bill23

Glad it is not just me causing great harm to the family

Correct, China does not recognize dual-citizenship. Also technically the USA does not recognize it either, and part of the oath ceramony to become a US Citizen is to renounce foreign citizenship, which China recognizes. Other things. To travel to China using US passport requires visa, and for a person born in China which the US passport indicates the visa applicant needs to send Chinese passport along with US passport to get it invalidated. To renew Chinese passport in the USA requires showing green-card which is a problem for a US Citizen, the green-card is turned in at the oath ceramony. To travel to China on Chinese passport and US passport would require green-card or a US visa to exit China, nether would be avaliable to a US Citizen, and being in China with a US passport without a Chinese visa or entry stamp would be a problem. Some have tried a game where enter China via Hong-Kong, arrive in HK on US passport, secure US passport there, and enter China via HK, then return through HK using a travel doc and reaquire US passport for travel back to the USA, this may be questioned if the HK travel doc is for a set period of time as well as entry to China may need to show a travel doc as to how entered HK in the first place, and returning on future trips may be questioned. So no matter what you do you are either a US Citizen or a Chinese Citizen, not both. That is kind of confusing but she will select the US Cititzenship for sure. We have an Austistic son here so she needs to be a Citizen. The In-laws are finally visiting us this year as well. Oh Boy, it should be interesting. I sure appreciate all the help and knowlege both you and Chilton brought here.

Nope. 5 years residency if filing for Naturalization. OR 3 years residency if filling based on marriage to same US Citizen for the entire period of residency. My wife filed for citizenship at 4 years of residency, she waited 1 year to decide. http://www.uscis.gov.../PDFs/M-480.pdf (Go to the worksheet and work your way through the true/false flow chart to determine if able to naturalize.) I am very surprised my wife hasn't brought that to my attention. To be honest, I don't really follow all the options of what we can do and don't concerning these type of issues. So, if I can get her cititzenship I also assume that means she no longer has the option of being a Chinese citizen as well?

She has a greencard and all that. Doesn't she have to be here for like ten years before she can be a Citizen?

Houston is the Chinese Consulate having jurisdiction over where you live, so you will have to go to that consulate, pain because Washington DC is closer for you. Also cannot renew by mail or use a visa travel agency for this, it has to be done in person. Sometimes Houston reps visit other cities to handle these things, (Miami, and Memphis) a couple times. http://houston.china...g/vp/t53292.htm For us we took and easier approach to renew passport, Wife traveled to China a month or so before it expired, and renewed it in her home town over there before returning back to the USA. But in our case our Chinese Consulate is in NYC about a 6 hour train ride from home. And most recently we have moved beyond this, the wife natrualized and has a new US Passport being processed. Thanks. I guess she was right. First time ever just about.

My Chinese wife's passport has expired. We live in Atlanta and she seems to think we have to travel to Houston to fix this. Is that correct? Surely there is an easier answer.

I am getting a figure of about $3000 a year for college. And yes, they are from Beiliu. It is so good to hear from you David. My wife is becoming more open to the idea of a fixed amount but she just feels bad asking for any money.

My wife had a job in China and helped her family financially because they put her through college. Thank you for your input.

i guess I should also clarify that I don't care if I send more than needed for a particular year, but I would like to send a particular amount each year and they can bank it and use it at a later time when an issue arises.

For those who would like to share! How much cash do you send to China each year to help? I try to help because my wife's brother is starting college. The only problem that I have is that I seem to have no time plan. It really puts the wife in a difficult position because I get miffed because they let her know only days before they need it. If I know, i can budget in advance. I am currently trying to come up with a fixed amount to spend each year and they can budget just like I have to do. Especially in these times. Am I being unreasonable?

Amanda, Thanks. I did not take anything that you said personally. I just feel like I have tried hard to resolve many of the issues. It takes more than one person. Believe me in that I have many faults. Taking care of my family is not one of them.

Bill, you know your relationship, and you obviously seem to have good reason to think there is an outside chance that she may not return with your son. I know you didnt ask for relationship advice, but rather what appears to be closer to legal advice, and I am not sure there is an answer. It is my guess that once she and your child are in China, I doubt the US would have any power or jurisidiction about your child. That leaves the Chinese gov't, and whether they will help or not would be a crapshoot.....my guess would be that you'd be SOL. Based on that, if it were me, I would be doing some research in advance with an immigration and/or family attorney (or both) before she leaves for China. Since your child is a USC, I would also call to the US Consular General or an Embassy official in China to see if they could yield some directions. I doubt it, but a call wouldn't hurt. All in all, I do hope she returns so you don't have to deal with that worst case scenario. But again, try and do some legal research now before she leaves. Good luck.... Thank You, I will do that. I really do believe that she will come back and that she loves me. Like I said, our life is far from perfect. She really thought coming here would things would come much easier. Her taking the time and effort to master English would help her so much. It is not as easy now with taking care of a baby, and that is why I really encouraged her during her pregnancy. And the English is better but she needs to stay with it. She just need more confidence. I want everyone to know that she is a great person. I respect her. She wants most of the same things that I want but she has to learn that it all takes work. Now she is unhappy with her weight and is concerned of what people in China will say to her. But she won't lay off the fatty foods.

Amanda, I understand my wife pretty well. I have to admit that under any circumstance I believe you would support a Chinese woman over an American man. It is in your words that I say this. I certainly know the difficulty in taking care of a small child. I don't know why you would assume that I haven't had the privelege to do that as well. I also clean house, shop, and cook a good bit too. Under any circumstance, I will be sending my son and wife over to China for at least a couple of months over the Chinese New Year. I also aim to visit if possible but I have to work all of January and February. Saying bad things over the internet is really not what I wanted here. I just want others experiences and legal issue since my son is an American citizen.

It sounds like that your son is more important than your wife in your mind.Your son needs love both from you and your wife if you have good marriage together. It comes into my mind that you want to get ready to divorce not her ...Please take care of your wife especially when she is taking care of your son everyday. It is really hard work to look after a little child. Please understand your wife...She is tired and sleepy everyday... Amanda, My wife is very important. I guess you are not understanding. I do know how difficult it is to take care of a child. I also want her to be able to take care of herself. I care enough about us all to want her to be self sufficient. My job keeps me gone from 7 in the morning until 7 in the evening. It also afford us a good living financially to where we don't have to worry about food and unexpected expenses. I want her to learn English so she can speak it to our son. I want her to be able to drive a car better so she can shop and drive our son to the doctor. It is hard for me to do my job and drive everyone everywhere. She needs to have the same freedoms as every other American. Sometimes she won't try and it is frustrating for BOTH of us. That is why I could see her staying in China. I want her to motivate herself because when I express this to her it is like criticism. But I can't continue to do all of this.

You are actually making a really good point. I am not so much worried about her leaving me than I am not seeing my son again. I really really did not want to spill too much here. My wife is not stepping up to the plate a whole lot. I expected her to have the motivation that she had in China. To have a career, take care of herself, and have freedom. Even though this is not the case, she is still great in a lot of ways. And a great mother to our child. But she knows most of this too. And would easily stay in China because she knows these issues.