Job Discussion Forums

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

NOW, I get what GWOW was on about in the locked thread. When I first read it, it was like he was speaking in tongues. I had no real idea as to what he was insinuating.

Now, I do. Our school in Beijing had a visitation today from the lovely burly men dressed in blue and wearing peaked caps. One of them could actually speak English and roughed me up pretty well. Verbally, not physically. Although, if I had been less cooperative and less forthcoming with information, who knows what might have happened?

Luckily, I am working legally. Still, they took my passport, to "check a few things" and promised its return next week.

MOD EDIT

[Ariadne]

Took your passport and promised its return next week???? If this is part of the process to get your new RP in the passport, well OK. If they just took it for the heck of it... 'to check a few things'... that's weird, and very unsettling. Can you tell us more about what they said to you and what questions they asked during the 'interview'? Are there other teachers at your school and were their passports taken too? Was your FAO present? What was his/her reaction?

.

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

Ariadne, please let me get back to you later with more detail when I am less upset and unsettled.

It was an upsetting experience. No, it wasn't a matter of putting something in my passport; it was more of a going through it with a fine-tooth comb, magnifying glass thing.

MOD EDIT

They wanted to know my monthly earnings. How many hours a week worked. Who I worked with (Here, I was very protective of my work-mates, did not disclose names and kept things as vague as I could).

I work at a kindy so no FAO. The principal was in attendance, the owner was a phone call away ( and did, in fact, call me several times to reassure me) and a primary investor in the school (who is married to a somewhat high-ranking official) was physically present to apply oil to the wheels.

Still, it was scary. The police officer did his best to intimidate me, and intimidated, I certainly was. I told the truth and nothing but the truth despite the school's advice to lie like a rug.

I will lie about a haircut or a new item of clothing. White lies, if you will. I will not lie to a police officer, especially one in a country with rules so different than my own.

To answer your last question, by chance, three out of our five foreign teachers were away as a matter of coincidence. One subbing for another teacher at another one of our schools. One out for the morning due to personal circumstances. Another away for an off-grounds event. They were the lucky ones.

I was left behind along with another teacher who is having visa issues because of the present political circumstances. She had the presence of mind to lie. I had no such thing because it came down to me out of the blue (literally).

I was truthful because that's how I am by nature. Hopefully, it won't come back to bite me ...

[creeper1]

Sheesh. I guess I might have to consider carrying my passport with me while this crackdown is going on.

That is annoying because I don't normally carry the dawm thing.

I guessed the crackdown would be stronger in the foreign areas of Sanlitun or Wuduaoku.

Where in Beijing are you? I am out in the west, Wanshoulu/ Babaoshan area.

[rogerwilco]

[scholar]

This looks like a perfect example of how the system is working. You are legal, you were able to present your passport with appropriate stamps, and so there was no trouble. They will just check it to tie up loose ends, you'll get it back and no problems. This whole issue has been overblown on the web.

[rogerwilco]

[Gtomas]

[Gtomas]

I want to know if this "crack down" on illegals will spread to Shanghai or Shenzhen, where powerful men have an investment in foreigners working in the "grey" area of legality.

Beijing is obviously a very politically charged place--being the capital and all. What about the investment centers?

Most people know the Chinese legal system has been designed so everyone is breaking some law all the time. That way they can punish you at any moment.

Every foreigner reading this could probably be kicked out of the country for something. IE not registering in a city they traveled to a year ago for three days. If you did register? Well I'm sure they could quickly lose your records.

[choudoufu]

do you have a plan B?

the reason i ask is i suspect your school is not legit. you're working
at a kindy (i read on a recent post that only certain specific types
of schools are authorized to hire foreigners, and don't recall reading
kindergarten.), and you have multiple schools. are you working for
an agency that farms you out to various locations? is your kindy
directly subordinate to a government-run university or to an
international school?

does your school have all the required documentation to employ
foreigners? have they been getting by until now because you've
got a "a primary investor in the school who is married to a somewhat
high-ranking official?" have they been using another school's
papers to get your rp's?

why is the other teacher having visa problems? that could be what
sent them down to visit your little corner of paradise.

and here's the big one.....why would the burly man take your
passport? that makes no sense. unless it's a shakedown of
some sort. but if he's taken your passport, and not given you
an official, stamped receipt, then you'll be illegal on the streets.

if your visa and rp were completely in order, there would be nothing
to check. it's only if they suspect/know your school is doing
something illegal that they would need to take some evidence
along. taking your passport is just officer zhou friday's way of
saying "don't leave town."

[xiguagua]

I had the police show up at my door two days ago here in Changsha. It was two young cute officers though, and they were more happy to look at my kitten than scream at me. They checked my passport and checked my contract for my apartment and briefly questioned about if anyone is living with me (nope!), wrote down some info from my passport and contract and that was that. It seems like it wasn't a crackdown on foreigners though since they were also banging on the apartment next to me, which no one lives there. Who knows.

Anyway I think it's best to just cooperate. If you're legal then there's nothing to worry about. But it would suck so hard if you got deported because your school was incompetent and wasn't legally allowed to hire foreigners......seems wrong that they can punch you for that when there's no way we can be sure.

[Miles Smiles]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[leandrachair]

You are required by law (Chinese law and U.S.-Chinese visa/passport law) to turn over your passport to authorized government entities. This includes the police. You are not required to be accused of a crime or arrested in order to turn over your documents. They can ask any time to see and take your passport and return it to you after their so-called job (the purposed for which they took possession).

I do not see how any of this is intimidation. You are a guest (as we all are) in this country. The police have the right to ask for your documents at any time to ensure you are in the country legally.

Calling and sobbing to your embassy is the pathetic response to a simple situation. Sure, if it's not returned in a proper time, then call them. Handing over your documents is hardly theft.

If you don't like it, then go home.

[choudoufu]