frank1538

Great news. Good luck at the interview. The log jam is breaking up I hope.

A lawyer friend said the answer should always be "no". I asked her about youths leagues, etc. and she just said the answer should always be "no". I asked her about casual membership, and she said the answer should always be "no". We've discussed this topic before, and I know there are differing opinions on this subject. I might also add that my lawyer friend is from China and practices law within the Chinese community.

Interesting....this thread is what got me thinking about my post regarding marriage on US soil...... At the risk of sounding like a dick, I hope everyone reading and participating in this thread is sincere. If they wish to hire someone for their company, they go through the process of obtaining an H visa. If the intentions are to bring someone over to marry, then a K visa. Applying for the H for marriage is fraud. I'm sure everyone is aware of that. My concern is some newbie gets on this site and reads that our members condone misusing the system. We don't. http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/3/dont.gif Man, the more I re-read my original post, the more it sounds like I'm advocating trying to use the H route rather than the K route. My bad. But, let me play our a scenario. Let's say you've been corresponding with someone, but it's too early to say that you should get married. If that person were to come to the US on a work visa, issued for valid reasons, and you got to really know that person while he or she was here and then decided that marriage was in the picture, have you violated any laws or committed any fraud?

you mean house, not spouse, correct?

This is how it's supposed to work. When you entred the US, the immigration officer produced an I-94 departure card for you. When you departed the US, this departure card is to be given to the airline, and the airline should return the card to BCIS. It sounds like the airlines did not know what to do with the departure card. You might try contacting them as well as BCIS.

Great news!!!! Maybe the mountain is starting to move again.

Dave, I do not mean to suggest that the H1 visa should be used as a way to circumvent the K route. My employer is a large multinational firm, and hires people from around the world. Two of my friends are twins from Macedonia. Both obtained work visas to work here in the US. One is now married to a USC, and the other is now engaged to a USC. When I talk to them about the turtle pace for the K visa for Jingwen, neither can seem to grasp why it takes so long. My impression is that both of these ladies were able to secure their work visas relatively quickly, but neither had any intention of getting married when her visa were issued. Some of our fiancees have both the educational credentials and work experience to allow them to work in the US on a H1 visa. Having filed for a K visa is probably a certain red flag for someone trying to get a work visa. But, for others who have no present intention to get married, I don't see why such a person should not be given a work visa for valid business reasons. And, if that person, like the twins from Macedonia, later decide to get married, who am I to complain.

I'm starting to stress a little. With the delays in getting the P3's out and the apparent new security checks at GZ, I'm probably looking at 2004 before Jingwen and the kids actually get here. I have said earlier in another thread that I have an "aging out" problem for Jingwen's daughter, KK, who turns 21 in December, 2004. She needs to be adjusted by then. If we could file for AOS in 2003 and request expedited service, we probably could get KK adjusted in time. But, if I have to wait until sometime in 2004, there is a real risk that KK's AOS might not be approved in time. Does anyone think this could be used as a prod to get GZ to move on the P3? Jingwen's files have been sitting there since 10/10.

I'm beginning to think that I opened the Clemson door wider than the genitalia door.

A buddy of mine is in the import business, mostly Chinese antiques, and he is looking to obtain an H work visa for a relative who is knowledgeable in this field. He would have to sponsor the individual, file the appropriate labor certifications, etc., but it seemed to me that the process was rather straightforward. Granted, the H visa is a temporary visa (3-6 years, I think), but it seemed to be a very quick way to come to America. While just about all of us have gone the K route, did anyone ever think about the H as an alternative? For me, it would not have made sense, given Jingwen's educational background and work experience, but, for others....

And for good reason too. When I went there during the dark ages, there were 6,000 men and 1,000 women

Dave, just remember, you opened the door. So, a guy from Clemson (my alma mater, of course) goes into the bar. "Drinks for everyone. My wife just had a 13 pound boy." Someone remarked "Wow, 13 pounds. He'll be a great football player one day." A few weeks later, the guy goes back into the bar and someone said "How much does you son weigh now? He must be 20 pounds." "No" said the guy. "He's down to about 10 pounds. We just had him cirmcumcized." p.s. I agree with you that many of us are just treading water while we wait for the lull to pass.

I take my hat off to you for handling a very tough job of maintaining the board, but I must have missed what happened to result in the deletion of the account. But, I certainly agree with you that no one's personal attacks on our fiance(e)s or spouses should ever be tolerated.

Why do you even need her permission? If you have legal custody of the kids, the decision is yours and yours alone. While you should do nothing that would alienate the children's relationship with their mother, it sounds like you have the rights here, not her. Please do not take this as legal advice, but as the custodial parent, you should have great latitude in how you raise the children.

I was washing some clothes yesterday. The washer and dryer are located in the garage, and I noticed vast amounts of lint, dirt, soot, and assorted other things that had adhered to the washer and dryer, so I took a minute and cleaned them. I was satisfied with the results. Then it dawned on me that what I had done was simply to move the washer and dryer from a state of dung heap accessory to one of acceptable dirtiness. I am beginning the think that this is our (male) problem. We have lived with an acceptable level of dirt for so long that when we finally get around to cleaning up, we do no more than put our houses and apartments into a state of just plain dirty - a vast improvement for us, but still not really clean. This observation was once confirmed when my bachelor brother had the family over of a Thanksgiving dinner once. He spent the entire previous day cleaning the house, but when mom arrived, the first words out of her mouth were something having to do with living in a pig sty. Now, I'll be the first to admit that Jingwen's acceptable clean level is a lot higher than mine, sorta like the difference between Mount Everest and Death Valley. Are our fiancees/spouses that fastidious or are we just pigs? oink, oink

Jingwen's son's birthday is coming up, so I asked him what he would like. Without hesitation, he said he'd like something to make him grow taller. He's 17 and stands a tad over 5' 4". Needless to say, there is little I can do to change his genetics and diet, but I said I'd look around - maybe some calcium supplements. I had also told Jingwen and her son that he would have to register with our Selective Service when he turns 18, but Jingwen thought he would be to small to be in the military - doubtful I said. Jingwen, herself, stands a shade over 5' 2", and both she and her daughter have commented on being too short when they come to America. I've assured them both that this should not be a concern, but it raises a question that I had never thought about. Anyone else come across this?

Never mind. I think I just answered my own question. A Chinese spouse living in China cannot get an SSN, but can get a TIN.

I'm really confused now. What is the difference between a TIN and an SSN? Unless, the spouse needs a TIN for business reasons, why wouldn't an SSN suffice?

In my view, the language barrier is the biggest hurdle for mainstream professional employment. If your spouse is not fluent in English, the opportunities will be limited. But, as Dave indicated, even this can be overcome. I work for a large multinational firm and a number of the employees here in Atlanta are foreign - some from China. There is no question about the individuals' qualifications do to the work, but if there is an inability to communicate in English, this will always be an impediment to significant advancement here in the states. However, we have a fairly large Asian community in Atlanta, and it seems that those whose language skills are not the best, tend to do business within the community. And, many do very very well. One of my friend's dads is from Korea, speaks limited English, but is a successful real estate devolper serving the Asian community. I agree with Dave. There are boundless opportunities out there, but it may take patience, and it may mean aiming high, but starting low.

Reminds me of a true story. When I first started working (Sears), I was required to spend a week in customer service as part of the training. So, a co-worker and I have been handling customer complaints all day, and this lady comes up and starts yelling and screaming about her lawnmower. My buddy tried very hard not to lose his cool, but finally she told him what he could do with the lawnmover. His response: "Sorry madam, I've already got one up there from earlier today." Actually, I am convinced that the US economy is carried on the backs of the of the lower level employees. This is where the real work gets done, but the worth to the employer is seldom recognized in the form of pay.

And, let's not forget the best use of peanuts. Open a snack bag of salted peanuts, put them in a bottle of Coke and enjoy.

Just got an email from GZ. Still no record of having received Jingwen's files. Maybe they should search the mailroom rather than the computers.

You betcha. That why Southerners are the best story tellers - really know how to flap that jaw.

Just one follow up. Not that our governor has better things to do, but what follows gives you an idea of what we Georgians think of grits: NATIONAL GRITS FESTIVAL DAY WHEREAS: Grits are bits of ground corn or hominy that constitute a uniquely indigenous Southern food first produced by Native Americans many centuries ago, and Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated recognizes grits as the official prepared food of the State of Georgia. Grammatically, the word "grits" enjoys the notable distinction of being a rare noun which is always plural but which may properly be used as either singular or plural in writing and speaking, and it can even be argued that grits are America’s first food, as evidenced by the Powhatan Indians?serving of cracked maize porridge to the nation’s first European settlers; and WHEREAS: The City of Warwick is universally recognized as the Grits Capital of Georgia, and Georgia is by popular acclaim the Grits Capital of the World, so common logic places Warwick dead in the center of the universe, gritswise; and the City of Warwick and the Warwick-Lake Blackshire Business Association are jointly sponsoring the annual Grits Festival on April 20, 2002. The event will undoubtedly be attended by persons of high and low estate from around the world, all mingling to pay homage to The Grit and to sample the results of the Great Grits Cook-Off held during the festival; and WHEREAS: This prepared food is well known to all Georgians, both those who are citizens of our state by birth and those who are Georgians by choice; but it may initially be a source of confusion to newly arrived visitors, especially those who have been told that grits grow on grits trees; and inasmuch as corn is a preeminent Georgia crop grown throughout the state, the use and consumption of grits promote Georgia’s vital agricultural economy; now THEREFORE: I, SONNY PERDUE, Governor of the State of Georgia, do hereby proclaim the day of April 12, 2003, as the NATIONAL GRITS FESTIVAL DAY in Georgia and recognize Warwick as the Grits Capital of the World. In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Executive Department to be affixed this 19 day of March in the year of our Lord two thousand three. PS Yes, our governor's first name is Sonny. but, what would you expect from a state with a senator whose first name is Saxby.

Them be fightn' words, son