I've dealt with three Agencies throughout my search and I'm happy to say.. all three were honest! But that was in 2007 and Chnlove was still more honest and less money grabbers.This was what I was going to point out to Maxx. Any dealings he had with Chnlove in those early days, many many years ago, when he was on the trail, were carried out on a different level.
You know how it is Martin .Maxx is just a real smart guy.He is my hero.And when I grow up I want to be just like him.
Wow guys thanks.Martin I know it's tough being from Canada.And you feel bad about it.But don't be to hard on yourself.Not everyone can be American.
I am already in contact with a couple of women. I will post about them tomorrow. I just wanted to introduce myself and give you all a chance to know that I exist. And I send my best to IrishGuy65 - I have been reading along and I know he is in China now - and meeting his gal. I hope it all goes well..
Yea Willy I will remember that ;D Mike don't talk smack.If you can't take it in return.I was just messing with you like you and Martin were messing with me.
Mike don't talk smack.If you can't take it in return.I was just messing with you like you and Martin were messing with me.
I changed my previous post because it appears that it could have been racially motivated and I wouldn't want anyone thinking that about me. ::) ;DNor me ::) ;D
http://www.visarite.com/China_visa.htm (http://www.visarite.com/China_visa.htm)you meant you fill out the forms or you did the form for the visa and got visa back in an hour?
I just got finished getting another VISA about an hour ago. It took about 15 minutes to fill out all the forms.
I don't have my tickets yet but about September 5-8
Heading to Guangzhou.
I didn't need to do an interview. I went in, filled out the form, paid my money, they took a picture, then sent me home. Within a week my passport arrived in the mail.
And we complain in the UK about the price of a passport going up to £90.00 doing it by post!!! That's about 150 US$.
I do hear that passports are harder to obtain in the US because if you have certain convictions they will not issue one. Is that correct?
Willy
Marriage Based Visa Comparison Table |
Visa Type | Marital Status | Approximate Time to get Visa | Requires Adjustment of Status (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Adjustment_of_Status)? | Requires EAD (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Employment_Authorization_Document) to Work (with valid Visa and before AOS approved)? | Requires AP (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Advance_Parole) to Travel Outside the US (with valid Visa and before AOS approved)? | Approximate Total Time to become Legal Permanent Resident (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Permanent_Resident) | Approximate Total Cost (USCIS Petition, Visa, AOS if required) | Extra Notes |
K-1 (http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare#k1) | Engaged | 9 Months (http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1historical) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12.5 Months (http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/aosstats.php) | USD $1650 | Must be married within 90 days of entry. AOS must be filed in order to gain Legal Permanent Resident status. Failure to file AOS before I-94 expires accrues out-of-status days. |
K-3 (http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare#k3) | Married | 9.5 Months (http://www.visajourney.com/content/k3historical) | Yes | Yes | No | 13 Months (http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/aosstats.php) | USD $1705 | After entering the US, may file for AOS within two years or instead wait for I-130 to be approved and pursue IR-1 / CR-1 Visa. |
IR-1 / CR-1 (http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare#ircr1) | Married | 11 Months (http://www.visajourney.com/content/ir1cr1historical) | No | No (see note) | No (see note) | 11 Months | USD $903 | Visa holder automatically becomes a Legal Permanent Resident after entering the US. Can work and travel freely. |
DCF (http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare#dcf) (IR-1 / CR-1) | Married | 3 Months | No | No (see note) | No (see note) | 3 Months | USD $945 | US consulates typically only do this for US citizens who live overseas. DCF results in a IR-1 / CR-1 Visa. |
We have had members marry on the first trip.It has **never** ended well.With the different custom and culture issues.It makes it to tough.To work it all out
and the card ( in case I just wanted to go to Canada)
The most important thing is do not tell a Chinese lady that you have more than you have, Do not exaggerate your wealth , your job prospects, your home prospects. If you live in rented accommodation then do not say you own it...... The women want you to be honest with them.
Willy
At least I can speak with some authority on this subject, because there are many Brit migrants here who will never integrate, they simply are British people who live in Perth...I am a British Migrant and I did not wish to forever live outside of the real Aussie Culture...so I changed...and so can she !!!
We will see.... :-\ :-\ :-\
I planned my first trip for six weeks. I would not have made that journey to spend just seven days in China. But as Shaun said we are not you.
When you meet your lady she is going to want you to meet so many people in those few days that your head will be in a whirl at times. I know on the first day if was dinner with 6 close family members. Next day it was China Tea with four more then it was dinner again with half a dozen aunts uncles and cousins and the next day we visited more uncles and aunts. Then there was more meals with her friends etc etc.
That first week soon went by and although by then I had decided that the one I went to meet was not the one for me, I had already fallen in love with China.
So maybe I will say that a week is not enough for anyone who starts this journey.
Willy
I just did not want to be in that club, so I don my cork hat, blow on the old didgeridoo and what I do with my Bong is none of your business,,, ;D ;D ;D
I just did not want to be in that club, so I don my cork hat, blow on the old didgeridoo and what I do with my Bong is none of your business,,, ;D ;D ;D
I am not sure that I am comfortable with where this conversation is going. :P
If you do, they will send the Kadaicha Man after you and he will breathe in your ear and turn your brain into sand, making you a Zombie.
So I decided to perfect the use of a few key phrases..." or you have a delightful pair of boobs ;D ;D ;D ;D....
Willy are you learning Cantonese or Mandarin?And how do you say that is in Chinese?I am having lessons in Mandarin but are being taught the variations that should allow me to understand and be understood in any Province.
BBB? Big British Boy? or Billy the Bat Boy? Of course if you lived down here in the south you could be Billy Bob Buford. ;D
irishguy65 just went to China and we loaded him up with information.
His first thread.
Leaving for China in less than a month
his second thread.
any last minute advice.
Read those and you will be way ahead on advice for your trip.
Gerry
Still have not sent in my Visa application. Just as well as they are requiring a new form come Sept 1st.
Been having a bit of difficulty with getting a confirmation of my hotel booking.
Anyways, my question about the Visa is will I be able to get a 12 month multiple entry Visa the first time out? I am asking for that. If they won't approve that will they knock it down to something else - or will it get denied?
Thanks guys..
Still have not sent in my Visa application. Just as well as they are requiring a new form come Sept 1st.
One thing I can say is if you're filling out the old Visa application at this moment STOP NOW and use the new one,they will not accepted the old Visa application.Jim,is this your first time going to China?
Willy , did it get battered on both sides .
I will do my best... I used to be a more finicky eater but now I will try new things and I like things I did not used to like. But I did tell her - no cat for me... ;D
Anyway I leave for China tomorrow night, and I am so busy packing and taking care of last minute details - paying bills, making sure everything will run without me, etc.
I barely even have time to write here but I did not want to leave everyone out. I will post from China if I have time and I will try to take pictures. I am usually very bad about taking pictures - but Mei takes a lot.
I have mixed feelings - perhaps because I have taken everyone's advice to heart, and while I hope things go great I know there is the possibility that they might not. I guess what I feel is grounded in reality. I want to meet this person I have been chatting with and really get to know her.
Thanks everyone... I am about as prepared as I can be.
Now the fun began,did you see some soldiers walking around in the airport? ;DAt the time he wrote he was still in Hong Kong airport so he will not have the delights of a Chinese Airport yet.
First thing I did for our new apartment was to buy a new King Size bed complete with Australian mattress. Not sure if it is filled with sheep's wool or not but it is a definate improvement on the usual 'slab of stone'.
I was in a hotel for the first two days, and the bed wasn't that bad. I was starting to think that all of you guys are softies. Well now I am at her apartment and her bed is like a slab of stone with a layer of cloth stretched over it!! Okay, it is not that bad, but I tossed and turned last night. Now I know what you all mean.
Yes, of course... but that's not my good side...( I was facing the camera...)
Tell us when she makes you clean shaven ... and then post a new picture ;D
Yes, of course... but that's not my good side...( I was facing the camera...)
Tell us when she makes you clean shaven ... and then post a new picture ;D
Haha!! I was thinking the same thing!! In case no one has seen the changes, I went from Grizzly Adams to the clean shaven look...
Your definately slipping into a Chinese way of life. ;D
I was going to write but it looks like plans have changed yet again. Like I said, I don't know what is happening until it happens. See you all later.
They fed you the most ghastly smelling item ever to impregnate my refrigerator!!!! You sure that they like you.? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I had a great time - oh, and I had my first taste of durian...not that bad, not that good... :D
That's the main purpose of this forum- to see another through what may appear to be a minefield at first. To hear about the relationship itself is just a bonus although it could well convince someone that has not been here and has not done it yet to plan their journey A S A P. ;)
I know that I have not written much about our relationship, and have stuck more to details about the whole process. I hope everyone understands that this is just the way I am.
LP.... the Chinese can NOT keep a Surprise under wrap, if it's B-day/New Year or what ever... they NEED to know. I go through this everytime just hinting I have or are about to get something special.... What?When?How much? :-* tell me please! :-X No No and No I tell them and watch them steam >:( :( I just love it, maybe I'm gruel...haha.
Now her daughter has an account and we wire transfer money for her daughter every other month.
I prefer to send money 6 times a year, rather than 12 times a year because of the fees involved.
Mike
it was only 2500 rmb ...
SO I made it here "no problem" - as everyone says. I took Robertt S suggestion and just tucked money into my socks... It was easier than going through the wire transfer thing at the time and at the bank the only problem I had was that they would not accept three of the $100 bills that I brought. I know...I was told that they only accept "perfect" bills here. Well, one of them was my fault as I accidentally tore it - just a little - when I was taking the money out of my socks. The other two looked fine to me - oh well...
Everyday I learn something new about Mei and everyday she amazes me. The money transfer brought out something new and amazing. The last time I was here we had a bit of an issue with exchanging money so Mei took my $400 American and got out 2400 RMB from her bank for me. This time we are discussing the money that we need for all our plans and Mei goes into her purse and she still has the $400 and she throws it into the pot! I couldn't believe it... She still had the money from two months ago. I didn't know what to say.
Anyways, I am doing fine - Mei went into work for a couple of hours today and I went for my first explore on my own. It was fun - but really I needed the exercise after the long flight and sleeping way too much the last couple of nights.
I really need to practice my Cantonese. I have two shipments from Pimsleur and that adds up to 32 lessons. I have only made it through 8. I will be here until after Christmas so I hope I can learn a lot more. It is not just being able to converse with Mei...I want to able to talk with her friends and her family. I can't expect 30 other people to learn English just to accommodate me.
We are going to go to her home town official office on Friday. In the meantime I pointed out to Mei that the back of the card they give you to fill out says that I am supposed to register with the local police because I not staying at a hotel. Mei said that she did not think that I need to. I was wondering what everyone else thinks about this?
Depends how long byou bare going to be here. In both Zhuhai and when I moved to Zhongshan I got visited by the police in my apartments. But I had been longer than 6 weeks in both places by then.
They just seemed to know where I was to come calling?
Willy
Depends how long byou bare going to be here. In both Zhuhai and when I moved to Zhongshan I got visited by the police in my apartments. But I had been longer than 6 weeks in both places by then.
They just seemed to know where I was to come calling?
Willy
On both occasions they were not really over officious about it. I just said ' Mingtian wo qu' on each occasion and they were happy.
I did just that and went the following day. I have been going for so long now that I have build up a sort of relationship with the officer who always deals with me. I have the personal cell phone number so that I can call so I do not have a wasted journey in case she is out on a shout.
Willy
I don't know why it is even a question. It's the law, and should be adhered to. Why take a chance that you may not be welcome back into the country?
Just what I did, our first home was covered in labels stuck on just about everything. Not only in English but also in 'phonetic mandarin' o she could say in English what she read.
about getting the house ready for her. Well since she did not know any English I took some labels and wrote in Chinese for the washer and dryer, dishwasher and stove and the hot-cold faucets.
Hey Pat, I bet your nervous. Lisa messaged Fiona and I guess she is at the embassy waiting for her interview. Good luck and hope we see an announcement here in a little while!
Thanks Patrick,
We should have no problem then. :) Mei has been to Macau recently so she must have the required documents.
Jim
I am headed back to China to see my wife on Friday. It has been tooooo long since I was there last. We are both filled with anticipation.
I don't know if it shows in my wooden phrasing but I am - as usual it seems - exhausted from working too much. It's just the way it is right now, and hopefully it will pay off when Mei comes here and I won't have to work so much.
Anyways we are both learning how to keep in touch across the many miles. She knows how to text me, and now I know how to send her money... ;D Western Union... it's so dang easy... too dang easy.... ;D
I am looking forward to being with her, of course. But also I know what to expect, I know what the food will be like, and I know how to fill my time when she has to go to work. I think this trip will be more about being with her, and also about exploring the scene in her city.
And I think I might have to eat snake this time... :-\ The subject has come up when she sent me pictures from their dinner on two separate occasions. Now if she doesn't mention it I am sure that I won't either...
And she wants to take wedding pictures... :D She found a place where we can get dressed up - her in a gown, me in a tux, or whatever...(the guy in the picture that she showed me was in cowboy hat and boots) and then they will take pictures of us. I think it is a little silly, but it also sounds like fun, and she doesn't ask for much, so I am game. I might even chance a smile this time...
Anyways, wish me luck and I might even post from China. See you all later.
I have eaten everything once! But must admit some things never twice. ???
My two weeks in the UK soon came to an end and we are now back home in China.
On previous visits my wife was not able to survive when not partaking of rice at least twice a day. So she stayed at home this visit.
However our daughter, who accompanied me on this trip relished the Western Menu. Especially when she was introduced to Tabasco sauce, the red label made in the USA. The green bottle received little attention from her as it was too mild!
That was liberally spread on everything from steaks to fish and chips and she even managed it with pizza and lasagne.
She also became well acquainted with British chocolate and sweets (candy). Her case was literally packed with various chocolate and 40 tubes of Rollo was just part of the presents that she was taking back to everyone she knew.
Willy
Willy the Red label Tabasco is close to a religion in New Mexico. Every restraunt here has a bottle setting on the table. Even the Chinese restraunts have bottles of it .It comes in three different sizes. I like to eat it on eggs and hashbrowns.my wife likes it a little. Given a choice she will eat the Chinese peppers before she will eat tabasco.
That makes me think of something... I remember when I went through the line at JFK they always split up the foreigners from the returning US citizens.
Will I have to go through a separate line from Mei or can I just accompany her, and excuse it off with the agent who checks out the passports?
I am leaning toward that line of reasoning. I have been through JFK and most of the agents only speak English. And we are traveling as a party, but what do you "Mayguayens" think?