Job Discussion Forums

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

All the FT's at my college had to give our passport to the FAO girl. Apparently, it is for registering our FEC and is supposed to take only a few days even though the FAO girl also said that theyjust want to photocopy our passport. Has this happened to anyone else yet?

MoggIntellect · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 173 Location: Chengdu, P.R.China

Usually when they do the visa thing they also get your FEC. Maybe they didn't do it in one shot, but don't worry, your passport is not heading for the black market, they will present you with your passport and brand new FEC, in due time.... be patient, this isn't Canada, it's China!!

Volodiya · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 9:04 am Post subject:

tw, the way you worded this it forces us to try to guess what you're talking about. As I understand it, you got your FEC back in September (your post of Sept 25).

Why would they need to "register" your FEC? If you have one, nothing further needs to be done with it. Why would they, in any case, need your passport, if the issue related to your FEC?

I know you said you thought you'd be getting both the FEC and RPF over about a weeks time- did they also give you an RPF, back then?

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

MoggIntellect · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 173 Location: Chengdu, P.R.China

Oh sorry, I misread I suppose. Yeah that is more than weird. Phone them up to get some answers... in a polite way of course.

Brian Caulfield · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 1247 Location: China

I had a problem once in Taiwan where they lost my passport . I had to tell the police I lost the passport .
Anyway I have given it to the schools the last few jobs here . But if you check with your embassy they will tell you to never relenquish your passport to anyone . What I did on my first job in China which caused me problem was to tell them they could have my passport but I go with it .

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Some FTs seem to have an Emergency Button on the wrong side of their bodies, constantly triggering alarms. Please, no need to panic!

Maybe that FAO girl's command of English is not up to this sort of communications needs; maybe she has orders from a higher-up and cannot query that person either.

She needs to make photocopies, right? I don't think this is "weird" or a prelude to sinister things. They may follow procedures too strictly and have things done twice over rather than forget them.

Also, a FEC is not necessary for you to keep; you won't ever use it. Many employers keep them because the must return them after your contract expires. Once your BOC branch has instructions to convert 70% of your salary into a currency of your choice they will do that with no further questions asked. They do it even on salaries paid before (but covered by your current contract). Your employer may not have gone to the BOC yet.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

I am not in a panic. Laughing

I was just curious that's all. Well, I gave the apartment attendant my FEC just now because the FAO girl told her that they need both documents and I could be getting them back as early as this afternoon.

Also, there was no problem with the language as everything was said in Mandarin. Wink