TaijiMonkey

My wife and I are heading back to China with our son (he's 2-months old now) in August for a visit and we're working on our visas... The visa service company we plan on using (recommended by the embassy) says for my son's visa, we need to include his birth certificate, my wife and I's marriage certificate and both my wife's current Chinese passport AND her current green card... Have any of you experienced that before? I just feel nervous about sending her passport and green card anywhere...

We just got the Notice that they recieved our I-751 and cashed the check. It says the notice itself serves as a one year extension on the GC. My wife is planning a trip to China in a couple months... Should we just make a copy of that Notice to take with her to make sure she is not denied entry? I was going to make a color-copy, front and back (more like 2 or 3 copies) to take with her. Anyone else have experience with this situation?

One other quick question: What about presentaion / binding? Is it still recommended to go with the two-hole punch ACCO clips for the I-751? http://www.internet-stationers.co.uk/Shop/istationers_shop/images/AC70850A.jpg

Excellent. Thanks everyone! I think my current letter will be fine. They cover the needed info about knowing us, etc. and they are both signed AND notarized. So based upon what I'm hearing from all your experiences, they will work fine. Here's what we're sending as proof: • Copy of our certified marriage license. • Copy of the permanent resident card (front and back) for my wife • Two original letters written by U.S. citizen friends, attesting to our relationship and marriage (signed AND notarized). • Copies of two banks statements for 2010 and 2011, which we received from our joint account at our first bank. • Copies of two banks statements for 2010 and 2011, which we received from our joint account at our second bank. • Copy of a Balance Statement we received from our jointly held Certificate of Deposit at our second bank. • Copy of the Articles of Organization from the State of Kansas for the Limited Liability Company we own together. • Copy of the Operating Agreement from the Limited Liability Company we own together, showing we are both Owning Partners of the business. • Copies of our 2009 and 2010 joint US tax returns transcripts. • Copy of Simple IRA paperwork showing my wife as beneficiary. • Copy of photos of us together and with friends and family since our marriage (7 pages, two photos per page). • Copy of an article written about us and our relationship in the local Kansas City Star newspaper. I think that should be good..... don't you?

I had them writing letter that were variations of these samples: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/topic/29296-i-751-removal-of-conditions/page__view__findpost__p__371512

That is my concern. You template uses the language: "AFFIDAVIT OF BUDDY O¡¯MINE BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally appeared BUDDY O¡¯MINE who, after being first duly sworn and cautioned upon his oath, deposes and states: [Letter of testimony here] FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT _________________________________________ BUDDY O¡¯MINE STATE OF _____________ ) ) ss.: COUNTY OF ____________ ) Sworn to and subscribed before me this _____ day of _________, 2007, by BUDDY O¡¯MINE, who personally appeared before me, is personally known to me or produced _____________________________ as identification, and did take an oath. The two ltters I have do not have this language. They are just letters written saying they know me and my wife, how long, how well, that we are a real and happy couple. And they included their contact info, DOB and current address. Do I need to have them redone?

1 - I was under the impression that these letters just needed to be signed and notarized, but one of my friends who is writing one brought it to my attention that it says, "Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by..." which is apparently a different thing entirely, requiring different language in the letter itself and swearing to God with one hand on the bible... My mother is a Notary, and she said there is a difference between a notarized signature and a notarized sworn affidavit. I already have two notarized letters? Can anyone tell me if I need to have them redo the letters as sworn affidavits instead?? 2 - I notice that the intructions call for "The original affidavit must be submitted..." so I assume this is one of those exceptions where the want the originals over copies..?? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey there! It has been two years already! Nope, nothing has changed. You should have no problems with this, from what I see the two of you can show running a happy business together! Thanks Dan! Since we're both partners in our LLC, I think that will help a lot too. The question is, what kind of business-related paperwork should I send them?

We are just getting ready to start this process. I notice the last post on here is on 2009. Has much of anything changed to the process in the last year or two?

also, i found http://www.melnyks.com/ for learning Chinese... they offer a course you can pay for.. OR can search "melnyk" on iTunes and they have TONS of free podcasts of lessons. really good stuff. i try to listen to it when driving to and from work as often as possible.. although my wife always laughs at his accent. he's Canadian, but he sounds a bit like Yakov Schmirnoff...

Hey Kyle! Someone else in KC! Cool! I sent you a PM...

Hey James! She does remember you! Small world, huh? You can catch her on Facebook if you want: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=662...p?id=1305797813

My wife and I both have iPhones. First app I bought her when she arrived state-side was the Dian Hua translator. Every update it just gets better and better.. English to Mandarin Mandarin to English Handwriting recognition input english, pinyin, characters.. whatever. it completely replaced the need for an expensive translator. http://dianhuadictionary.com/

We are really talking about very little. Her family has Tai Chi shoes, DVD's (legit and legal) some silk Tai Chi uniforms, some practice swords... things like that. They are easily sent to us using China post. We have had them ship us shoes and uniforms for our own personal use, and it has no problems coming through customs and arriving at our door. But before we start to sell these items to students and other teachers, I want to know what I'm resobisible for as far as taxes. (I don't want to be selling thing and have someone come tell me I owe in back import fees or something!) But I'm having a terrible time finding ANY info on this topic.

CJG? CJG = Chenjiagou. a.k.a. Chen Village, Henan Province. Home to the Chen family clan and the Official Historical Birthplace of Tai Chi.

Hey James! I'll let her know you're on here! Small world, huh? Actually, that is some good news! we have been dying to ship over some long poles! But that is another issue I may address with you later. Right now, we have no isssues using China Post to get things from the village to out house (small post packages; DVD's, shoes, etc. - nothing like the long poles). They ship things to us all the time with no issue. my main question right now is the legality and tax/tariff implications of selling products that we have "imported" from China. I can simply call them with a list, have them mail the stuff, and wire them the money. No biggie. What I DON"T KNOW right now is what the U.S. gov't would think about that, and how to comply with any import tariffs/taxes that may result from sellingproducts I have had shipped from the PROC... We can set ity all up through our LLC, but I don't know what we have to do to be legal about it... Any suggestions?

My wife's family has a little shop in their home village and they sell lots of Tai Chi stuff (DVD's, shoes, Tai Chi uniforms, etc...) We have some students and fellow Tai Chi teachers who would like to buy some of that stuff through us. There is also a local shop here in Kansas City that wants to sell our Tai Chi gear pretty much on consignment... Her family can simply box things up and mail them to us, no problem. But I want to cover my behind (obviously) with the gov't. Does any one have any experience with this? Is there a number I can call? Any ideas / information would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

My wife has been asked to come to France to teach a seminar. Can anyone tell me how or IF that is possible? She has her 2-year GC, but I have no idea how I would go about getting her a French Visa since she is still a Chinese Citizen... Anyone?

Thanks guys! Things are going well for us! also, here is her website: www.chenhuixian.org and here is her school's facebook page if you want to be a fan: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pa...03889535?ref=mf

Cool. Wait it is then. We'll wait until after the holidays and book a few months early and head to Chicago when its cheaper, and we have time to enjoy the trip. Thanks guys!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...03190713AAAqVEv Well, I guess at this point, my main concern is how urgent is it that we renew the passport? We don't intend for it to go more than a few months before we get her a new passport (certainly not several YEARS), but with it expiring in November, and with everything else going on right now, getting to Chicago that quick is going to be really tough - and very expensive. Where as if we wait a couple months, I have some vacation time, and flights are cheaper. So I'm trying to figure out if we wait, are we totally screwed. She's tried calling the Consulate, but she can't seem to find the right info options nor a real person to ask...

First off, thanks for all the great info and advice. I have a couple new questions based upon the change in our status: My wife now has her Greencard. So... First question: If I am understanding everything correctly, now that she has the 2-year GC, she doesn't need to redo her passport at all... UNLESS she wants to travel outside the country, correct? She can live here in the US with her GC, but if she wants to go back to China and visit - or even travel to Mexico, Canada, etc. she can't without a Chinese passport, right? and... Second Question: If she lets her Chinese passport expire, will she have any hassle getting a new one from the Chinese Consulate when she applies? Or does that not matter...? Thanks.

What a great surprise after Labor Day! Tuesday we got the approval letter in the mail telling us her application was approved, and then yesterday she called me at lunch: "Mail come today! I have card!!!! No three weeks! hahaha!" She is SO very happy, as am I. Thanks everyone for you help and support. What's next?!

We are still waiting on the AOS approval. She has her work permit and advanced parole letter already. But she was talking about wanting to take a trip back to China before the end of this year, and of course our concern is the passport there as well. Any way I can find out more about the process at the consulate? Like what day does she need to be there, does she need an appointment, do we need forms to fill out first, etc.? And is Chicago the right place for us? We'll have to either drive or fly out, which means scheduling time off at the office during the week, so I need to be as exact as I can in my information. But I can only find references in Chinese, and while my wife reads and speaks Chinese quite well, she doesn't speak Bureaucracy in any language! Thanks again guys!

I am gathering from what I have read in these threads that we will need to get it taken care of in person. We live in Kansas City... do we need to get out to Chicago to get this done? And how does it work if she gets a new passport, but her visa and I-94 are in the old one? And what about if we get called into the AOS interview and we're still waiting for the passport...? And help and advcie would be appreciated. Thanks!