World Journal Weekly Q & A - February 28, 2010

Q & A 1. 2.

Q&A 1.

Reader Asks Questions on Retirement Benefits for Retired USC Brother's Wife in Hong Kong.

A brother asks:

My brother is a U.S. citizen.  He is now retired and receiving retirement benefits.  He lives with his wife mostly in Hong Kong.  Can my sister-in-law receive part of her husband’s U.S. retirement payments in Hong Kong?

Dear reader:

Social Security questions are not what we usually answer, and so we spoke with Social Security (1-800-772-1213) and two representatives on different dates and received the following answers:  that your sister-in-law can receive part of the U.S. retirement if she is a permanent resident or U.S. citizen; that she can apply on-line by visiting http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/applying8.htm, or in the alternative visiting the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Office
Federal Benefits Unit
26 Garden Road
Hong Kong

(T) (852) 2841-2483
(F) (852) 2801-7476
(e-mail) FBU.Hong.Kong@ssa.gov

She must bring her marriage certificate.

 

Q&A 2.

Friend is Married to U.S. Citizen, and Wants to Know How Long for Her 19 Year-old Child to Come to U.S. and What Documents He Will Need to Bring to Register in College.

A friend asks:

My best friend is married to a U.S. citizen.  She wants to know how long her 19 years old son can come to U.S. from China and what documents does he need to register college in the U.S.?

Dear reader:

If your friend married a U.S. citizen prior to her child turning the age of 18, the U.S. citizen can apply for her son as a stepchild and he should be able to come to the States some time from 6-18 months.  If the marriage was entered into after the son turned 18, your friend would have to apply for her son by herself.  As she only holds green card status, the waiting time would be approximately 3-4 years.  In contacting some colleges, documents which are commonly necessary appear to be

  1. SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT (American College Test) – different colleges have different cut-off scores and combinations of requirements.
  2. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) – if native language or the language of primary instruction is not English.
  3. Translated (into English) senior high school graduation certificate.
  4. Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement
  5. Letters of Recommendation – Number and nature tailored to individual school requirement
  6. Application fee

 

Copyright © 2003-2012 Alan Lee, Esq.
The information provided here is of a general nature and may not apply to any particular set of facts or circumstances. It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an engagement of the Law Office of Alan Lee or establish an attorney-client relationship.