Steve and Carol Forslind have a great miscellaneous questions page!
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 1996 7:01 PM
Subject: Telephone Calls From China
RE: Steve's contribution on AT&T USA DIRECT SERVICE
calling back to the US.
AT&T is often less expensive that direct dialing from your hotel especially with the typical hotel surcharge which adds another 50% to 100% on top. And there's no language problem, but be forewarned that AT&T is still pretty expensive.
There's another alternative that you should consider. Here are the basic AT&T rates from China to the US w/o any discount programs.
AT&T Calling Card: $6.79 1st minute and $2.19 for each add. min.
AT&T Collect: $9.29 1st minute and $2.19 for each add. min.
If you can arrange for your friends, relatives, well-wishers call you the basic AT&T rates to China are:
5pm to 2am local time $2.63 1st min and $2.44 for each add. min.
2am to 11am local time $2.28 1st min and $2.03 for each add. min.
11am to 5pm local time $1.86 1st min and $1.66 for each add. min.
A lower cost alternative are the "call-back" services. You call a trigger number from China to the US, using AT&T or the hotel's direct dial, and hang up after 1 or 2 rings. The call-back service then calls you from the US) where you are charged bulk US long distance rates. You get a US dial tone and you dial your party in the US. Since your "trigger" call was not completed, there's no charge to you in China. It's a little more complicated and you may need to carry a pocket tone generator, but the service is reliable (they use AT&T lines) and there's big savings. You can open an account with your credit card and cancel anytime. Usually there's no initiation fee.
I do a lot of traveling in my business and I've cut my international long distance by as much as half using a call-back service. We used this service successfully from China. Typical rates for calls from China to the US using Kallback in Seattle WA (205-284-8600): $1.30 per minute. Kallback charges by each the 0.1 minute (6 seconds). AT&T charges by the minute for each fraction of a minute.
A 10-minute call: AT&T USA Direct - $26.50 Kallback - $13.00
A 10-minute and six-second call: AT&T USA Direct - $28.94 Kallback - $13.13
I hope that you don't find this post too commercial, for it was not intended to be. I have no affiliation with AT&T or Kallback, except that I use their services. I just think to be good consumers, we need to be aware of the alternatives.
Stephen
[Note the date. I am sure this info is completely obsolete. But the
point of it is to ask around if calling home will be an issue for you.--Ed]
From: Stephen Jeu
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 1996 3:03 PM
Subject: Please Explain Chops
Hi Jennifer:
Generally, a "chop" refers to a stamp in red ink. In China, a chop conveys the authority of a particular Chinese official, office, or agency -- in the same way a notary seal does for a state notary in the US.
Your personal documents, copies, and/or signatures are notarized by a state notary, and the state certifies that the notary that you have used is properly licensed by the state. Next the documents, the notary statement and state certification is confirmed as authentic by the Chinese consulate which is assigned to handle documents from your state. This authentication is conveyed when the Chinese consul places his/her stamp or "chop" on the back of each set of documents.
The "double chop" usually refers to the approval granted by both Civil Affairs and Justice Ministries that is issued by the China Adoption Center in Beijing after you've accepted your referral. This document carries the chop of both ministries, hence the name.
This double chop is sent to the local or provincial office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs which usually originates the invitation to travel. During the first part of your visit to China, you will be interviewed by Ministry officials who will grant you final approval to adopt.
Stephen
father of Sarah 6/23/94, Zhenjiang, Nanjing Province, June 95