Job Discussion Forums

teflsweet · Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 20

Okay, I've only traveled internationally a few times, (so far, not for teaching), but I never had to leave my passport with anyone to obtain my visa, I always did it myself.

I keep reading articles that tell you not to give your passport to the school until you have agreed upon a contract. That seems logical, but I don't like the idea of leaving my passport with ANYONE.

Is it this way because you would be applying for a work visa rather than a travel visa?

I'm confused...

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

They need your passport to get you the residence permit. You get your own visa.

Adeem · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 1:50 am Post subject:

They have no right to keep it once the visa has been obtained.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

In fact, PSB asks for the foreigners to come with the FAO office. When this is done, you can personally hand in your pasport to the PSB.

But for some reason most FAO's never do this.

My very first school did. They carted us off, along with the FAO, to Zhengzhou in groups of four or five. That way we knew where the PSB office was in case se had any problems,

So don't be afraid to ask to go along with the FAO to the PSB office for you RP

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

Your passport is needed to obtain your Red Card and your FRP. Those services are provided by two duifferent offices.

Normally, (in our city) a red card can be processed within three days and an FRP about five.

I've seen instances where the Red Book was done within the hour, but that is rare.

The PSB collects your passport and processes it at their own speed. I've never known them to provide "while you wait" service.

Then again, this is China and anything is possible.

You are welcome to accompany the FAO to the PSB in our city. You can even watch your FAO hand your passport over to them and join the others waiting to be processed. Then the clerk says, "Come back in five days."

Cheers,

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Hope my words didn't mislead. When taking the passports to the PSB, it was to drop them off. The FAO returns the next week alone to pick them up.

FEC can be done as quickly as the FAO asks, usually, with the understanding that if the FAO asks several times to have a FEC done immediately, the office will get peeved

Eyrick3 · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 161 Location: Beijing, China

The whole process of affixing the visa/residence permit should take no longer than a couple weeks.

Agree on the contract first. You may even want to add a clause that says you're giving them your passport from abc to xyz date.

Once the visa and such are all settled, those no reason why they should keep the passport. If they say they want to keep it "to make sure you won't break the contract", then you need to find a new job asap.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

All things being equal, a competent school should be able to have all the paperwork done and the FTs passport back in hand within two weeks - agree 100% with the above poster.

It is never acceptable to have you passport used as a security deposit by your employer.

An employer who will do this, will have no qualms about agreeing to any clause in your contract, and then breaking it.

Talk to current teachers before you sign!

Good luck all.

Surfdude18 · Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 651 Location: China

Yes, I'm assuming the OP means when the school actually puts the teachers under virtual house arrest by keeping their passports until their contract is up. That is totally unacceptable.

Ger · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 334

They could lose your passport!
Someone could borrow it and make a counterfeit.
It probably is written on your passport that you must keep it in your sole possession.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Yu · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 1219 Location: Shanghai

This business of questioning the fact that the school is taking your passport seems to reflect that you have never really had to deal with immigration yourself before.
I happily give my passport to the school and let them sort it all out. I can just imaging the whining we would get here if all FTs were sorting out the process of obtaining their own visas and foreign expert certificates. First there would be the collecting of all needed materials like photos and police station papers showing that you registered and all that other stuff that is needed and probably notes from the school as well. And then having to find the office where you get a foreign expert certificate. Being told to come back in a few days only to find that it isnt ready yet because there was a holiday. And then needing to find the visa office and bringing all needed things to that place.
It seems many of you do not realize how complicated it can be to apply for visas or residence permits. Now I am the first to admit that our waiban is not great at this. There always seems something she forgot to tell us to bring. But also the law changes without much notice and I think it is not easy to stay on top of it. Also, that person needs to get all the foreign teachers to bring their crap to her at the same time. But of course one of us always forgets something so it gets delayed.
Now granted I have been at my school for 3 years. I more or less trust that that person is trying to do her job to the best of her ability. I dont have full confidence in her ability but she tries. It is just how it is. But when I think about how much trouble it would cause me to not just give her my passport and sit back and wait, well, I hand it over without question.
It is that time again. To renew the visa when all is said and done they might need 3 weeks to get it sorted out. Relax. I dont think they are going to do something terrible with your passport. And sorting out immigration stuff is a headache I would rather avoid.