Job Discussion Forums

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

All I have stated is my experience and I have found to return the FEC can limited your ability to transfer the FEC to another employer. As for my logic, it is the logic of having been employed in china for a few years but I would wonder at the motivation of your logic. Why would it matter to another FT, if one of his co workers plays it safe and holds on to the FEC until they are sure they will not need it to avoid leaving the country to start the process over again. As for the "keeping the passport" and my logic, a exercise in "leaping into hyperbolae".

As to the importance of the school, actually holding on to the past employee�s FEC, if it were all that important, them as the aforementioned posters offered, many of us would not have a half a dozen or so old FEC Booklets. At last count I have almost all of mine, except for two that were used to transfer my FEC status. Sorry, just can�t agree with you on this one, and anyway, who should the FT worry about, the school or themselves? If presented with the option of leaving the country or being able to transfer the FEC in country, if you maintain procession of the FEC, which would you do?

The notes in the back do not state it should be returned to the school, but rather to the issuing organization, which the FEC itself states is SAFEA, and that the return should be made when the bearer leaves China. In light of what I have experienced, it is recommended to play it safe and keep the book.

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

Why would you wonder at the motivation of my, or anybody's logic?

Logic stands alone; it is a system that to establish consistency and validity of statements made.

Your statement was, admitting knowing that a Chinese government agency was the true owner of the FEC, and the school was the issuer, and the FT was the temporary custodian, that it was not improper to keep the FEC and later to return it to the issuing agency.

To be logically consistent, it should also be not improper for schools to keep your passport and return it to the original issuer, say, the US State Department.

Then, you offer as rebuttal to my statement that some schools need old FECs for audits, this logic:

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

You again leap into hyperbolae, when the only intent is to give the FT the advantage of having the ability to transfer the FEC from one job to the next. The FEC is indeed returned to the issuing office when the transfer is made. Your accusations of theft are misplaced as many of the schools have never requested the FECs back.

I would advise any FT to hold on to the FEC if transferring to another job, to insure that the book is or isn�t needed to complete the move without having to leave china. Then if not needed, return it to the school.

It is not my goal to defraud anyone (not that I would show that much criminal concern or devilish intent to make off with a 'little blue book') , just to insure the abilities of a FT departing one employer to have a smooth transaction to the new employer

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Agree 100% with your logic Teatime

toteach · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 273

My new FEC states NOTHING on the inside cover or elsewhere saying who it belongs to or who should be responsible for it. I was there at the PSB when they applied for the booklet, otherwise I might assume it's a fake.

Am I the only one with this kind of FEC? (In Guangdong, mine is red).

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

One does not get an FEC from the PSB, as noted many times elsewhere.

What does this booklet say, in English?

You were there when they applied for it.. the PSB gave it to the school immediately upon application? No wait?

Lhenderson · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 135 Location: Shanghai JuLu Road

Why would anyone ever give their real name?

Kirkpatrick · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: China

China is not a place for workers rights.. wages are so low all of us ft's need to leave until they double our salary.. As far as visa's go, policy in China is akeen to slavery... I am leaving at the end of the semester... The wages in China are the lowest on the planet...

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

toteach · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 273

I WAS teaching in Guangdong where the FEC was red.

I am NOW teaching in Jiangsu, where it is the same color... It looks the same on the outside, but the inside has none of the same "fine print" as it did in Guangzhou. Both inside and outside cover are blank. It doesn't even state who issued the Certificate. Does anyone else in Jiangsu have the same kind of FEC?

My current school (in Jiangsu) loaded the new teachers up in a bus and drove us to the PSB. We did wait a bit--20 minutes or so--then we participated in the application process in that we had to sign a paper written in Chinese and be digitally photographed for their records. Upon leaving, we were give the red FECs, complete with photos that teachers provided to our school the day before.

It WAS the PSB. In the past, the schools I worked for did not have me participate in the process, rather they applied for the Certificate on their own time. Who knows where they went for it...

Could things be different on a province-by-province basis?

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

My FEC here in Jiangsu is a dark blue color (new as of July 2008). It DOES have "Foreign Experts Certificate" in English and Chinese on the front. The big change inside are the two pages I used when I want to make cash exchanges. All I had to do formerly is bring my FEC booklet and my passport. I still have a few blank spaces in my old red one and I'm using that along with my new one. I asked the bank what do I do when those old spaces are gone and they told me to check with the Educ. Bureau as they didn't know. (*sigh!* of course)

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

ToTeach ... no English? Where does it say FEC (Foreign Expert Certificate)? Even in Jiangsu, only the education Bureau can call you a foreign expert
Be very curious about the translation

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

The old Red Book is now the new Blue Book in most places.

If you need use of the FEC to secure a new position, do so with the permission of your current employer and ensure you return it. Actually, it is simple to do this BEFORE you leave your old school, which has the benefit of ensuring your new employer really has the power to legally hire foreigners.

Many places are now adopting (and some have adopted for a while) the requirement that in addition to the FEC, you need a formal letter of reference from your old school. This is not your typical letter of reference, it is a form your school fills out and is necessary to transfer an FEC. If your school does not give you a favorable rating, you ARE NOT to be issued a renewal/transfer of the FEC.

So, it will do little good in such cases, to abscond with the FEC only to discover one's future employment rests upon a favorable reference from the same school from which you purloined the FEC. Of course, you could always try claiming you were going to return it to SAFEA Embarassed

Seriously, plan ahead and take care of your business in a professional manner and you have a better chance of a safe and smooth landing in your new position.