Relocated parents face hard lessons(2)

Real estate and immigration

Tang attempted to renew her US visitor's visa in July, but her application was rejected. Although she wasn't give an explanation, Tang suspects she spent too much time in the US the previous year. Whatever the reason, though, Tang won't see her son until at least July, when she can next apply for a visa. By that time, though, she fears he will have changed beyond recognition. "My son was 1.8 meters tall last time I saw him, and I guess he is much taller now," she said. "I really long to see him as soon as possible."

Recent changes to Sino-US visa policy, announced during November's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing, may provide a sliver of hope and greater convenience for parents such as Tang.

Under the new policy, Chinese visitors can apply for visas that will allow multiple visits during a 10-year period. If Tang can secure one of these visas, she will be able to visit her son whenever she wants, free from the fear that her annual application might be rejected.

Li, of Kentrexs, said the US doesn't offer a specific visa for parents accompanying their children, so most use tourist visas, which have to be renewed annually.

"The inconvenience forced many Chinese parents to abandon the idea of staying with their children overseas," he said. "Now that hurdle has gone, we expect to see parents flooding to the US to accompany their children."

According to Ding Wei, general manager of JJL Immigration, an agency that helps Chinese citizens obtain permanent residence overseas, many parents are attempting to circumvent visa problems by purchasing real estate in the US, or even seeking a coveted "green card", which guarantees permanent residence.

"About 90 percent of our clients have plans to purchase a home of their own in the country where their child studies," he said. "A few years ago, the number was 50 to 60 percent."

According to Ding, parents prefer to buy rather than rent because it's more convenient and, ultimately, more profitable. "Traditionally, Chinese people see real estate as a symbol of security. Meanwhile, from an investment perspective, purchasing real estate is a good way of making money," he said.

Dan Healy, CEO of Civitas Capital Group, a US company that focuses on investment immigration and wealth management, said Chinese parents not only want their children to study in the United States, they also want them to be able to work in the country when their education is complete, but the new 10-year visas won't help to achieve that goal.

Against such a backdrop, wealthy parents often opt to obtain a green card through the Employment-Based Fifth Preference Investment Program, under which foreign investors that create 10 jobs in the US can be granted permanent residence, he said.

In Nov 2013, Tang's family bought a 300-square-meter house near her son's school, and her husband, who runs a company in Beijing, is now considering obtaining green cards for the entire family.

"Our son will pursue high school, undergraduate and postgraduate study, as well as work, in the US in the future, and we want to be near him as much as possible," Tang said.