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Dear Candle for Love Members! Hopefully everyone is well. I have a question regarding Lao Po's ability to travel to China and retain her green card. I heard that permanent residents can return to China for about six months but after that, THEY would be in danger of their immigration status in USA. So, my wife is interested in traveling to China this summer but wanted to know how much time does she need to stay in USA after returning from China. Is there a set number of days she would have to live upon arrival to USA after her trip if she were to travel to China for six months? If so, how much time would she have to stay in America? Or, would she be able to touch soil on a country like Hong Kong to be considered eligible to retain her status of 10 year green card member. Another option I believe would be to become an American citizen but she's only been in USA for about 3 years and a couple of months. Thank you all!!!

Thanks everyone!!! I felt that same feeling. Yesterday they asked me I would probably have to send a paper return instead of an Electronic return. Which leads me to believe more that they are lying and want me to pay for the return up front. I know that they are going to charge me about $300+ for my tax return and then screw it up leaving me to wait a longer time than usual. No thanks JHewitt and HR BLock lol

Greetings All!!! This is a very unusual place to get this question answered but I'll give it a shot. After all, if it wasn't for the wise men/women, my Lao po wouldn't be with me and I would never have made this post lol. My question is obvious but I will make it clear . My wife and me have been living together for about three years since her arrival in America and since then, a lot has happened. We had a baby who is now about 1 year and 8 months, we bought a home, and I have a better stable job. I am extremely thankful to everyone who helped me on this journey on Candle for Love. Tonight is my first time on it since god knows when. It's been a while. Anyhow, We bought a home last year on August and entered into an executed contract on July. We have gone to HR Block and Jackson Hewitt tax agencies to ask whether we qualified for the First time home buyer credit since we are first time home buyers. However, I have read online that you must meet certain requirements. One of them is to enter into a contract by April 30 or 31st 2010 and close by September something. lol. Anyhow, I went to these tax agencies to ask them about this and the tax reps. from each agency stated I could claim it. However, I am still skeptical and believe they are lying. Which brings me to this forum, I would like to ask if there are any tax professionals out there in this forum who can give me an answer whether they know if I can or CANNOT claim the credit! Here is the situation, I entered into a contract to buy my first home on July 29th and closed on the property on August 7th. Yes it is an incredibly short span of time to close. But we missed the damn April deadline so I am wondering if these tax reps. are trying to slip a fast one on me. I do not want to get my hopes up but I am asking for a TAX GURU'S advice. Thank you!!

Ok someone should define the word cheap as in what is "Cheap" ? If anyone knows some cheap prices such as $900 and below non-stop please let me know haha. OR post haha. I doubt there's any tickets or none that will sell that cheap but who knows. I like United, Continental, and Asiana airlines. They're decent airlines and I've had nothing but good experiences. As for taking one-stop plane flights, it's really horrid and hard to bear the pit stop in another city and then take the long 12-13 hour flight to China depending on what side of the US your plane makes a pitstop. Anyway that's just my feeling...

Don't worry , I am sure that won't help but hope it offers some consilation. AmyAndDoug, I am sure you guys will receive the Green Card and EAD soon. I wouldn't be surprised if you receive an update by the end of this month or even as early as the first week of August at the latest. Just hang in there, you both have waited this long.. I think the Green Card would probably be better than the EAD Amy. Because with the green card you can work and don't need the EAD for that. Just be patient. And as soon as you get the green card or EAD, go to the Social security office to get a new card without the red lettering that allows her to get a SS card without the restrictions. I've found some employers can be real nasty about letting you work , especially if you show them the SS card with the red lettering stating that you are not allowed to work without Authorization from the government. Good luck AmyAndDoug, everyone here in CFL is rooting for you and hope you get your Green Card very soon!!! OK...I guess we'll try to be patient and wait for another month and see.... Gino - Lulu's EAD card came SO FAST after the biometrics tho! At this point, I don't care too much about the green card, cuz it'll come sooner or later. I just need the EAD card to start working... =\

Congratulations Lee!!! I read the beginning of this thread and found the information you provided very helpful. I probably should have looked at this a long time. Thanks for the great advice. I hope I can share some helpful advice as all of you have too!

LOL THAT guy is hillarious "thank god usa won gold and silver. Congratulations to Nastia don't call her nasty luugin and Shawn girls shouldnt have boys first names johnson. they were by far the two best gymnasts in the olympics..."

Starting with this guy http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/rmcastil/biowhat/governator.jpg AND ending with this guy http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/body_builder_1sfw.gif lmao just kidding!! Hopefully everyone has a humor... But seriously , probably not all US athletes But, I'm sure that everyone will agree there are a few..... Most athletes??? Come on man ... where is the proof of that! Geeze ...

I'm so glad the olympics are almost over. I'm so sick and tired of hearing the whining about the controversy over the gold medals won by the gymnasts. Geez, I've never seen so much whining.... Rules or no rules... these children are being chastized by the media , over what? Their age?? Oh big deal. At least they didn't use drugs or steroids as most Athletes do... especially American pro athletes. All the people who are whining about this... just get over it... these girls are keeping the gold and that's that. Let them keep it... they outperformed the US athletes. I hope these Olympics are over soon so we can all move on.

Yes sirrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! They sure can keep it!

Jim, did mention how nice your wife's avatar looks. A real beauty I must say!!!

Ok, you are right Jim_julian. No sense in arguing. Absolutely, I agree with you. CFL is a place to share and give back. I am just happy these little gals did so well and if everyone compares the golds in ladies gymnastisc, USA still Bested China - 8 golds to 6. It's a pity so much controversy has arisen. I can see age may be a issue but I just feel there is a lot of poor sportsmanship and a lot of sore losers who can't admit the loss. Just grinds my biscuits. That being said, I will shut my mouth and restrain myself from arguing LOL.

Right on Dale, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Don't let anyone tell you different! I think that " THE yANG's " are talked about so much. I think I've seen a million posts of them saying how great they are. Well, Nothing is perfect in this life!! And nice is no substitute for "GOOD SERVICE!" thx. for the input rob. yes, i read all the great posts about the yangs and this is why i chose to stay with them. i agree with you that they are very helpful and will do extra things at little or no extra cost. i will also say that in china the service that is given at almost any business is superior to what we receive here in the states. i realize that you and many others have had a good experience staying at the yangs. i am happy for you and the others. i also know that many people have had bad experience with the yangs that either don't post on candle or they don't wish to go against the majority and post about their bad experiences. i guess i am a little different coz i always tell it like it is even if it means a little controversy and jumping off the bandwagon.

gOOOOOOOOOO Children of the future! lol You're not just a "little" wrong about this, but rather you're completely and utterly mistaken! The China Womens gymnastics team did nothing to deserve with being compared with the likes of illegal drug users like Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. The young ladies from China have NOT cheated, nor did they disobey any rules. They complied with every request and regulation issued by the International Olympic Committee. The ladies of China simply out performed their competitors and did it without the use of artificial enhancements like illegal drugs. I think they are too young and used drugs too, can u prove me wrong? They could have been men. Here's the next Chinese gymnast Olympians gearing up! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1223/1025548821_15f76657a3.jpg

I just don't see how they cheated. Age, big deal. They lost. Had USA won, would it have been any more controversial? I for one don't support cheating and do not believe cheating was involved. http://www.nbcolympics.com/mm/photo/olympiczone/general/23/24/58/232458_m03.jpg That's quite an endorsement.