Job Discussion Forums

creeper1 · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 7:23 am Post subject: Going Abroad and Residence Permit

I am planning a short trip abroad. I have my residence permit. My question is there any more bureaucracy aside from having to re-register at the police station when I come back?

In Korea I needed a multiple entry visa (E-2). I'm guessing in China I can just come and go as long as I have my residence permit?

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Yeah, as long as your Residence Permit is valid and not expired, that is your travel document. No fuss, no muss. The bit about re-registering with the local police upon return is true, but I don't know anyone who has ever done it. If you are in an area where the letter of the law is strictly enforced, or might be, you should look into it. My university FAO department sometimes asks me when I will arrive back from long holidays, so perhaps they are sending a report to the local police, but they have never mentioned it to me.

edit: I see you are in Beijing- probably a good idea to re-register on return.

lemak · Joined: 19 Nov 2011 Posts: 368

My school has a meeting in the last week before the vacation and the boss writes down everyone's expected plans and takes the details of those leaving the country with approximate dates they'll return to the local cop shop. It's never 100% accurate, but the police seem happy and claim as long as they have the rough times you'll be returning that's good enough to not have to then notify them upon arriving back.

They seem to make it as easy for the local teachers and international students as they can since at my local PSB since they know that most of us are either unaware of the rules or figure they're unimportant enough to just outright ignore.

If I had to guess I'd say my local police office is dealing with close to 1,000 foreigners so they seem a little used to us and our "We don't need your stinkin' rules" ways.

xiguagua · Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 768

Yeah some schools just take care of it for you. I always had to re-register when I'd come back from summer holiday, but weekend trips I don't bother telling anyone...........although I probably should just in case i'm hit by a car or something.

But yeah, the residence permit acts as a multi-entry visa which is nice; you can come and go as you please once you have it.

kungfuman · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject:

The boss in my department is extremely hands off. He casually asks us of our travel plans but doesn't seem to record them - more out of curiosity I think.

The HR department does remind us of the official rule to go to the local PSB station and get a new letter every time we leave China. Really no one ever does it. My resident permit is up for renewal and she sent me an email telling me to get a new letter if I left the country since the last letter so there are no issues for RP renewal. That and I need to take the stupid online test again.

GreatApe · Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:08 am Post subject:

My experiences match those of roadwalker and kungfuman.

I've never had a problem traveling on my R.P. and don't know anyone who has re-registered once they come back to the city / PSB which issued the R.P. It's basically been "back to work"!

--GA

JamesD · Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 2:10 am Post subject:

The issue of having to register with the neighborhood boys in blue when you return may depend on your location or whims of the OD. Like you, I need to re-register at the local cop station every time I arrive back from an international trip. Forgot to do it after one short trip and they were a little put out; was threatened with a fine but offering cigarettes and smiling sheepishly took care of it. Other than that, no, there are no bureaucratic hoops (in my area). Never had to inform the PSB or other gov. office when I left/returned.