Best U.S. International Shipping service for quick delivery - Interview in 13 days

[AnnaMaria 68]

Hello, not sure where those question goes...

Our interview is in 13 days. Our Joint Sponsor has her documents prepared and will be mailing them first thing tomorrow, but we originally were going to use USPS Priority Mail Express International which was only like $46 to here and we realized that USPS probably does not use a courier service and we'll get put through sorting facilities which could take weeks to reach my wife's village. Obviously we don't have that much time.

Does anyone know of a shipping service like UPS or FedEx that offers delivery of two documents from the states (Memphis,Tn) to Romania with a 3-5 delivery day time with courier?

I checked UPS and FedEx and they are asking around $150 for two documents, if we can avoid that kind of price that would be fantastic. If it is our only option, then we'll have to take another hit in the budget.

I checked DHL and I keep getting the error that there is no service between destination and origin locations.

Please help!

[Deagle 508]

I suggest you DHL, its gonna cost you money anyway but why to risk ? based on personal experience DHL was better than Fedex or UPS

[mrsleman07 2]

FedEx or DHL either way is good based on our experience, a lil bit expensive but it's worth it. Takes about 3 days. USPS took a week when hubby sent some documents soooo, use what's convenient for you! good luck!

[AnnaMaria 68]

Well, I WANT to use DHL very badly. I trust their service, but as I said...We cannot seem to get the information to produce a quote.

We keep getting "Product not available between this origin and destination given shipment parameters"

May I ask what you paid for DHL shipment of documents? Like I said, it's only two documents, a hand-signed I-864 and a birth certificate., it cannot possibly be more than 0.1 kg

[SilentOdyssey 6]

Use any courier but USPS. Last May, when I tracked my package every couple hours after leaving my post office, I found out my Priority Express Mail has been held up in Chicago. The code for that place was ICS and it remained there for 5 days before it finally moved for Chicago. Roughly it arrived another end at my wife's doorstep just in 12 days!

That was 2nd and final test; previously, while living in the Philippines my Mom emailed tracking number and same shipping behavior was shown: her Priority Express remained in ICS for 5 days, too.

With UPS they delivered 3 days to a hotel, where they were willing to hold mail for my wife. I chose UPS at last minute decision over $20 saving over FedEx. Same cost but FedEx neglected to mention fuel surcharge to the total. Honest is best policy, eh?

Always ask for flat rate envelope or box. When you pack inside chosen package, it will involve in no measurement or weighting. Even through the clerk might weight and measure, it doesn't effect the pricing of one flat rate.

When UPS Store clerk asked which shipping option I would want, I choose UPS Worldsaver option, largely because I did my price comparison on the night before I shipped it off. Don't forgot ask the clerk to do customs declaration form--always ask to include the mail, always. Philippine Bureau of Customs tend to demand for it, or else they will charge a fee (even after rip the package apart) as their excuse for lack of customs declaration documentation.

[AnnaMaria 68]

Right, I do believe UPS and FedEx both have good delivery services, but we are on an extremely tight budget and while I would not blink an eye over a $20 difference, the price difference between USPS and FedEX and UPS were over $110.

We have a UPS and FedEx near my residence back in the states and I guess we'll have to do whats necessary to ensure proper and timely delivery. I guess like someone said here, it's not worth the risk to get help up with the post offices sorting facilities.

Thank you for the customs advice as well, they held our Christmas package here for 9 days and made us pay an additional $35 just to pick it up, i'll make sure all of that is taken care of when she sends it. To confirm, since she's sending only two documents via (for example ) UPS, just tell them to make sure that the customs declaration states it is two documents of mail or that they are original documents and explain their purpose?

[SilentOdyssey 6]

Well, I WANT to use DHL very badly. I trust their service, but as I said...We cannot seem to get the information to produce a quote.

We keep getting "Product not available between this origin and destination given shipment parameters"

May I ask what you paid for DHL shipment of documents? Like I said, it's only two documents, a hand-signed I-864 and a birth certificate., it cannot possibly be more than 0.1 kg

DHL closed its Wilmington, Ohio back in 2008, causing huge bite of Ohioan economy. Lot of people lost their job right after DHL quickly pulled their mat away. After that their presence in United States has significant reduced. Through I may be wrong in US part but their activity is low to minimal in Asia Pacific and, perhap, worldwide. All I know DHL is Europe-based company centered in Germany. Romania is right in their territory, so check online if DHL has their office in Romania. Since delivery from FedEx is fair in the Philippines (through I claimed having not seen deliver truck), UPS has Philippine strategic partner, regional courier called "2Go." So check Romania on list of logistic carriers first before commit decision which international courier to handle your mail. Backtrack your finding from Romania.

[mrsleman07 2]

Well, I WANT to use DHL very badly. I trust their service, but as I said...We cannot seem to get the information to produce a quote.

We keep getting "Product not available between this origin and destination given shipment parameters"

May I ask what you paid for DHL shipment of documents? Like I said, it's only two documents, a hand-signed I-864 and a birth certificate., it cannot possibly be more than 0.1 kg

[mrsleman07 2]

Well, I just recently used DHL when I sent my hubby two documents as well, (police clearance and birth certificate) they charged me the minimum payment, of course it depends from where the location is. I got charged like 60 dollars and that's it.

[AnnaMaria 68]

Well, I just recently used DHL when I sent my hubby two documents as well, (police clearance and birth certificate) they charged me the minimum payment, of course it depends from where the location is. I got charged like 60 dollars and that's it.

I would pay that price any day for a 3-5 day delivery, but the closest DHL office from my mom's residence is pretty far away. It would cost almost as much in gas just to send two pieces of paper lol. DHL is EVERYWHERE here in Romania though, but when I called to get some information a few minutes ago they told me I needed to contact the DHL US office.

[SilentOdyssey 6]

@AnnaMaria

I just research at DHL website while ago. Either DHL Authorized Shipping Center can take your mail, or UPS Store can. Get full address where you intend to mail to and let the clerk (at the place you planned to mail off) figure it out. UPS Store also list multi-carrier such as USPS which amazed me. If your heart is strong on DHL, then DHL it is.

[AnnaMaria 68]

@Silent

How in the heck did you get to a quote page?! It keeps asking me telling me there is no service for my destination and origin. I live 20 minutes outside of the country's capital city! I even tried entering my wife's office address in Bucharest and it said the same thing.

What dimensions did you enter and weight for the envelope or package to get to the quote page?

[Neonred 3,569]

As said previously, stay away from USPS.

Just a suggestion, scan the documents as many embassies will accept scanned and e-mailed copies. A while back someone had this same issue at the embassy in Moscow and this worked. At least it will be a great back up just in case.

Several years back I sent documents to Russia with DHL and at that time they had a guaranteed delivery time of something like 5 days. My package went on a LONG trip and ultimately took nearly 2 weeks. I did complain, and they refunded my entire cost for sending the documents, which was just over $100 at that time.

[AnnaMaria 68]

As said previously, stay away from USPS.

Just a suggestion, scan the documents as many embassies will accept scanned and e-mailed copies. A while back someone had this same issue at the embassy in Moscow and this worked. At least it will be a great back up just in case.

Several years back I sent documents to Russia with DHL and at that time they had a guaranteed delivery time of something like 5 days. My package went on a LONG trip and ultimately took nearly 2 weeks. I did complain, and they refunded my entire cost for sending the documents, which was just over $100 at that time.

Well we are doing as you have suggested and are having my mother scan/e-mail most of the documents, but the Birth Certificate and I-864 must be signed by hand and that is what we need mailed

[Neonred 3,569]

Well we are doing as you have suggested and are having my mother scan/e-mail most of the documents, but the Birth Certificate and I-864 must be signed by hand and that is what we need mailed

I know embassies vary. Moscow accepted an e-mailed I-864. Even if the mailed documents are late, make sure the interview is attended. They will award the visa after the missing documents are received.

Good luck, but I am sure your documents will arrive on time!

Edited to add that in our case the Moscow embassy accepted faxed police certificates.

Edited September 19, 2014 by Neonred