Job Discussion Forums

going_places · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 30

Recently a teacher at my hogwon did a fly by night and my boss is afraid that I will do the same. As such he wants to hold on to my passport, and I don't feel comfortable with it. I've also heard that this sort of practice is illegal.

Does anyone know of any links that state anything about passport rights for foreigners in another country?

acwilliams · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:03 am Post subject:

going_places, could you clarify - who actually has possession of the passport right now - your boss, or you?

SandyMcIvor · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:50 am Post subject:

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES LET ANYONE HAVE YOUR PASSPORT.

If your boss demands your passport, tell him that it is government property and you are not allowed to give it to anyone. If he says it's the passport or the job, quit.

That passport can be stolen (and if it is, will HE be the one that has to go to the embassy and all the red tape to replace it? NO) or copied or he can simply (and more likely) work you to death and not pay you and use the passport as hostage.

DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR PASSPORT IF YOU VALUE YOUR ATONOMY

acwilliams · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:19 am Post subject:

Agreed. Also, your passport is your legal ID document - what happens if the police ask you to show your ID and you have to say 'er, my boss has it'? Point out that he could get into just as much trouble as you in that situation. Mention also that your embassy might take an interest if your boss is withholding your passport.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

If your boss doesn't trust his employees, that is his problem. Perhaps he should get a different line of work. You are not the previous employee and just because one teacher did it, doesn't mean they all will do a runner. Have you thought the teacher did a runner for a good reason?

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

You could just report the passport lost or stolen and then go get a new passport straight away. Let the boss hold onto the then worthless passport.

khmerhit · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:56 pm Post subject:

Hold onto your passport.

DUH.

Canadian passports are worth about 400usd in Bangkok. if you want to help out a desperate algerian or whomever... give it away.

Welshguy · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 143

Yeah give it to the guy, five minutes after he gives you the deeds to his house and his firstborn son as a hostage.

Dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

Homer S Welshguy

jeffinflorida · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject:

Don't give up your passport.

A fellow FT gave his to the FAO and she had it in her pocketbook. It got swiped by a drive-by motorcycle theif and he lost his passport.

a real big hassle for him.

He had to go to the Aussie consulate in Guangzhou 2 times. The university sent him BY BUS - a 10-12 hour trip. Each way. They wouldn't pay for the flight even though it was only 1 hour and only cost like 200 rmb more.

Your passport is vital and not really easy to replace. It will cost some $ to replace and perhaps lots of time and travel. And you may NOT be able to get on a plane in China with out this ID.

Don't give it up.

Tue · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 59

Don't ever give up your passport in China !!!! EVER

It will be used against you, and you may have to pay money just to get it back. Once you have it, find a new employer !

jeffinflorida · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 3:08 am Post subject:

tedkarma · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:21 am Post subject:

I agree that, in this case, you should not give your passport to your employer. But, the overall advice that it should NEVER be done is not in tune with the realities of the TEFL world in some parts of the world.

While I worked in Saudi Arabia - the HR office held all our passports - and we were not a batch of newbies. We counted about 25 native speakers at the school where I taught - most highly experienced and an average age of 45+.

Ordinarily - it is not wise to hand off your passport- but sometimes, in some countries, it is the standard procedure.

Okay, I guess you don't have to - but I wanted to save the US$25,000 plus per year the job afforded me . . .

fitzpatrick_thomas · Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 55

From my experience the kind of employer who wants to hold your passport is very dishonest. Be careful, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Chances are you are going to be cheated in other ways as well.

Advice - get out of that place as soon as possible. Your boss is obviously a crook, if he/she thinks that they can get away with this passport scam then they will try something else - non-payment, breaching contract etc.

I think you are in trouble already - best cut your losses and run.

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:25 pm Post subject:

I think what fitzpatrick suggests is often true - but in some countries that is not the case.

The company I worked for in Saudi - for FIVE years - paid to the penny, on time, and we worked EXACTLY as contracted - every day - for the full five years. Honest, straight up - and other than being in Saudi - a great employer.

So - general ideas are okay - but it's important to keep your wits about you and be aware of the working culture where you are.

But, yes, in most countries - the keeping of your passport - just doesn't smell right and is usually an indicator of other smelly things about to happen.

Chancellor · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:14 pm Post subject: