Job Discussion Forums

Optional_Toaster · Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 74 Location: Dong bei

Hi, I'm just wondering about the fec. Some people have mentioned a little book that they have. I had all my paperwork processed but as far as I know the fec was just a piece of paper submitted to the government to get my residence permit. If I go to another school, is all this paperwork processed again or should I be bugging my fao for a little book?

I've been here almost two years now and haven't had any problems coming and going in and out of China....but I've been at the same school and want to make sure I've got everything I need for a move next semester.

Thanks!

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"I've been at the same school [for two years] and want to make sure I've got everything I need for a move next semester." -- Optional Toaster

Assuming you are legit, working as a foreign expert, your school should have obtained the FEC for you. They may just be holding on to it. Since you haven't needed it for anything up to now, you don't seem to have missed it much. If you go to another employer, your current employer will just cancel your FEC, and your new employer will obtain a new one for you. And, you never know, that one may actually hand it over to you within a few weeks of your joining them.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

Some schools will keep your FEC, others hand it over to you.

There seems to be some debate over this issue - as to who it physically belongs to. I'm on the side that the booklet itself should be in the teachers possession.

Either way ... tell the school you want the booklet. If they refuse, it's up to you what you do about it. Regardless, you should, at a minimum demand to actually see the thing to have the proof they did it.

Optional_Toaster · Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 74 Location: Dong bei

Does it really matter, though? I've got legit degrees.....just wondering if I should give a rat's ass about it if I move.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

What does a legitimate degree have to do with anything ?

Should the police come-a-knockin' to audit your particular school, they don't care about your degree - they care about your passport, resident permit, and foreign expert certificate. And, should, for example, your FEC be missing or never gotten - it's also YOU that suffers the consequences.

Optional_Toaster · Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 74 Location: Dong bei

Ok suanlatudousi, that's exactly the information I need! Thanks! I've got everything but that in my possession. There aren't any (real) police around here, though. I think a couple (campus police) are in the building, but have never been anything but nice to me.

I'll stop by the office and pick it up.

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

" I've got everything but that in my possession." -- Optional Toaster

For what it's worth, I've had physical possession of the FEC at all but one of my employers. I've never been asked to produce it by any policeman. If I had been and I didn't have it on my person, I'd tell them where they could find it (same applies for my passport, which I seldom carry with me out on the street). If you really think you're going to need your FEC over the next two months, by all means. But I suspect that your employer may be holding on to it because other teachers have left their employ (or they are afraid a teacher might leave) without surrendering the FEC to them -- which is just what you will need to do when you go.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

"police" as in - the PSB coming to the school to audit the teachers on staff - not random police asking someone walking down the street

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

The PSB sometimes will go to a school and ask for the documents. Then the school has to either have them on hand, or round up all the FTs to bring them in.

That's one reason why schools often keep them. That, and schools also need sometimes to produce them long after an FT has departed, and the FT has failed to return his FEC.

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

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

PSB here wants the real card on file of all departed teachers, not copies.

Its a uniform policy for all schools in the city that hire foreigners.

motown · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 68

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

An FEC can be used for identification at, for instance, internet cafes, when they require it. I also flashed one and got a discount at a guesthouse in Lijiang. I've tried to use it for discounts at other places to no avail. People look at it, leaf through it, and then require the full price.

Unfortunately, nothing impresses most people as much as cash.