Since the Paris Townhall closes early during summer
the fiancé didn't get a chance to go down and enquire them
or rather confirm with them on the validity of the documents
Some sources say all documents are only valid 3 months
Some sources say all documents are valid 6 months
Some sources say some documents valid 3 months while some are valid 6 months
In any case,
No one indicate whether the validity needs to include the actual wedding date
or just application date.
To play safe,
not wasting extra time and money for the documents
The fiancé needs to get a final confirmation for the validity of documents.
The good news is most sources says that for birth cert is 6 months valid
so, I finally applied and collected my birth cert extract from ICA today
For those who wonder why I need to apply for a birth cert extract
Ministry of foreign affairs informed that they cant certified my birth cert as true copy
since it is laminated
hmmm...I think most people I know, born in the same period, have laminated copy.
Oh well.
So I need to apply for an extract online from ICA
Pay $33 and wait 7 working days.
For an email then collect it at ICA (can be sent via post)
Now the next steps are:
- Translate it at Alliance française
- Certified the French copy at france embassy in Singapore
- Certified the extract English copy at ministry of foreign affairs
Sounds troublesome?
Repeat the steps for each documents.
Who ever think getting married is easy?
As mentioned in my previous post
about changing my identity card
to include Cyril's family name
If you have read my side bar
you realized that the fiancé claims that its common in France
After reading more about the procedures
I think is do about
Firstly, I get to retain my maiden name
the identity card will display my original name
and mrs XXX original name below
so I need not make changes to my accounts etcs
because I can choose which name to use
secondly, is relatively easy.
Go down ICA to apply and pay
go online and select a date to collect
unsure how long it will take
but I believe I should have time in march 2014 to do so
since I will be applying for spouse visa too
So I guess
The decision has been made!
The initial plan was to resign in 1st August
or even maybe earlier
then it became 1st September
But I realise 1st September is a Sunday
And I do not want to tender on 2nd September
and risk the need to come back my company
3 weeks after my last day
Yes is weird how the payroll accounting works in here
If your last day does not lies in end of the month
the last pay will be given as a cheque and not banked in
Another the big boss has been on urgent leave since 3 weeks ago
a part of me was like super happy to be able to tender in her absence
but I realised that there is nothing to be secretive about
why do I need to hide?
I am not doing anything wrong.
So, I took the initiative to email her about my resignation
2 days before I resign
I was expecting some yucky remarks
but she didn't
maybe because I prep her few months ago
that I may be leaving
maybe she is not in mood
her mother is sick
or maybe she is happy im finally out
in any case, I done my part
to inform her before I resign.
Today I tender to my 2nd boss
so, 90 days more and I will be unemployed!
The fiance asked whether i will be adding his family name
to my official documents
after the wedding
I told him i will stay a Chen because it will be troublesome
to change my identity card, passport, bank account
In Singapore
is rare to hear someone adding their husband's family name to official documents
occasionally i do see on namecards and emails
but i dont think its an official change
I read on a blog
for this lady who married a scottish
and she change her identity card
to add in her husband's family name.
Hmm..is it a western concept??
but she did it since she is changing her identity card
and it seems to be a fairly easy and cheap procedure
I am a little tempted now to do so
maybe so that i will survive better in france
where people can address me as mrs garde
and it sounds cool when singaporeans wont know how to address me
hehe
should i?
This year i can't celebrate fiance birthday again...
But i did send pretty flowers to his office
to brighten his day
not on purpose that i sent our national flowers
hehe
The fiance is having a short weekend trip
at a place near Venice
Is strange how in Singapore
our short weekend trips are to go Malaysia, Indonesia etc
and he gets to go Venice
I am so jealous!
Happy 31st birthday my dear..
August is a crazy work month for me
Apart from 4 evenings (till 10pm) work week
and saturdays
and public holiday (National Day)
I was quite sure i can survive this.
However, an event at work this week
totally affected me and i decided i had enough.
Out of so many social agencies that i worked with
No where tested my sanity and ethics as here.
Well, as they always say,
A crisis will break or make a relationship.
Although finances will be tight
with the upcoming wedding and relocation
and unemployment.
I asked the fiance
how will he feels if i am to resign early / mid September
and serve my notice till end November or mid December
Instead of telling me that our finances will be hard
I should stay for the money
blah blah
He said "I will support whatever decision that you make"
how he will be glad that i can be there for christmas
And assured me that money will be tight but we will survive
I may never be able to fully support him
like how he can do so for me
But i will learn to do so
To trust in him
like how he trust me
To the one:
who never doubt my decision
trust in my wisdom to make the best decision
Support me in my decision
Hold me if is a wrong decision
Thank you.
Is times like this
That I realised how I taken Singapore for granted
because we are efficient
Following the email from the france embassy
I wrote an email to Singapore embassy in Paris
to enquire about certificat de coutume
which I should obtain from paris
I wrote the email at 3.00pm (Paris 9.00am)
They replied at 9.00pm (Paris 3.00pm)
ON THE SAME DAY!
They must have strict SOP like in Singapore
to ensure efficiency
Anyway the email was great
sweet and short
that I can obtain certificat de coutume from them
and fiancé can even obtain it on my behalf
at no cost.
