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dyiwang · 03-09-2006, 06:12 PM

Although I grew up here, I don't really mind being Chinese. I think greencard pretty much get me the same treatment as citizens for all practical purposes other than the fact that I don't get to vote, which places me with over 40% of the citizens anyway. The upside is that when I need to travel to China, which I frequently do and expect the frequency to go up even more now that my parents moved there, I don't have to pay for a visa.

misspiggy · 03-09-2006, 06:17 PM

Makes sense!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyiwang

Although I grew up here, I don't really mind being Chinese. I think greencard pretty much get me the same treatment as citizens for all practical purposes other than the fact that I don't get to vote, which places me with over 40% of the citizens anyway. The upside is that when I need to travel to China, which I frequently do and expect the frequency to go up even more now that my parents moved there, I don't have to pay for a visa.

DismalMe · 03-09-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyiwang

Although I grew up here, I don't really mind being Chinese. I think greencard pretty much get me the same treatment as citizens for all practical purposes other than the fact that I don't get to vote, which places me with over 40% of the citizens anyway. The upside is that when I need to travel to China, which I frequently do and expect the frequency to go up even more now that my parents moved there, I don't have to pay for a visa.

Although, it can be a pain in the neck to have to get visas to travel in most countries in the world (I don't know what a Chinese passport benefits are but mine are not that extensive).

dyiwang · 03-09-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DismalMe

Although, it can be a pain in the neck to have to get visas to travel in most countries in the world (I don't know what a Chinese passport benefits are but mine are not that extensive).

What's your passport? For many countries, if you have an U.S greencard, they treat you very similarly to U.S citizens. And if a visa is required, it's pretty much just going through the motions. And in the past few years, the Chinese passport has gained a lot of ground. Not that I can see why I would want to, but if I ever need to go to North Korea or Cuba, an U.S. passport can't really get me there while a Chinese passport can

. But I've heard that a Canadian passport with U.S greencard is the most convenient combination of documents you can have.

scooby_doo · 03-09-2006, 07:13 PM

You can travel to North Korea on a U.S. passport. There's a company in Beijing that specializes in NK tours for Americans and others.

DismalMe · 03-09-2006, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyiwang

What's your passport? For many countries, if you have an U.S greencard, they treat you very similarly to U.S citizens. And if a visa is required, it's pretty much just going through the motions. And in the past few years, the Chinese passport has gained a lot of ground. Not that I can see why I would want to, but if I ever need to go to North Korea or Cuba, an U.S. passport can't really get me there while a Chinese passport can

. But I've heard that a Canadian passport with U.S greencard is the most convenient combination of documents you can have.

I dug up an Economist from Feb. where they show an index of visa restrictions. It's kinda interesting.

Americans can travel to 125 countries without a visa.
Japan: 125
EU (average): 125
Hong Kong: 115
Mexico: 100
Malaysia~123
Turkey: 50
India: 25 (my passport)
China <25

This is just a sampling..

Even with a US greencard it is a pain to go to the consulate/embassy and then shell out $50-$100 for a visa which doesnt last very long. Even though it is a formality, it is annoying and costly.

notacolour · 03-09-2006, 10:50 PM

Getting back to something closer to the original topic, I'm currently dealing with the issues of applying to grad school while engaged. We're working out a deal that will stipulate a certain amount of coats, boots, and warm clothing will be purchased for her should I choose to attend a PhD program somewhere north of here. She's warming up (ha, ha.) to the idea of Boston or NYC, though, so maybe there's hope.

More importantly, I want to go somewhere where she can get a job and not hate me for dragging her along. I kind of have to make up for being in a crappy city for two years now, so I'm already starting at a disadvantage.

On top of all that, I don't like knowing that I'm forcing someone to go where I choose to go, since I'm kind of less flexible. And this is part of the reason why I want to go to the best possible program, since that means I can have the most possible choice of positions when I'm done, meaning we can end up in a place that we both like. Instead of, you know, here.

misspiggy · 03-09-2006, 10:55 PM

Boston or NYC? Shouldn't there be lots of jobs in those places?

TheBrothersKaramazov · 03-09-2006, 11:04 PM

Also in the engaged boat. He's still got 1 more year of an engineering degree (5 year program) and perhaps some graduate work or an MBA, so regardless that's at least 1 year apart since I didn't apply for graduate programs at my undergrad institution. It's only 1 hour apart if I go to UToronto.... and a 4.5 hour flight if I get into UBC.

I know it's kind of cold/insensitive - but in some ways, I am looking forward to having the time and space alone to just get into my graduate work. Maybe i'll think differently when I am lonely out in Vancouver.

But it's good that I am doing an MA first and he's still doing his undergrad. That way, if i switch schools for the PhD, i don't have to move another person with me twice.

notacolour · 03-09-2006, 11:16 PM

TheBrothersKaramazov: I know this is back offtopic, but I find it odd how I assume most people here aremale. For some reason I thought that someone with "brothers" in their screenname must, of course, be male!

It's definitely hard being a grad student while your SO isn't. My fiancee is now in a grad program of her own, but my courseload is still significantly heavier, so things don't always work out as well as I'd like.

Oh, and misspiggy: you're right! That's another reason why I need to convince her that cold weather is a good thing. Of course, I can always threaten to start applying to Canadian programs...

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03-09-2006, 06:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
dyiwang Within my grasp! Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 183	Although I grew up here, I don't really mind being Chinese. I think greencard pretty much get me the same treatment as citizens for all practical purposes other than the fact that I don't get to vote, which places me with over 40% of the citizens anyway. The upside is that when I need to travel to China, which I frequently do and expect the frequency to go up even more now that my parents moved there, I don't have to pay for a visa.

03-09-2006, 07:13 PM	#15 (permalink)
scooby_doo Eager! Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 35	You can travel to North Korea on a U.S. passport. There's a company in Beijing that specializes in NK tours for Americans and others.

03-09-2006, 10:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
notacolour TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 630	Getting back to something closer to the original topic, I'm currently dealing with the issues of applying to grad school while engaged. We're working out a deal that will stipulate a certain amount of coats, boots, and warm clothing will be purchased for her should I choose to attend a PhD program somewhere north of here. She's warming up (ha, ha.) to the idea of Boston or NYC, though, so maybe there's hope. More importantly, I want to go somewhere where she can get a job and not hate me for dragging her along. I kind of have to make up for being in a crappy city for two years now, so I'm already starting at a disadvantage. On top of all that, I don't like knowing that I'm forcing someone to go where I choose to go, since I'm kind of less flexible. And this is part of the reason why I want to go to the best possible program, since that means I can have the most possible choice of positions when I'm done, meaning we can end up in a place that we both like. Instead of, you know, here.

03-09-2006, 10:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
misspiggy Within my grasp! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 251	Boston or NYC? Shouldn't there be lots of jobs in those places?

03-09-2006, 11:04 PM	#19 (permalink)
TheBrothersKaramazov Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 351	Also in the engaged boat. He's still got 1 more year of an engineering degree (5 year program) and perhaps some graduate work or an MBA, so regardless that's at least 1 year apart since I didn't apply for graduate programs at my undergrad institution. It's only 1 hour apart if I go to UToronto.... and a 4.5 hour flight if I get into UBC. I know it's kind of cold/insensitive - but in some ways, I am looking forward to having the time and space alone to just get into my graduate work. Maybe i'll think differently when I am lonely out in Vancouver. But it's good that I am doing an MA first and he's still doing his undergrad. That way, if i switch schools for the PhD, i don't have to move another person with me twice.

03-09-2006, 11:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
notacolour TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 630	TheBrothersKaramazov: I know this is back offtopic, but I find it odd how I assume most people here aremale. For some reason I thought that someone with "brothers" in their screenname must, of course, be male! It's definitely hard being a grad student while your SO isn't. My fiancee is now in a grad program of her own, but my courseload is still significantly heavier, so things don't always work out as well as I'd like. Oh, and misspiggy: you're right! That's another reason why I need to convince her that cold weather is a good thing. Of course, I can always threaten to start applying to Canadian programs...

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