mungbeans

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I forgot to mention this is for shipping from the US to China - so wouldn't be able to use EMS.

Hi I have a pair of audio headphones to send as a gift to China. They cost $200 and I was planning to send them with USPS and insure them at about $(US) 260 because the postage using USPS would be bout $60, so if its lost I also haven't wasted $60 postage costs. But then I saw this http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/ce_009.htm#ep1400280 which says the limit for personal items is 1000 CNY, which is $160. So if I sent it and insured it for $160 and it got lost in the post then I'll lose $100. If I declare the value as $160 anyway will the recipient still have to pay and taxes or import duty? Does anybody have any experience sending items of about this value to China? I was planning to use USPS as with insurance/tracking their price was about $60 but for USPS it was much more.

Thank you very much. Whats the Mandarin/Pinyin for the Green Certificate?

Hello I'm just curious about the difference between the terms Gong Zheng Chu and Gong Zheng Shu. I thought one meant notarary document and one meant notarary office but I see people referring to the Notarial Birth Certificate sometimes as Gone Zheng Chu and sometimes as Gong Zheng Shu, while at other times people talk about getting the Notarial Birth Certificate from the Gong Zheng Chu and sometimes from the Gong Zheng Shu. So which exactly is which? Thanks

Thanks. After looking at CFR 103.2(b)(2) I can maybe see where the lawyer is coming from, as it states: "If a required document, such as a birth or marriage certificate, does not exist or cannot be obtained, an applicant or petitioner must demonstrate this and submit secondary evidence". As the Notarial Birth Certificate is classified as secondary evidence it makes people suppose there must also be primary evidence and the secondary evidence is being submitted because they do not have this primary evidence. However 103.2(b)(2) is the general guideline, the specific guideline for China states that secondary evidence is used in place of primary evidence. http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/reciprocity-by-country/CH.html "Although these certificates are secondary evidence, they are used because primary evidence is not standardized, is easily forged, and difficult to evaluate. " Is my interpretation correct?

Thanks for people's replies, but I'm still confused by something. On here and other forums people say the Notarial Birth Certificate IS the birth certificate, yet there are also many posting on other web sites talking about an original birth certificate AND a notarial birth certificate as two separate things (here's just on example http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2008/12/01/where-get-certified-copy-chinese-birth-certificate This is contradictory - a NBC cannot BE the birth certificate on one hand and yet separate from the original birth certificate on the other? That's why I'm confused. Why do other forums mention an original birth certificate AND an notarial birth certificate?

Thank you for the reply. What sort of birth documentation do people get who are born in China nowadays? In the dept of state web site it says: "Birth certificate ...available in the form of notarial certificates, which are secondary evidence." and "...The certificates can be based upon primary evidence" If notarial birth certificates are secondary evidence, I was therefore curious what is primary evidence?

The lawyer is used by the company that I am an employee of and they deal with all the immigration issues for the company's employees that need visas etc. (the lawyer is not an employee of my company, she is just hired by them but she has been doing it for them for several years). Therefore I can't simply ditch the lawyer as its not me who has hired her to deal with my wife's green card application. So I'm trying to educate myself as much as possible, and find good definitive *official* sources of information to show to the lawyer in a diplomatic way in order for her to realize she is wrong. This forum and your and other people's input is very valuable, and though it might be 100% accurate, I can't go to the lawyer and say "You're wrong because some people in an internet forum say so". Can you see the sort of a predicament I'm in?

Hello I'm trying to thoroughly educate myself regarding the birth certificate issue as the immigration lawyer dealing with my wife's immigration to Canada is saying a non- availability certificate is needed (http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/46601-birth-certificate-versus-notarial-birth-certificate/). I'd be grateful if somebody could comment on what the difference is between these four different birth related documents? 1) Medical certificate of birth (mentioned here: http://www.ehow.com/how_6402241_obtain-chinese-birth-certificate.html) 2) Verification record (also mentioned here: http://www.ehow.com/how_6402241_obtain-chinese-birth-certificate.html) 3) Notarial birth certificate. (also mentioned here: http://www.ehow.com/how_6402241_obtain-chinese-birth-certificate.html) 4) Green official birth certificate (mentioned here: http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/143740/244570_en.html) Thank you

Would you believe the lawyer sent me that very same link before we obtained the notarial birth certificate. Yet is still saying the certificate of non availability is needed.

There's a quote taken from a US web site in that link you posted that says this: If your birth record is not obtainable for any reason, a certified statement must be obtained from the appropriate government authority explaining why your birth record is unavailable. You must also submit secondary evidence such as: A baptismal certificate that contains the date and place of birth, as well as both parents names (providing the baptism took place shortly after birth)An adoption decree for an adopted childAn affidavit from a close relative, preferably your mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parents names, and your mother’s maiden name.Note: An affidavit executed before an official authorized to take oaths or affirmations must also be provided. So what is the definition of "birth record"? If its a birth certificate issued at birth then isn't the lawyer correct in saying the non availability certificate is required?

Thanks. Do you know of any official US government link stating under what circumstances an unavailability certificate is needed and when its not needed? Otherwise its difficult for me to argue with the lawyer when she has the background and I don't, I can't send her links on forums as a way saying to her one isn't necessary, its not authoratative. Assuming one is necessary, or even if its not necessary in order get one to be safe, where can an unavailability statement be obtained from?

My wife was born at home and not in a hospital and thus never had a birth certificate, however she has recently obtained a Notarial birth certificate. Her green card application to the US is being handled by a US immigration lawyer who says the Notarial birth certificate is not enough and she must also get an unavailability statement. Is this correct, I thought the unavailability statement is required is a notarial birth certificate can't be obtained? If its correct then where can an unavailability statement be obtained from? Thanks