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caberham posted:We actually have a much better foreign policy. We don't bomb people or use drone strikes. We don't have hungry multinational corporations starting proxy wars and coups. Our Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson created the idea of UN peace keepers. I sometimes wonder if there's any room at all on the moral high ground these days what with all the smug Canadians digging fortifications and dancing naked upon it.
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Mar 6, 2014 19:03
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Apparently Canada already leases drones in Afghanistan and may buy some weaponized ones though: http://o.canada.com/news/canada-contemplating-buying-fleet-of-armed-drones-top-general-says/
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Mar 6, 2014 19:08
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caberham posted:Vancouver and Montreal are great cities. That's it. Toronto can just play baseball because the Leafs suck. This, except I'm loving sick of winter and can't wait to leave Montreal again. I guess the grass is always greener, etc. I feel no attachment to Canada (but then again I'm a separatist) or Quebec but at least I'm proud of not being American. 
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Mar 6, 2014 19:12
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Senso posted:This, except I'm loving sick of winter and can't wait to leave Montreal again. I guess the grass is always greener, etc. I feel no attachment to Canada (but then again I'm a separatist) or Quebec but at least I'm proud of not being American. I'm proud of you not being American too! 
blinkyzero fucked around with this message at 19:34 on Mar 6, 2014 |
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Mar 6, 2014 19:14
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Senso posted:This, except I'm loving sick of winter and can't wait to leave Montreal again. I guess the grass is always greener, etc. I feel no attachment to Canada (but then again I'm a separatist) or Quebec but at least I'm proud of not being American. Count Dooku is evil man  Don't be a pawn! Join the Just move to Hong Kong already. Be like all those other rich dudes and give up on your Canadian passport and adopt Chinese Nationality. You may not be attached to the Great White North because Molson makes horrible commercialism, but you have to admit that your passport rocks. blinkyzero posted:I sometimes wonder if there's any room at all on the moral high ground these days what with all the smug Canadians digging fortifications and dancing naked upon it. There's always more room to poo poo on America because America is literally the sewage system of the world. It keeps the poo together. They don't believe in redistribution of wealth but definitely in the redistribution of poo called "American Interest". When Ms. Nuland said "gently caress the EU" she meant "I want to make scat porn on Merkel." Dropping bombs is like letting small bursts of fart. If you go all out at once you get laduzi on your pants. If you hold it in all the time then your body goes crazy. But thank God for Matthew Perry because how else would we have gotten MOS/Freshness Burger/Sushi/Yakitori/Meat ? Oh right, "foreign trade", yeah see how long that toook. caberham fucked around with this message at 19:42 on Mar 6, 2014 |
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Mar 6, 2014 19:38
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Senso posted:This, except I'm loving sick of winter and can't wait to leave Montreal again. I guess the grass is always greener, etc. I feel no attachment to Canada (but then again I'm a separatist) or Quebec but at least I'm proud of not being American. This is more or less how I felt prior to leaving. Then i got home from Harbin and realized that our winters here are actually quite pleasant. Then, the government called a provincial election  that can only end in misery. The politics are definitely the major downside to living in Canada/Quebec (being unemployed, also a downside).But yeah, I guess the long term goal is to bring my girlfriend over to live here, maybe work, settle down, start a family. She's even already learning French, in fact! Does anyone have any clue on how the immigration system works, specifically coming from China? I know it's liable to change in the next few years, but, well, never hurts to get information.
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Mar 6, 2014 19:47
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Ceciltron posted:This is more or less how I felt prior to leaving. Then i got home from Harbin and realized that our winters here are actually quite pleasant. Then, the government called a provincial election Ugh yes I'm trying to block out the elections. There's a Chinese dude in my team, he was working in Beijing for us and eventually we were able to bring him and his wife to Montreal and he's been living here for 3-4 years now. He was sponsored by the company so I'm sure that helped a lot. I don't know what to ask him but if you have any specific questions, I can ask him (or put you in contact with him directly).
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Mar 6, 2014 19:55
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Ceciltron posted:But yeah, I guess the long term goal is to bring my girlfriend over to live here, maybe work, settle down, start a family. She's even already learning French, in fact! I know down here in Freedomland  moving your gf over here is a lot easier if you get married (in either country) or bring her to the US on a fiance visa with the intent to marry. Canada may be similar.
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Mar 6, 2014 22:11
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I mostly don't work or try to work in China at this point because in most fields I feel the foreign expert model is patently false, a cult of celebrity and often actually harmful. I successfully persuaded most of my professional networks of this. Victory...
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Mar 6, 2014 22:47
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I was a foreign expert in China. I had an expert Bachelor's Degree, you see
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Mar 6, 2014 22:48
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Well all politics suck, that's a given. Quebec is a very contentious issue. But I take Canadian politics over Chinese ones anyday  I still think Canada is basically paradise. The catch is finding a decent job SB35 posted:I know down here in Freedomland  Sponsorship is a lot easier in Canada. Same sex marriages are legal and so are same sex marriage visas. Heck, you don't even need to get married. You can be a common-law partner for goodness sake. And if that doesn't work. You can be a conjugal partner. If your booty call can't come to Canada because of visa issues the government will sponsor a visa  (No, the last one is not that simple there are a tonne of restrictions).
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Mar 6, 2014 22:52
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Sogol posted:I mostly don't work or try to work in China at this point because in most fields I feel the foreign expert model is patently false, a cult of celebrity and often actually harmful. I successfully persuaded most of my professional networks of this. Victory... Seconding this. It's about face and being able to show off your wealth. The foreigner is often a proverbial, or not so proverbial, "white elephant". It can be pretty ridiculous at times.
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Mar 6, 2014 23:54
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A friend of mine is a Partner in one China business that he got for being a) Friends with the right person, b/c) British/White, and d) is a proper nice bloke. He has been invited to be a CEO of another operation based on his whiteness (they straight up told him he was "there to be the white face") and maybe because he has a BA in a relevant area coupled with actually valuable work experience (which he keeps offering advice based on, but they never make use of)
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Mar 7, 2014 00:36
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America has same sex marriage visas too, by the way.
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Mar 7, 2014 01:12
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caberham posted:Yeah in Hong Kong you can PR after 7 years in Hong Kong. That's 7 years, each year spending 10.5 months of time in the city. That's just residency to roam and not get deported in Hong Kong. HK PR is still pretty cool and something desirable. I love HK. caberham posted:Guess what? Being Hong Kong Chinese is only slightly better! I can't book train tickets, I can't stay at certain hotels. And North of Guangdong no one really knows what the gently caress to do with my ID card ..... but lots of places throw their arms and go "what the gently caress do I do with this ID boss?". I've never been a fan of a government issued ID card, and I think the lack of one makes Australia an easier place for immigrants. Nobody has an ID card, born there or an immigrant. So there's no discrimination on that basis at least. Of course the government bureaucrats are always trying to introduce one by stealth.... anti-democratic bastards. caberham posted:Even places like Australia and US have the same mentality. We like immigrants as long as they are useful. I respect your opinion, but you're being way too harsh on countries built on immigration, at least in comparison to the closed door policies of SE Asia. The immigration path is long, expensive, but it's well document and very predictable for places like Australia, Canada and the UK. You get the right working visa, then hang around for x years, then apply for permanent residency. At least in Australia, they've only deported two people with PR status in 20 years, and one of them had been dealing drugs for 1/2 of his life. The only downside for people with PR, compared to citizenship is that they can't vote. They are still allowed to buy BBQ sausages and cakes at voting places though. The positives is that they can't be randomly selected for jury duty, nor sell their soul to Rupert Murdoch and become a politician. People say China is already over-populated, but when immigrants are less than 1 percent of the population, I don't think it's population pressure that's keeping China from an inclusive immigration program. It can't be because it's too young a country either, what with 5,000 years of history and all.
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Mar 7, 2014 01:31
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RocknRollaAyatollah posted:Seconding this. It's about face and being able to show off your wealth. The foreigner is often a proverbial, or not so proverbial, "white elephant". It can be pretty ridiculous at times. My cousin calls it playing the white tiger, which I always liked.
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Mar 7, 2014 02:39
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RocknRollaAyatollah posted:Seconding this. It's about face and being able to show off your wealth. The foreigner is often a proverbial, or not so proverbial, "white elephant". It can be pretty ridiculous at times. My Chinese teacher has a spreadsheet with names, phone numbers, heights, hair-colour, body type and complexion, which she uses to match laowai to "Foreigner standing outside a newly opened restaurant", "Newly opened school with lots of foreigner teachers", or "Foreigner looking admiringly at a Chinese car" positions. You can make good money from treating them as mannequins.
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Mar 7, 2014 02:51
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I sympathize your situation and give you major props for trying to set up a home in China. Immigration is a cost effective method of meritocracy and should be what governments strive to have. However it is always a delicate issue because relying on cheaper foreign talent means neglecting the development of the local market and loss of job opportunities.Trammel posted:I've never been a fan of a government issued ID card, and I think the lack of one makes Australia an easier place for immigrants. Nobody has an ID card, born there or an immigrant. So there's no discrimination on that basis at least. A government mandated identity card is the least of my problems. HK actually implements it really well. Everyone gets one and it makes immigration, taxation, and other processes a breeze. If you are just moving in to town and you don't have a proof of address, you can head to the police station and file for a account. Identification based on your capacity to operate a vehicle is just absurd. You can definitely argue that law enforcement pull up bull poo poo immigration law to search you is based on racial profiling. But I think that's a very narrow argument. quote:I respect your opinion, but you're being way too harsh on countries built on immigration, at least in comparison to the closed door policies of SE Asia. The immigration path is long, expensive, but it's well document and very predictable for places like Australia, Canada and the UK. Yes I'm being critical, because I am aware of the privilege I have. The working holiday program should be renamed as "manual labour program". Yes there are alternative jobs besides fruit picking but the job prospects are slim and you have to be more qualified than other local candidates. Oh those countries you listed had lots of experience with immigration alright. It was called colonialism  South East Asian countries have closed door policies because those countries are already the playground for richer countries. They are already dirt poor because of the way the world works and have trouble feeding their own people. Now you want to waltz in because you like living there? On what merit? Yes, they have horrible government and cronyism is rife, but I wonder why they didn't have the time to develop? Oh right, it's called history. Really though SEA countries already have a huge underclass of people to do the undesirable jobs, so no need to import foreign labour. quote:It can't be because it's too young a country either, what with 5,000 years of history and all. The culture maybe, heck they can inflate the number to 6,000 if they want. But the PRC is less than a 100 years old, it just had a huge laduzi of its intellectuals, and just got out of isolationism since the 70's. The economy has really only taken off since the 90's and some iota of middle class is formed in 2000's. To complain about immigration is incredulous. Now don't mistaken me to be Pro PRC and some apologist for all the ills of Chinese but we really ought to have some perspective here. Henan is still around.
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Mar 7, 2014 02:52
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Mao Xinyu and Rob Ford need a sitcom.
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Mar 7, 2014 02:55
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caberham posted:Oh those countries you listed had lots of experience with immigration alright. It was called colonialism That's just bullshit in Australia's case. 30% of people there were either born overseas, or their parents were. That's not colonialism, that's immigration on a massive scale from a huge variety of different countries. India this year just overtook China is also the largest source of immigrants to Australia, but only ignorant fuckwits accuse India or China of colonial intentions in that case.
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Mar 7, 2014 03:02
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Look, I'm actually pro immigration. But it's just not as easy as setting up a few laws and having a clear cut process or agenda. I'm really sympathetic. Trammel posted:That's just bullshit in Australia's case. 30% of people there were either born overseas, or their parents were. That's not colonialism, that's immigration on a massive scale from a huge variety of different countries. Sure and all that land was just empty rife for taking and settlement right? terra nullius and all. India and China are very very hosed up countries. Immigration policy is really really low on their list to fix things. Trammel posted:but only ignorant fuckwits accuse India or China of colonial intentions in that case. I was talking about being on the short end of the stick for imperialism. You really ought to check your privileged white rear end on global loving issues. Notice that the more protectionist countries in the world are the ones who got hosed over in the past. Note: 1. They didn't really have guns 2. They weren't white 3. I'm turning this into DnD, so I better shut up. computer parts posted:Those are like less than a year old though so it's understandable to forget. I'm actually not that smart. I'm stupid. caberham fucked around with this message at 04:16 on Mar 7, 2014 |
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Mar 7, 2014 03:41
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caberham posted:South East Asian countries have closed door policies because those countries are already the playground for richer countries. They are already dirt poor because of the way the world works and have trouble feeding their own people. Now you want to waltz in because you like living there? On what merit? Yes, they have horrible government and cronyism is rife, but I wonder why they didn't have the time to develop? Oh right, it's called history. This is totally not why the PRC has nigh-impossible immigration policies and you know it, heh. edit: Oh southeast Asia. That might be true then.
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Mar 7, 2014 03:42
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Bloodnose posted:America has same sex marriage visas too, by the way. Those are like less than a year old though so it's understandable to forget.
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Mar 7, 2014 03:50
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How long does it take to get a spouse visa for the US? Can I do it from China, or do I have to get it from the US?
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Mar 7, 2014 04:22
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VideoTapir posted:How long does it take to get a spouse visa for the US? Can I do it from China, or do I have to get it from the US? This site will probably help: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare It sounds like as little as 3 months if you're a permanent resident in China. e: Actually I misread (it's the last visa option), you only have to be a legal resident, which I assume means you're there under any visa. computer parts fucked around with this message at 04:40 on Mar 7, 2014 |
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Mar 7, 2014 04:33
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systran posted:My wife was watching this show the other day where the contestants beg ten CEOs to give them jobs. This sounds like the least communist thing ever. 
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Mar 7, 2014 07:06
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blinkyzero posted:My cousin calls it playing the white tiger, which I always liked. I think only foreign women are allowed to play the white tiger, men are usually referred to as green dragons
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Mar 7, 2014 07:53
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caberham posted:Plus the pollution kills old people in no time so don't worry too much about medical care Send more pollution asap tia 
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Mar 7, 2014 10:17
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VideoTapir posted:How long does it take to get a spouse visa for the US? Can I do it from China, or do I have to get it from the US? The process ranges from ~6 months, which seems to be about the average, to a year or more if you don't have all of your documentation in order beforehand or your case gets flagged. It can take a lot longer if USCIS/NVC/DHS are backed up though, so check the current bulletins for more accurate guesstimations. Anyways you can apply from either within or outside of America, though you'll need to prove you meet the income requirements to sponsor an immigrant (or have a co-sponsor who will take up that (very hefty) obligation) regardless of where you are applying from - you're on the hook for supporting any sponsored immigrants until they either naturalize, pay into social security for ten years, die, or give up their permanent residency (immediate relative immigrant visas confer permanent residency the moment the holder crosses the border, it's pretty awesome). If you don't already have a job lined up in the states you'll probably need a co-sponsor as a matter of course unless you have substantial assets. It's a pretty straightforward and easy process all things considered, by far the hardest part is gathering all the documentation and translating everything, then waiting for replies. Sheep fucked around with this message at 13:09 on Mar 7, 2014 |
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Mar 7, 2014 13:05
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Sheep posted:The process ranges from ~6 months, which seems to be about the average, to a year or more if you don't have all of your documentation in order beforehand or your case gets flagged. The few people I know who have done this had literal binders full of USCIS paperwork and "proof of their relationship", which ranged from chat logs, texts, photos together, etc. But don't let this dissuade you!
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Mar 7, 2014 14:27
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SB35 posted:The few people I know who have done this had literal binders full of USCIS paperwork and "proof of their relationship", which ranged from chat logs, texts, photos together, etc. We prepared all this stuff and never had to use it. They asked my wife "How do you talk to your husband?" and she said "With my mouth, we've lived together for 5 years." They pretty much said good luck and sent us on our way. Whole process took 6 months, though.
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Mar 7, 2014 14:32
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Sheep posted:The process ranges from ~6 months, which seems to be about the average, to a year or more if you don't have all of your documentation in order beforehand or your case gets flagged. It can take a lot longer if USCIS/NVC/DHS are backed up though, so check the current bulletins for more accurate guesstimations. I'm going to be a student, on GI Bill benefits. If I get ANY job, that would be enough to put me over the minimum, but I probably won't have anything until I get there. gently caress. I'm not sure if my dad's assorted retirement beneits would be enough for him to cosponsor. VideoTapir fucked around with this message at 15:31 on Mar 7, 2014 |
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Mar 7, 2014 15:26
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VideoTapir posted:I'm going to be a student, on GI Bill benefits. If I get ANY job, that would be enough to put me over the minimum, but I probably won't have anything until I get there. gently caress. I looked into this recently and I think as long as you have accounts that are a certain multiplier above the minimum (I think 2-3 times?) they should be able to sponsor just fine. But I think there's also a greater chance you'll be rejected because it's non-standard.
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Mar 7, 2014 16:15
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synertia posted:We prepared all this stuff and never had to use it. They asked my wife "How do you talk to your husband?" and she said "With my mouth, we've lived together for 5 years." They pretty much said good luck and sent us on our way. Whole process took 6 months, though. Yeah, I also prepared a huge folder with pictures and emails etc., then the guy who interviewed us looked like Bill Paxton's co-worker on Big Love, and his tie was covered in crosses, but he didn't seem to give a poo poo and said, "I can tell you guys have been together a long time," and it was over in about three minutes.
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Mar 7, 2014 16:18
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computer parts posted:I looked into this recently and I think as long as you have accounts that are a certain multiplier above the minimum (I think 2-3 times?) they should be able to sponsor just fine. Well, I'm at about 2.5. Good. Glad I didn't do much boozin' and whorin'.
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Mar 7, 2014 17:00
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synertia posted:We prepared all this stuff and never had to use it. They asked my wife "How do you talk to your husband?" and she said "With my mouth, we've lived together for 5 years." They pretty much said good luck and sent us on our way. Whole process took 6 months, though. Your wife has a Hong Kong passport and that makes a tremendous difference versus a mainlander.
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Mar 7, 2014 20:42
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VideoTapir posted:How long does it take to get a spouse visa for the US? Can I do it from China, or do I have to get it from the US? To clarify -- are you already married? Did I miss this somewhere? Getting married first then doing US paperwork seems to me like it would have been better than what I did, which was do fiance visa first and get married in US.
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Mar 7, 2014 21:56
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Has anyone lurking this thread had a child with your spouse while residing in China and then started the US immigration-by-fiance-visa process? Did having a child seem to complicate the process or did it serve as proof of your relationship?
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Mar 8, 2014 06:28
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Bloodnose posted:Your wife has a Hong Kong passport and that makes a tremendous difference versus a mainlander. I guess, but she's originally from China so she has a different HK passport... I think.
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Mar 8, 2014 07:45
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Woodsy Owl posted:Has anyone lurking this thread had a child with your spouse while residing in China and then started the US immigration-by-fiance-visa process? Did having a child seem to complicate the process or did it serve as proof of your relationship? Get married first, skip the fiance visa. Elope in HK.
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Mar 8, 2014 09:13
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