mikeymark

I'm sorry Randy, I meant to thank you also for your information. I did check the link but passed on it because it was not for CA drivers and I was looking for an interactive web site. CA has sample interactive tests online but they are only in English. As I mentioned in my last post I will explain the questions and multiple choice answers to my wife and let her tell me which answer she thinks is correct. I think this approach will suffice and when she takes the actual test at the DMV, she can use the offered test in Mandarin. Again, Thanks Randy for your appreciated input.

Thank you Dennis, I appreciate your response. A couple months ago I picked up this manual in Mandarin at our local DMV. What I was looking for was online practice tests for my wife to take so she can get a sense of her readiness before scheduling for the actual exam. Based on Dan's suggestion above, I will work with her using the English tests online and explain the choice of answers to get her response. She's taking ESL classes and is improving quickly with her oral comprehension, but ultimately she will take the actual exam in Mandarin.

Thanks for the info. I guess I will use your approach. BTW...You are doing a great job with CFL !!!!

Hi! I've been searching all morning for a web site that has practice tests in Mandarin with no luck. Is anyone aware of such a test online?

You hit the nail on the head. My wife looked at your reply and said Yes Yes that's it. Thanks. Now to find the tea you mentioned. Make her mad... no way! BTW... I made her Bush's Beans tonight so she could release some methane which may help.

Sometimes when my wife is not feeling well she uses the word "shenghua" to describe what she is feeling. I don't know if my pinyin is correct but I think it has to do with heat rising from the liver or something to do with balance (yin/yang). She is from northern China and it may be a local expresion.

You never know unless you try. She had her interview in Shenyang this morning. When my Laopo checked on QQ to see if she was awarded a visa, the daughter left a message saying Bad News. We were sad and we called her cell phone to see if she was taking it well and then she said just kidding, I Got IT!. Awesome. When my wife moved with me to California she gave the title of her home to her daughter so she had this to show as a tie to China. But I think the key was that she is in graduate school at a major China university, had a receipt show tuition paid for the whole year and she had a scholarship from the government. I completed the DS-160 for her and indicated that she wanted to come to California during her Spring Festival break and would only stay 30 days. She didn't talk much about the interview yet but I'm sure she'll tell us the details later. So happy now....going to celebrate now :happydance:

Thanks for all the help! I have another question; While filling out the form, it asks my relation to my step daughter and there is no choice for step father so I chose "OTHER". The choices were "PARENT, SPOUSE, OTHER RELATIVE, FRIEND, OTHER" Do you think this is the most appropriate choice?

By the way .... beautiful guitar! Yep. I am going to emphasize her graduate studies and pre-payment for courses though the end of the spring semester. She also owns her own home. I doubt if that's enough but I want to try for my wife's peace of mind. Can you help me with the DS-160 process as mentioned in my post? Thanks and good luck with the completion of your guitar!

Hello All, I am attempting to bring my wife's daughter to California during her spring festival break from graduate college. I am aware that her being granted a B2 Visa is a very long shot, but I'll give it a shot. I've read here about the various credible items needed to prove her attachment to China. Here's where I need some advise; I am completing the DS-160 form online for her and have answered all the questions in English except where her name in Mandarin characters is required. I have uploaded her photo and will indicate that I have completed the form for her. 1) Is completing the form in English for her acceptable? 2) Should she go online and complete the final steps by submitting the form and getting the confirmation page or should I do this and mail her the confirmation page? 3) When does she request an interview appointment? I will appreciate any help or suggestions. Thanks!

Try these links. This is an auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/TVPAD2-NEWEST-M121-3-2-72V-200-CHINESE-CHANNEL-15-APPS-/180937114248?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a20b14288 This is Buy It Now: http://www.ebay.com/itm/TVPAD2-NEWEST-M121-3-2-72V-200-CHINESE-CHANNEL-14-APP-/170857310466?pt=US_Internet_Media_Streamers&hash=item27c7e3a902#ht_4090wt_1115

Great Topic. I just received my TVpad2 M121 yesterday and it hooked up very easily to my HD TV. Great picture and soo much content for laopo to watch. I was paying about $23/mth ($276/yr) to Dish for the "Great Wall Package" of 22 Chinese channels. I got a brand new the TVpad2 for $199 and free shipping on eBay. Arrived in 4 days. I was skeptical about this "box" but it way surpasses our expectations. The TVpad arrived completely setup with all the currently available apps that you use to receive content. When you start up the TVpad you see these apps on your TV screen. They look like the icons you see on smart phones. Clicking on an app with the remote displays a menu of the channels provided by that app. There is a very large selection of movies on the movie app. Very cool device. For those interested, I have service from Time Warner cable which provides up to 10 MBPS download speed on the Standard internet service which gives smooth streaming video from the TVpad. Since I don't have a wired internet connection in the room with the TVpad, I am using WIFI to get the internet to the TVpad. Note that the TVpad does not have WIFI built in but requires and external WIFI receiver. My internet cable is connected to an Apple Express wireless router an I am using an Apple Express connected to the TVpad to receive the WIFI signal. As a side note, I usually bring the Apple Express to China with me on my trips as I can always easily setup a convenient wireless network anywhere there is internet provided.

Congratulations Dan...Well deserved !!!!

Try this web site. I used them and they are reasonably priced. http://www.insubuy.com/compare/visitor.do

Thank you for your responses!

Has anyone experienced Chinese airport customs charging you a tax for bringing your personal electronics into the country? Reference today's article: http://english.sina....416/458514.html

I thought you were writing about my wife When Liping arrived in America a year ago I took her to the mall to get her clothes that she didn't have room for in the suitcases. Just so happened that Sears was having a sidewalk sale and I was please to then learn about her frugal shopping philosophy. She found some jeans (2 for $11) on clearance and now whenever we go shopping, she say she wants to go where they have "2 for 11". Just like your lil' rabbit, if it aint on DEEP discount she won't buy til it is. She also is in love with the outlet stores. It's like you say. everything seems to be made in China and that's where many of her purchases will end up as gifts on our first return trip. She keeps telling me about the "Chinese Culture" of reciprocity with gift giving which I realize is part of the saving face culture. But I am thrilled with her frugality.

I often send money to family in China using Bank of America transfers to China Construction Bank. This is the bank in China that has ties with BofA. Once you setup the account information pertaining to the recipient's account in China, it is very easy to make the transfer by logging into your online BofA account. It usually takes about 3 days for the deposit to appear in the recipients account and at the current exchange rate. The one caveat is that BofA charges $45 for the transfer regardless of amount. As a result I usually send $1,000 USD or more each time I need to send money. I hope this helps.

I am having trouble with searching here for threads specific to our situation. My wife and I live in California and we would like to have her 23 year old daughter visit here for about 3 weeks only. Here is her daughter's current situation; 1) Owns a home in Changchun 2) Will be going to graduate university in China I was thinking that buying a round trip ticket for her and the paid admission receipt from her university would add to intent to return to China after her visit. I am aware of the various posts describing the very unlikely chances of obtaining a tourist visa when being single and having a parent in the USA. I would appreciate any opinions on the possibilities given the above information or point me to any threads that closely resemble this effort.

Thanks for your response. That's kinda what I thought.

If my wife files an I-130 form and next year has her 23 year old daughter apply for a B-2 visa for a 2 week visit, will the I-130 filing have a negative impact on the B-2 process? I am aware that the B-2 visa is extremely difficult to get since her mother is a permanent resident here.

Hi, When I first brought my new wife to the USA, I also wanted emergency health insurance for her. We live in California and I am retired so I had to approach the insurance issue in two steps. Since I am covered by medicare I had to see about getting her her own policy at a reasonable rate. No employer insurance . After I contacted an independent insurance agent, he told me that she could get a comprehensive Anthem/Blue Cross policy for around $200 a month but she has to be a permanent resident for at least 3 months before we could apply for this insurance. I wanted some coverage for these first 3 months and after researching on the internet, I came up with a compant that offered a choice of different short term limited policies. I chose a Patriot policy to cover an emergency but not doctor visits or other basic services and it cost me about $350 total for 3 months at which time I obtained her current Anthem policy. Try this website ( http://www.insubuy.com/ ) and enter your information for instant quotes for the various choices. I never had to speak to anyone to complete the process. I hope this information helps you. Mike

I remember asking about costs for heath insurance once my wife arrived in the US and now that I have set up her insurance, I wanted to share the info with fellow CL'ers. FYI, I am retired and on medicare so I did not have the benefit of adding her to an employers insurance policy. I had to acquire a stand alone policy for her. Upon arrival to CA I set up visitors insurance for the wifey from a web site (http://www.insubuy.com) to cover a possible emergency. This cost was about $350 for 3 months. I spoke with my local insurance agent in CA to set up her permanent health insurance. Before the regular health insurance could be attained she had to be a resident in CA for 3 months which is the reason for the visitors insurance package. I was able to get an Anthem/Blue Cross policy ($1,000 deductible) for under $225/mth which blew me away as I was expecting to pay upwards of $400/mth based on web searches. I hope this information is of help for those with questions about health insurance. Please note that this is for health insurance in California. Mike

GREAT NEWS !!!! CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!! :yahoo:

Well TSAP, here's wishing you and Lil Rabbit all the worlds luck for your big day! Been following your story for some time now and I pray for a happy ending......no, let's make that a happy beginning!!!! Good Luck!