If you're worried about EMF cost then don't even consider getting a Chinese wife, this whole episode will cost you a lot of money and EMF cost is insignificant compared to everything else.
Right now is a different thing in my world than usual. I'm going through a costly custody battle. I just gave my lawyer another 1k last week. That'll be over within the next 5 weeks, one way or the other. I actually have enough money right now to make a trip over there and back, if I had the vacation time, which I don't. I'm trying to protect the money already set aside, every other bit of extra income is going to lawyer bills. After this stuff is over I won't give a rat's ass what an emf costs. I just have an attitude about being jerked around. I'm also in line for a promotion and a raise later this year too, if the supervisor at work follows through on his plans to retire. Money isn't going to be an issue, unless something unforseen happens.
I also already know all about the other costs you mention-at least, in relation to immigration issues. I've already done one immigration for a wife; did it all myself too, no lawyer. Paid all the fees, gave her the money to make the trip to the consulate, gave her the money to make the trip here. Unfortunately I then gave her the money to make the trip back home too, lol.
I realize there are other things related to agency fees and the like. Not too worried about those right at this moment either. That'll take care of itself if or when the time comes. First things first, I want to make a trip there, stick a toe in the water, see what it is about and if it is really for me. I want to have someone lined up to meet before I do, so I can get a better gauge of a face to face relationship with one of these ladies, as well as getting inside one of these agencies if possible and getting some experience on the ground with that.
Like the name of this thread, I am just at the baby step stage. I am taking things apart, looking at them, trying to figure out all the angles, seeing how all this works. I'll do that every step of the way. I've got a lot to do and a lot to learn before I ever bring one of these ladies here to live with me, if I ever reach that point.
Vince, I'm getting a better understanding of what you said here, now that this has been discussed on this thread and that I've started seeing how this process really works by being in it. the very next emf to each of the women I am talking to is going to try to get at how they are receiving the letters-if they are. Especially the one in Wuhan, because as I said earlier on this thread, every emf I've sent her gets delivered within a few minutes after I've sent it, according to the delivery status message in my sent mail box. To me that either means it is being forwarded straight to her, and I can be reasonably confident she is involved in the responses, or else it smacks of something fishy. Maybe someone here can enlighten me further on what else could be possibly going on there.