Dave&Hong

For the marriage certificate is a copy of my red book enough? Should it be translated and will I need a copy of her book as well?

Either this has terrible instructions, or I am too dense to understand it. Is the biographical information supposed to be about my wife or about me???? Or maybe 2 of each?? I'm so confused!!

Well if they hacked into a congressmans computer I doubt they got anything more sensitive that the phone numbers to some escort services and some gay porn sites!

I'm leaving for Kaifeng on Friday 5/30. I Had to provide round trip tickets and proof of hotel reservations (unpaid). A letter from my SO saying I was going to stay with her wasn't enough proof. I figure once in China I'll just stay with her as planned. Unless they check on me they won't know and I hardly think that Kaifeng will be a popular protester destination so I should be fine!

I wish you both the best of luck in your future. No one deserves to be treated with so little respect, yet our government seems to feel that it is ok to treat people who want to come to the US to start a new life like crap. I hope someday this changes, but I won't hold my breath.

Any recommendations for a visa service? I drove to Chicago today and went to the consulate to apply for my visa for my trip to see Hong the end of May. I thought I had everything in order, but, after a 3 hour wait for my number to come up and my turn at the window, I found out that an email from Hong telling me that she would take care of my accommodations while there does not constitute an invitation to stay with her while in China in the eyes of the workers there. So, I've emailed Hong asking for a more formal invitation to stay with her. In the meantime I can't afford to take more time off of work to spend a day waiting for my number to be called again, so I need to find a good visa service, preferably one that can handle getting my affidavit of single status done as well seeing as I was so shook up from my application not being accepted I forgot to submit my application for that! All in all, not a good day. Have I mentioned that Chicago rush hour traffic sux? Thanks

WOW! Thanks for the replys everyone! I had suggested the wedding banquet idea without the legal marriage in China as a possibility. It may be the language barrier or the fact that I called it an engagement ceremony but she didn't seem to get it. Jim, thanks for the advice. I do seem to be in the "girlfriend" void as far as this issues goes. credzba, You advice is very helpful and You are probably right. Clement and Gino, thank you for your very generous offer. Its not a pressing issue yet because June is a long way away, but if it does become so I'll be sure to give one of you a pm. Hong is from Kaifeng, Henan and I have to say i have never had the pleasure of having such honest communication with a woman before. I don't know if it is a cultural difference or just the fact that the long distance relationship makes honest communication safer but it has been a pleasure getting to know her. Her being beautiful doesn't hurt either! Anyway thanks for all the help, more than anything it helps just knowing that there are others out there who have been down this road before me and are willing to offer help and advice! Dave

Hong and I have been emailing each other for some time now and I have plans to meet her in June. She is a very special woman to me and my feelings for her grow stronger every day. The issue of marriage has come up and provided there are no surprises once I meet her I intend to propose to her before I return to the USA. She has spoken to Chinese "Officials" and friends who have told her that it is best if we marry in China and that she will be able to return with me to the US when I return. I have explained that the process is a bit more complicated than that and have sent her various cut and paste articles and links so that she could learn more about the process (her english is good enough that she can understand or translate most of what she reads). How can I get her to understand that our fastest way to get her to the US so we can be together is by way of the K-1 visa and that by marrying in China we will be delaying beginning our life together?