griz326

Thank you David & Jim... She either does not know the value of her retirement or does not understand what I am asking her. The annuity seems a reasonable solution, but something tells me that having the retirement she earned is important to her, a matter of pride. ...and I will study your list carefully David because it clearly enumerates the options suggested by others in what I took to be an order of practicality. I'll have to study each point to understand how each option really plays out. The one thing I know is that we both want to be together as soon as possible. I feel certain that somewhere in these suggestions is a strategy that will work for our situation.

Thanks for the thought, George. Her retirement money would not be needed stateside unless the world falls apart; it's really intended to be used in China.

You weren't take out of context, Rob. ...I just didn't repost your entire post...only the part I was responding to.

Rob, we started the K-1 and are nearing our interview. Had we known the LOA might fall short of getting the time needed, we might have chosen a different route. Now it's a "shoulda-woulda-coulda" ... The K-1 is within our grasp any other path separates us for many, many more months while I prepare to depart for China. In addition, the change in my employment status moving to China might jeopardize my ability to sponsor a wife and daughter. The K-1 is an immediate window of opportunity that could close on my gal and me.

I guess you are too young and far away from retirement to appreciate her perspective. Her retirement provides her: * a solid sense of security as she takes a huge life gamble * a way to provide for her aging parents * a way to provide for her daughter if her daughter wants to return to China Ask any US government employee within spittin' distance of their retirement what it would take for them to give up their retirement. I'd bet most of them could not even be swayed by death threats. In June she will be within 18 months of retirement from her government employment. I am twice divorced. With my marital track record it would be incredibly wrong of me to deny her that 30 year retirement package in the name of "love." No matter how good our intentions - the stats say 50% of all marriages end in divorce.

At least now I know what I can read up on... we are so close and then this little twist.................. Thanks...I'll start reading on the CR1...

One of my reasons for wanting to do the immigration thing before moving to China was concern that without a job I might not meet the financial requirements to sponsor my gal & her daughter when we return to the USA. ...looking at the worst case scenario...

From the beginning my gal has told me that she wants to get her Chinese retirement before permanently moving to the USA. Because I've always wanted to live in China and teach English for a few years, I never considered this a problem. In fact, her retirement money could help her brothers care for her aging parents. However, something happened that made my gal think that her boss will no longer allow her to spend as much time in the USA as she initially believed he would permit. Of course, this screws up completing the AOS before she must return to China to put in her final time to retirement. We still do not know how much of a leave of absence he will grant her. I need to be thinking of solutions; not frettin' and stewin' like I am now. AOS takes about 4-5 months from the date of filing, correct? If we married a day or two after she arrives, she could have her temporary green card how soon? Best case...worst case? Maybe that way we can beat the clock? The original plan was to bring her daughter here too, get her into school and then go get that retirement. If my gal has to leave before AOS, her daughter must leave too. Correct? I am hoping that we can avoid an either/or choice. I want her to get her 30 year retirement and I do not want to go through this immigration thing again if it can be avoided.

The veracity of the report can be summed up with this: "The recent protests in Tibet against five decades of Chinese rule" 5 decades? I do not think Jack Cafferty and CNN will have anything to do with a more open Chinese media, but I do think it will happen, Liuling. I also think that Jack Cafferty and CNN will take as much credit for the eventual change as they can steal. The path the Chinese government has willingly taken is already leading them to an increasingly open society. The change is already beyond the CCPs control.

Thank you David

Allow me to tag along on this, please.... How do you get a "certified passport?" I asked our local notary to notarize a copy of my passport and she refused to do it. She said that she only notarizes signatures. The things I've read seem to want a notary's seal on every photocopy page of the passport.

Sorry Randy but those tables don't work for me. If I lived in a big city, I'd take 1:1 lessons. I really need 1:1 training because my hearing is bad and read lips to support my poor hearing. That's why Pimsleur is not working for me. I do not hear the sounds well enough to mimic. Something with the audio matching of Rosetta Stone might be useful.

It might be easier to burn the cabin and rebuild Thanks for the good wishes.

I want to be able to read Pinyin aloud. It would be a wonderful added benefit if when I heard someone say a Chinese word that I could then spell it correctly in Pinyin which would allow me to look up the character.

You are correct tonado, I see my error now.

I just got off of the telephone with the US Department of State. The gal told me that the P-3 was mailed out today! Things move along pretty quickly now, correct? OH BOY! I think I'm getting excited and nervous. How will I ever get my house clean before she arrives!!!

I've been looking for a program that focuses on teaching Chinese speaking by teaching Pinyin. The result I want is to be able to pickup a page of written pinyin and read the words with a high degree of spoken accuracy. Quite frankly, the tone marks are worthless until someone holds your hand through learning to speak them in the various renditions. I've read the rules about them; I've studied with CDs trying to learn the tones; but I want a dedicated course so that I master Chinese speaking from Pinyin. At least then I will be able to say the word properly after finding it in the dictionary.

The Babel Fish translation says she is Han. The Google translation says that she is from the middle kingdom. Both are correct if your wife is Han. Within China, the first one may be more correct than the second. I have heard Chinese people describe themselves by their ethnicity several times when there.

You're dreaming about the upsides. I was cut to be certain there are no accidents.

They never put a dumby sticker on me...and as big as you are, I am surprised that they put one on you.

Put the Chinese passport in a safe. There may come a time when a Chinese passport is more valuable to her than a US passport. You never know.

Congratulations! The van ride to Guangzhou is a piece o' cake. The only thing tricky is finding the correct bus after going through customs. Find a few recognizable people and keep an eye on them to get on the correct bus.

Does anyone have a link to the original story? It would be nice to share with my gal. TIA

I find it interesting that these human rights advocates have been so violent.

My gal sent me pictures of the family cleaning the grave site of her grandmother and grandfather. It was interesting and enlightening. Oh, that link you sent is wonderful.