IllinoisDave

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Way to go Mark and Feng! Geez, I'm gone a couple days and look what happens! CONGRATS to all of you!!

Don't worry Gino, it'll definately be on your permanent record.

Yes, we checked applicant because she was applying for AOS/EAD/AP. The "person requesting" is the same person as the person you are entering your appearance as representative for. They're both your wife. So only one box needs to be filled in. You're basically telling them that you're representing her and that she requested that you do so. Legal mumbo jumbo. It worked for us that way.

Almost forgot some really important paper you'll need. Toilet paper. When out and about it can be hit or miss as to whether public toilets will have it. What you do find can be pretty coarse. Whenever I go I stick a couple rolls of Charmin in the suitcase. Since you're gonna be there a whole month you may want to more than a couple rolls. At least it doesn't weigh much.

Sounds very hopeful tsap. All my fingers is all crossed.

Puts into perspective being delayed a few hours over the holidays here.

The latest from the AP. Sorry I don't have a link, this is just off the wires. The part about "chi ku" makes you just want to cry but the part about the dumplings does bring a smile. By WILLIAM FOREMAN Associated Press Writer GUANGZHOU, China (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of migrant workers desperate to get home for the Chinese New Year shivered in the cold under a sea of umbrellas outside train stations Tuesday, as the worst winter storms in half a century paralyzed China. One of the world's biggest annual mass movements of humanity - a record 178.6 million people, more than the population of Russia - were expected to travel by train for the holiday, according to railway officials' estimates. Most of those stranded at train stations were migrant workers trying to leave booming southern Guangdong province - often called the world's factory floor because it makes everything from Honda sedans to Apple iPods and Nike sneakers. In China, the New Year holiday, which begins Feb. 7, is as important as Christmas is in the West. For most migrant workers, it's the only time of the year when they can visit their hometowns, and they often take a month off to feast with their families and perform a series of rituals. The extreme weather showed no signs of letting up Tuesday, with cities blacked out, highways closed because of treacherous conditions and trains canceled. A bus crash on an icy road killed at least 25 people - the worst accident since the blizzards began. The 35-seat bus slid off an icy mountain road and plunged 40 yards into a valley in Guizhou province, according to the State Administration of Work Safety. Huge red banners hanging at the train station in the provincial capital, Guangzhou, urged migrant workers to cancel plans to return home, cash in their tickets and return to their factory dormitories. About 200,000 people took the advice and got ticket refunds, railway officials said, while about 200,000 others stayed at the station, milling around in a bone-chilling drizzle. Thousands stood under umbrellas that formed a huge canopy in the train station's plaza, while a larger crowd huddled beneath a highway overpass in front of the station hoping to catch a train. But the busy Beijing-Guangzhou line may not return to normal for three to five days, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Wang Jigen was one of many workers who couldn't cash in his ticket because he had no place to go. The 50-year-old day laborer left his job before the holiday and couldn't afford to stay in a hotel until the trains begin running again to his home in the western province of Sichuan. "I spent last night outside at a bus depot," said Wang, dressed in a ragged sweater and a dusty olive corduroy coat. "I have no idea where I'll sleep tonight or how I'll ever get home." Just blocks from the station, migrants converged on an emergency shelter in the China Import and Export Fair exhibition center - a complex the size of three or four football fields. The place was packed with travelers sitting on their luggage. Free water bottles were being passed around, and lunch boxes of rice, chicken legs and cabbage were being sold for about $1. The general mood seemed calm and stoic - in line with the traditional Chinese trait of "chi ku" or "eating bitterness," enduring hardship without complaint. But legions of police and soldiers were ready for any disorder, and the nation's leaders scrambled to show the public that they were on the case. State broadcaster CCTV showed Premier Wen Jiabao meeting officials telling stranded travelers at the Changsha train station in central Hunan province that the trains would start again soon. "Let me express my apologies for you all having been stuck here," Wen said through a megaphone to a huddled crowd that cheered and applauded. But the nation's top leader, President Hu Jintao, warned of more bad weather and urged officials "be aware of the seriousness of the situation and be fully prepared to prevent and fight disasters." So far, the central government has given a total $17 million in aid to six provinces and one region battered by the winter weather, Xinhua said. Expressways were shut down in the nation's financial capital, Shanghai, because snow and sleet made them a slushy treacherous mess. In southwest China's Guizhou province, wild macaques at the Qianling wildlife park huddled together trying to keep warm on ice-encrusted tree branches. Spending the holiday in Guangdong was a painful thought for Wang Yusheng, a 33-year-old salesman from the central province of Henan. He nibbled on a chicken wing outside Guangzhou's station as he slowly gave up hope of going home. His backup plan was to spend the holiday where he works in the city of Shenzhen, near Hong Kong. "We in the North eat dumplings during the holiday, but people in the South don't," said Wang. "Southern food really tastes terrible. It's really going to be different celebrating the New Year here."

I know I did.

Vermont is a good thing.

Ours was transferred also. I don't think it matters.

Welcome br00kzy. Zack's got ya covered. I'm sure it won't be your last question. Don't hesitate.

That's great! Congrats.

Big Ditto on the pics. Especially with you and her with family members. You can take pre-filled or blank copies of the G-325As with you for her to sign/fill out. You'll need 4 for the I-129f so have her sign/fill out 8 of them so you have extras for the duplicate. She'll also need to sign her letter of intention. You can type one up here,make a couple copies and just have her sign them. Use the guide at Visa Journey, pretty simple. She'll need to have her birth certificate,police certificate and single certificate translated. Only the birth certificate can be done now as the others are time sensitive and should be done closer to the interview. My wife also had her college diploma translated. I took some stick-on mailing labels and had her write her address in Chinese characters to use on any letters/packages I sent. I took some small 1x3s for letters/cards and larger 2x4s for packages. Some folks suggest forgetting all the paperwork for now and just enjoying each other. Normally I wouldn't argue with that, but since you're going to be there for a whole month, there should be plenty of time for both. Having said that, the most important thing IS to have fun and get to know each other. This will probably be the most exciting trip of your life for many reasons so try and savor each minute and really enjoy each other's company and try to get a sense of your compatibilty. Good luck.

Good thinking Jim.

Thanks for the report Larry. Very interesting reading. 45 days! Lucky guy. B) I guess it takes that long to see a lot of what you've described. We were in Beijing for three days in May and I never experienced any of the negative stuff, especially the name-calling. But three days is a drop in the bucket compared to how long you were there. I am a little surprised at the level of hostility you experienced. That's such a shame. I'm not sure I would have been as restrained as you. I'm curious, do you speak Mandarin? Is that how you knew what people were saying or did your wife translate?

Actually, my point was that I wish OUR country had the moral fiber to protect 10 years olds from the disgusting stuff that is swamping the internet. Read the writings of the Founders, then try to discern what they were talking about when addressing freedom of speech. Porn wasn't even on the radar screen. We've also come to realize that none of the rights ennumerated are absolute; i.e. screaming "FIRE" in a crowded theater. Meanwhile, several big name politicians are restricting the very expression the Bill of Rights was written to protect!!! Just seems backwards to me... Forget moral fiber, how about something called parental responsibility? Too many parents in this country let the computer or television be a substitute for actual parental contact. I think that the beauty of what the Founders wrote is that it IS a little ambiguous. I believe they had the foresight to not decide exactly what constitues freedom of speech or religion or whatever. They knew that the citizenry would have the good sense to figure out where the limits were. Some people just think they should be able to impose THEIR limits on the population as a whole. That I have a problem with. When my 13 year old can do an search for an innocuous term and end up with results showing beastiality and graphic sex, I have a problem with THAT! If it can't be broadcast, it shouldn't be online, not without some sort of filter. If it can't be sold in plain view in a 7/11, it shouldn't be online, not without some sort of filter. What are we trying to 'protect' here, smut merchants or our children? Meanwhile, we can't do issue advertising within 90 days of an election? Where were you when McCain-Feingold was passed (and signed; this was an equal opportunity, bi-partisan violation of the Bill of Rights)? As for ambiguity, not really. It's relatively easy to discern original intent. All you need to do is find judges who are willing to read the historical documents! There are filters out there. Use them. But don't force YOUR personal moral/sexual filter on the rest of us. Who decides what smut is? I sure as hell don't need someone else deciding for me what it is, especially on the internet. On the broadcast channels that are paid for by taxpayers? Ok, I can live with that. But no one forces anyone to go on the internet. If you're afraid your 13 yr old will go blind because of something he/she sees on the internet, do the searches yourself or hire someone to do it. It's a bit of a strawman argument anyway as we all know that graphic images like the ones you mentioned require more than just one innocuous click of a mouse to view. Teach your 13 year old not to click on anything that looks questionable. Again, parental involvement is required. As for the rest? Too political for me.

Good luck.

CONGRATS!!

Is there a phone number on the notice you received? If not, maybe an InfoPass appointment?

I guess it depends on your definition of "have a problem." I'm talking about disagreeing/lamenting/wishing it weren't the case. Does yours by any chance involve invasion with military forces to ensure the rights of that country's citizens? If so, your definition differs from mine significantly.

Actually, my point was that I wish OUR country had the moral fiber to protect 10 years olds from the disgusting stuff that is swamping the internet. Read the writings of the Founders, then try to discern what they were talking about when addressing freedom of speech. Porn wasn't even on the radar screen. We've also come to realize that none of the rights ennumerated are absolute; i.e. screaming "FIRE" in a crowded theater. Meanwhile, several big name politicians are restricting the very expression the Bill of Rights was written to protect!!! Just seems backwards to me... Forget moral fiber, how about something called parental responsibility? Too many parents in this country let the computer or television be a substitute for actual parental contact. I think that the beauty of what the Founders wrote is that it IS a little ambiguous. I believe they had the foresight to not decide exactly what constitues freedom of speech or religion or whatever. They knew that the citizenry would have the good sense to figure out where the limits were. Some people just think they should be able to impose THEIR limits on the population as a whole. That I have a problem with.

Sometimes, especially in our Sino-American relatinships, it's tough to know whether someone's concerns about money are due to being a goldigger or just being careful/frugal. I have to say that your descriptions so far don't point to the latter. It is even more tough to know when to cut the cord and I would never tell anyone when that time is. It's just something you have to figure out yourself. It sounds like you've taken some steps to find out if you're there. Good for you. As others have pointed out, you've got a helluva lot going for you. Your relatively young age, your new salary and promising career that allows travel to Asia? Man, I'm a little jealous. Without telling what to do, I'll just say that you should weigh ALL options carefully and not rush into your decision as quickly as you may have rushed into the marriage. Best of luck. B)

I have no problem eliminating porn since it does nothing for me anyway. I have a beautiful wife, good job and a nice home, I don't need porn to get me through the day. I wasn't aware that looking at porn was a "right" under Chinese rule. In the U.S. being able to watch porn is protected as a right under our Constitution, China is not required to abide by our constitution when setting policy for their country or people. One of the things I like about China is the innocence I see when there. This innocence is the result of China prohibiting access to things like porn. I think Americans tend to travel to other countries and expect everything to be just like it is back home, wanting to impose our ideals and values, instead of accepting that other countries have their own ideas about what is acceptable and best for their people and what is not. When you get back home you can look at all the porn you want if that's what makes you happy, but when in China accept that they are doing what they think is best for their people (right or wrong). I'm with the Rak on this. Their country; their rules. You might want to consider the effect that American-style free speech could have on a nation like China. IMO, China has come a long way since my first visit in 1978. The people are changing and the government is changing in a methodical way. Evidence of government control in China is almost non-existent compared to 1978. Life in China is much better than it was and it continues to improve. I don't want to see the Chinese freedom train derailed by outside interference. You both have missed, or misunderstood my point. The point isn't that we should flood China with porn sites. I was trying to point out the irony in US citizens being glad that a foreign gov't is censoring the internet for it's citizens. I probably could've use a different term than "rights" as it pertains to China, my bad. The fact that US citizens have no problem with another country denying to it's citizens what millions here are free to take advantage of just seemed a bit ironic to me. That was my point. One's personal feelings about the particular content really has little bearing and is fodder for another thread IMHO. I"m well aware of the whole "Their country; their rules" thing. Everyone here, including me, knows that China is a different animal in a lot of ways. But as far as considering "the effect that American-style free speech could have on a nation like China"? I'm happy to consider that. I'm sure you don't mean you would wish to deny them that do you? I'm not advocating we charge in and demand they make all the porn sites or anything else available to their people. That would be silly. I'm just saying I think it's sad that they don't. You may not think it's sad because it's porn. Fair enough. So what other kind of content would you be ok with them keeping from their people? Your list is probably a helluva lot shorter than the Chinese government's. Should you be the gatekeeper? Should I? Should they? My point is once someone starts that list, it's very easy to make it longer. And I think that's a bad thing whether it's a citizen of a free and democratic country or the Chinese government making that list.