After being married to a Chinese national, you can apply for a resident visa (Green Book). This resident visa is good for 5 years. Of course there are requirements to obtain this. One of the requirement is to get a copy of your criminal record. Has anyone from the US done this and how did you do it from here. I'm from New York City but lived in Philadelphia for a year and a half before coming to China. What's the easiest way to get a copy. Any first-hand knowledge would be appreciated. Here's a website that points to what to do but I'm hoping there's an easier way since I live here.
www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/[...]
BTW, in Chinese they call it: 无犯罪记录.
L1234,
Sorry I can't help with the criminal record, but I am curious to know what are the other requirements are?
@Atomic
My wife and I went yesterday and the person wasn't there to give us the information but one of the guys there told us verbally this:
1. You need to have a copy of your criminal record.
2. You need to do a medical check-up so they know your health status.
3. You need to have at least 十万 元 in the bank. ( I believe this has to be over time meaning that you just can't deposit this amount just to get the visa if that makes sense). Not sure though.
4. You or your wife have to have some kind of property. (FYI, this was told to my wife in Kunming Hua so I'm too sure of the details of this requirement).
I'm sure there are more requirements but like I said, we weren't able to get the information. We will call the lady later on this week and if I can, I will post it.
BTW, like Hugo said. The place you would go is the PBS Visa place on Beijing Lu. When you go there, they will give you a pass to go around the corner to the Police District Building. It's on the 14th floor room 1408.
Please let us know what you find out.
Before the regulations said, it must be 5 years have passed from your marriage date and within the 5 years you have to spend 9 month each year in China.
I wonder if this is the only residents permit.
I have been working in China for 2 years, and in that period i had a residents permit witch was valid for 1 year.
Last time we were in Kunming we asked about getting a new one, as for now i am married with a chinese wife, and we own an apartment in Kunming.
To my understanding we could get a permit for a period of 1 year.
Does anybody now more about this subject?
I have a (6 page) copy of the regulations that I got about 4 years ago. from the 14th floor. I am sure there have been some changes to it so I really hope someone can get a new copy of the regs. The 1 year residence permit is what every married person gets nowadays but that is NOT the same as the Residence (Green Book) permit we are talking about here.
My frieind and I were joking but it is somewhat true. The reason no one gets a green book is NOT because they can't get one but rather because no one seems to make it past the 5 years of marriage - They get divorced before 5 years.
This is one topic that no one seems to have any expertise about because I still have not met one person who has gotten this Green Book Residence Permit yet.
Lets hope you are the first so you can lead the way for the rest of us.
HFCAMPO
Good news, i am already 5 and a half year married with my chinese angel.
I hope that it will last for many more years.
I will be happy to get a one year residence permit, it is for me no big issue to renew this every year.
