Bert

It's a different culture. In general, I can go anywhere I want in China and I have no fear of someone causing me harm. I can't say that in the US. The general population treats each other with more respect. However, there seems to be the notion that you don't help strangers. My fiancee makes me stand outside the food markets when she shops for food because she knows the vendors will jack up the prices when they see me. So, I was standing out there one day and this middle-aged woman comes riding up on her bicycle with a big pack on her back. As she was getting off the bicycle, she lost her balance. She managed to grab her bicycle and the one beside it to keep the row of bicycles from falling like dominoes, but she was about to lose control of the situation. As any normal American would do, I went over and helped the woman. My fiancee saw this. I got a scalding. I was told in no uncertain terms that I had better never, ever help anyone again. Furthermore, she told me not to even speak to anyone. It took so little effort on my part to help the woman. I never understood why she got so upset. Now, when it comes to family, you help, no questions asked. I have seen sun-blackened quadriplegics writhing in the middle of a busy sidewalk on a hot fall day begging money. I've seen blind musicians playing for money. I have had many massages by the blind. I have seen a man with a bad leg hauling people around in his motorized, 3 wheel cart. I have seen people there earn money anyway they can. I don't see anything wrong with it. I sure it gives them a better feeling of self worth knowing they can make a living on their own. Many of them make more than high school graduates, perhaps even college graduates. I have tremendous respect for these people for not depending on the government for a handout, even though one is probably not available. Nobody sits around feeling sorry for themselves. Most likely because there is no one around to give them a handout. It's not a bad thing. True, there are people who truly cannot take care of themselves, and those need help.

Before I bought my last phone, I had them unlock the phone before I bought it. The rep was able to make the case that I had been a customer for the last 5 years. You should be able to take the Sim card out and replace it with a Chinese Sim card. In Shanghai at least, you have to have someone with a Chinese ID to get a Sim card. You just buy a set value, such as a 50 or 100 RMB card, not minutes. You can subscribe to an international plan (you can do it via text message). It will cost you a few RMB a month. It pretty insignificant (1-2 RMB, or so, I don't remember). You have to put a 12593 (in Shanghai with China Mobile) before you dial the US. It costs 0.4 RMB a minute and incoming calls are free. The international calling plan only works in the region in which you bought it.

This source has a bigger selection of China-specific timelines http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...st&p=482729 I had tried the link before and it wouldn't work. I just saw the timelines for the first time. Looks great. Before NOA2, VJ might be the better place because there are so many more people to make it statistically valid and timely, but after NOA2, the better source is in the timelines in your link.

I feel your pain. I'm in the same boat. My fiancee keeps talking to "experts" that say we should do this or that. I thought she would calm down after NOA2, but no such luck. As dnoblett pointed out, Visa Journey is an excellent source and it allows you to filter by country and similar timelines. In my case, my fiancee was invited to leave her parent's house when we got engaged, so she is all alone now, which makes it worse. After leaving her for less than 2 weeks, she was already begging for me to return. It's difficult to explain to her that I only have so much vacation and we have a ways to go yet.

My guess is that it might even help to show that she had been to the US and returned, if indeed the business visa is granted. I had a Chinese colleague, an unmarried female, apply recently for a visa to come to the US on business. The only question they asked her was, "How are you today?", then said, "Enjoy your trip to the US." There's one gotcha, however. She hasn't come over yet, but I had another colleague come from China the year before last. In order to make sure that he returned, he had to sign an enforceable contract that said he would not leave the company for one year.

As my fiancee always says, knowing someone always helps. In my case, my fiancee has an uncle on the police force. He helped her get it in just a few days. She probably would have received it anyway. However, the police refused to issue her a police report. Once again, she had to ask her uncle for a favor. In lieu of that, if all else fails, a little hongbao can go a long ways.

My fiancee and my former girlfriend have slightly different views. Both have a younger sister. Both have there ID in Wuhan, but the former girlfriend is more Shanghainese that Wuhanese. For my former girlfriend, it is her responsibility to take care of her parents. Her younger sister has no responsibility. When her mother went to the hospital for a cancer operation, for example, it was my former girlfriend that stayed with her mother and took care her everyday. The one day her younger sister reluctantly agreed to help, she backed out at the last minute. It just wasn't her responsibility and she had her own family to take care of. I've asked my fiancee about this before. She was blunt. That's the eldest son's responsibility. She doesn't feel any obligation to take care of her parents in their old age. But don't get me wrong. If a family member asks for help, you help them. Her younger sister needed help one day. All I did was question it. That resulted in the worst argument we have ever had. She is clear; that if her parents ask for help, we don't question it; we help. But, it also works the other way around. If we have a child, she fully expects her mother to help out, even come stay with us a year or so. It probably won't happen if we live in the US, but in China, I think so. At our apartment in Shanghai, during the day, it is common to see the grandparents taking care of their grandchildren.

A few minutes ago, I was plugging in reference numbers in the DHL tracking site to see how far things are backed up. I used the number: EXP XX YYY 2008B Where XX is the day of the shipment and YYY is the month. If looks like there are packages backed up from December 01. However, I could see some smaller packages going through. I don't know how reliable that may be in predicting the delay.

JLock, That's amazing. I have always heard that everytime you call you get a different answer. How did you track them at DHL website? Also GUZ told me our Files were sent to them Oct. 28, while the DOS says they were sent on Oct. 22. Who do I beleive? I just asked myself that question. I found the answer in this thread: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...;hl=tracking+p3 In essence, if you know the ship date, you can composed the track by reference number, then go to the DHL website.

A 2 year visa generally requires that you have had two previous visas. I have a two year, but I previously had have two one year visas. I asked for 30 day; they gave me 60. Most require a letter of invitation or confirmed hotel reservations, but the LA consulate does not require anything. We use Cibt. They're good. They will send your passport/visa to wherever it's fastest, even if it is two different locations.

My fiancee is waiting on the P3 package. We have tried to prepare as much as possible so that we are ready to send the package back as soon as it arrives. I have a few questions for those that may have tried the same thing. Her ID is in Wuhan, but she has lived in Shanghai the last couple of years. She went to Wuhan to get the police report, birth certificate, and single certificate. The police didn't want to give her the police report, but, fortunately, she has an uncle in the police force. So, she has everything from Wuhan, but only one copy of everything. The problem is Shanghai. She really doesn't even want to ask for the police report in Shanghai and tells me that it is no use, but the instructions say it is necessary for any place she has lived for 6 months or more. She says the report from Wuhan says it all and that is all she needs according the "professionals" in Wuhan. Is she right? Can she only get a police report from where her ID is located? Next issue. I followed a link from CFL to the Guangzhou consulate website for the contents of the P3 package. The forms are not the most current available. The modern forms are more convenient. Will the P3 have the modern version or will they be the same as found on the Guangzhou website? If not, will Guangzhou accept the modern forms? I don't know whether to wait until the forms arrive or to start filling out the forms now as found on the Guangzhou website. Any advice?

I've spent most of my time in China over the last year, but I did it on a multi-entry business visa, not a work visa. Rightly or wrongly, after considering all the options, I chose to go with the K1 visa. She wanted to get married in December 08, but then I would have had to wait until after the wedding to file the paperwork, so we decided to get married in China. They wouldn't marry us in Shanghai, since her ID was in Wuhan. We went to Wuhan, but they wouldn't marry us because I didn't have a single certificate. I got a singe certificate from the consulate in Shanghai, but, by then, we reconsidered. The problem with getting married first was that the burden of proof is higher once you are married. A bonafide marriage has to be proved by having joint property, bank accounts, joint leases, etc. Since I was not expat and didn't have a work visa, I didn't see any way of accomplishing this. A fiancee visa is marginally faster, since the burden of proof is less. One is not expected to have joint bank accounts, leases, etc. The fiancee is coming to the US for the express purpose of marrying and the assumption is that one is not living as a married couple. For us, I still think the K1 visa was the best approach, although people here have had success and failures both ways.

If you want to get an idea of what to expect, you can check out my blog. I put some of our wedding pictures there.

This doesn't fall under the night club scene, but there is usually a concert at the Shanghai Concert Hall most weekends. They are mostly classical. There are other musical events that can be found at this link: http://www.culture.sh.cn/English/

There are plenty of rock and roll bands playing live music in Shanghai. They all have two things in common: they are all Filipino and the lead singers are female. The most famous one is The Friction that plays at Luna in Xintiandi. I went the the Filipino national day celebration last year in Shanghai as a guest of a Filipino music association. It was like the who's who of the Shanghai night scene. I have never noticed much in the way of woodwinds or brass instruments. I have met most of the band members at one point or the other and could probably find out where they buy there instruments and accessories. I am not a musician myself and I don't live in Shanghai, but I visit often and am presently there.

I use the Skype Unlimited World for $99/year. Just be aware that SkypeToGo doesn't work in China and it doesn't include text messaging. To call from China, I use a Chinese SIMM card. This may only work in Shanghai, but I have to put a 12593 before the number I dial to the US. It costs under 6 cents a minute to call to the US. Incoming calls are free. You have to set the plan up either on the web or by calling or by sending a special text message. There is a nominal fee per month (something like 10 RMB, but I don't remember). You have to have a Chinese ID to get a SIMM card and your cell phone has to be unlocked or you can buy a cell phone in China. Chinese cell phones are always unlocked. I had someone set it up for me and my fiancee set her phone up to call me that way. When I have to use my cell phone in the US to call China, I use Mobivox at 1.9 cents a minute.

It's the same, I am told. From what I gather, it was a force registration. My guess is that her parents were trying to hide the fact that they had two children and tried to make the ages too close to be possible. Her mother gave her younger daughter her maiden name and the wrong birth year for my fiancee when the authorities came knocking.

My fiancee is two years older than her national ID indicates. In filling out the paperwork, I used her birth date from her national ID. That seemed to be the safest course of action. This is going to cause a couple of problems. If I tell her to be honest during the interview--which I will, she will tell them an age two or three years older than what is indicated on her national ID card, if asked. I fear the discrepancy will create doubt which will lead to denial. Age can be so confusing in China, maybe they won't even go there, but just in case... The second problem, if we are unable to correct it, is going to be when it is time for her to collect social security. She will have to wait two years longer than she should. Has anyone run into this? Any advice? How does one go about correcting the age? Should I leave it alone?

I would settle for toilet paper in the stall.

China needs to learn more Western ways of doing things, like: becoming innovators, rather than relying on Western technology. Then, just to be fair, America needs to learn more Chinese ways of doing things like: doing away with the social safety nets, entitlements, and predatory lawyers.

My fiancee had a similar perception, but I think she has finally put it behind her. She had the perception that Americans looked down on all foreigners, particularly Chinese, and especially Chinese women. She had the perception that Chinese could not advance in the work place and that Chinese were targeted for crime, especially women. She was wrong. We are a nation of foreigners. If there is a prejudice, it is the perception that Asians are more intelligent. And I certainly would not marry someone that I looked down on. It's insanity to think Chinese are targeted for crime. I work for a large, multi-national company. I can honestly say that I have never seen any discrimination against any Asian, Chinese or otherwise. I think this notion is very deep-seated in Chinese culture, but it simply isn't true. your fiancee not here, so how do you know what she will experience ? True, we both may find out that it is so, but from an insider's point of view, I don't see any evidence that this is going to happen. She may have difficulty finding a job initially; I am prepared for that. Her English speaking skills are good, probably at a 6th to 8th grade level. She has excellent composition skills, much better than mine, but her grammar is at about a 3rd grade level. I think she will progress quickly once she is here, but initially, it could hinder her from finding a job or getting an education. But, I have a high degree of confidence that she will do well. She's a quick learner.

I've had trouble locating sticky rice where I live. I have tried several different rices, most of which I didn't like that much. I found some Thai fragrant rice at a Sam's Club, which I like a lot. What are the odds that my fiancee would like that?

My fiancee had a similar perception, but I think she has finally put it behind her. She had the perception that Americans looked down on all foreigners, particularly Chinese, and especially Chinese women. She had the perception that Chinese could not advance in the work place and that Chinese were targeted for crime, especially women. She was wrong. We are a nation of foreigners. If there is a prejudice, it is the perception that Asians are more intelligent. And I certainly would not marry someone that I looked down on. It's insanity to think Chinese are targeted for crime. I work for a large, multi-national company. I can honestly say that I have never seen any discrimination against any Asian, Chinese or otherwise. I think this notion is very deep-seated in Chinese culture, but it simply isn't true.

If have not done this already you should notify your credit card companies that your wife is going overseas. If not they may not honor the charges she will make. I never heard of this requirement??? It's not a requirement, but their fraud division may put a hold on the charge until they can verify with you that the card has not been stolen. That's a very good point. The credit card company might reject it or you might have to call them. The company may reject it if they sense any possibility of something being wrong. I have ran into this issue twice before. I have also ran into an issue trying to use a Visa card with Platinum stamped on it. They insisted that it was a Platinum card and not a Visa card.

Agree strongly! I was very pleased with the required training my fiancee received in Shanghai in order to get her driver's license. I figure that if she can drive in Shanghai, she can drive anywhere. She started in August last year and just finished up this January. She had to pass 5 official tests, including an obstacle course and street driving. It costs 4,400 RMB, but I think it will be well worth it to have her prepared once she gets here. She did tell me that it was possible to skip the tests and get the license by offering 300 RMB in hongbao, but that would have defeated the purpose.