kdavid3

My wife and I have been residents of CA since 2014. We'd like to apply for citizenship as soon as possible. It's very likely we'll be moving to another state (completely unknown at the moment) sometime in the next 5 to 18 months. Will this effect our application? Thanks!

I'm confused by a discrepancy in the M-476 and M-480 documents. Situation: my wife has been a permanent residence since June 9, 2014. From May 2017 to March 2018, she and our two children accompanied me overseas for dissertation research. Funding for this research was provided by a US Dept. of Education grant. I have all the documents related to this, our apartment leases for the past six years, including proof of our sublease for when we were in China. Other than this ten-month trip, she has spent no other time outside the US. M-476 appears to state she must have three continuous years of residence in the US without trips abroad longer than six months. M-480, on the other hand, appears to state we can apply for citizenship as long as she hasn't spent more than 12 consecutive months abroad. Granted everything is in order paperwork wise, are we likely to have a successful case if I applied today? $725 is a lot to wager, and I'd rather not apply unless we have a reasonably good chance of success. Thanks for your help!

Thanks for your replies! Yes, we've paid taxes (filed jointly) each year. I'll pay our 2017 taxes before our departure late March, granted I have all the documents needed to file. We've been at the same residence since 2014. We were fortunate enough to sub-let our apartment, so we have the lease and all relevant bills, bank statements, etc. My fellowship has been provided by the US Dept. of Education, so will have those documents as well. Just wanted to make sure nothing weird was going on that I was unaware of.

Yes, that was there "visa" to China.

Hello All, An update to my issue. The Chinese Consulate in LA refused to issue my boys Chinese visas since they were both born in China. Instead, we got them travel documents valid for two years. Getting these were straight forward and hassle-free, once we knew exactly what we needed. We completed the application via an online system (the link to which to consulate provided). Once we filled in the requisite information, the system prompted us to make an appointment. We took the boys to the consulate for a meeting. Once everything was in order, the books were issued. They entered the PRC on those books no problems.

Hello All, My wife was issued a ten-year green card late 2014. She was in the US for almost three straight years until late May 2017. She and my two boys have accompanied me to China for research. We'll have been here for ten months by the time we return late March 2018. I understand an advanced parole is suggested for individuals who will be abroad for longer than 12 months. As I mentioned, we'll only be 10. Three questions: 1. Given the current political climate regarding immigration, is there any reason to believe that my wife will be given any grief? I have plenty of documentation to prove our trip abroad was temporary, and that our home is indeed in the US. 2. My wife's Chinese passport will expire June 2018, about 3 months after we return late March 2018. Her green card is good through 2024. Will the expiration of her Chinese passport cause any problems? 3. Given everyone's experience, is there anything else I should do to ensure we all successfully pass immigration/customs upon our return? Thanks!

I've just today come across two excellent links: 1. Applying for a PRC Exit and Entry Permit for a Child with Dual Nationality 2. Applying to Renounce Chinese Citizenship I'll be contacting the PRC embassy nearby in LA to see if we can do the latter here. If so, I'll update on how that goes. The goal will be to renounce citizenship for the boys and then get Q2 visas for them.

Thanks, Randy. We'll try to get the boys visas (not travel documents). I'll update on this when I have something to share. Thanks again to everyone!

Hi, everyone. Thanks for all of the feedback. I've included my responses (and more questions) below. No, she's a permanent resident. We haven't been in a rush to look into citizenship, but may consider it sooner rather than later for reasons listed below. If we decide that she'll leave the US (for 10 months) as a permanent resident, does she need any special paperwork? Great idea. Can you please clarify what you mean by "your PSB"? Will any PSB suffice, or must we return to the PSB in Harbin, where her hukou is from? We don't plan on returning to Harbin and would like to avoid any unnecessary trips. The bureaucracy to get my kids exit documents was a nightmare. (Long story short: one lady in charge, corrupt, wouldn't entertain processing any paperwork without a bribe. This was back in 2014.) These are purchased at the US consulate in the PRC? Does it matter what visa one enters in? For example, can I enter on a research visa and then get one of these? This is what I'm afraid of. Both were born in China before my wife was a permanent resident. Questions: 1. Is there *anyway* I can get them in and out as Americans with their US passport? I do NOT want to have to go through the hassle of returning to Harbin to get them exit documents again. 2. If they *must* be treated as Chinese citizens, what are my options? Can I deal with a PSB in Beijing, where this type of situation is more common? Friends dealing with this situation in Beijing have been successful with the very straightforward bureaucracy there. 3. If my wife becomes a US citizen before we leave, does that disqualify the children as Chinese citizens? Both of my boys have US passports, etc. Lastly, communication in Mandarin isn't a problem. I lived in Harbin for eight years and am doing a PhD in modern Chinese history. The problem is the bureaucracy and corruption we faced when leaving the country in 2014. Had it not been for extensive guanxi and bribes, I'm afraid I may not have gotten them out of the country. Thanks again for all your help. As I've done for my wife's immigration paperwork, I'll keep copious notes on this process and create a "guide" once finished to post here for posterity.

Hello All, I've been lucky enough to be awarded a ten-month fellowship to support my PhD research in the PRC from June '17 through March '18. Unfortunately, it appears that the (multiple entry) visa I receive will require that I leave and re-enter the country every sixty days. My children are American citizens (with passports, etc.). My wife is Chinese. I'm wondering what type of document I can get for my boys to avoid them also having to leave the country every sixty days during our ten-month stay. It'll be enough hassle, financial and personal, for me to leave every so often. I'd really like to avoid having to take the boys each time as well. What are my options? Thanks!

Excellent. Thanks very much!

Thanks for the quick reply. Okay, so even if the vaccinations she received pre-interview normally require several doses spread out over several months, and she (at least as far as the paperwork is concerned) only received the first dose, she is not, and will not, be required to show proof of having received the "required" subsequent doses? Is this correct?

My wife received her IR-1 and green card last summer. We've been in the States for about nine months now. We've also just now got everyone insured so that "non-necessary" procedures, etc. can be done without breaking the bank. I want to ensure we have all our ducks in a row so that my wife has the option of citizenship at a later date. My question: What vaccinations/medical need to be done from time to time to ensure these bases are covered when the time rolls around? My wife received the yellow booklet as well as the vaccination document worksheet. Due to poor hospital record keeping, she had to get re-vaccinated when she did her Guangzhou medical pre-interview. Thanks in advance, and apologies if this is already covered elsewhere!

Good to see I'm not an idiot! Cheers!

First, does the B2 DS-160 ask if the applicant is a CCP member? I swear I don't recall reading this. Yet after the fact I'm thinking I must have missed it.... After filling out the DS-160 for my father-in-law I learned he is a nominal member of the CCP (i.e. he holds no official posts). At the time, I clearly wasn't reading/thinking clearly and wrote down "no" for affiliation. The form has been completed, and the interview already scheduled. What are my options?