

Your site is very helpful, thanks! I do have what I hope is a simple question -- I am a US citizen, married in Wuhan June 2009 to a Chinese woman from Hubei. I've been coming to China at least 6 months a year for the past four years and since last June I have been working for a Chinese company (based in Shanghai). The local office is in Shenzhen, where my wife, son (and very soon our new baby) live together in a house that we own. I am currently holding a Residence work permit for Shanghai, both of which are being cancelled one month from today as I have just lost my job.
As of last June I have no property or any belongings in the US; my entire life is based in China. I am hoping to get a new job here in Shenzhen before my residence permit expires. I believe that I have two choices to extend that time while staying in China with my family:
1) Apply for a 'spouse' visa if there is such a thing (if there is, what is the validity period and how many days per stay?)
2) go to Hong Kong and apply for/re-enter on a Chinese Tourist visa (multiple entry, 30 days?); can I re-enter and if so do you know how often?
Once I do find a job I assume that I can go to HK, apply for/re-enter on a Z-Visa and obtain the Shenzhen residence permit, work license, etc.
Thanks for whatever help you can provide -- the main question I have is if my marriage has any bearing on what type of visa I should apply for. I realize that the only way to legally work in China is to have a Z-visa work permit (which I will sort out once I find work).