dan1984
-
Posts
603 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
10
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Calendar
Gallery
Posts posted by dan1984
-
-
Hmm my girlfriend lives in an apartment but it is provided by her employer. I don't think that will count. Her family has a house in her hometown, I wonder if that would be enough.
Like others have said, just need to paint a picture that she is not an immigration risk. My lady doesn't own property or a car or her own company or anything. At the time she was working as a graphic designer. She directly told the visa officer she wanted to go back to the US with me to visit my family and friends. We included our pictures and story and other info (almost as if it were for a relationship visa and not a travel visa) and said we're just going back for a visit, but our jobs, lives, etc., are currently here in Beijing. Like you, we too did not want to try any funny business. Low and behold, she was given her travel visa and we had a great time.
Just be honest, and hopefully everything will fall into place!
-
2
-
-
As for the tourist visa, my lady friend doesn't own property or a company, and she received her B-2 travel visa last year no problem.
-
When my lady and I went to Europe last summer, she basically went through the standard procedure and filled out all the paperwork. However, at her visa interview, she was denied because she is young and unmarried and they were afraid about her intentions.
However, with the Schengen visa, you have the opportunity to appeal if you are denied.
So, we basically prepared everything as we will for our US family based visa at some point in the future. Basically outlined our relationship, showed that even though she isn't married we've been together for 4 years and have future marriage plans, don't have intent to remain in Europe because our jobs and "life" are currently in Beijing, etc etc etc. Included pictures, I wrote a letter, and more of the same.
In the end, she was given the visa and we had a wonderful 2 weeks visiting friends in Austria and Sweden.
Perhaps you could do the same, include this type of evidence to present strong ties to China when they go to the embassy/consulate for their interview.
-
I'm 99% sure he will arrive at Terminal 3 (T3). That's the international terminal. There are a small number of international flights that depart and arrive from T1 and T2, but those are usually confined only to South Korea or Hong Kong or other nearby Asian countries. If he's flying in from San Francisco, I'd be shocked if he's not arriving to T3.
If his flight to Chongqing does not leave from T3, as the other guys said, there is an airport subway system or buses that can take him for free to T1 or T2 if that's where he has to go. If he can't figure it out, the people at the information desks or other foreigners or whoever can give him a push in the right direction I'm sure!
-
1
-
-
Yes, I think that the Form 8938 thresholds may hit some U.S. residents whose spouses still have accounts above that amount.
Me, I keep my money in the U.S., and just download enough for "beer money" every couple of months, unless I want to buy a car or a parking space (the two things I've had to go over the $10,000 FBAR limit for).
I don't think I'll need to be filing either report for awhile, but I'll keep an eye on the FBAR threshold.
As far as changes in the future, just keep your eyes and ears open - you should be able to hear what you need to know.
There's a section in the 1040 Instructions about Foreign-Source Income, which points you to both of these forms, and mentions that you need to report distributions from foreign pension plans.
Foreign accounts and trusts. You must complete Part III of Schedule B if you:
- Had a foreign account, or
- Received a distribution from, or were a grantor of, or a transferor to, a foreign trust.
If you had foreign financial assets in 2013, you may have to file Form 8938. See Form 8938 and its instructions.
and I believe that Part III of Schedule B will refer you to the FBAR requirements.
:victory: -
I think I'm clear on all these rules as they stand now, but as we talked about briefly last week I believe it was, this all just freaks me out, I always think there is something I'm missing or something I'm doing wrong.
Just want to keep my slate clean so I don't have any problems, or I miss something and come a few years from now when going the DCF route it comes back to bite me.
As far as filing for an Affidavit of Support, just make sure that you you report on the Affidavit is the SAME as what you reported to the IRS. In other words, if you are reporting a $25,000 income to the Consulate, and you DIDN"T file a tax return for that year, that may just raise a few red (DENIAL) flags at the consulate.
It's the responsibility of the IRS to weed out tax fraud, NOT that of the consulate. Regardless of what you told the IRS, be sure that what you tell the consulate is consistent with that. File amended returns if you need to.
The consulate is concerned with your INCOME, not so much your taxes. Just don't report income to them that you FAILED to report to the IRS if it's above the minimum level BEFORE applying the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.
As for the reporting, just be aware of the two thresholds for foreign accounts - one at $10,000 for the FBAR, the other at $50,000 for the FATCA. If your resources are above these amounts, I would check to make sure you are satisfying what they require. But even there (in my own, non-legally-binding opinion), none of us is likely to incur a penalty for non-compliance. I also don't think this has any potential to derail anyone's visa application.
Those kind of worries are what drive people to hire professionals, but I really don't think you'll do any better than to be aware of the requirements yourself, and NOT rely on someone else's interpretation.
Thanks Randy, totally agree. Like you said, I'm abreast of the requirements and am on the straight and narrow, so I should be good, and no reason to hire professional help.
As for paying taxes, absolutely, always get that done on time and in an accurate manner, so no worries on that front.
As for the two thresholds - one at $10,000 for the FBAR, the other at $50,000 for the FATCA - definitely clear on these as well. For those like us who are currently living abroad, it appears as if our threshold for FATCA is higher (even though this does not concern my financial situation at all, haha, hopefully someday):
http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Corporations/Summary-of-FATCA-Reporting-for-U.S.-Taxpayers
"""Reporting Thresholds
Reporting thresholds vary based on whether you file a joint income tax return or live abroad. If you are single or file separately from your spouse, you must submit a Form 8938 if you have more than $200,000 of specified foreign financial assets at the end of the year and you live abroad; or more than $50,000, if you live in the United States. If you file jointly with your spouse, these thresholds double. You are considered to live abroad if you are a U.S. citizen whose tax home is in a foreign country and you have been present in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 days out of a consecutive 12-month period.
Taxpayers living abroad. You must file a Form 8938 if you must file an income tax return and:
- You are married filing a joint income tax return and the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $400,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $600,000 at any time during the year. These thresholds apply even if only one spouse resides abroad. Married individuals who file a joint income tax return for the tax year will file a single Form 8938 that reports all of the specified foreign financial assets in which either spouse has an interest.
- You are not a married person filing a joint income tax return and the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $200,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $300,000 at any time during the year.""""
-
I think I'm clear on all these rules as they stand now, but as we talked about briefly last week I believe it was, this all just freaks me out, I always think there is something I'm missing or something I'm doing wrong.
Just want to keep my slate clean so I don't have any problems, or I miss something and come a few years from now when going the DCF route it comes back to bite me.
-
I am utterly confused with all these new regulations and requirements and will do nothing knowingly wrong, but many times I'm worried I'm not abreast of everything I should be doing. In addition to filing taxes, have to watch out if the total of all a person's foreign bank accounts cross a certain threshold. I found these 2 links rather informative:
http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Comparison-of-Form-8938-and-FBAR-Requirements
http://www.greenbacktaxservices.com/faq/foreign-bank-account-reporting/
If you have a registered foreign business as well there is a whole sleuth of paperwork/forms that need to be submitted.
Anything else those of us living abroad should be sure to do??
Nope - that PROBABLY pretty well covers it.
There's a LOT of misinformation (and paranoid individuals) out there - nothing beats being on top of it all yourself, even (or ESPECIALLY) if you have to hire or pay someone to help with the paperwork.
You MUST file your income taxes if you make more than the minimum amount (even if you owe $0), and file Form TD F 90-22.1 Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts if your foreign bank account goes above $10,000 at any point during the year.
Definitely agree, Randy.
As it stands, pretty sure I'm doing everything correctly, which at this point is just filing my taxes.
If my foreign bank accounts do tip over $10,000, filing online is fairly easy and straightforward from what I've been able to ascertain:
http://bsaefiling.fincen.treas.gov/main.html
If and when I register a foreign business, I've had a look at that paperwork, and I just can't make sense of it. I think I'll have to hire somebody at that time........
-
I am utterly confused with all these new regulations and requirements and will do nothing knowingly wrong, but many times I'm worried I'm not abreast of everything I should be doing. In addition to filing taxes, have to watch out if the total of all a person's foreign bank accounts cross a certain threshold. I found these 2 links rather informative:
http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Comparison-of-Form-8938-and-FBAR-Requirements
http://www.greenbacktaxservices.com/faq/foreign-bank-account-reporting/
If you have a registered foreign business as well there is a whole sleuth of paperwork/forms that need to be submitted.
Anything else those of us living abroad should be sure to do??
-
Congrats to Andelu and I hope Josh's has turned out well too. My Chinese husband and I filed our !-130 in Beijing last week (8.12) after being married in Vancouver, Canada on 7.4.2014. We are now anxiously awaiting approval of the I-130.
Best of luck!!!
-
Guilty until proven innocent...
In China, there is not protection from unreasonable search and seizure.
I think many people forget that, and believe they are still back in America, but, not the way it works.........
-
1
-
-
Yes, this happened a couple weekends ago at Dos Kolegas here in Beijing. I knew a couple people there that night.
The venue most likely won't be shutdown for good, but all of their shows for the rest of the month and early next month have been cancelled and moved to other venues.
A foreigner guy owns (or is part-owner, not sure) of another venue here in Beijing called Temple. A couple months ago the police did a similar type of thing at Temple, and he tested positive. He owns this venue, properties, and I think a restaurant, but now won't be allowed back into China for 10 years at the earliest - apparently.
I haven't really paid attention to this whole drama too much, because it doesn't have anything to do with me, but, it's been starting to cause some major ripples in laowai circles here for those who this could affect if they're caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. If Chinese people are caught they're most likely sent to jail for 10 days and that's that, but for laowai's it is goodbye for 10 years.........
-
For example if you were never married before what can you provide to prove this? There is no record of never being married before.
All you can do is swear under oath that this the fact.
Absolutely, got ya!
-
i was just married in wuhan in July , i flew into Beijing stayed till monday and went to the us embassy to get my marriage affidavit it was very simple they did not even look at my notarized divorce decree , but you have to make an appointment at the embassy online to schedule your appointment.when we went to the civil affairs office to be married they wanted my marriage ability affidavit translated, they gave us an address to get this done, one hour and we were back and married very easy..
So you did not have to provide them any documentation? Just made the appointment and asked for marriage affidavit/single certificate?
Keep in mind, it is a sworn affidavit, you are swearing under oath that you are single.
Yes, absolutely, just wasn't sure if there was anything else that needs to be provided.
-
i was just married in wuhan in July , i flew into Beijing stayed till monday and went to the us embassy to get my marriage affidavit it was very simple they did not even look at my notarized divorce decree , but you have to make an appointment at the embassy online to schedule your appointment.when we went to the civil affairs office to be married they wanted my marriage ability affidavit translated, they gave us an address to get this done, one hour and we were back and married very easy..
So you did not have to provide them any documentation? Just made the appointment and asked for marriage affidavit/single certificate?
-
Also, from what I understand, if you have "a current address" in the U.S. (ie your parents or a friend's place where your mail is sent to), that can work too, as well as a valid U.S. driver's license, bank accounts, etc., it seems like these type of things also help satisfy the domicile issue and show you haven't abandoned your ties to the U.S.
-
Bipolar is one of the most insidious and deadliest mental health problems a person could have. I personally know of 4 good people who were bipolar and took their own lives. I'm so sorry to hear of your mom, Dan.
So many folks with this malady take their medication for a bit, then because it doesn't give you a buzz, or in some loud and clear distinct manner show you that it IS working to level your manic and depressive moods, people will just stop taking the meds. They'll say, I feel okay, I don't need this stuff, and they stop their meds.
My daughter had a boyfriend who was bipolar....he was a gifted "metal" artist who was in demand and had a huge future ahead of him. He got into an arguement with my daughter one night in their 8th floor apartment in Philly...and he jumped out the damn window to his death. She had left the room, didn't hear him, went back and the room was empty and the window open. She looked down....and there his crumpled body was. I went to his funeral and spoke about what a fine young man he was. As we were standing around after the service I overheard his aunt telling someone "well, you know he was bipolar. He didn't have it bad, so his mom and father didn't often check to make sure he was taking his meds when he was still living at home." I heard that and I damn near went ballistic...."didn't have it bad"??????????? Jesus Fing CHRIST. You either have it or you don't. It is like pregnancy...you either are or you aren't. PERIOD.
I was so pissed off I had to step away. It came out a few days later when his mom told my daughter that he had even been in an institution for 2 months (for his bipolar condition) before he met my daughter, and he never told my kid that he had been diagnosed for bipolar, nor did he EVER take any meds for bipolar.
I wanted to go slap his damned parents in an attempt to wake them the F up!!!! Of course it was too late for that....and he only had it a little bit. I still could puke when I think about this kids death. ONly had it a little bit.
My daughter's mom is bipolar. I never knew it the 4 or 5 months I was dating her, and I never lived with her so I had no clue...but after my daughter was born I became a single parent when her mom tried to take her own life and I ran to Baltimore and took my kid out of that environment. When her mom admitted to me that she was bipolar I studied it as much a s I could. That's where I found out how serious this is. How deadly it is. And how downplayed it is to the general public. And then my daughter and I find out her boyfriend was bipolar. Dammit, my daughter would have made sure her boyfriend took his meds, she had lived through hell until I took her away from her mom...she knew how deadly this is.
ANyhow, they say Robin was bipolar, fought it all his life, didn't like to take the meds because it slowed down his incredible comedic mind...and he, like so many folks with this self medicated with drugs and or alcohol...instead of taking their proper meds. IN Robin's case he states alcohol was his main drug of choice. IT is so sad that folks with bipolar know they have a problem, but self medicate themselves, then tire of being sick and tired and fighting their demon everyday of their life, and then they decide enough is enough and end it.
Robin was a one in a billion comedic genius. I don't know why but it seems the best comedians suffer from depression. Jonathan Winters was my favorite comedian off all time. Like Robin he did this off the cuff, and so quick it would make boggle your mind that he could come up with so much truly hilarious material. It's one thing to do stand up, Robin and Jonathan Winters could do whole routines just off the top of his brain. THey say most of his lines in movies like Mrs. Doubtfire and Good Morning Vietnam were ad libbed. A true genius. So sad to lose such a truly funny and good guy. I don't understand why the best artistic minds have to lead tortured lives. IT almost seems like depression comes with the territory. And in Robin's case he fought taking his REAL meds, because it took off his edge.
tsap seui
Here is some ad libbing........no script here atall.....sorry I couldn't find the whole show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGhfxKUH80M&feature=player_detailpage
Thanks Tsapper, really appreciate it.
4 people in your life who have taken their own......I'm so sorry to hear. Being bipolar is a truly scary and deadly problem, and like you said, it's a constant struggle - be it on or off meds. I have not gone through this personally myself, so I don't want to pretend like I know what living with it is like, but as I said, I saw first hand it's effects - as have you - and it's not fun to say the least.
Robin Williams, hindsight is 20/20, I never really appreciated his true comedic genius until the past few days, as you said, a one in a billion talent. Seems like a truly kind and caring individual, with an immense amount of talent, but also his own personal demons. Going to go back and watch some of his movies once again over the next couple weeks.
Although not the same as being bipolar, a friend from Pennsylvania who I met here in Beijing passed away from cancer at the young age of 28 this past Sunday. She was in China for a few years in her early 20s, but returned home a couple years ago after getting cancer. Earlier this year she was back on the move visiting Australia and planned to come back to China, but just as quickly as she thought she won the battle, she succumbed to the cancer. She was a really positive person, super creative, and had big plans for the future, she will be sincerely missed. I believe she was coming back to China to continue her work with China Residencies, which she founded. I hope others will be able to continue on with her vision in her absence:
http://www.chinaresidencies.com/about
https://www.facebook.com/chinaresidencies
Definitely have to treasure everyday and every person, don't know when it will all be taken away...........
-
One other issue to keep in mind - you said you will renew your visa to stay here in China for another 1 or 2 months. As such, I'm assuming you're on a travel visa.
If you go the DCF route, Randy can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you need to have legal residence in China - ie, a residence permit from either work or study. I don't think a travel visa qualifies for this.
Nevertheless, I seem to recall people successfully DCF-ing while on a travel visa, but, I'm not exactly sure of the specifics behind this.
Any thoughts Randy?
From his original post in this thread - I expect he won't have any problem qualifying for a DCF
I met my girlfriend a little over a year ago and we've been dating ever since. I was here teaching and taking Chinese, but I was nearing the end of my 1-year contract doing the former and preparing to return to the U.S., where I'm from. But I fell for her, and part of that I'm sure was her explaining to me that she fully planned to attend college in Toronto the following year.I, reluctantly, signed on for another 6 months at my job, even though my relationship with my verbally abusive boss was devolving into something unsustainable, and she set out on the path to get her Study Visa, by taking her IELTS (she received an overall score of 6.5).
But in June, the situation at my job became so bad that I had to leave.
Ohhhh, I missed this and in considering the issue as a whole, yep, don't think there should be a problem here.
-
My mom was bipolar and struggled with depression her entire life, and unfortunately ended up taking own life when I was 17. Depression can be a very scary thing........
-
1
-
-
One other issue to keep in mind - you said you will renew your visa to stay here in China for another 1 or 2 months. As such, I'm assuming you're on a travel visa.
If you go the DCF route, Randy can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you need to have legal residence in China - ie, a residence permit from either work or study. I don't think a travel visa qualifies for this.
Nevertheless, I seem to recall people successfully DCF-ing while on a travel visa, but, I'm not exactly sure of the specifics behind this.
Any thoughts Randy?
-
Wasp are very painful of even one bites and or stings you sometimes they will do both. It is not life threatening unless you are allergic to them. If you are you can go into anaphylactic shock and possibly die. My wife is allergic to them. She was just stung on the hand about two weeks ago and her little hand swelled up to the size of a grapefruit. For home treatment first wash the site with soapy water and apply cortisone. It's about as good as anything for treating a sting that is not to bad. Mick can tell you what doctors can do for them better than I can as he was corpsman when he was in the Army. Emergency personnel can give you a shot of epinephrin right on the spot and that will help if you are having trouble berating.
I have heard about those asian wasp they can get MUCH larger than our American variety. I recently read a story about how much trouble they were causing in China this summer. I strongly suggest that if you see any stay away from them. The do nest in the bushes and trees so they can be hard to see sometimes.
Hornets are by far the worst in my experience.
Larry
If you are stung and mildly allergic, like swelling of the hand or area where you are stung, apply ice and a topical antihistamine like benadryl cream. However, if you are highly allergic and start feeling your airway swell shut, go immediately to the emergency room. Injections of steroids and/or antihistamines will fix you right up. But you have to get medical help right away. I never will forget an episode when I was in college. There was a girl I always wanted to go out with and after months of rejections, she finally said yes. We had a great dinner, then went for a romantic moonlight walk in the park. Just as things were starting to get interesting, she was stung by a wasp and went into anaphylactic shock. I ended up spending the rest of the evening with her in the emergency room. And needless to say, she never went out with me again as she saw me as "bad luck." Oh well. . . .
Scary stuff. When I was a child one of my best friends was allergic to bees. When playing baseball in the park, riding around on our bikes, or whatever, he always had to bring his "bee sting kit" in his fanny pack along. There were a couple times when he was actually stung. Friends' parents had to administer the shots as we waited for the ambulance. Pretty scary stuff.
-
Here is the situation:
- I'm getting married to a fantastic woman at the end of this month, in China
- I will be teaching in a university in China associated with a university in California.
- My wife has had her job for 15 years with the same work unit. After marriage, she will continue to work with that unit. She is an elementary school teacher
- I will most likely continue working at the same university for at least two additional years, maybe much longer
- While we eventually want to come to the States for her to get her green card and probably also citizenship, that is a plan for no sooner than three years in the future
- She owns a house
- She has a son who has just finished his second year in a university. He is dependent up her/our income for continuing his studies
- She has parents that are in their late 70s, early 80s.
- My father is 87
- She has never been outside of China, though she has had a passport for about 8 years
So, I know it is not impossible to get a visitor's visa, but not easy. Any suggestions as to how to approach things so as to make it more possible?
Hmmmm, I don't have any magical suggestions or super helpful tips, but the one thing I would say is be honest. Explain the situation as you just did here. Say that this is your wife and you would not noting more than her to be there for your son's big day. In the future you two do plan to eventually move to the US, but right now your lives, jobs, and everything is in China. Hopefully they will understand and give you the visa, but if not, well, such is the game.
Of course being honest is always the best method, and as you do plan to go the immigration route in a few years, definitely don't want to do anything to put that whole process in jeopardy.
So, I'd say just explain everything as you did here, and hope for the best.
Not sure if anybody else here will have any other more concrete suggestions.
Good luck!
-
1
-
When my wife first came to America permanently after she had been here for say 3 months she told me that she would not be telling me that she loved me several time a day and perhaps she would not tell me that at all sometimes. I would tell her several times a day that I loved her so much. She explained the Chinese way of showing affection and I accepted that.
As time went on and I would get up in the morning before she did and after I got dressed I would come over to her and kiss her on the forehead. She would pretend to still be asleep but I knew she wasn't. One morning I was in a hurry to greet a customer and I did not kiss her. When she got up she was despondent all day and she finally told me what was wrong. She said that you did not kiss me this morning don't you love me anymore. I told her of course I do but I forgot because I was in a big hurry and was late meeting a customer. There was so much relief on her face that she grabbed me and hugged me so tight and told me how much that she loved me.
In the last 14 years she tells me how much that she loves me every day several time a day. In the evenings after everything quiets down she will always come and sit in my lap and look up at me with those beautiful brown eyes and tells me that she never knew what love was until she met me and that she could never live without me now. She had never been married before. She will sit in my lap several hours sometimes and maybe even go to sleep for a while. That time of the day is what I live for.
Larry
This is so good man. Brought a tear to my eye.
-
2
-
-
Although this isn't the same as hugging, when I first came to China I was a little shocked by all the hand-holding between 2 females. In a somewhat similar manner, some males will not directly hold hands, but walk along grasping their buddy next to them either on the shoulder or some sort of embrace.
I didn't really know how to interpret this after I first arrived, probably similar to how some Chinese people might think we Americans are hugging all the time, haha.
From Yulin
in Expats
Posted
Now this is interesting, I'll have to look into it!