Need some help please....

[Brian Mc]

Greetings Brothers,

First I have some news.  I just got an email from my lawyer in Canada saying that my divorce judgement has come through and she has sent it to my sister in BC.  So I guess for the next couple of months I am technically single again Woohoo!!  Of course since I am also engaged to Zhen I guess I am not really single at all heheh but it was a nice thought for a few minutes.

So on to the subject at hand.  Can anyone recommend an absolutely reliable courier to get my divorce judgement couriered to me from Canada to Wuhu?  I checked with the school and the big one here seems to be DHL.  In Canada I would probably use Fed Ex but I have no idea if they are here or not.

Obviously for something this important I will not trust the mail as I need this quickly so I can get to Beijing and the Canadian Embassy to get my certificate of single started.  If I can get the divorce papers by the first week of jan I will be good to marry on feb 14 2010 which is the date we have picked.  I really dont want to delay if I can help it.

So any advice on a courier that is reliable and quick would be great.  Within reason I dont care about the cost so sorry Rhonald I am not gonna pay for a flight for you to bring it to me hehe.

Also another bit of news, I have to go to school early tomorrow so HR can take me to the cops to get my visa updated.  So I will let you guys know how that turns out. but all in one day the visa news and the divorce news WOW!!! life is looking good hehe.

Take care everyone and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all and their ladies.  May you all have as much luck as Zhen and I have had.

Zhen and Brian

[Vince G]

I don't know all the couriers in Canada but any of them will get it there (if they service China). DHL, UPS, and Fed Ex all connect to China. FYI All couriers will interchange packages if needed. If you send it DHL and they don't go to a certain section but Fed Ex does? They will hand it off to them. The US Mail uses Fed Ex for much of their international deliveries. So as long as they will deliver to China it doesn't many which company.

[shaun]

Brian,

I have a fedex account and they say they can ship to Wuhu.  It will be a bit pricey but if you can find a friend in Canada who has an account and will pass their savings on to you it will help.

Watch out for what they call Brokers fees in Canada.  They are real bad about it going into Canada, I don't know about leaving Canada.

I would do it but I do not know if I can ship from Canada since I am in the US.

Shaun

Vince is right about the trade off.  You could send it Fedex from Canada, it can change companies several times and you could receive it via rickshaw.

[maxx]

Iv'e used Fed ex before.They have offices in China.It is kind of pricey

[Willy The Londoner]

Go for any of the big three VBrian.

Is the 14th the day you intend to go to the marriage office I believe that is going to be a busy day at these offices as it is also The Chinese New Year.  As well as St Valentines day in many other countries.   Or are you getting the red book then later celebrating your marriage on 14th?

As long as your divorce papers are with you by about 16th January you will have time for your embassy to issue you with your certificate of no impediment and you to have the date you require.

But do not leave the country before then for like Christmas trip to Hong Kong.  You have to be in Mainland China for 21 days before they start your certificate process.

Willy

[David5o]

Brian,

Any Canadian bros going to China over Xmas?? if so might not be a bad idea for you sister to post or ship to him and make arrangements to pick it up in China. I think Neil is off to China at Xmas , but can't remember whereabouts he's going too !!!!!! Just a thought!!!!


David....

[mustfocus]

My experience is to go with FedEx or UPS.  I have several clients who have used DHL in the past and when a product has been shipped to Europe or Asia, often (not always) there has been issues with the products getting to where they need to go.  I think David's suggestion is the best one.  See if anyone is going to Shanghai in the near future and meet with them if possible.  I would trust the people here more than a courier service.

[ttwjr32]

hey brian,

i have always used fed ex to send and recieve in china.
reliable and fast and you can track were it is at all times

[Brian Mc]

Greetings Brothers,

Well it looks like its not all sunshine and roses after all.  First the divorce judgement is just another step in the process.  Now I have to wait 31 days in case there is an appeal.  Damn they have so much added time for cooling off and appeals and changing your mind its driving me nuts.  So the earliest I can get my divorce final is Jan 8th.  Then my lawyer has to ship it to me and then I have to haul  butt to beijing to get the certificate of single started.  So depending on any of a number of things we may have to delay the wedding for a couple weeks.  I guess in the grand scheme of things one day is as good as another but valentines and chinese and wedding all on the same day seemed like a good idea. Oh well I guess we will have to see how it plays out.

Now for part two.  As mentioned I went with the school to get my new visa.  Since this is illegal work ( I know I know) they told me not to mention the school and if asked I only go there to visit.  So we get to the appropriate department and the lady cop takes the papers and sends my escort to the bank to pay the fee.  After its said and done I am told there is a five day delay for an investigation.  Nobody mentioned this to me before hand.  My visa expires on the 26th and the investigation wont be finished until the 28th.  Also the cops kept my passport.  So I hope like hell the find nothing wrong with there investigation and they grant my visa.

If I dont get a visa then I will probably be asked to leave china.  Problem with this is it may make getting a visa in Canada more difficult as there is a question on the app asking if I have ever been refused a visa.  Obviously i would have to say yes and hope the explanation doesnt screw things up.  Worst case I may not get a visa to return to china.  Even worse is that would would make it next to impossible to get marreid.

So now you are all asking why did the school wait this long to get this done right?  Well that is my question also I have been telling them this needs to be done right away and they always said dont worry.  Well if I dont get the visa I may have to go and show them what worry is.  They have had my passport for several weeks so no excuse for it not getting done.  Nobody said anything about an investigation etc all I ever hear is dont worry.

So all in all christmas for me really sucks this year.  I just hope like hell they get the visa handled without me having to go to Canada to get it done.  Once I have it in my hot little hand they and I are going to have a sit down and discuss how foreign teachers are treated and ways to improve things.  No way am I going through this stuff again.  

Anyway enough whining and crying.

Merry christmas and Happy New Year to everyone and your ladies.

Zhen and Brian

[Willy The Londoner]

Hi Brian

Do not get dispondent.  Stop the pessimism  You know in your heart China is beaurocratic and nothing is done overnight.   Why should they refuse you a visa?  They are crying out for English teachers under the age of 65.   You have paid your money for the visa so there does not look as if there will be a problem.  

They are probabbly just going to check teh school out.  No doubt the school does this to every teacher - they will not go to any expense until they have to because you may decide not to stay and the few RMBs it cost them may be wasted.  

As for your marriage then as long as yuou get your paperwork by around 16th January you will still have time to get get married around St Valentines day.  Your application will have to be lodged at the US Embassy for 21 days the same as any other foreigner.  Then they will issue the certificate for you and if the do teh same as the UK one you will get it in Chinese as well.

Stop worrying and enjoy your first Christmas in China.

Willy

[Brian Mc]

Hi Brian

Do not get dispondent.  Stop the pessimism  You know in your heart China is beaurocratic and nothing is done overnight.   Why should they refuse you a visa?  They are crying out for English teachers under the age of 65.   You have paid your money for the visa so there does not look as if there will be a problem.  

They are probabbly just going to check teh school out.  No doubt the school does this to every teacher - they will not go to any expense until they have to because you may decide not to stay and the few RMBs it cost them may be wasted.  

As for your marriage then as long as yuou get your paperwork by around 16th January you will still have time to get get married around St Valentines day.  Your application will have to be lodged at the US Embassy for 21 days the same as any other foreigner.  Then they will issue the certificate for you and if the do teh same as the UK one you will get it in Chinese as well.

Stop worrying and enjoy your first Christmas in China.

Willy

Hiya Willy,

I hear what you are saying and of course I realize its the chinese way but sometimes its hard to remember that when you think of the consequences if it doesnt work.  Still you are right I will enjoy christmas with Zhen and worry about paperwork when the time comes.

Regards,

Zhen and Brian

[ttwjr32]

Brian,
good luck with everything it will all work out  have a good xmas with your lady

[rockycoon]

Don't forget to have your lawyer(who forget sometimes) to get that divorce decree signed and noterized by the sec of state, but then that's here in the US. I went through this (married 3 times) and had to have all divorces notized by the sec of state. Just a thought, also don't forget to get photostat's (a half dozen) of the decree's so if one gets lost you have more to fall back on, and the chinese will want a copy or two also, and you'll have them.
relax have a great christmas you lucky guy and enjoy the holidays!
By the way, the guy's are right..use Fed-Ex, a little pricey, but it gets there with no problem.

[David5o]

Brian Mc,

Where the hell are you??? ...We haven't heard a Dicky Bird from you in 3 months!!!

So what's going on with your visa situation, and your life in general with Zhen in China!!!
I noticed that you were on line here yesterday, buy nothing posted!!


David...

[ttwjr32]

i noticed the same  thought of sending him a pm but got
sidetracked  wondering how it is working out for him also