Charlotte

totally agree. no matter where you are, money is just important. Individuals make a culture. You may not mind sharing your financial info with families; how about just average friends -- it is very normal even among friends asking about how much do you make. Money is important -- but it is irrelavant as to whether it is a proper manner to ask about it in a certain environment. Some Americans are willing to share about this, but they are not asked to share!

Being a Chinese myself, i know this is more of a culture than money itself. My daughter's generation has never experienced any proverty -- that does not change the habit. Chinese like to save for a rainy day by nature -- the household savings in this country is tremendously compared to the income they have. So asking cost -- comparing price -- before they start shopping!

Provety can change, but habit is dying hard to change. A lot of my Chinese friends here in the US, probably make more money than I do. But they all know how much my house/car is because they asked me. I don't know theirs because I did not. I try to be understanding when among my own people, but this is just hard for many Chinese to hold of this cost curiosity.

we talk about it, but not as public. And it only happens between close friends, etc. like I am in a lunch and complaining about my work Yes, they do among close friends when the topic comes up. But it would never be an abrupt question by itself.

I would shed some light on this cultural difference in the new forum PJ set up someday when I get my baby settled here. Well, one quick note here is: Chinese are very keen to know the cost of everything - regardless of whose it is. I bet all of your Chinese partners will ask you: "how much is it?" everytime time you buy or bring something home. Being in this country so long, I became quite westernized in the respect. During my last trip in Shanghai, everytime I paid for the dinner for my family of 10 in a restaurant, my mother would always insisted on my showing her the bill, so does everyone else. I felt so bad, but I understand this is in China! So in your day-to-day relationship -- we need to learn to adjust and respect each other's culture -- do as the Romans do --is the best advise to give you. Like Owen, who is China, he has to air his financial laundries to his in-laws before he can even think about marrying their daughter. When you are in this country, you better adjust to the culture here a little -- DO NOT ASK ABOUT THE COST OF A CAR, HOUSE TO A FRIEND OR EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER -- they will tell you if they want to know! It is difficult at the beginning to hold off those kind of curiosities, but you will get used to it and you better get used to it for you to be able to get accepted in the social environment. There are many indirect ways to find out about the price, of course, but learn to avoid this direct question, this includes your American spouse.

My baby picked up her visa from GZ consulate a few minutes ago!!! Wow -- finally it is over!!! FYI: this time GZ did as they promised. She arrived shortly before 11:00 and got her visa before 12PM. This is not a K visa -- there is not printed paper in her passport! For K visa- they need time work on your passport. Owen, Rose will have the same as my daughter.

Ling, some people like to drag things to the last minute. This does not mean he does not trust you. As long as you will have it before your interview, that all matters. If he does not want you, he will tell you so. Please don't 2nd guess him.

Yes, i agree. Eric, first, congratulations! 2nd, get off the candle board and throw away all the dirty socks before you sweetie shows up to chew you out! Very happy for you both -- finally -- wait is over for you. Guys, the light is getting bigger now at the end of tunnel!!!!

Congratulations Tine& Elle. If you want Ella to travel halfway to Detroit with my daughter, please PM me for further information as to the flight details. My daughter is experienced in this respect. Once they are in Detroit, she can help her find the flight and gate to Indiapls. Very, very happy for you!

"the baby" should be here on 3/12 -- two more weeks -- does that sound familiar?

Felise, don't feel discouraged. The info people don't necessary have the list that's in GZ -- they won't manually look it up for you. They depend on what's in the computer which is the same in DOS. Your parents can fax CA, did they hear anything?

I think Mick is pretty testy too!!!! When people get too testy, they become very tasty! You guys make me jealous! I told my hubby - in my next life I would want someone who could cook for me -- he'd better start practice if he wanted to be a candidate Well have to give him credit -- he is very easy to cook for -- far easier than the men in my family. Beggars can't be choosers, right? Here is the saying: Love goes through stomach. So Mick and all GGs, keep up cooking for your beloved! JMs - don't you see I am helping you with an easy start in your life in America?

She finally got the EMS this afternoon. Yes, 2 days for EMS. Compared to my 13 years of waiting for my baby girl, this additional 6 months seem so minute!!! Looks like 13 is a lucky number for me after all! Thank you all, my candle friends, for the help and support during this difficult time. I was very depressed until I found this site and met so many online friends. PJ: we all thank you for what you have done for us. I feel bad for what happened to you, but I always believe in "One good turn deserves another" Let the nature take its course -- at your age, you can still be picky and choosey. Hope soon love will fall into your laps! Hope to hear all of your visa news very sooooooon!

Thank you, Xiao Hua -- what a cute name! Wow, how did you manage to kick Mick off the computer! Good for you! I am glad we have one more girl in our alley! Slowly but surely, we will catch up with you guys!

If you case is cleared, you need to call GZ info line if you don't see your your notice within a reasonable time frame. I saw Ella's post on 001 that her case cleared for 2 weeks, no notice. They resent it out on Monday. Same happened to me too: my daughter's visa was processed on 2/18, but no notice sent out until I called on Monday, Finally, I got an email stating the EMS tracking number -- they sent EMS on Monday. She will get it tomorrow i guess. With this huge volume clearance process in GZ, who knows what kind of ooopses it may produce again! Bob -- Try to get an email or fax from them, but they rather sent an EMS!!!!

Welcome aboard!

Don is right. Last name change via marriage only requires marriage license. But first name change need court's action in all states, but fees vary. For it to be free, he had to wait until he is a US citizen.

Eric&Yuhui 1809 cxi11 138 Yep, I'd say so.. . But I'll bet she'll get that EMS before us.... Damn... Oh, boy, as a Chinese saying goes: a tree with age grows many roots; a man with age talks too many words... B)

Am I lucky to just squeeze into your 25th; I usually don't win anything! Eric, between you and me, we hold the entire list!!!!

Congratulations, Eric. Yuhui should be laughing now! Just word of caution before you make definite plan. Visa print date only meant process date. No telling when they will send out notice. 2/18 process date, still did not get it yet in Shanghai. Looks like some holdup in shanghai area, a 001 girl said her visa printed on 2/13, they have to resend the EMS today. Hi to Yuhui for me!

Stella, you don't need to do anything as of this moment. Your CR1 is a conditional green card. Just take whatever GZ give you and get one the plane!!! Once you are here and you pass your 2nd Anni of your marriage, you need to file a form -- forget the # to removal the conitional status. go on ins web, they have all forms ready to download. After you have been a legal resident in US for 3 years with your current husband, you are eligible to apply for citizenship. Hope this answers your question

Congratulations, Owen & Chunxia! You surely deserve it, which was long over due! FYI, your wife's visa is an immigration visa -- a real, unconditional green card, which will not be anything printed or glued to her passport. They may handwrite someting, but she will not need to drop her passport and come back to GZ later -- this is for K visas only. She will get a big sealed envelope and hand it in at the port of entry and her green card (which is pink) will in in the mail to her in 4-6 weeks. A new number you mentioned is her Alien Registration number, aka, green card number. She will need this for future process like applying for citizenship, etc. Very happy for you. Welcome to America, Chunxia, or Rose!

This is sad, but true. I felt bad putting his name down on board (i took them out yesterday). Sara at info line complained about it too. She gave her direct dial to 2-3 people and now her mailbox is so full that no more message is allowed. She said some people would call her everyday to check their cases. Sometimes we unintentionally ruin our own chances to get things done. I am trully sorry for this is happening. Not that we don't have the right to information, Gov't does set its own pace to get the things done. Sometimes we get lucky to have some compassionate people, like Greg, AS, Sara to help speed up the pace, but .... Jon is right -- info people are upset with AS for giving out information causing addtional volume of calls.

This is a site to complain about the government employees's misconduct in dealing with foreign nationals, legal or illegal aliens.