to get the visa since their visa expired in 2012 already. I don't see why that would be a restriction but there are many illogical things going on in the US government right now.

Here's another situation. Dad Wu is coming today from Shanghai to JFK. I'll pick him up. He'll leave in about a month. That's in 2012. He's heard stories that if you are abroad or something in one year you can't go again in the same year. Now, MX is pregnant! YEAH! The idea then is that Mom Wu doesn't want to come all by herself later this year to take care of MX and help with the new baby. She needs to have Dad Wu come with her. The question is... if Dad Wu goes back to China in January 2012, can he reapply for another VISA later and come with Mom Wu...in May of 2012? Does that make sense?? Any thoughts would be helpful.

Hey everyone. I always seem to come back here when I have questions. Here we go. My wife and I want to give our son an opportunity that I wish I had... at 4 years old to go to Shanghai to be with his grandparents for about 5-6 months to be immersed and live there. My father in law will be coming to the states to visit us for a month and the idea is that he would take him back to Shanghai with him. Do we need a visa for the boy? Which one? How do we get it? Is it time consuming? Money? How do we get our boy on the same flight as my father-in-law? Anybody do this before? What do you all think?

Thanks you two! We appreciate the info and input. Much to think about.

It's amazing how I keep coming back to the Candle for Love when we have questions. My wife MX (Shanghainese) and her mother is Mom Wu. Ok... Mom Wu came to the states in May for a visit (B2 Visa). Her plane ticket date to return to Shanghai is October. MX is studying and we have a 3 year old... we need mom Wu to stay a little longer... MX graduates next July (2012) it would be great if she could stay that long or almost to that time... 1. Should we extend her visit... and how would we extend the visa? I found an i-539 form for extension of B2 visa... is that correct? How long does that take? How long can she stay on an extended visa? 3 months? 6 months? our choice? How much? How early should we apply? What if it takes too long? 2. Should we send her back and then have her re-apply? How possible is that? It seemed that her initial application and visa interview was simple...nerve wracking but ok in Shanghai. I don't want to risk the second application if it might mean she won't get it. Any responses would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Here's the scoop. My wife and I might move to the UK for a year for her study. (She's Chinese.) Then after studying we will head back to Shanghai where she is from to fulfill a contract at her place of employment. We're in the states right now and she has a green card and lawful permanent resident. We plan to leave in September 2010. Here is my wish: That she can keep her green card and we will be able to travel back and forth from China to the US without worries. This move to the states by us was good, but we feel there are more opportunities for us in Shanghai. So, in terms of the move to the UK... and then for work to Shanghai which she will be contractually obligated if she studies in the UK... what about the green card status? What should I do for her status before we leave? What should we do after we leave? Is my wish realistic? {Edit} Cleaned up thread title.

Hey everybody. Just a quick question on going back and coming back. My wife and boy and I want to head back to Shanghai this September for family visits and the Expo. I wanted to double check what she needs to be able to travel back and forth smoothly. She is a green card holder. I've heard of a few things... something about a "passport for green card holders" or does she need some sort of other visa or whatever... WE plan to be there for about a month. Hope it's clear! Thanks everyone!

A quick note and explanation. My wife really wants to study. we've been in America for about a year. She is from Shanghai and has a 3 year degree. We want to finish it here and/or continue studying. So we've been told by a lot of people that you need to talk to some transcript services... I looked at one... WES.org and called them. They mentioned that we need to talk to the Ministry of Education in China... they will send my wife's transcripts I guess, to WES and they will figure out the equivalent classes and grades... then send it to whatever school we want. This seems costly 160 US dollars for WES and who knows the Ministry of Education. My wife checked out the Chinese MoEducation site and couldn't figure anything out. Not clear. So we're kind of stuck. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Any links to other past posts would be nice too. Thanks everyone. (why do I always come here at the last minute?)

I imagine this is all the same today August 2009 as it was way back when this was written??? This really helps. Thanks. But another long process...