British Expats - i wanna know which marriage is best

Unless you are planning to stay in Shanghai for over 6 months, and jump through a
whole lot of other hoops to satisfy their local marriage requirements, I suggest you
get married in the USA. Please read the Shanghai marriage requirements I've pasted in
below. These requirements have been verified as accurate by some Americans I know who
were living in Shanghai and had to follow them. It seems that the requirements in
Shanghai are much stricter than in other places in China.

    > INFORMATION FOR MARRIAGE BETWEEN SHANGHAI RESIDENTS AND FOREIGNERS
    >
    > Both Shanghai residents and foreigners have to come in person to the Shanghai
    > Marriage Administration Office for their marriage registration if they want to get
    > married in Shanghai out of their own will. They have to abide by the regulations
    > set forth in the marriage law, PRC. "the Marriage Registration Administration
    > Ordinances" issued by the Ministry of civil affairs, PRC. "the Shanghai foreigner
    > related marriage Temporary Provision" and "the Shanghai Marriage Registration
    > rules". It is necessary that the legal marriage age be no less than 22 years old
    > for man, and 20 years old for women. Documents for the marriage between Shanghai
    > residents and foreigners are as follows:
    > A. Shanghai residents are required to have:
    > 1. Permanent Residence Booklet and ID card.
    > 2. Marital status certificate issued by the county-level unit, above-county-level
    > unit. where he or she is working, subdistrict office or town peoples govt where
    > he or she is living.
    > 3. Marital status certificate issued by Chinese Embassy or consulate-general abroad
    > for those who have traveled outside China on business or for personal affairs.
    > 4. Divorce paper in case of having divorce history. Foreign authority-issued
    > divorce paper or death dertificate approved bt Chinese embassy or
    > consulate-general in the country where he or she has been.
    >
    > B. Foreigners are required to have:
    > 1. Passport, ID card, or nationality certificate.
    > 2. Foreigners Residence Permit issued by the Shanghai Public Security Bureau,
    > Citizenshio certificate issued by the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Department or
    > temporary residence certificate issued by the Public Security Bureau or the
    > hotel where he or she is living.
    > 3. Notarized marital status certificate or statement approved by the foreign
    > affairs department in his or her own country and then reapproved by the Chinese
    > embassy or consulate-general.
    > 4. Marital status certificate issued by the embassy or consulate general of his or
    > her own country in China (acceptable only for the applicant who has lived in
    > China for over six months in succession.)
    > 5. Original or certified death certificate or divorce paper in case of being
    > widowed or divorced.
    >

If you continue on your path to marry your Chinese sweetheart, you might consider
joining one or both of the Yahoo discussion groups with a special interest in this.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/China-USA-Couples

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Asian-American-Couples

Regards, Tim

chinese_lover <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
    > i could marry my gf is shanghai,china this summer,when i go to see her in aug,or
    > wait till she comes to the united states on her student visa,but i heard some where
    > if i try to marry her on a student visa,she will get in trouble,is this true or
    > not,also if i marry her there this summer,will she be able to come on to the usa in
    > july 2003 to study,even though were married,im just real confused right now,anyone
    > who could help me,i would really be very thankful, also if u know the requiresments
    > i need to marry her,or her marry me here,i would love to know also, thanks,chris :)