Beyond the most terrible experience that Goldie must be going through, I'd challenge all the rest of us to think what we would do if the unimaginable happens to us - or what such thing would be to begin with in each individual's circumstances.

Good point Jan and let's all concentrate on helping Goldie

@Goldie
How did it go?

So I finished at the consulate.

I was going there for both passport and consular report of birth for each child.

But apparently, my appointments were ONLY for their passports.

I honestly thought is was for both.

I had read and reread their website several times and double checked that I had done everything correctly.

Apparently you cannot even make an appointment online for the consular report of birth.

You have to email them and also send all your paperwork for them to review before they will make an appointment for you.

I didn't see any information like that anywhere.

But I got lucky.

They said normally they would not accept it and people would have to

make another appt but since my paperwork was so well organized and I had everything needed including all copies already made, and I travelled far, they said they would do it but it would take a while.

We were there for 2 hours.

But it's all done.

My relatives also wanted me to ask if they could help financially or through a gov't program to help get us all back to the US.

They said no.

They suggested to get a gov't loan if necessary but they would confiscate my passport.

Or they could help me to contact people in the US if I needed them to.

I also asked about help with the visa problem... they said no... they have no way to help with that problem.

She asked someone and then told me I should expect a ¥10000 fine per child.

I hope she is wrong.

Wow! What are the ages of the children? Are there twins among them? Maybe GoKunming could do a fund raiser type of thing or maybe your family can start a GO-FUND in your name? What State are you trying to get back to?

Goldie
Congrats on making it past the US Consulate gate.

After you receive the passports (hopefully you opted for the express mail option), you'll need to take the kids with their new passports (4-6 weeks?) to the local PSB to add them to your residency - then to visa exit entry to beg your way through their system - remember - BRING

THE KIDS and stress you're under financial duress and can they please please please help you waive any penalties, as you're repatriating the family to the USA.

No twin kids.

They are 17, 15, 13, 8, 6 and 3 years old.

We will be going back to Southern California where he was from.

She said the passports and the birth abroad stuff will be sent in 2 to 4 weeks.

Then the final and most daunting task.

I don't have 30000 to pay for a fine, but I guess that is the worst case scenario?

She said the overstay your visa fine in 500 per day with a maximum of 10000... that is how they came up with the amount.

I really need to leave in June as the flights in July and August are more than double in price.

Goldie
China is a socialist country - as such they have a certain amount of discretion when it comes to paying fines. Worst case is you can try to negotiate a payment/repayment schedule - but trying to squeeze blood out of a rock is truly unreasonable - so bring the kids, be upfront about your situation (husband took care of (or did NOT take care of) all visa and passport issues, passed away, left you with no savings, no funds, no income, no life insurance.

Most probably, they'll have compassion, but still need to document WHY they're showing compassion and ask you to write an "apology letter" explaining what happened and how you'll take responsibility for future activities to ensure this won't happen again.

Now to your next obstacle, arranging air travel for yourself and six children.

@michael... You have suggested to first go to the local PSB and register the children.

The local PSB has been to my home a few times, taken pics of our passports, etc... never said anything.

I understand everyone SHOULD be registered with them.

Since my plan, hopefully, is to leave soon after getting the passports, do you really think it is necessary to register them?... I mean I know it's the right thing to do but I am worried about causing a problem, receiving a punishment, opening up a can of worms with THAT department as well.

@Goldie: "to leave soon after getting the passports, do you really think it is necessary to register them"

If your children do not have proper documentation indicating the legality of their stay in China, there is a risk that you will be pulled aside at the airport's passport control, when you are headed to board the plane.

If you won't have direct flight from Kunming to USA, that may be in another city also, and solving it there may be more difficult than in Kunming.

I would think that it's safer bet to risk the fine, and explain

to Kunming authorities that if you pay the fine you won't have money to fly out of the country - nor keep living here. I'm quite sure that they will be compassionate out of their own interest of avoiding this.

Buying the plane tickets, checking in, and then not being able to board the plane could create bigger problems, financially and otherwise.