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Schools asking for passport as part of the application

 
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tommyp32



Joined: 12 Nov 2014
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:52 am    Post subject: Schools asking for passport as part of the application Reply with quote
So I'm seeing a lot of schools asking for a photocopy as part of the application. I was wondering if this was typical for schools out of China, or if these are places I should stay away from. I'm a bit worried about identity theft.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I can't speak for China, but some job seekers prefer to email a copy with their passport number redacted (blacked out). I don't bother, since there's not much personal info on the document. Besides, if you've ever travelled abroad extensively, every time you stay in a hotel or hostel, you end up handing your passport over to some unknown employee to photocopy for their records.
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wangdaning



Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 3154
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
At application stage they don't need it, but they will need it. Like Nomad said, it is unlikely they would use it, it is not useful.

I just signed my name and gave my passport like 50 times, not to hijack, but my baby was born. Wonderful baby boy Smile Wife's family were certain it would be a girl, haha.
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tommyp32



Joined: 12 Nov 2014
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
nomad soul wrote:
I can't speak for China, but some job seekers prefer to email a copy with their passport number redacted (blacked out). I don't bother, since there's not much personal info on the document. Besides, if you've ever travelled abroad extensively, every time you stay in a hotel or hostel, you end up handing your passport over to some unknown employee to photocopy for their records.


True... I will probably redact it just to be safe, but I do understand about the hostel thing. I think I didn't have as much as a problem then because I was actually there and knew the hostel was an actual physical entity.
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Listerine



Joined: 15 Jun 2014
Posts: 340
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
edit the number in the early stages for recruiters, schools, spammers etc.

when a school gets serious about hiring you they are going to need to see the full passport info.

too much screwing them around will see your application moved to the circular file.
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Bud Powell



Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 1736
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Listerine wrote:
edit the number in the early stages for recruiters, schools, spammers etc.

when a school gets serious about hiring you they are going to need to see the full passport info.

too much screwing them around will see your application moved to the circular file.


Listerine is 100% correct.

After you accept the contract, DON'T FORGET to send a scan that shows your passport number. Listerine is right. It is incumbent upon you to remember. Failure to send a second scan that shows the number may seriously slow down issuance of the letter of invitation which you will need to get your Z visa.

I know. I didn't send a scan that showed my pp number, and the FAO of the school didn't check it. It arrived at the Ministry of Education, and it wasn't discovered that there was no pp number until two weeks later. I was two weeks late getting my letter of invitation. Add the seven days of back-and-forth paperwork to the Consulate to the fact that the school took its merry time sending paperwork to the Ministry of Education in the first place. I was late arriving at the school. Not good.
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BleedingBlue



Joined: 22 Oct 2014
Posts: 87
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm confused about the evilness of proving your citizenship to a potential employer. Why should they spend time working with you only to find your claim of being "from an English speaking country" doesn't jive with the local authorities country requirement? Why should they believe your age, etc.?

If you're that paranoid, then get a job at McDonald's back home.
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Bud Powell



Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 1736
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
BleedingBlue,

Don't you think it's understandable that someone new to teaching abroad would be hesitant to send a scan of his passport for an application with no guarantee of being hired? Most westerners can apply for domestic jobs without providing more than a resume. For that reason, it comes as a surprise to a lot of people when they're asked to provide personal information right off the bat when they apply for a job in China.

Raving paranoia better describes the scambuster who ACTUALLY SEES fraud behind every tree because he has a friend who knows someone whose brother-in-law said his roommate's identity was stolen.
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mysterytrain



Joined: 23 Mar 2014
Posts: 366
PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:20 pm <