One thing is to come to China on a visit, and another totally different is to move to live here.  It is not like back home, that you pack and move, in China you need to have preapproval if you would ship your things here, or will be confiscated and disposed upon arrival.  Many things will pay entrance taxes, others will not be allowed.  What I did is I sold everything back there, and bought new things here when I needed them.  Electrical items will not work here (220 volts, 50 cycles), wood items can not be imported unless they go thru a fumigating process.  And many more headaches.

Renting an apartment in your name is no problem at all, I just moved to another one, but for the Police you will need a copy of the certificate of ownership, also acopy of the owners' ID and of course, a signed  contract.

As for the visa application, make a hotel reservation (you will need one until you find an apartment you like), then move to it.  What I have not figured out yet is how to renew the visa when you have an apartment here, but i am thinking along the lines of submitting a copy of the rental agreement in my name.  But how to submit an airplane ticket if I am in China?

What would you do for work here? I'm sure your girlfriend can find you guys an apartment. I've been here for 16 months and have no intentions of leaving. I used Craigslist to get rid of everything but a camera and a macbook.

new to traveling out of the usa? and your first venture out is to live with a girl you probably will break up with within a year. and to china?!?!?!?!?!!?!? you can't live here permanently unless you give the govt a shat load of money. teaching english in china gives you at least a 1 years stay. my advice, find a major city near your gf's hometown and stay there. be100% independent of her and especially of her family. if you have the loot, come here on a visit for 15 days or so. again stay in a hotel not with her family. but in my opinion you should try china out for 2-3 years before deciding to move here permanently. do thorough research before coming to china and make sure you have an immediate exit strategy (and money). understand this, underno circumstances should you ever stay with her family. you should try to avoid living in the same city as them . if you marry her wait 2-3 years before having a child. (make sure you made the right decision)

that's all i can think of for now. oh wait, please understand that china is the lieing , cheating, scamming capital of the world. so check your situation and make sure there aren't any possible weak points (don't give her or her family any money even chinese guy get ripped off, give their fiancee of 2-3 years 300,k to buy a house and then she disappears)  

oooo a P-whipped young man makes me feel like i'm 16 all over again. 

STOP.

THINK.

Just stop and think and let me say I am with you and don't blame you and I'm sure you're a very nice young man and so she is a nice young lady,

however,

You need to STOP right now. Stay off QQ for a night. Breath. 

1.You don't just go ahead and move to China somehow. Get that out of your head ASAP and realize that is not happening. 

2. You CAN get yourself a temporary visitors visa. Yes, you will have to pick the name of a hotel and maybe what cities you will travel in. 

3. You will book a hotel. You do NOT intend to stay with her or her family during your time there. Just throw that out the window right now. You stay in a foreigner-friendly hotel.

4 After 2 weeks or so you go home. You are more than welcome to visit later but you go home and you STOP and you think of what you might want to be doing.

5. Read EVERY fair warning and all these steps over again. Rinse and repeat. Even the guys here giving 'insults' are actualy worth noting if only for their bitterness - there is a REASON they are jaded and cynical. 

6. Yes, there are a lot of very good people in China. Very honest and trustworthy and will be good friends for life. There are good women in China who marry for all the right reasons. 

6.a) I'm sorry to say there are a LOT of 'hustlers' in China. There are many people who do not view the world through your 'judeo-christian western democratic' world view (or whatever you want to call it).

They see things differently and just to put it like this:  Just the fact you are posting this question tells some of those sneaky people ...  basically you are red blood in a shark tank. 

7. Suppose everything IS great and honest and trustworthy and we have no questions raised anymore?

           You ought to STILL decide if you are a personality type to handle a Chinese wife. If it came to that. because let me tell you dragons are difficult partners and tigers don't cuddle too long before eating you limb by limb. So you better decide if you have a temperament for that.

Understand, I'm asking, because you don't say; have you met this girl yet? I know, it seems like a stupid question, but with the internet, it's easy to say "I'm in love (hence, girlfriend/boyfriend)" with someone you never met. Not smart, but easy.

Okay. Some good advice from the other posters  here. I would have to agree. Don't give out money to her or her family. You may be thought of as an ATM. Many Chinese people have the misconception that all Americans are rich, but it is just by way of comparison. A "poor" American in the U.S. is a "rich" American, in China.

Yes, you will need a job in order to live here. You probably will not want to do construction, because most construction workers make very little. Many are migrant workers who come to the cities from the countryside to find work, so they are not paid well, fulfilling the need for unskilled labor. They work very long hours, and the work conditions are less than ideal. You will not see the rigid safety precautions in China that you see in the U.S. If you are injured on the job, what will you do? 

As a foreigner, you will not be entitled to the same types of rights and services under the law that nationals receive, so there is that to consider, also. If you don't want to teach, that is your business, but there are plenty of teaching jobs available, and depending on the school and the city, the money is good for the hours you work.

You may hate China, or, you may love it. It could go either way. With that in mind, take it slow with your girl. If you knew her in the U.S., she may be totally different on home ground. The reason for this is because now she is under the influence of her family, and in many cases, will defer to their judgment and not yours. In other words, the pressure is on! She has a foreign boyfriend, and to her family, that means opportunity. I don't want to make you paranoid, just cautious. 

Ultimately, it is up to you. Traveling abroad for the first time is a big step. Stay in a hotel, go see the sites. Take some time to experience things by yourself (and not with her), so that you can have time to process what you see, hear, and feel without her distracting you. There are many great things in China, but there are other things that are irritants on a daily basis, and the trick is to balance the two in a lifestyle that is healthy and conductive to personal growth.

You have the power of choice. Choose wisely. Best of fortune to you.

It's up to you just think of what you will be sacrificing by coming here...Real beers and steaks.....is she worth it?...........do you really love her?.......if yes then the hell with the steaks and beers

Pogger:

i am indeed very happy to be living in China.  I was very disappointed and tired of socio-political BS in USA.  i had visited China for over 15 yeas, and always dreamed to retire here, and I did.  I do not regret it one bit after two years plus here.

But I will grant you that it really does require a special breed of emigrants to be happy in a foreign place.  For me, in my mind, i am the odd one here, everything  see is right, and my thinking and customs are the ones wrong, and I must adapt.  People piss on the street, I do not mind, I do not, just walk by and do not look, so it does not bothers me.

I do admire their customs, and i am wise enough to do my homework before purchasing anything, so i do not get scalped.  'just tell me in which country merchants do not take advantage of foreigners.  So, why blame China for something done every where else.

Again, it takes a special attitude to be successful here, and not everyone has it.  We do agree on that. And if you are ever near Nanning, drop me a line, will love to meet you and have a cold one together.

And for Createach: I have developed a source of New Zeland steaks, not too expensive, but darn good. And here I also can get all thye Heineken and Corona beers i want. And Harbin ain't bad. Just tll me where else I can live in the style of Donald Trump fdor less than $1000 US per month?

Yes you'll need to show flight and hotel information to get a tourist visa. You'll probably find the flight pretty helpful in actually getting to China as well.  I have a question, though. Are they specifying 'return ticket' (back to the same place) or 'onward ticket', anywhere else but China? If they're only specifying 'onward' then just look for a super cheap ticket somewhere else in Asia (airasia would be a good starting point).

Even if you want to rent an apartment and stay for good, it's best to go to a hotel first and stay there for a few days while looking for a place.

But if you want to stay long term, you'll need to be thinking long term, much longer term than one tourist visa. People who stay for a long time tend to do it by renewing year-long visas and the best way to manage that is by getting a job. I presume you will want to work or study while you're here? Most of us are English teachers as those jobs are ridiculously easy to get (finding a good job is tough, though), although you could also enroll for study at a Chinese university near your girl's home town and get a student visa, or look for a job in your actual field.

With all that said, I wouldn't recommend going there, first time out of your home country, with the intention to move permanently. The advice above about taking a holiday, then deciding, is very, very good advice and I would listen to it.

why do i feel like we've just been punked. there is a lot of chinglish in this guys comments. 

"oh i don't plan to live with her and her parents, lol i would go nuts if i did that.

lol in our relationship i am the temper, she wants me to ease my temper down,but better said than done"

an you do not have a degree to show?

Ed,

     Some of my fellow expats have made some really good suggestions, which I really encourage you to think about. * Personally, if I were you I would read as much as possible about what is happening in China NOW..current information! Talk to Westerners living here now..through Skype,etc..whatever is available. Read the China-related websites. I have found so many of them that are helpful and informative. This is crucial as this country is rapidly changing.

     * If I were you, I would come here for JUST A TOURIST VISIT..no more. (Just as I did years ago.) See how you like things,how you get along with your lady,etc. * MissA is spot on about taking a holiday..then deciding. * As jk said, there are decent and kind Chinese people. There are also those that will F*** you over in a New York minute. * Have you read about the Chinese who have had unfortunate experiences? Some kind Chinese soul tried to help them and guess what? The person that had the misfortune,bad accident,etc. turned on the kind soul who tried to help them!! :( Sued them for false charges!!!!!!!!!!!! :( PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHAME ON THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :( * These are the types of people that will burn you in a second!!!!!!!!!!!!!  * I also read about a Chinese man who had helped a fellow Chinese citizen. The helpful Chinese man was sued for false charges!! :( He was so upset that he took his own life! :( That man was someone's father or husband or co-worker,etc. PITIFUL!!!!!!!!! :(  * A New Zealand man here in China had a similar experience recently. The mum of a little Chinese girl overreacted and called the police on him!!!!! Him and his Chinese wife had to pay off the family to settle the matter!!!!!!!!! :( It was absurd!!!!!!!!!! :(

Good luck!

Again lots of good advise here. Please do a lot of thinking. Chinese thinking and attitude to things are very different from the west. If you want to marry this girl expect to be ask to the girls parents a lot of money, or a car and other gifts. also after that take a breath as you will have the life pestered out of you to buy an apartment 'which by the way you will never own and it will go in her name married or not. The government can stop issuing you a visa at any time, even if you are married. Marriage is not an entitlement to reside in China forever. You also be expected to pay for most thing, if you rent  an apartment, you fit the bill for rent, water, electric, gas and weekly provisions, and her clothes, you are expected to keep her and if the parents fall ill you will in most cases be required to foot the bill for medical treatment, which in China is not cheap, mortgage springs to mind. Clear all things with you girlfriends before make your final decision. There are good and friendly people , however there are many skin you alive then return for your teeth, Even lovers can hold the warm smile and black heart, as they say. Sorry if it all seem grim and long face, but in reality it sums up some of the issues you will encounter. Good Luck and happy traveling.

I think TROLL, your first post how do I move to China cause I have an almost girl friend that I never met. You say you have all the money you need and no travel experience? What are you 10 years old? You can buy open return tickets. If you are for real and checked a visa site then, that is all you can apply for, plus first timers can only get a 30 day visa. As for buying clothes in China, unless you are short with small feet, bring a wardrobe, you'll never find clothes here.

you are saying she was an exchange student, you guys met somewhere in america. now she has moved back to china, you are constantly in touch with her on qq or what application ?.... as teddbayer put .... you are 10 years old ? hey dude you are doing construction work so you are a normal worker in chinese language. you are making more buck in america by doing construction than in china. whats the proficiency level of your chinese language ? can you speak it very well ? can you read or write ? you both met in university ? you are not graduate you do not have something to show for teaching English am i right ? 

dude you have american passport people will think you are super rich having a lot bucks in your pocket, you GF is pushing you to come to china to waste your blood+sweated earned money on her, i think that's not fair. Chinese girls are under constant pressure of their families especially the older buddies. she may have mentioned something sweet to you but settling down in china is not a good option for you when you are an american, hundreds of Chinese are running away from their country and you are coming to that country. Chinese are nice and sweet for 1 day only, the next day twist comes in their attitudes. right now you are full bank or atm machines, enter card , put the password and let the magic begins. 

all the answers given to you by the above esteemed guys is totally right. about clothes Chinese body frame is compact. if you are wear L in america you will get XL in china. if your foot is 9 number in american shoes you will buy 10 shoe in china other big number 265 or 260 also exists but if you are having big shoes do not think to buy it in china. food is a total cramp, delicious, tasty in the beginning but you can not live your life on it ... can you eat boiled noodles for 1 straight week with out any ingredients in it just noodle ? 

if you want to come, stay for a month, check it out, find some foreigners, learn from their experiences, listen to them, consider every possible issue like health, school, insurance, property, house, marriage , business, child or childrens, lawyers, laws... etc... think of as many possible things in it about your stay in china...... 

i prefer staying in my country and in near future i am going to make that possible.... the taste of china is gets bitter with time. there is no liberty of religions if you are religious buddy then maybe you find some problem. china=cheating machine be clever to step inside in it. best of luck ......... 

just a piece of advice my friend.!!!

  Life in china is a fucking dream which can end up any second..!!!!!

See things by your own eyes,get some advices but judge by yourself China has the good side also has the bad side.It is like a culture for giving money as a gift to your wife's family,not mean perents try to sell their daughter.But it depends,some parents may be want to get money via their daughter.I kown my parents just will take the money as the gift.

My parents buy gifts to my sister and her husband's son.And give my sister's husband good food when everytime he comes.If your gf 's patrents ask money from u when u decide to marry her,just give them.But reasonable one.In my city,10K-20K is reasonable.I mean in the rich city