I ran into the parents of a Canadian english teacher who arrived in Shanghai after their son fell seriously ill.

Fortunately, their son is well into recovery etc.

They advised me that I should register with the local consulate just in case of emergencies etc.

I've travelled all over but have never registered. Never even thought about it. Does anyone have any wisdom?

I think it is a good idea. It only takes a couple of minutes online(for the UK anyway). It's one of those things that you pray to dog you'll never need, but it really helps when you do.

Yuppers

You never know when it might come in handy - remember when the war broke out in Lebanon - everyone registered got shipped out (literally I believe, first to Cyprus, then home) courtesy of our government. So if any natural or not so natural disaster happens to befall Shanghai if you're listed it's probably easier to get emergency help with only your name and date of birth (imagine where you live turned to rubble and all your paperwork lost... if Canada has no record of you living here it might take longer to ascertain that you are truly who you say you are). Plus they explicitly state that the information provided is not shared with any other government agency, including Revenue Canada (I think it's funny how they point that one agency especially :-p) in case it's a factor in your decision.

I am registered (US) but other than renew my passport and send me an occational information bulletins I have not had much contact. it is probably more important in a country that is less stable to be registered. It also might help it you have lost your passport.

VancouverSteve wrote:I ran into the parents of a Canadian english teacher who arrived in Shanghai after their son fell seriously ill.

Fortunately, their son is well into recovery etc.

They advised me that I should register with the local consulate just in case of emergencies etc.

I've travelled all over but have never registered. Never even thought about it. Does anyone have any wisdom?

No, but I should. Procrastinating for now

Do it and do it as soon as possible. It is like buying insurance but better. Better because it does not cost you anything but a few moments of your time and should some disaster occur, you will be ahead of the non-registered pack to be taken care of.

It is highly recommended to register with your Consulate when you go to a foreign country.
If you have a problem, like a national disaster, it will be a help to the Consulate as well as to you.
If you have an accident like death, or a bad accident, also very important.
I believe most Consulates have a fund, that they can use for problems that need financial help for their citizens.

I never could be bothered in most civilized places, but here I definitely registered with the Consulate. I think it's very important.

Yep defo! There's no harm in it!

And with the British Constulate you can do it online or PM them on Twitter.

Sa-weet!

Not only did I register, but I keep the phone numbers (normal and after-hours emergency) for the Shanghai Consulate and the Bejing Embassy on my mobile phone. Like Rennovator said, it's like insurance. You never know when you might need it, and it doesn't cost anything...

^ Exactly

After 6 years abroad I finally decided to register with my consulate here. Can be done online, but unfortunately I have to renew the registration every few months, otherwise they kick me out of their system. After remembering this 2 or 3 times, I have now given up. They did not even send me the new bulletins I was promised...

I agree there is no harm in it, but I also don't really see the benefit. If I have a problem (eg lost passport, emergency) it does not help at all to speed up anything.
The only difference is that they can contact me if I am registered. That might come useful if your consulates evacuate its citizens from China, but how likely is that to come as a surprise? And then, I probably rather follow my wife to her country anyway.

Yes. For the US it is super easy, takes about a minute online.

Good point about putting the phone numbers on the mobi though, hadn't thought of that - will do straight away.

Yeah, program the phone numbers in your mobile, but also write them down somewhere, where you can't lose or forget them. They might be the most important numbers you will ever need one day. When I was still working for an engine builder and traveling mostly to the somewhat dodgy places , it was standard procedure and part what you would put in your 'grab bag'.

Andreas wrote:When I was still working for an engine builder and traveling mostly to the somewhat dodgy places , it was standard procedure and part what you would put in your 'grab bag'.

out of wild curiosity what else do you include in your 'grab bag' - it might be useful to share, as with Klick, I never thought of programming my phone with the consulate numbers (but have since done so!)

so other than my passport and the wad of cash I keep stashed in the freezer... what else should go in the 'grab bag'? (I don't have any prescriptions... )

thanks in advance!

ship wrote:

Andreas wrote:When I was still working for an engine builder and traveling mostly to the somewhat dodgy places , it was standard procedure and part what you would put in your 'grab bag'.

out of wild curiosity what else do you include in your 'grab bag' - it might be useful to share, as with Klick, I never thought of programming my phone with the consulate numbers (but have since done so!)

so other than my passport and the wad of cash I keep stashed in the freezer... what else should go in the 'grab bag'? (I don't have any prescriptions... )

thanks in advance!

Like on a business trip? A few tabs each of Tylenol, Tylenol PM, cold/flu, sleeping pills, and anti-poopy pills in a small bottle. $100 USD in 20s. A copy of your passport. Oh, and buy a safe, so you have more room in your freezer.

I thought a grab bag was if you were working in a dodgy country and had to get out that very second for fear of your life, not something to have lying around in case of a business trip or flight home quickly!! In those cases you have a little more time to pack....

ship wrote:

Andreas wrote:When I was still working for an engine builder and traveling mostly to the somewhat dodgy places , it was standard procedure and part what you would put in your 'grab bag'.

out of wild curiosity what else do you include in your 'grab bag' - it might be useful to share, as with Klick, I never thought of programming my phone with the consulate numbers (but have since done so!)

so other than my passport and the wad of cash I keep stashed in the freezer... what else should go in the 'grab bag'? (I don't have any prescriptions... )

thanks in advance!

Well, in mine, amongst a few other personal things:

- set of copies of passports and important docs like insurance policies, list with important numbers (in case the mobile phone fails) etc.
- solar powered flashlight, or conventional LED one with spare batteries.
- satellite phone (Iridium)
- handheld VHF
- waterproof matches
- lighter
- multitool (Leatherman, but Gerber is also a good one)
- solar battery charger
- GPS
- spare batteries
- Basic medication (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Aspirin)
- Adhesive bandages
- tissues
- Any prescription drugs that people in the group might need
- 1 thermal blanket per person
- water purification tablets (PotableAqua)
- safety tin opener
- emergency cash
- personal hygiene items
- waterproof marker pen
- wire saw
- chemical light sticks

Looks like a lot, but it actually does not take a lot of space. I have added in mine some sealed emergency rations which I liberated from a life raft kit.

Oooh, that's so smart. I was sitting here trying to think of what to put in mine and all I could come up with was lipstick and some extra back thingies for my earrings, in case I drop one and can't find it.

^ Now let's get this thing on the hump - we got some flyin' to do.

Never registered. I figure, why have 2 governments tracking my whereabouts when just 1 is doing such a good job!

KalanStar wrote:Never registered. I figure, why have 2 governments tracking my whereabouts when just 1 is doing such a good job!

Yeah, you might want to rethink this position, before the next time you have occasion to knife-dance with 13 year old pickpockets and someone needs to come over to identify your cold carcass and repatriate it back to wherever it is you dropped in from. It will certainly make your next-of-kin's life a lot easier.

Klick: Ha Ha, well put under the recent circumstances of Kalanstar.

It's about being a little unselfish, and helping others, should the unthinkable happen, or there is a lesser problem.

leidelaohu wrote:Mine :

- One forty-five caliber automatic
- Two boxes of ammunition
- Four days' concentrated emergency rations
- One drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills
- One miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible
- One hundred dollars in roubles
- One hundred dollars in gold
- Nine packs of chewing gum
- One box of prophylactics
- Three lipsticks
- Three pair of nylon stockings.

You're from Detroit too? I thought I was the only one...

....and some condoms.