Dan777

Thanks. I am happy your wife your wife knows that much. I am trying to get my wife to find out more. I figured she would have a few months to sign up but she seems to want to be there on her birthday. Thanks for sharing the info. What Yuehan123 pasted is what I was able to see from a Google search.

My wife claims to know absolutely nothing about the retirement except she can get it when she turns 50. I read about them making the age higher soon but the dates on the internet I read about were in a few years. I heard all my life I could retire at 65, now 66 for me and I would expect higher for others. Thanks for the replies. I have asked my wife to ask her family but she claims they know nothing. She claims her friends know nothing. She claims she know nothing about how much she would get. I read on the internet some poor farmers get about $20 or so dollars a month and some people may make up to 2000 yuan. My wife sold jewlery in a store for about the last 15 years. I still can not get her to tell me if she made a monthly income or if she was given commission. I know her apartment was a basic no frills one room. My best guess she could get $75-$150 a month. She may even be able to live on that, ha ha. Best shopper I have seen. If she wanted she could buy anything she wanted but is a penny pincher. Getting to China exactly when she turns 50 or before seems very important to her is why I am asking. I think it would be better to wait a few months and I would feel better if she had a 10 year green card even though she has the year extension letter.

I'd like to know about this too. My wife turns 50 in December, and we are both going to China to celebrate retirement for her, but any information on how this works would be great ! Ha Ha, I bet they are only a few weeks apart in age (mine a little younger)! The cost around the holidays seems higher.

Hi, anyone know exactly about how to retire in China if you are a woman at 50? Is it necessary that you retire exactly at your birthday? Can you apply to retire several months later? My wife is extremely money concerned as some of you can relate with and I understand she would get more money if she went exactly on her birthday or a few days later. But does anyone know if there is a expiration date if she went later in the year? And I am guessing she would get minimum retirement. Anyone have a ballpark figure on that? I know of another women collecting retirement so I guess they get someone to sign their check (not able to ask her at this time). Here I think it is legal for people to retire and live somewhere else. Just curious and she wants to go around two major holidays which I think why the cost is so high on initial searches.

The passport stamp is the I-551 stamp which you can get at an InfoPass appointment. Yes, it can come in handy in case the airport workers don't recognize the extension letter. I-551 is the Form # for the green card itself, but also used for the stamp. Looks like the closest office to us is over 5 hours away. With both of us working and me not wanting to do that kind of trip in one day I may take a chance on the letter. Thanks. It was easy enough to search for the InfoPass appointment.

Wife got a job a month ago. $7.50 an hour working in a hotel in the laundry. They love her! What a hard job for a low pay! They shorted her two days and I caught it and she is trying to get it fixed. I paid for a nail technician school but her english is not good enough to translate and so far she can not pass the practice test for the license exam. The hours are low enough it has not affected our life much. I still have to drive her to work and back on weekends as bus does not run here on weekends in our small town. I still think if her english was better she could work anywhere. We communicate ok mostly or it is "your Ipad helpa me?"

UPDATE: Sent everything in and received a reply one week later! Accidentally put it in overnight mail instead of express and decided to send anyway. Received form saying green card is extended one year and fingerprint and photo scheduling will be sent to us. Wife wants to go back to China to apply for retirement so I am going to study up on some kind of passport stamp I read about because I don't think green card will arrive by then. I read the letter should work unless they don't understand about it. I am curious what minimum retirement ($) is but wife says she does not know. She started working a month ago so I wonder how her job will feel about her leaving to go to China. I think she plans on a few weeks but know she always wants to go 5 months for some reason or other. She has only gone back once for several months. Anyway a thousand bucks saved on the lawyer for 10 year green card so far. Enough information on internet and here to do it easily. Hardest part was waiting for friends and family to send support letter (two to three weeks on most). I sent in 5 letters of support plus cover letter with everything else I could think of.

Thanks. I have to admit I was overwhelmed at first. The form was easy to fill out. I am going to attempt it myself. Now it does not seem so bad but when I knew nothing it did. My wife's 26 year old son suddenly passed away this year so that will be a difference in her children. I guess I will just explain it when it comes up. Thanks for the links! I am reading up on the stuff now. I have one lady who is going to write a letter for her. The library here in our small town has a very nice section for helping people learn English. The year plus process to get my wife here was very difficult and long but I think this will be easy compared to that. It amazes me how much better I feel now with a little more knowledge and some help!

My wife's 2 year green card is going to expire in the beginning of Sept (now middle of June). She flips out when I told her a lawyer is going to cost $1000 to file for a 10 year green card (plus a fee I did not mention as she flips out when any money issue comes up and always asks. Must study receipt after every store visit and drills me on how much each item cost ect.) . I have the money but I try and listen to her. So far I found out I need to file a I 751 form. Do you guys have some places to go to for help? Or do you suggest not to listen to her and just get a lawyer? Sometimes I just wish life with her was easier. I think her Chinese friends tell her it is easy so she assumes it will be easy for me. I have found out a lot today, talked to a lawyer about prices-called a friend-and looked at the USCIS website. I am not sure where to post this or if this site is for questions like this.

You are going to need all those numbers. I have my wife on a healthcare plan from healthcare.gov. It was a large problem with multiple calls, snail mail and visits online. I doubt wild horses could drag my wife to a doctor or dentist but it was not that much more money to add her. This year they want me to prove I am an American citizen and so far nothing about my wife. Good luck. I was turned down the first time for a tax ID number. Social security told me she could not get a Number but that went ok (I told them she could). The health.care was so much of a hassle I doubt you will get approved. I would wait until you get all the numbers.

I paid online like you did. The problem was I did not print out the receipt or misplaced it. When they asked me for a number of the reciept I did not have it. Everything was fine in the end but I hope you copied what ever number they gave you for the reciept in case they ask for it. My problem was I moved just as she was leaving meaning the address was different from when she applied for the visa and the green card needed to be sent to the new address.

I think if English is "Great" finding a job will be the same as most people. My wife has been on a job quest for a year. She claims she will be happier if she works. I wish she would just stay home. So far I filled out a very long job application on a computer for a large grocery store. She would not have been able to figure out her name and address let alone all the other questions. I must have done well as she got a job interview. She passed the first one but did not get past the second one. She could not get past the "tell me a little bit about yourself". Her english is not good. Now she is in School at a beauty college with her friend who is staying with us. They bombed the first test and had me answering the questions. But they figured it out and did good on the second test and really good on the last test. She has to pass an exam in English for a license after 600 hours of school. The other Chinese lady has been here over 7 years but even though her English is better she still has a hard time understanding English and reading it. I don't know how it will turn out but my wife may have a job if she can pass the final test at a testing center. I was told of a Chinese lady who bought her own nail and spa Business and we went to see her. The lady said when they said comb she did not know what that was. It took her 3 trys to pass the test (at $150 a whack). English seems to be the biggest hurdle for my wife. I am not looking forward to teaching her to drive a car. She has never driven. The other lady owns a car but her husband did not let her bring it which would have been nice. I guess she has a tendency to stop in the middle of traffic among other things. So far being Chinese helps as people seem to think they are hard workers which the ones I know are. I am lazy and not a hard worker. Good Luck!

I have the same problem. My wife just went to China and I was glad her passport and green card showed the same names. Her ID and SS# card show her first name and married name. I was going to change her green card name to her married name but maybe I will leave it. It was an emergency trip, her family told her she needed to leave the next day for a very sick mother. I didn't have time to check on anything. I think she should get back in the USA with her green card. So far so good. Thanks for the tip about a copy of the marriage license. I did not think about that but the way it is I don't think she will need it.

I just went through this a few months ago. I went to China to pick up my wife and bring her back. I use http://www.passportvisasexpress.com/. I have used them twice and they helped me with the paperwork to finally get my single proof paperwork in Guangzhou. They said I needed an invitation letter with a copy of the airline tickets. I booked a hotel in my wife’s town instead and sent a copy of the reservation with a copy of my airfare ternary. I did not have to pay for the hotel and of course my wife found a cheaper hotel. I got a travel visa that is good for a year, multiple entries, and 30 days maximum stay. For me it is the best way to get a visa but they may only deal with people on the east coast who need to use the Chinese consulate in Washington DC. It took about a week to get my visa back. I think you either need an invitation letter or a hotel reservation. Booking the hotel was much easier that trying to see if I could get the translation to my wife telling her what I needed. This website is amazing. They answer every email and have the fastest service I have ever had. They have a form to download and fill out. Then send in the paperwork. Sure beats airfare, hotel and expenses to go to the Chinese consulate.

I eat it because I decided to eat what my wife cooks. The first time I tried it I did not like it at all (too bitter). But I think it is an acquired taste. Her friend grows it so I have been eating it several times a week since we visited her and her husband. They say it is good for the skin. I am going to test my blood sugar after I eat it next time. I don't check my blood sugar much as it does not seem to vary much. I am happy with a 150 but sometimes it gets to 190. Thanks for the info. I get served rice three times a day and I don't think that is good for a diabetic but I am not sure. My wife has only been cooking for me for a month but I feel fine every day. My wife only likes Chinese foods. She did say she wanted to try Pizza. She wants me to cook a Pizza for her which I think is funny. I did think she understood we will go out to a pizza place.

This does not need to be done before arrival, it can be done well after arrival, you can do it when spouse is in the states and home. It is a green-card processing fee. Thank you. I was able to get the A number but she could not find the DOS number.

You should be able to find out the ITIN, but like Dan says, as long as she gets an SS number after arrival, she won't need it for anything. But the $165 fee is a green card processing fee which is NOT paid at the POE. She should have been given instructions on how to pay this online. You may pay the fee at any time, but green card processing won't happen until the fee has been paid and she has been processed through a POE. Yes, details about the green-card fee can be found here:http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/new-uscis-immigrant-fee.html And the online payment processing is here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3a2bb75e8109b310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD Thank you. I tried to register online but I don't know her information. She showed me a packet on the video that said do not open. I am not sure if she has the items I need to pay online in english or not. I may try to pay online in China next week. I need the numbers the website asked for.

UPDATE: My wife was waiting for her interview for the visa at the same time I wrote. It was not possible to get a certified copy of her passport because she was going to have to give it to them in case she got a visa. I resubmitted the paperwork which was a letter (none the first time) a copy of our taxes with her correct name this time (The tax software put her name as my last name and I did not notice), a notarized copy of her passport, a few copies showing she was going through immigration, a copy of the page of our marriage book and I don't remember what else. I thought I would do that while I was waiting to get her here with her passport. I got a letter yesterday saying they gave me my refund minus $390 they said was an adjustment. I still don't have an ITIN number for my wife but maybe they will send that to me. At least my taxes are done and I don't have to worry about that. My wife was approved for the visa and I am going to go pick her up in China next week. The lawyer said there is a new rule where I have to pay $165 when she goes through immigration when we land in America. I am very happy I can see the end of this. It is very difficult to wait.

Hi Randy, Thank you. I think I understand now (think anyway). Of course I am trying to do this the same time she is going for her interview for a visa to come to America. If she does get a visa I think she gives her passport up until they put the visa in the passport. I did not make an appointment but checked it and the first appointment is on the day she is going for the visa interview. The big day we have been waiting for for over a year. If they still accepted notorized copies I would not have to be going through this. Thanks for the help.

She will be going to American Citizen Services at her consulate (not necessarily GUZ) to get her passport copy certified. The only English she will need to know is "IRS". Her appointment letter is all she needs in order to be admitted into the consulate. To get the ITIN, you will need to submit the W-7 WITH a tax return - follow the instructions on it. Don't be dependent on the e-filing - pen and paper and regular old post office snail mail work just fine. But yes, filing married filing separately, and then filing amended returns will at least get your returns filed. Hi Randy, Sorry I am confused. One person said I needed her to go to the US consulate but that is for US passports. My wife does not speak English and I speak less Chinese. I have another notorized copy of her passport but the IRS turned down the W7 form with the first copy I sent in. It says it is a true copy of her passport. What you are saying is she needs to go to a Chinese consulate to get the passport certified. My wife said she will go to the information service there and ask. Or maybe she meant the US consulate and she will ask. Some how I am going to try and get a certified copy of her passport instead of a notorized copy.

Hi, I talked to my wife. She said she would do it and when I clicked on the link it was for US citizens. My wife is Chinese. Can she still get a certified copy at the US Consulate? The choices for the appointment were for americans. Certification of True Copies of Documents The Consulate is only able to Certify as True Copies documents issued by the U.S. Department of State, namely U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad certificates. My wife's passport was issued by China in 2011. Maybe she needs to get it certified somewhere else.

Hi, I talked to my wife. She said she would do it and when I clicked on the link it was for US citizens. My wife is Chinese. Can she still get a certified copy at the US Consulate? The choices for the appointment were for americans.

Thank you. I guess I need to ask my wife to get a certified copy of her passport. I had her get a notarized copy and send that in with my taxes. It looked legal to me, it was in a folder with several other sheets of paper. I just hope I can explain it to her. We both use translation programs. Although it has improved. I used to use Google translate and paste Chinese in the video window. But for months now I type in English and she translates it into Chinese. This time I am going to put my address down as her mailing address. The IRS said I did not respond to a form they sent which I never got and nether did she. The instructions did say certified copies when I just reread it, I did not know until I asked here that this must be done at the US consulate. My wife is not knowledgeable on the computer but maybe I can make the appointment for her online. I still don't understand a lot of stuff. I forgot what the word for a notarized (or certified) copy of a certified copy is but I had to do that to get my single paperwork to get married in China. The US consulate in Guangzhou is moving July 22 to another address. We found this out after we made her visa interview appointment. The rules changed April 1 this year. For us I called the National Visa Center to find out when they sent the paperwork to China. It took almost three weeks and then they sent an email to my wife with the new appointment instructions found on the NVC website.We had to register with an email address and password and then make the appointment. Before you could make the appointment you had to put where you were to pick up the documents. I had to send in our original marriage books so I hope she gets those back. I have read online where they give documents to the wrong people. My wife wanted to pick up the documents where she lived but it looks like they have several address in the towns where the US consulates are. Once she agreed to an address to pick up the documents I was able to make the appointment for the visa interview online. I think they used to send mail to her mailing address. I am adding this for information. So far it has been over a year married and living in different countries. Back to the IRS and the ITIN, I read online I have three years to amend my filing status. The taxes were better filing married jointly than married single. But without her ITIN the IRS has not accepted my income tax (four or five months now). You can not efile without a ITIN and you can not efile the same year you get an ITIN. I think I can amend my taxes and file married separately if I have to. I am getting my information from posts online about this. Thanks again for the help.

I need an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) for my income tax. The form was denied. It seems fairly simple. Am I missing something? My wife sent a notarized copy of her passport which I sent in with the form W-7. Has any one else had this problem they resolved? There is no irs office around here to go to and the phone numbers I call don't help. I read the instructions for the form and it seems like they should have accepted it. Any help would be appreciated.

Hey Dan777, Any update? Has your wife's interview been scheduled yet? "It really is more about luck at their interview than anything else." I did a bit of research on the internet and it looks like GUZ is notorious for denials. I am wondering though... this thread was started in 2009 and I get the impression the denials peaked in 2009/2010. Has this changed lately? Consular officers are rotated and I saw an American attorney wrote a long letter to authorities about GUZ being un-reasonable: www.ilw.com/articles/2009,0623-roth.pdf No not yet. The immigration has been approved. I was told the rules changed on April 1st so Guangzhou was supposed to get our files last month (April 2013). We are still waiting for the mail to my wife with the interview date. I think I started everything last July. We are closer but not there yet.