dan1984

Life has been extremely hectic over the past 10 months with a couple surgeries in the family, dealing with the pandemic, and more. Unfortunately, I have fallen out of my daily Candle check, but I am going to start getting back into it. Came to the forum today to copy the links for this CFL Classic and the Adv_CFL forum for a friend who wants to start researching and get ready for their immigration process come about 2 years from now. Great to be back, and Randy, thank you for all of the work you continue to do for the site. This is an absolute gold mine of a resource for people like us. Thanks Randy!

Take care Randy, hope you can avoid surgery, but if not, best wishes and good luck in advance.

Although I am only 34, I have experienced gout-like symptoms for the past 6 years or so. Yikes! Many times Chinese friends say alcohol, hot pot, seafood, and all sorts of other types of things bring it on. For me, I randomly discovered that draft beer does it for me. I can eat or drink any type of seafood, meat, hot pot, baijiu, bottled beer, whiskey, etc., but if I have some draft beer from the tap, well, my big toes won't be feeling too good for a couple days and I can barely walk. After somehow pinpointing it was the draft beer, haven't drank any and have not experienced gout like symptoms in about 2 years.

Great topic. Saved for potential future use. Best of luck Bert!

Interesting.

I applied for a license plate in Beijing for a regular car last year, while our company applied for a NEV license plate to try that route. Lets see how it goes and how long we are waiting. My wife cannot apply for one, as she needs to wait until either her social insurance or taxes are paid 5 years in a row :bye2:After she quit her job so we could start our company, her consecutive years streak was interrupted. Hmmmm. Many times foreigners in China actually have more benefits than other Chinese people residing in a city that is not where their own hukou is located. Wish us luck.

I am by no means an expert, but I think this probably is a result of something on the China side of things, as China has seemingly continued to get more and more strict in controlling the movement of its currency out of China. Many times it seems like people are at the discretion of the bank when making a transfer out of the country. For our business, when making wire transfers to other companies or making purchases, we need to jump through all sorts of hoops and provide a contract, invoice, packing list or list of services being provided, etc. For personal use, it can seemingly be just as tricky. One potential suggestion, the one-stop fix for successfully completing wire transfers seems to be stating the reason for the wire transfer as "travel money" or "travel expenses." This advice was actually given to us by a couple relatives who work at banks. We had a few wire transfers rejected when we wanted to make a couple purchases and also just send some money to my bank account back in the US. Either the bank just cancelled the transfer or one time they also called and asked for some supporting documentation. Perhaps your wife could try making an online wire transfer so she isn't questioned directly by the bank workers? When making the wire transfer online, one of the options for the reason for the transfer is usually "travel" (if not write "travel" in the option for "other reason), and this does not require any supporting documentation or receive questioning. I know this seems like one of those "heard it through the grapevine" suggestions or the wives read about it in Wechat group reasons, but, this was suggested by a couple Chinese relatives who work at banks and we have never had problems since if indicating the reason for the wire transfer is "travel." Perhaps give this a try? In fact, that was exactly what WE were told at our bank (CCB). ALL my wire transfers say that (and family support/living expenses) - NONE mention the building expenses. Glad to hear you have experienced the same thing and had success with wire transfers! Just like you, we have learned to never mention any purchase or expenses for physical items. Always just "travel." Perhaps we could also try family support or living expenses if need be. Apparently "study expenses" or "education" are other options people use sometimes, but the relatives we know that work at the bank told us this isn't as set in stone and study abroad documentation could be requested by the bank.

I am by no means an expert, but I think this probably is a result of something on the China side of things, as China has seemingly continued to get more and more strict in controlling the movement of its currency out of China. Many times it seems like people are at the discretion of the bank when making a transfer out of the country. For our business, when making wire transfers to other companies or making purchases, we need to jump through all sorts of hoops and provide a contract, invoice, packing list or list of services being provided, etc. For personal use, it can seemingly be just as tricky. One potential suggestion, the one-stop fix for successfully completing wire transfers seems to be stating the reason for the wire transfer as "travel money" or "travel expenses." This advice was actually given to us by a couple relatives who work at banks. We had a few wire transfers rejected when we wanted to make a couple purchases and also just send some money to my bank account back in the US. Either the bank just cancelled the transfer or one time they also called and asked for some supporting documentation. Perhaps your wife could try making an online wire transfer so she isn't questioned directly by the bank workers? When making the wire transfer online, one of the options for the reason for the transfer is usually "travel" (if not write "travel" in the option for "other reason), and this does not require any supporting documentation or receive questioning. I know this seems like one of those "heard it through the grapevine" suggestions or the wives read about it in Wechat group reasons, but, this was suggested by a couple Chinese relatives who work at banks and we have never had problems since if indicating the reason for the wire transfer is "travel." Perhaps give this a try?

I'm over 62 - that's why I get the THREE years. Good luck with the green card - it doesn't seem TOO difficult. Check the link I gave above - you'll need police certificate(s) from the U.S. Oh yes, I totally forgot about the age factor - nice to have 3 years! Thank you for the well-wishes for the green card, still a couple years away. Like you said it doesn't seem too difficult, in theory should be pretty straight-forward, hope it will be the case. The only thing I will have to look into more is the police certificate from the US. I wouldn't even really know where to get this. I assume probably just contacting a government office in WI and they will issue a certificate saying "I'm clean," hahaha. Check that same topic for what I found out 3 years ago - http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/47314-applying-for-a-chinese-green-card/ (I just now updated a couple of links) The fingerprints can be done at the PSB. Perfect!!! Thanks for the link Randy and all the info in the "Applying for a Chinese Green Card" thread. I have saved it for future reference. I really should start a thread too about my life in China, like your "From Yulin" topic or even Warren's "Reflections" thread. In addition of course to all the useful information, really enjoy hearing about everybody's experiences, travels, problems (well, don't like when people have problems - but Candle is a good place for support), and everything in between.

I'm over 62 - that's why I get the THREE years. Good luck with the green card - it doesn't seem TOO difficult. Check the link I gave above - you'll need police certificate(s) from the U.S. Oh yes, I totally forgot about the age factor - nice to have 3 years! Thank you for the well-wishes for the green card, still a couple years away. Like you said it doesn't seem too difficult, in theory should be pretty straight-forward, hope it will be the case. The only thing I will have to look into more is the police certificate from the US. I wouldn't even really know where to get this. I assume probably just contacting a government office in WI and they will issue a certificate saying "I'm clean," hahaha.

Congrats Randy. Here in Beijing I get the same residence permit, but they only give it to us for 2 years. Will be getting a new one in July, and then come 2020, and 5 years of marriage at that point, hope I can go for the "Chinese Green Card."

China has ALWAYS had the policy of not recognizing dual citizenship (see their Nationality Law). That's exactly why maintaining dual citizenship is problematic. A Chinese passport is useless for leaving China, unless it has a visa or the holder has a green card, neither of which are available to American citizens.But once you get a visa in your American passport, the Chinese passport is voided. Someone who ENTERS China as a Chinese citizen is presumed to be ONLY a Chinese citizen. It's unclear from the alert whether there was an actual incident that inspired the alert. Duly noted, and I definitely understand China does not recognize dual citizenship under any circumstances. With that said, as you outlined, I know many people still try and take advantage of the pseudo-dual citizenship and use their Chinese ID cards when back in China and US passport when outside of China - more or less. My wife and I are living here in China, so this does not present any problems for us, but I know quite a few people who this enforcement could not start to affect. Actually, not so much US citizens who have married a Chinese person, but two Chinese people who have went and had a baby in the US. Of course they wanted the US citizenship for their child's future, but while still living here in China, they have got the baby a Chinese ID card, put in the hukou book, etc. This way the child can still attend school in China and receive all the other benefits of being a Chinese citizen. I'm actually not too familiar with this issue at all or how they operate in this grey area, but, when I saw this notice, it seemed like a big piece of news to me, as this could affect the plans of quite a few people operating in this legal grey area (well, not really a grey area at all.....China doesn't recognize dual citizenship) should China start to monitor and enforce this issue.

This seems like it is pretty big news actually, as lots of Chinese with US citizenship still use their ID cards and other identification when back in China as if they were still regular Chinese citizens.

I get a 2 year residence permit here in Beijing - well, actually in Phuket, Thailand right now.

I previously posted a write-up of going to the Beijing Embassy to get my Single Certificate, but can't seem to find it in the search. Search around on the site and you will find how to get it done. Actually, just found the link: http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/47574-marriageability-affidavit-acquired-today/?hl=%2Baffidavit+%2Bsingle

Enjoy Randy!

Most definitely was awesome! I would still put Thailand and Vietnam above Boracay on my list of places to go in SE Asia. Actually early this month I was also visiting Lombok (the island just east of Bali in Indonesia); Lombok was solid (especially the beaches on the southside of the island), but the 3 Gili islands just north of Lombok (like a 30 minute boat ride) were amazing! Stunning beaches, nice people, no cars/motor bikes allowed on the island (just horse carriages or walking), and a great time. Even though not an island or beach-filled location, Siem Reap and Angkor Wat was potentially the best place I have ever traveled to, simply breathtaking..........

Went to Boracay for a week, and also spent a couple nights in Manilla. Boracay was great! An amazing island with one of the best beaches in the world.

What if Jiaying opens up a new bank account and only puts a small amount of money in it? This way if the account should somehow be comprised, it is not really a large amount of money.....I assume that's why she doesn't want to tie her bank account to her Wechat. Although, I've never heard of any friends who have had this type of problem. Wechat really is soooooooo convenient. 9 times out of 10 I don't even leave home with my wallet, and that 1/10 times is if I'm feeling lazy and I don't want to take my subway/metro card out of the wallet and stick it in my pocket, and instead just put the whole wallet in.

I just saw this, absolutely awful news. RIP, my heart goes out to Carl and his family.

Check with your PSB - after 5 years living in China with your wife you are probably eligible. Green card == "foreigner's permanent residence identity card" (same thing) I posted the instructions we got from our PSB earlier in this thread - http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/47314-applying-for-a-chinese-green-card/?p=617362 Now that I'm over 62, I can get a 3 year residence permit (which is just a visa in your passport) much more easily than the green card. I won't know what the deal is now, though, until this residence permit is up for renewal next year. The green card is apparently more useful now, like the article says, but it's processed in Beijing and can take 3 to 6 months. Thanks for breaking that all down, Randy. I'll check out the instructions you posted in the other thread, and also look forward to seeing how things shake out next year once you go in for the residence permit renewal. Who knows, by the time next year rolls around, they could have a totally new procedure in place. When I renewed my residence permit last June, much to my surprise it was a 2 year residence permit this time, so I'm good through June 2018.

If only they could also allow those of us with residence permits through marriage to get this Chinese ""foreigner's permanent residence identity card" as well. Would make life a lot easier. Randy, I seem to recall you saying that after 5 years on your residence permit in Yulin you will be able to apply for a ......something or another......? What is it that again?

Every time my wife and I stayed in Queens, we roomed with a nice couple, b&b but without breakfast, Chinese/Japanese couple in a nice suburban home. Ask for Cindy 347 316-8899 or 347 885-3888 Dan the man.....great advice as always!

No SMS messages required for WeChat payments, except for the initial set-up. I basically use WeChat wallet for everything now (be it for online purchases or outside of the digital world at 711s, restaurants, and even the local street side vegetable market), and haven't used Alipay in ages, so I don't really remember if there are SMS messages required - don't think so.

Thanks for the great write-up ononlam, and, congratulations!!