honeybun

Hi All: I have a job offer from a Chinese university for a 2 year position, and the HR Dept. there is telling me that I can claim an exemption from Chinese individual income taxes during my time there. (see below) One of the forms required to obtain this exemption is a Certification of US Tax Residency, which I would have to get from the US. I have 2 questions about this: 1. Has anyone else gotten this exemption from Chinese individual income taxes? 2. Because, as part of obtaining this exemption, I would have to certify that I am a resident of the US for tax purposes, would I no longer be eligible to use the Foreign Earned Income Credit? In other words, would I then have to pay US taxes on all my China-earned income below $80k? I would be extremely appreciative to receive guidance from anyone who has been through these issues. Thanks! Individual tax exemption Appointees from countries which have a tax agreement with Chinese government will be exempted from the Chinese individual tax for the first 2-3 years when he/she works at an institution in Mainland China.

Just wanted to give an update. My mother-in-law passed her interview for the B2 visa. The interviewer asked for the "mei guo cai liao" -- "American materials" -- and my MIL just gave her the invitation letter I wrote. The only question asked was who was paying for the trip. Thanks for the help! Should be a great visit over the summer for Grammy to finally meet her granddaughter.

Thanks, again. We ended up being able to use the DS160 we had already filled out. Just got a CGI number using the website you provided, paid the fee at CITIC bank using this CGI number, and got the receipt number that we could then use to proceed to appointment registration on the website. Thanks!

Thanks for clearing that up! It's frustrating, but that's life I suppose.

Thanks, dnoblett. This is the first I've heard of CGI Stanley. Does that mean that we can't finish the application process using the electronic DS160 we already filled out on the embassy website?

We're having some trouble applying for a B2 visa for my MIL. We submitted the DS160 already, and are trying to pay the application fee at CITIC bank, but they want a CGI number, which we don't have. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, dnoblett

Hi Everybody, For a B2 visa app there is an online DS-160 form that asks for home and business addresses. Should we put these in as Chinese or as English translations & transliterations? The embassy website says to handwrite name and addresses in Hanzi on the confirmation page, but we're not sure about on the actual DS-160. Also, how will the embassy correspond with us? Is any information sent to the home address provided, or is correspondence done by email, phone, or some other method? (If anything is mailed out, we're obviously thinking that we need to put the address on the DS-160 in Chinese) Thanks!

Congratulations! It looks from your timeline that your wife is now a US citizen. Is that correct? Would you be able to provide any other info on your MIL's situation in China? As in, does she have any other sons or daughters, is her husband still around, does she still work, did she need to substantiate her finances, has she been out of China before, etc.? The reason I ask is that my MIL is also getting ready to apply for a tourist visa, and I'm curious about the comparability of their situations. Thanks!

100% agree with this. I think you should be prepared to get charmed and seduced big time, so you'll be ready to react as your BIG noggin would prefer. At least you can try.

haha, nice!

Also try not to make her mad

上火 shang huo, it is basically what you write, excessive heat, with associated meanings in Chinese medicine. She basically means she needs to 降火 "jiang huo" or lower her internal heat... Maybe you can get her some "Wang Lao Ji" tea

Update -- we received the oath appointment letter today. The ceremony will be held the day before we move, so we'll just barely skid in there. Indeed, it was made to coincide with some educational event at a local university. We'll be so happy when the process is complete!

Oh, I see. I hope my jurisdiction doesn't delay this to make it coincide with some anniversary or event... Thanks guys.