EVER - in ANY way - associated with the Communist Party?

[OKflyboy 35]

If he never joined the communist party then the answer is no and no. Being in a youth group that is organized by the communists is not the same as being a communist party member or affiliated with the communist party. Unless the military requires communist party membership which they generally didn't for conscripts to my knowledge then it is still no. My wife's father was a public official in China and her brother is a police officer, both of which require party membership. She wasn't a member however and their membership didn't affiliate her with the communist party. When they are talking affiliated that would be working for a party member or working in an office that is heavily involved in the party. You can spend a couple hundred bucks to confirm this with an attorney or you could even call the DOS hotline and ask them to be sure. You can always include the letter explaining that he was part of a required youth group.

Exactly my point.

[unsmiley 111]

So what's the verdict here? Should a potential immigrant from China simply answer yes to this question on the DS-230 (since almost everyone with a decent job/education is in fact a member, even if they are not actively involved with or are officers of the party? If so, should we include a letter of explanation with the DS-230 filing and/or should a verbal explanation be given at the interview?