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-- My wife told me from the very first time we discussed marriage that she would not be taking my last name. I guess she did not want to be classified as some Scot/Creole/Anglo mutt ... Actually I am glad for her to keep her name, it is who she is.

My guess is that average Chinese (household) savings of 172,523 RMB do not count rural households, but can include big cities as well as small towns. Comparing average Chinese savings account with average American mortgage debt is not informative. A typical American household has $4K in the bank. For the half of American households who have a retirement account, the average balance is $45K. And the median American family "net worth" is $120K, according to the latest Fed Survey of Family Finance. I agree with you as I said here: The average chinese savings account balance I would think is based on total population same as GDP. Granted comparing that to the average household debt in USA is not really fair since household debt/savings is impacted by most people have a house loan. That is another topic however -- The report came from a Chinese govt. office so they were trying to make a point I think that China is a nation of savers and USA is a nation of spenders. This is true to a large extent but their comparison was unfair and as unfavorable as one could make it. Of course most Americans net worth is dependent on their house value.

Wow .. that is good information to know. Our company credit union never charges transaction fees for USA usage but still charged for international. They claimed it was not them charging but it was Visa's fee. I guess I should shop around for credit unions.

You mean setting up the account in the USA for them and sending them the Debit card for ATM/purchase use? YES, been there tried that, and failed. Even though the last time I went to China my ATM card worked without problem. Yes mine works fine here in China too except for the 2.7% international transaction fee tacked onto every transaction. This would be easy to set-up from the US but I would not want to pay the fees. The easiest way I found was a direct internation transfer bank account to bank account from my USA bank. They charge a flat $40 fee (so the more you send the lower your fee --- go for your in-laws ). The transfer can be made via phone (after setting up security) and usually arrives in China within 24-48 hours or sooner.

Hey great links....thanks!!!

You mean setting up the account in the USA for them and sending them the Debit card for ATM/purchase use?

can you provide a link to this story. I would be interested to read it. I don't know as it was about 2 years ago but I will Google for it perhaps you could too. Larry I tried but I could not find any stories about a USA Immigration/Visa Officer offering sex in exchange for visas to the US.

As I always say a person's signature is their "MARK" no need to change, if she is comfortable with sighing using Chinese, then continue doing so. However if designating a name change on the license and she is going to take your name, then may consider using Pinyin for first name and you name as last name. My wife did not have a "middle" name so her family name is now her middle name. After marriage you applied for SSN, and adjusted status using married name. My wife has an "English" first name but it is her Nick-Name, it is not used of any legal documents. To be honest I never thought about this. I just assumed that in the USA a chinese person would sign their chinese name in pinyin. I did not think a chinese signature would be accepted. FWIW my wife signs all her Chinese credit card receipts in China in pinyin.

She's in China but the embassy is American. I doubt 99% of "guanxi" relationships would do anything to help, aside from (1) having a good employer who assures you'll come back or (2) having Hu Jintao as your dad. Just my opinion. She got her B2 visa at the embassy in Beijing. You arn't saying that guanxi don't extent itself inside of the embassy are you? I think that would be somewhat of a mistake. There are many Chinese that work inside the embassy and the Americans that work there and that are assigned there do venture outside once in a while. People that are in the position to help people are usually sought out to make friends with them just in case they are needed someday. Guanxi Larry This is getting a little far from the point of the thread, but anyhow... The OP can decide whether or not he knows anyone who knows someone who has authority over issuing American visas and will be willing to smooth the process in light of those relationships. I stand by my original speculation that 99% of people in this situation are not going to be able to muster any of their ¡°guanxi¡± to help. As far as being certain that guanxi extends its influence into the consulate just because the American employees ¡°venture outside once in a while,¡± I don¡¯t think this recognizes the depth of the concept of guanxi and its differences from our western concept of, e.g., ¡°friends knowing friends.¡± The concept and importance of guanxi exists because Chinese are raised to stress their place within a social network, to understand and comply with social expectations, gain face, and obey authority. They grow these complicated relationships mostly for the sheer pleasure of it, and they obey the dictates of guanxi because that¡¯s what they were raised and taught to do. Just because the American embassy workers live in China, need favors, and ¡°venture outside once in a while¡± doesn't mean they will build and maintain this guanxi or that they'll respond like Chinese to a person marshalling their guanxi in hopes of ¡°greasing the machine¡±... It is very obvious that you don't know very much about your own American government and how thing are done not to mention how the military works. Have you ever been in the military or worked on a military base as a civilian? Guanxi is very much alive right here in America we just call it by other names. Much, much more gets done via one hand washing the other rather than through official requisition channels. If everything went through the proper channels nothing in our government would ever get done. In order for my old department to get a $100 part for a piece of equipment from a civilian parts house down town the paper trail would have to go through at least 15 different peoples hands and be signed off by each one and take at least 2 weeks to accomplish but with the use of gusnxie the same part could be obtained in less than 4 yours. That is how it works in the real world. Guanxi is certainly the way many many thing get accomplished in China as well as America. With 32 years in the military and as a civil service worker I can assure you that I could fill the next 20 pages with examples no exaggeration just the truth. Yes, I agree that there probably are few B2 visas obtained this way but it is worth the chance as he wants her to obtain one so badly I certainly would not overlook it as a chance, compared to the conventional way but you would probably be surprised how many obtain B2 visas this way. It has only been a year or two that a Visa Office was caught for issuing visa in China for sex from the Chinese girls that were applying. He would approach the ones that he wanted and offer them a 100% guarantee of a visa for sex. He was eventually caught. The number was in the hundreds if I remember correctly. If course you are entitled to your opinion. That is why we are all here to offer our own specific opinions and they seem to vary rarely coincide with each other. Larry can you provide a link to this story. I would be interested to read it.

And here is a nugget from the CIA Factbook: The USA has a bigger disparity in wealth than in China. Now maybe this does not surprise anybody but it sure shocked the heck out of me. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/th...&rank=43#us

Just to give an update. I ordered the book. I'll wait to hear if others are as willing to read what they want to post about. I was not willing to comment but am willing to read it first. I found it for 20 USD online. Where did you find it for 2 USD? Actually I posted the link because I found it interesting and thought it might, as Jesse state, provoke thought, conjecture, and observations. The stats from the link and the book would come from the State Council Information Office since the book is published by: China Intercontinental Press, under the authority of the State Council Information Office, is a multimedia, comprehensive foreign communication institution, whose main function is to make propaganda products. With its principle of "let the world know China, and let China know the world". The basis for the stats, I thought, were pretty straightforward. The disposal income is urban only (stated in article), the absolute proverty is rural (stated in the article, and the others with one exception should be self-explainatory. The average chinese savings account balance I would think is based on total population same as GDP. Granted comparing that to the average household debt in USA is not really fair since household debt/savings is impacted by most people have a house loan. That is another topic however -- Here is a link with the exact same urban dispoal income numbers and other intersting comparisons including the increase in rural disposal income also: http://www.mysinchew.com/node/19358?tid=14 If you want a doctorial discussion regarding the Chinese economy and growth over the years including the past 30 years then I would highly recommend "The Chinese Economy-Transitions and Growth by Barry Naughton. This is a fantastic book. One of the things he says is: During most of the 1990s, it was perhaps more common to underestimate China. The shock of the 1989 Tiananmen student demonstrations and their brutal suppression caused many observers to downgrade their forecasts for China¡¯s future. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, though, it has perhaps been more common to overestimate China. Overestimation often involves seeing China as an economic competitor, and perhaps as a potential strategic rival, to the United States. China¡¯s economic success has paradoxically convinced many that China is some kind of economic superpower, instead of a struggling developing country. This view reflects a major misunderstanding both of the nature of the economic links between China and the United States and of the magnitude of the challenges facing China. Placing China in a developmental context should make it clear not only that China faces formidable challenges, but also that Chinese policy-makers generally recognize the same problems and challenges that outside observers see.

David your 80% right. Qingdao is the only one of the five that is not a Tier 1 city (it is Tier 2). My experience is that people get loans in the 5 cities meantioned (only because I know chinese people in those cities who have loans). What percentage have loans is a totally different answer and I looked briefly for this type of info. but could not find anything. Just for fun using same source: As for the population (2009): Beijing: 17.6MM Shanghai: 19.2MM Guangzhou: 10.2MM (2008) Shenzhen: 8.6MM (2007) Qingdao: 7.6MM (2007) Percent of China: 63.2MM / 1400 MM = 4.5%

Good luck .. should be no problem!

understood. guess i'll have her bring mine as well. thx. I went with her to the interview but am also living in China. If I had not have gone with her I would have given her my passport to take so they could see my Chinese residence permit and exit/entry stamps as proof of our time together. As an aside .. I thought about missing the interview as I had some meetings at work scheduled for that day and it was the week before CNY. On the other hand I wanted to be there for her to help calm her down and just case anything went wrong. My boss from Holland gave me some advice that helped me made my decision for me: It is a very important step for the two of you. One day out of your life is not as important as this step. Go on the interview with her. Granted if I was in the USA it would be more than one day and more costly but it would still be words to consider. In my (and your) case I was alway in China so it was much easier to attend. My advice - give her your passport but also be in the coffeshop downstairs waiting for her.

Good links although the 4th one links back to the 1st one .. Just to keep perspective here is another link from Forbes with a different opinion ... (they are really like arseholes) http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/03/china-eco...latedstoriesbox I have heard the arguement that China's growth numbers are illusions and/or lies. This links discusses that issue.

But she said I could play when ever I wanted to.... She said ........ Yes and whenever you want translate to when she says you can ..

When I looked at the ATL-SHANGHAI flights the fares were attractive. They were ~600 USD round trip. Then when I looked at the fine print I saw this: Additional taxes/fees: Additional taxes and fees may apply to International itineraries. Charges of up to $345.00 USD may apply depending on the itinerary chosen FWIW - I don't like the websites that make you have to call to get book the ticket. Defeats the purpose of booking online.

Most Chinese people don't get mortgages. They pay cash for the complete price of their home. This includes young and old alike. Somebody forgot to tell the banks that then. While in rural a third-tier cities cash is king, the majority of homes sold in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are with conventional mortgages. Same for Qingdao and Shenzhen

But it will be a gift from heaven for those who work in China and have their US$ salary pegged at a rate of 8.3 RMB per dollar. Why would they be pegged to 8.3 RMB/dollar? Because most major multinational companies give you a number of salary options one of which is converting your US$ salary and pegging it at a fixed RMB exchange rate. Mine is pegged at 8.36 RMB per US$. Granted I'd have been FITA if the RMB had gone the other way. That is what I thought you meant but I asked because it seems your company is much kinder than ours. Usually the company adjusts the peg as the exchange rate adjusts (usually only if it moves by more than 10%). We are pegged at 6.85 RMB/USD.

An interesting set of stats comparing China in 1978 to today. I found this one most interesting: Average Chinese savings account balance: 210 RMB. Phenomenal, considering a good job paid 50 RMB per month. In 2007: 172,534 RMB. Phenomenal, considering average American household debt in 2008 was $118,000. http://www.chinaexpat.com/blog/ernie/2009/...-and-today.html

Yet they totally ignored third party information in the case of the "Christmas Day Bomber". TPC should be dealt with openly and fairly. I did not see any response from GUZ that indicated this was the case.

Best of luck ... enjoy it!!!

But the chinese have found him now ..... http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2010-...ent_9460950.htm

Yea I remember when being in 5th grade we had this hippe HS driver (our crazy state had High School students as part-time bus drivers back then) who smoked dupe and evidently figured out how to remove the device that controlled the bus speed. We thought it was great because we got home 15 minutes earlier. Alas he was arrested soon after .... I am glad to see China pass this rule ... implementation will be another thing. Like you I've seen them take the kids to school on the buses but also I see many taking their kids to school riding "shotgun" on the scooter ... meaning the kid stands at the front just behind the handlebars while the parents sits and drives. Usually the parent is wearing a helmut and the kid is not ...

To me this was interesting news. I especially like the seat belt requirement. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-02...ent_9474951.htm