dan1984

so, just as how the chinese half of the relationship needs to get her booklets from her local offices, in order to get married in china, US citizens need to go to the US embassy and obtain certificates of being single?? thanks in advance for any clarification!

Sweet！！！

Was about to say the same thing....cool!

Although it pains me, I too must agree they had the right #1 and #2 teams this year. I guarantee a sour taste was left in most true football fans mouths this year though, because of this match-up. A play-off would draw so much interest, and not leave, I believe it was the Sugar bowl with 15,000 seats left empty. The NCAA college basketball tournament is my favorite event of the year, and if college football could implement a system, even just a 4 team playoff, I think they'd be able to capture alot of that magic too.

Alabama is looking dominant. Probably going to go up 16-0 with a TD on the opening drive of the second half. With an Alabama win though, it's going to seem like a somewhat anti-climactic end to the season. Who wouldn't want to see Alabama take on Oregon or OK State next week?! Still alot of game left though, probably shouldn't be speaking so soon.......

B) Thanks!

Best of luck!

Well, I unfortunately did not get to see the game, being here in China. Sounded like a heck of a match-up though, and I graciously admit defeat! They say you need to play a full 60 minutes, so no complaining on my end, but, 3 losses all determined in the final 30 seconds of each game has been hard to take this year. If you were to ask me, I'd say the 5 best teams in the country this year are LSU, Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin. Tell me you wouldn't like to see some sort of playoff with the likes of these teams going at it!? Happy new year, and enjoy the BCS Championship coming up! Dan

Most Definitely.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

I too firmly believed that being introduced to immediate family and the best of friends is a huge sign in determining if one's "significant other" is of honest intentions or looking to make a visa grab. Even after I was serious with my lady friend for half a year (living in China together), it was a huge decision for her to bring me back to her hometown with her for the Chinese New Year, and a decision that almost didn't go in this direction (heading back together). If you are to go back to her hometown and see her parents and grandparents, if you break up or things don't work out, you'd like to think your most immediate of family would understand. But, it is her parents co-workers, neighbors, the nagging aunt, etc. that she is most worried about. If things go wrong, it is actually not herself that will feel the influence the most, but, at least in the case of my lady friend, it was her parents and closest family/friends that she considered when thinking about bringing me back to her hometown. If we were to not work out, it would be her family who would be looked down upon for having the "gold-digging daughter" who is looking for a western guy for this/that/and the other, and those still in her hometown who would feel "the affects of this decision," not her, who has been living/studying in Beijing, and now working. After careful considering and much consultation with relatives, the tickets were finally booked and I went back home with her for the Chinese New Year. In affect, at this "early stage of the relationship," and even at this point as we are not engaged, it was in affect an acceptance on her part that we will be together for the long haul. At the same time, if meeting the significant others parents is not taken as an important and unchangeable decision, I would also question the motives. I have seen cases where the parents of a young lady also support their daughter in trying to obtain an American visa at all costs. This is not a 100% fail-proof rule, but it is something that is 100% across the board this way in all of my normal Chinese friends. I know dozens of young couples who have still not met the parents of their significant other for reasons such as this, and even as "meaningless" as I can't bring this guy back because he's too fat! I don't think I explained this too well, but hopefully you say what I'm trying to say. **Chinese spirits potentially influencing my explanation in this post. HEHE. Times are goo**

I enjoy the train! Like was said, I've had a couple bad experiences, but I've had way more bad experiences with unfriendly taxi drivers, drunken subway riders, and people looking to start fights in restaurants. Taking the train is cheap, an experience, and a way to slowly meander through the countryside - yes, a bit of an idealistic description, but, I enjoy it, and take the train whenever time permits, which has been maybe 20 times or so thus far...

Great news! Congratulations!!

Best of luck tomorrow!!

Congrats!

Perfect, that's great news! Thanks for the help, Randy! But if you electronically deposit the refund, you can do it to an account with only your name.

So, in short, apply for the ITIN using W-7. When doing your taxes, write "ITIN Applied for" in the space for the SSN (as the ITIN would not have been received, as you can file the W-7 when filing your taxes) Use Form 4852 to deal with any foreign income issues. Will that take care of it all, or after you receive the ITIN will you need to file an amended return? As for having an account to deposit any refund in, living in China, setting up a bank account with both names back in the US could be alittle tricky, and something I'll have to look into.

Hmmm, well, although you're still fighting the battle and have yet to find a long-term solution, I hope slowly but surely (and the quicker the better), answers will come. Please also continue to share your battle, when appropriate, as it may open doors for others with similar problems as well. Take care, and best of luck! Hey Dan, thanks for asking. IT's a tale of two issues: 1. Back dislocation 2. Tailbone twist Everyone I have ever seen previously has focused on the prior issue since it is a well known condition. But through this experience I have found that the second issue seems to be the location of pain. What's unclear is whether #1 caused or contributes to #2. All I can say is that when he untwists the tailbone, my pain disappears. The problem is that it won't hold longer than 5 days. He was able to effect some decompression and alignment to my back in general (confirmed with xrays) but the time I had available was not enough to explore further re-setting. I am not sure he can completely reset it after all since the #1 condition has an additional complication if the dislocation goes a certain point; the opposite side of the vertebrae which stabilizes the bones breaks. The last xrays show this break fairly clearly. Maybe if I had 6+ months in china we could explore how far we could move the dislocation back. The spinal surgeons in Fushun reviewed the before and after and admitted there was reversal, but they would not buy into any idea of a twisted tailbone. They said there is no way to confirm that. We told them all they had to do was put their hand on my tailbone and you can feel it (even I can feel it with my hand) but they brushed it off. So I hope to follow up in the US to see if I can get someone to take #2 more seriously and explore it. Although my chiropractor has the SAME back condition, he also brushed off the tailbone idea. Seems nobody wants to talk about something they have no experience with. Strange that 'back' specialist don't want to explore such a thing...

Hey David, Just wanted to check in and ask, how's the back been?

Maybe look into a local university and take a class? That would honestly probably be the most effective way, although probably not the most realistic of methods, with time conflicts from everything else in life. I know in Milwaukee though, a couple universities, and also a number community groups and private companies/education centers, offer night and weekend classes. This could also be helpful as the classes would at the same time teach different Chinese customs, culture, history, etc......

Well, I unfortunately have no experience to be able to help in the shipping matters, BUT, as far as it relates to football - yes, the good old American version - here are a few of the best sites I found online where you can watch games for free: http://forum.wiziwig.eu/forums/32-NFL-CFL-AFL http://www.firstrowsports.tv/sport/american-football.html?game=american-football http://extreme-goal2.blogspot.com/p/channel1.html Enjoy! And.....IF you should make it to the Super Bowl, get ready to be destroyed by my Packers, hahahha. Best of luck in trying to figure out the shipping matter~~~ dan in beijing (via milwaukee)

Sweet! Congratulations!!

Okay, duly noted, thank you! US Passport just shows you are a US Citizen, however is not evidence of domicile.. Bank statements showing activity while out of country,Valid driver's licenseVoter registrationBills to a US address paidOther evidence that living abroad is temporaryJob offer from an employer in the statesIf have children, registering them in school in the statesRental or lease agreement for an apartment in the statesDeed on a home in the states.MORE: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#3 In some DCF cases, US Citizen returns to the states slightly before the visa interview to reestablish domicile.

Besides a copy of my passport and bank statements, what else can be used to prove US Domicile? I'm currently living in Beijing, and will be until a time in the future when the visa process for us ends. Perhaps letters/magazines/other mail addressed to me that's being sent to my parents house in the US? Moving right along, from signature you did DCF, so I hope you got your US Domicile evidence, and I-864 prepared and ready for interview, and if needed a stateside joint sponsor lined up and their I-864 prepared too.

Great news!