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Charlotte

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Posts posted by Charlotte

  1. Very interesting thread indeed!  

     

    I agree that in American culture, most financial matters simple aren't discussed in polite conversation.  However, I feel that it isn't just a cultural issue, but a personal one.  

    Within reason of course!

    .

    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!

  2. yes they earn some good salary now. but they have experienced the hardships when they were young.

    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!

  3. I believe the habit you just described have everything to do with the fact that many, many Chinese people have endured extreme poverty during 60's, 70's and 80's. Things are slowing chaning nowadays.

    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.

  4. 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.

  5. As a matter of fact her EMS says specifically that if she cannot get to the consulate by March 14 , she needs another police certificate..Well, she won't need it as she'll be there Monday. Interesting huh?

    So I guess the squeeky wheel did get greased a bit.

    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!!!!

  6. Charlotte, Congratulation! 

     

    Today I called through GZ, but they told me that my case still  has not been sent back GZ,  I am very upset. I can't hold my tear. Endless wating, made me so frustrated.

     

    Felise

    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?

  7. I am sorry. I typed a wrong word. It's Tasty, not testy!  -_-

    I think Mick is pretty testy too!!!! :D :P :D

    When people get too testy, they become very tasty! :P :D :D

    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 :o :rolleyes: :P :D :D

    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?

    :D :D :P ;) :D :P

  8. 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!

  9. 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!!!!

  10. [quote name=cxi11' date='Feb 25 2003, 12:38 AMUmmm.... no,  a first name change does not require a court action in all states.

    Nor a last name,  with or without marriage.

     

    For the marriage change of name, in many states you have to write it onto

    the marriage licence also, so for someone that is already married this may do

    no good.  If this can be more then just the last name again depends on state law.

     

    Another thing:  if you have your SSN in your old name, you have to change it into your new name, but the SSN will stay the same--- rule of thumb: your driver's license should show the same name as your SSN card.

     

    In fact I know Pennsylvania (a state you list in your sig)

    is a state in which common law name changes are legal, and I would be real suprised if they are not in Texas.  This means they can be done at no cost with no court action.

     

    In fact I recently had to deal with a state that had a common law name change right,  but the state DMV was not aware of this.  They also did not honor this from out of state which is against federal law.  I have had to write to the govenor and congressman, and they are just now relizing the the adminstrative law of their DMV is in error, and are fixing it, though I doubt they will fix it as policy but just for those who know the common law.

     

    So , a quick summary,  name change law is state based,  it is easiest to do when getting married, and once you change your name in one state the full faith and commerce clause of the US consititution requires all other states to reconize the change.[/quote]

    I did not change my name in PA, I was in Texas -- for purpose of insurance and all professional documents varification, no matter where I go, they require my name change official doucment or marriage certificates - I was never into this before-- so I just assume, but,

    1) Marriage certificate does not need to have new name --- I used my maiden name and could use it to change my last name in my driver's licence, etc

    2). Common law only applies to last name change. This is the same in TX, I don't know about PA.

    3). True, the entire thing is very state-driven.

     

    Important********

    Regardless, court action or not, everywhere you go, you need to have your proof of name change handy if you ever used different names in this country.

  11. There is a difference between first and last name (although Ana is talking about her husband's). In Oregon, for a wife, she can take the husband's last name, use her maiden name, or combine them. Anytime she wants, she can revert to her maiden name without court action. A first name change requires court action.

     

    Different states have different laws.

    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.

  12. 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!

  13. I have a question to ask u, I will appreciate if anyone can help me.  My husband applied CR1 for me in Jan.2001.  And so far I have been married over 2 years and still waiting for my visa.  Will my CR1 visa be changed to IR1?  The GZ embassy will change it by the time I go to pick up my visa?  Do I need call them to ask them to change my CR1 to IR1?  Or the time when I enter the US custom I should ask the VO in the custom?

    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

  14. 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!

  15. 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.

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