foobaz123

The big problem didn't seem to be speed so much as it was the tunnel kept breaking down. When it was up the speed was just fine, when considering it was going from one side of the world to the other. Next time I'm over there I'll give an SSL based VPN a spin and see if that is more reliable.

You're supporting yourself with money from the States. No need to hide that. It's up to you to work out the details. You might consider a trial run - say, three months here until you can decide for yourself if it's legal, and if it's something you want to do. Your wife should be able to get you an unlimited stay, one year L-visa or residence permit based on your marriage to her. These are obtained from the PSB Entry/Exit Bureau AFTER you've arrived on the L-visa from the overseas consulate. Of course, you won't need one if you decide not to stay. Speaking for myself, I believe in keeping a presence at the office - meaning I would prefer to go in at least 2 or 3 days a week. That may depend on your line of work, though. I'm already 100% remote and we don't even have an office to maintain a presence in. It's a rather unique situation where the entire company from the CEO down work remotely. We have an office that we rent for certain purposes but in general the whole company is 'virtual' as it were. Aside from the legal aspects my concerns would be making the connection work. I was able to work from there (China) a good bit this most recent trip but I found that my ipsec VPN kept dropping connections. This was on hotel internet for the most part but I wonder if there wasn't some GFW action involved as well. I haven't checked on the concentrator to see if the logs said anything at the time. If this were to happen it would probably be several months from now if not longer so there is time to work it all out I think. Of course, this all assumes that my current company would allow this in the first place. If not I'm not sure how much luck I'd have getting a job paying even a quarter of what I'm making now in my current field in China with a Chinese company.

That would be a long commute, no? What exactly do you mean? Would you work in China for a Chinese branch of an American company? Would you work over the Internet (VPN or otherwise) to a U.S. company? You can live in China with your wife with or without a job. Spousal visas are available which will allow an indefinite stay through her PSB Entry and Exit Bureau. The ideal plan would be to work over the Internet. I've done it before on various levels of officialness but never for long enough that Visa status or work status and such could come into the picture. Are you saying that if my company here agreed to it we could, in theory, move to China "tomorrow" once a visa was secured and that would be that? It's unclear what you're thinking - all you need to go to China is a plane ticket and a visa. Yes, tomorrow would do fine (get same day ser4vice on the visa). Move?? Bring a toothbrush. The detail that you haven't provided is this - where would you be paid? It sounds like you'll still be working in the U.S. via the Internet. Don't quote me on this, but I don't think China restricts (or taxes)any foreign earnings until you've been there for 5 years. I guess I always just assumed that if I was working there I'd need a different status than if I was just visiting for a long time. Even if I was working over the Internet. Of course, they wouldn't know that until I had been there for a while and started wondering how I was supporting myself I guess. Sorry if I'm being unclear, it was a rather sudden thought and not well thought out.

That would be a long commute, no? What exactly do you mean? Would you work in China for a Chinese branch of an American company? Would you work over the Internet (VPN or otherwise) to a U.S. company? You can live in China with your wife with or without a job. Spousal visas are available which will allow an indefinite stay through her PSB Entry and Exit Bureau. The ideal plan would be to work over the Internet. I've done it before on various levels of officialness but never for long enough that Visa status or work status and such could come into the picture. Are you saying that if my company here agreed to it we could, in theory, move to China "tomorrow" once a visa was secured and that would be that?

It's been a while since I've posted here and I'm sorry for that and I'm sorry that the first time I'm doing so is to ask a question, but I need to know... If we decided to move back to China and I was able to keep my US based job, a long shot, what sort of visa would I need to be able to live in China with the wife while having a US based job? What other issues and concerns should I be aware of? I realize this may be a complicated question but I have to start somewhere, no?

While I realize this is in no small part due to my own personal beliefs and biases, I can't take seriously a report on "human rights" which cites civilian gun ownership as a violation of human rights. While realizing that China has made great strides, as compared to times past, I can't help but think that only a totalitarian state would cite ownership of the tools of resistance and self-defense as a violation of human rights. It is also hard to take seriously the complaints about OWS protestors getting arrested. Was it sometimes done with too heavy a hand? Probably. Were they all released? Yes. Were they arrested for the content of their message? No. Therein lies the critical difference. As long as basic rights, very basic, are routinely denied and the exercise thereof routinely punished the entire report must be tossed out. Even if it does contain parts that may generally be correct, the source taints it.

Thanks guys! It means a lot. I do have a new question though. After the interview we left GUZ to visit Sue's Parents. In the process we left the congratulations letter in Tangxia. Do we need it to pick up the visa at the post office? Also, when they say "2 - 3 days", does that mean US business days or all days the post office is open? Of course, I presume that there is no way to get information out of DoS over the weekend.

SUE GOT THE VISA!!!!!!!

Sue just went upstairs for her interview... I'm waiting in the "coffee shop" now.

Hopefully they see it that way as well. You never know though. This is GUZ we're talking about. Maybe they'll suddenly decide Sue's parent's paid me to make 9 trips and all that... hahaha

Whare is you Fooz? I've got a 500 foot long string of farcrackers layed out waitin' for me to light them. tsap seui Actually, today was just document turn-in. It went without problems, even though I spent nearly 4 hours waiting in the Super Expensive Coffee Shop. We're going back first thing in the morning for the interview. Hopefully all goes well. For now, we're off to go get drugs (I've got some kind of crud going on) and dinner. Thanks for all the well wishes. I'll update you guys with more tomorrow.

No, Signing the I-864 or I-134 is stating that the form and any evidence (1040) is true and accurate under penalty of perjury. Attaching copies of your current return + supporting docs (W2, 1099, etc...) is sufficient per I-864 directions. http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad334/dnoblett/Immigration%20Stuff/I-864Taxes.jpg It's one or the other not both. Wait, I'm confused. If I turn in the I-864EZ as sent to NVC (hereafter known as the 2010 864), but have a copy ready of the one showing 2011 information, that would be a problem? I'm not sure I see how. We have transcripts for 2007 - 2011 available. I planned on having her turn in 2008, 2009 and 2010 (to satisfy the 2010 864) and the 2011 one (to forestall "we want the current years" issues). We'd have the 2011 864 in reserve just in case they suddenly decided they wanted it (to forestall a blue slip and delay). There'd be no mention of it unless they specifically ask for it. Is there something wrong with that? Anyone have any thoughts on this? Our document turn in day is tomorrow and now I'm not sure what to do? Also, my previous post as to what we're including for document turn-in, does it look correct?

No, Signing the I-864 or I-134 is stating that the form and any evidence (1040) is true and accurate under penalty of perjury. Attaching copies of your current return + supporting docs (W2, 1099, etc...) is sufficient per I-864 directions. http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad334/dnoblett/Immigration%20Stuff/I-864Taxes.jpg It's one or the other not both. Wait, I'm confused. If I turn in the I-864EZ as sent to NVC (hereafter known as the 2010 864), but have a copy ready of the one showing 2011 information, that would be a problem? I'm not sure I see how. We have transcripts for 2007 - 2011 available. I planned on having her turn in 2008, 2009 and 2010 (to satisfy the 2010 864) and the 2011 one (to forestall "we want the current years" issues). We'd have the 2011 864 in reserve just in case they suddenly decided they wanted it (to forestall a blue slip and delay). There'd be no mention of it unless they specifically ask for it. Is there something wrong with that?

I was pondering the tax thing yesterday. Our interview is the day after Tax Day. When I sent everything off, EP, to NVC the 2011 taxes hadn't been prepared and the paperwork reflected that. Now, the 2011 taxes have been done. I started to wonder if not only would they want to see the 2011 transcripts (I have them in our package and ready) but may also want to see an I-864EZ with the 2011 information even though we turned in 2010 to NVC. What we've decided to do is on document turn in day we'll give them exactly what we gave NVC, with the addition of the 2011 transcripts. However, in the package Sue will take into the interview will be a freshly made signed and dated I-864EZ with the 2011 information on it. That way, if the VO says "Oh, we'd love to give you the visa, but we need this form first" she can just pull it out and hand it to them immediately. How does that sound?

Thanks man, that means a lot. T-Minus 3 Days and counting till the trip... 8 for the Interview. I have this nagging feeling I'm forgetting something for document turn-in day. I've got the AOS (I-864EZ) form, signed with all supporting bits (tax returns for the last three years, including 2011, employment letter, pay stub showing YTD) The DS-230 with part one signed and part two ready to sign. She has the three white books (Marriage License, Criminal Report, Birth Certificate) The package also has all the evidence that went with the I-130, and a copy of the I-130 and it's supporting forms as well. (We don't turn these again, do we?) She has a grip of pictures she put together using ones that were taken after the July2011 trip. I'll be bringing a brick of ones taken before that time. Am I forgetting anything?

You know, prices may be going up and things may be more packed than they were in the 'golden age of flight'... However.... I will never get over the fact that even a kid working at McDonald's can, with the right planning, afford a trip to the other side of the world. Think about it for a moment. From one side of the planet to the other.. in relative comfort.. in a mere 15 hours.. all for 1000 - 1500 bucks. It wasn't that long ago it cost that much just to fly from one city to another here in the States, let alone cross country and forget International. Also, as to CheapOAir... their best price was only 60 bucks lower than booking direct with Delta for my typical route for the same set of dates. Their cheaper flight involved an 11 hour layover vice the near perfect 1 hour layover with Delta. The Delta flight is a 777 with all the bells and whistles. The CheapOAir flight seems to be about the same. So, call that a wash. So, at least on the days I tested it seems the only way to avoid the extremely long layovers is to go up to a price point that is equal to or greater than flying on Delta direct. You also give up the nice plane on that route. In short, Pass.

No doubt. Though, from the rest of your post you're speaking of legally owned ones. As to the second, you haul ass obviously. Now, pull the same trick in urban areas of some states here and it is a totally different scenario. Not too different to the result in China.

The primary difficulty with relying on government statisics, from there or here, on such things is they have a powerful motivation to cook the books. For instance, Chicago was caught cooking their books for years. Reporting things in one way so it wouldn't show up in crime stats, or in some cases just not bothering to report crimes for the FBI's stats. Of course, none of that helps the person who was stabbed vice shot. Somehow I doubt they feel any better that they were merely stabbed. I agree with that. The wife was telling me just last night that there are many many more crimes and murders commited with guns than the Chinese media are telling about. She says that they will not report about them. Larry Wouldn't be surprised in the least. If it happens in Chicago I can only imagine the coverups that go on over in China when "Don't publish that or else" carries serious weight with it.

I remember 'those' feelings. Just building and building now... TMinus 10 days and counting

Not since the invention of guns (or weapons for that matter) have laws ever prevented criminals from acquiring them. It does nothing but raise the bar, and often not even that, while making it impossible for the law abiding to have them. Of course, this is generally true of anything which many people want and some law or other forbids. Moral of the story, prohibition doesn't work. The primary difficulty with relying on government statisics, from there or here, on such things is they have a powerful motivation to cook the books. For instance, Chicago was caught cooking their books for years. Reporting things in one way so it wouldn't show up in crime stats, or in some cases just not bothering to report crimes for the FBI's stats. Of course, none of that helps the person who was stabbed vice shot. Somehow I doubt they feel any better that they were merely stabbed.

Well.... just a relative few days away now. Getting nervous... Also... am I the only person with an April interview?

Bribes? As to what I would have done? Train or fly. Of course, you say that you had no idea such things happened in China. I wouldn't be surprised if they started happening here if things got really really bad in the economy. There are a lot of highways and Interstates here that are a long long long way from anything.

Good to hear was able to get done without passport in hand. About price, it is called inflation, price noted by consulate is what it was a few years ago when they did that instruction sheet. Yeah, but the instruction sheet is dated for late last year. I suppose it is possible they didn't bother to update it?

So, the wife went and got her medical check done. They let her do it without having the passport in hand. Oddly, despite the instructions saying it would be 900, they charged her 1250. Anyone else see that kind of thing?

Go to interview without, get approved for visa pending medical, get blue slip, and turn in the medical packet then next day. Good to know it is a simple fall back. Do you know off hand how much of a delay that would cause, beyond the obvious day or so anyway.