Rakkasan

Michael, I am happy that you have resolved this issue. This may be a bit late but I will weigh in anyway. How would you have felt if she had gone to the site and noticed that you had been visiting the site? After all the only way you could have known that she was visiting was for you to have been there yourself. Would she have been justified in thinking that you had a "Plan B"? I understand that in this process of paperwork and waiting there is more than enough time for strange thoughts to enter your mind, but before you assume the worst, as is natural after dealing with American women, stop, reverse the situation and think it through . In the quote above from one of your posts in this thread it says " ...to answer email from the website since we used their "visa service" and that is how they stay in touch with us." It is possible that only she was the receipient of email notifications, but if both of you were using their visa service you perhaps also received periodic emails from the site. And if so did you go to the site to respond or delete them? I am not trying to bash you in any way here, but having followed this thread and read how upset and worried you have been and now how upset she is, it would seem that stepping back and thinking this through would have saved you both alot of emotional stress. As I said, you visited the site and did not consider yourself as being there establishihng a "Plan B". In the future give her the benefit of the doubt. And now send her some flowers.

Driver's Licenses Courtesy of ChinaNews, December 29, 2006 Foreigners Can Apply for Temporary Driving License in China. Foreigners who have driving license issued by their home countries can apply for a temporary driving license and drive in China without having to take related tests, according to a clause in a regulation issued by the Ministry of Public Security. The regulation will start to take effect from January 1, 2007, the Beijing Youth Daily reported. The regulation, which deals with the management of automobiles and foreigners that come to China for a short stay, stipulates that the valid period for the temporary driving license should not exceed the period marked in the entry and exit certificates, and the temporary license can be valid for three months at most. The valid period can not be extended. In addition, the temporary driving license should be used together with foreigners' driving license issued at his or her home country and foreigners should always take these two licenses with them, in case traffic police ask them to show these licenses at any time. Although foreigners who have obtained their driving license at home can get their temporary driving license in China without having to take related tests, they need to attend lessons to study Chinese road safety regulations, before they can drive in China. And they can only drive small cars or automatic-gear cars. If foreigners will stay for a relatively long time in China, they can consider obtaining an official driving license in China. To do so, they should take their foreign driving licenses and valid ID cards to the automobile management bureau, fill up the automobile driving license application form, take related physical examination, and attend a traffic regulation test. Once they have fulfilled all these procedures and passed related tests and exams, they can get the official driving license issued by the Chinese government. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Regulation for Foreign Vehicles And Drivers Courtesy of Xinhua News Agency, December 13, 2006 China has issued a new regulation on foreign automobiles and drivers in an effort to improve road traffic safety, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The new regulation will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2007. The existing law dates from 1989 but is seen as outdated for dealing with rapidly growing trade and traffic, the ministry said. A large number of foreign passenger and freight vehicles cross into China at border zones for short periods, the ministry said. Foreign vehicles temporarily entering China must be covered by automobile liability insurance and automobile safety and technical inspection certificates. The regulation also requires foreign vehicles to use designated areas and routes and leave China by a certain date. Statistics from the MPS show that in 2005, vehicles driven by foreigners caused 95 traffic accidents leading to 28 deaths and 90 people injured. Taking into account all road accidents in China during the year, , a total of 40 foreigners died along with 198 injured. Foreigners visiting China for a short period must either drive automobiles brought from outside China or rental cars. Authorized rental cars are compact models. Foreigners holding an overseas driving license can obtain a temporary driving permit after being trained in China's traffic law and regulations. The new regulation will govern day-to-day foreign vehicles and drivers in China. Foreign journalists driving in China during the 2008 Olympics will be treated as "special cases", the ministry said. China will adopt the standard International Olympic Committee practices of convenience, the ministry said.

How many Mexicans have filled out paperwork to come here legally and are still waiting? I think we need to secure our borders and begin deporting those who are here illegally. Those who try to follow our laws should be given preference over those who broke our laws. We have no idea who these people are, there have been no background checks on these people and no sponsors. Just like our fiance' / spouses those who come here should have a sponsor and should not be eligible for tax payer paid public assistance of any kind. I do not think those who get deported should be permanently banned entering the US, as is the current practice, but they should be subjected to the background checks and have employment arranged prior to entry with a sponsor (this sponsor can be the employer). The argument that they are hard workers is irrelevent. I am a hard worker, it does give me the right to break the law.

After you and Leiqin have been married for 3.5 years she can apply for citizenship. Perhaps that will be the fastest way for her, just become a citizen and tell USCIS to pound salt.

Zhen is still on the site where we met. She and the friend who helped her set up on the site could not figure out how to take down the ad. She told me this within a couple of months after we started talking on a regular basis. I think this is probably fairly common. Also, unlike ads for men, womens ads are generally free so it is not like she would think about cancelling the ad to save money since there is no cost involved. Just ask, it may be that she forgot the password or does not know how to eliminate the ad.

The market we went to had many many booths that were devoted to jade. Zhen has worked designing jewelry so she was very particular in picking out only what she considered the best pieces for making bracelets and necklaces for my mother and my brothers girlfriend. It was a long process while Zhen and my mother went through many trays of jade finding the ones with the proper quality and color. I was ready for a nap after this experience.

I think I have been to the market you are talking about. You pick out the pieces of jade you like and they will make the necklace or bractlet while you wait.

Do not be scared Joanne. Although identity theft does happen it is pretty rare. Just be careful with your personal information. Do not give out your SSN to just anyone. Read Dons post about who it should be limited to. Also do not give out personal information over the internet in response to an email request. If you are making a purchase from a web site and it is a site that you selected you should be OK, but be careful with emails, some emails will look like they are from legitimate businesses, the links will even take you to a web page that looks like a page for a legitimate business, but it is a scam to gather your personal information. Also if you use a debit card be careful when entering your PIN, make sure no one is watching over your shoulder when you are making a purchase. I live in a fairly small city so I do not worry to much about theft. However recently several employees were arrested at a chain of Mexican restaurants for taking peoples debit/credit card numbers and using them to make purchases online purchases. I don't know how you would protect yourself from this kind of activity other than paying cash or eating at home. The purpose of my original post was not to cause fear for you and other new residents in the US. I intend to make an effort to protect Zhen's SSN when she arrives and I was wondering if others were doing the same.

Not sure where to put this so TC gets it. Are any of the members who have their fiance' / wives in the US taking any steps to protect her SSN. Most of have our SSN all over the place with no hope of ever getting it back under control. What got me thinking about this is that I do medical transcription on the side and every day I get a patient list with 70 names and the patient SSN as an identifier. Other than making filing easier a doctors office really has no need for your SSN. Really only the IRS, employer, bank and those with whom you apply for credit have a real need. Does it really matter? Do you tell your SO not to give it out to any business or individuals? What steps if any are you taking to protect her SSN and to protect her from identity theft? By the way I woud identity theft would be a major problem for someone here with a conditional green card. Maybe not, anyone with experience?

I am expecting about 4 suitcases of clothing and misc other stuff. I guess I will have to wait to see what actually arrives. As I said I have money budgeted for her to buy clothing when she arrives. She is from Nanning and really does not have a wardrobe suitable for even a mild midwest winter. Besides if she really wants to go hiking with me she will need something other than 3 inch heels on the trails.

I decided to make this a separate topic. When your fiance' / wife arrived the in the US, how much did she bring with her in the way of clothing? A couple of suit cases or a truck load?

I don't know. I am not fat and neither is Zhen. A bar of soap should last us all year.

I understand, Zhen travel with her own small yellow towel for drying after a shower at the hotel. I guess at 5'1" and 94 pounds it doesn't take much of a towel to get her dry.

No one told me I had to change shower soap! You may not have to change. It will all depend on who is training whom. or is it whom is training who. or who and who, or whom and whom. If you are the one training your wife you can rest easy, otherwise be prepared for to give up the soap.

After your fiance / wife moved into your home did you need to switch from bar soap to liquid soap in the shower? All of the hotels in China as well as Zhens home use the liquid soap. Since I am in the beginning stages of preparing my home for Zhens eventual arrival I am wondering if after I finish with the kitchen gadgets if I should purchase a liquid soap dispenser for the shower. What has been the experience of those with wives in country already?

Good points, Jim. And I did not mean to imply that smoking is immoral. It was just an observation. I saw so many men smoking in China. I know they smoke here as well, but maybe not so noticeable. I think one reason is that they allow smoking in restaurants and you tend to notice it more. I've seen signs on the tables that say "please do not smoke" but they smoke anyway. I was offered cigarettes and the men seemed quite surprised to find out that I don't smoke. My SO pokes me in the side and says, "say thank you." Jim, the immoral description was one that Zhen gave me I asked her why I had not seen any women smoking while in Nanning. I will admit that other than hosting a party at a KTV club one night Zhen and I are not big night club people so there may have been plenty of women smoking in those clubs. My intitial thought was that women were oppressed and not allowed to smoke or were just smarter than the men who almost all seem to smoke. If fact that was the way I posed the question to Zhen by asking if it was not allowed or if women were smarted than men. She then informed my that only immoral women smoked. Zhen is very conservative and old fashioned in her beliefs. At her brother in laws offices I have never seen a women smoke nor at any of the partys I have attended in restaurants and homes in the Nanning area. Maybe in other parts of the country women smoking is more prevelant.

I asked Zhen about women not smoking during my first trip to China. I thought maybe it was a male dominated society thing. She informed me the only immoral women smoke in China. As far as kids listening to RAP crap, it is the parents who allow this music into the home because they feel they are to busy to stop and actually listen to the lyrics. As I posted before, stop being your child best friend and start being your child parent. It is your job to make decisions for your child. Not all RAP is bad, but the song (cough, cough) that promote and glorify violence, are demeaning to women or other groups and encourage drung use should be banned from the home and the iPOD. As far as dress is concerned, again I say be the parent. I understand that certain about is teenage rebelion and pushing the limits, however your are the parent buying the clothing for your child. If he has a 28 waist do not purchase pants with that are a size 34 waist. Try this technique when shopping with your son.... "I said NO!!!" end of discussion. Not popular but it is parental.

"But in 1996 Congress broadened the law. And worse, they made it retroactive. Which means now immigration authorities can look back twenty, thirty, even forty years¡ªand virtually any minor offense, like drunk driving, even shoplifting, is enough to get a longtime resident deported." I thought the constitution contained a clause the saif something to the effect that Congress shall pass no ex post facto law. No laws after the fact or retroactive laws. CERCLA (superfund) was retroactive and had to be passed under the wars powers act as a national emergency in order to target people who polluted ground, air and water prior to the laws enactment. Surely the lawyers in these cases are making this arguement. I guess I will need to talk to Zhen about citizenship when she arrives. I believe she has 3.5 years after we are married before she is eligible. Good article.

Personally, for something this important I would make the 300 mile trip. Not so much because I am leery of internet business found on a search without having been referred by someone I know and trust, but I would be worried about errors or lost items. After everything we go through to get our ladies here I would not want to take a chance on any of the documents getting lost and then having to deal with Immigration to get replacements. Maybe I am just getting old, but hand delivery seems the best way to handle this for me. Make it a weekend outing for you and the wife.

I have no idea what I ate while in China. On both trips Zhen would order. On my first trip she would watch what I ate and make a mental note of what items I seemed to like more than others then make sure those items were present at the next meal. By the end of my visit every item served was food that I liked. Zhen did assure me that I was not eating dog, cat or rat. On my recent trip as I was preparing to grab a piece of pork she stopped me because it was apparently a part of the pig that I would not eat if I knew what it was. True to form Zhen knows me and takes care and protects me at all times. Another reason to love these wonderful ladies.

If you really said this then yes, you need someone at HR to encourage your sensitivity skills. Generalizing, especially to such a negative is neither productive nor very smart. An apology to the women who heard that is appropriate. Ah, a graduate, I see ! It's to bad we don't live in a country that guarantees the freedom of speech to it's citizens. One where you can express your views without fear of reprisal from those who hold differing points of view. I remember a country that used to exist where people weren't forced to appologize for expressing their beliefs or opinions.

It would cost to much to send them all to China to learn femininity.

Dennis, aren't sensitivity classes and anger management classes what the communists used to call re-eduacation camps? If you don't conduct yourself like we think you should we will send you away until you conform to our way of thinking. Encouraging your wife to find a job that will pay her more money while making use of her natural talents is not stifling her, except in the minds of insecure women who feel threatened by the possibility that more American men might pursue Chinese brides and they will find themselves old, bitter and alone in her later years because no one wants to be around their kind. I understand the HR situation, apologize but keep your fingers crossed behind your back.

If we are going to do movies then she needs to watch the movie Hollywood Knights!!!

How many of you have experienced friends and coworkers who do not know the difference between Japan and China? During conversations about China I routinely hear people make comments about the Geisha, Sumo wrestlers, samurai and other items that are Japanese. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems that a large number of people are pretty much clueless when it comes to Asia and are not able to differentiate between Japan and China. Maybe I just need to hang out with a better group of people...