Job Discussion Forums

flyingscotsman · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Posts: 339 Location: Suzhou, China

I work at a Delter school ( yes, i never heeded the warnings...) and they took my passport on Jan 4th to get me a resident permit and register with the local police station.

Over a week later they will not give it back and I am not sure what to do. So far every response has been a lie with the original response of " The Nanjing campus is working on it now". When I called the girl in Nanjing she said she has done nothing because the Suzhou school has done nothing at all.

It's vacation time and I have no passport and can't do anything.

I have asked them repeatedly for the return of my passport but nothing. Today I plan on going to the president of the school ( not Delter) where Delter is located and inform them of my issues and if that fails then go to the Suzhou police and tell them the school is illegally holding my passport.

Any suggestions how to handle this another way? I still have a Z visa issued Dec 21 and no RP.

Big Worm · Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 171

Don't teach until you get it back.

This is typical China. Nobody knows what they are doing. Must blame other person for being incompetent. When someone asks basic question, give them a referral to someone else. Deny anything.

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

getting the resident permit shouldnt take more than a week or so from start to finish. if they havent got it for you yet and they cant tell you when it will be done, then somethings wrong.

go through the chain of command now. approach the supervisor of the person who's supposed to be getting your RP and explain the situation. if they can't or wont do anything, then tell them that because the passport is actually the property of your government (which is true and this is stated on the inside cover of the passport) that you have no choice but to contact the police and your consulate. your consulate in turn will be contacting the school directly to demand the passport back. of course the consulate may or may not do anything but the threat of action might be enough to work.

your Z visa is good for another nine days or so. if you don't have the resident permit before that then more headaches might be in store for you when they actually do apply for it on your behalf, including a trip to the local police station to explain why you didnt get the RP on time. not your fault but still, this is what might unfold.

good luck.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Go to your nearest police station and tell them that you want your passport returned by your employer. Tell them that you want to comply with the laws of China (always have your passport available for inspection) but cannot because they refuse to return it.

And yes as someone else said, do NOT teach until you get your passport back.

Foot ---> down.

flyingscotsman · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Posts: 339 Location: Suzhou, China

Class ended last week - no teaching till Feb 26 or something.

The chain of command is iffy as while I work for Delter the local school (the college that rents space to Delter) is the one I officially work for. The Delter chain is the headmaster but she went on vacation a week ago and left her incompetent assistant to do the work.

So my only choice is to go to the school presidents office and express my concerns - which may get me my passport back but will definitely cause the Deleter people to lose face and of course there will be future issues there.

Threatening police action is next , tomorrow.

tr_waters · Joined: 18 Nov 2010 Posts: 14 Location: Jinan, Shandong

80daze · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 118 Location: China

Contact your embassy and get them to write a stern letter or phone to your employer as the passport is your property!

You'll will find that a letter from your embassy usually helps as it carries so much weight.

If you let your embassy know they should be able to help you with the situation.

flyingscotsman · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Posts: 339 Location: Suzhou, China

I got it back today but not without a fight. And get this. ANOTHER foreign teacher had it in his possession!

They gave it to him to take to Nanjing - for some reason. Seems they had it for 10 days and then decide to send it to Nanjing campus and they say they will hold it for another 10 days to get the FEC and RP. I said bad news, you can't have it for so long.

So now I am at an impasses. I planned to travel next week and the z visa expires on the 20th and Delter is made of up morons. I have no plan on giving them my passport for another 2 weeks when I have nothing to do here.

Their response was I can travel in China and a copy of my passport and visa is enough to get me on a train or a hotel room. I didn't agree.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Tell them that they are lying sacks of spit, straight up.

Ask them directly: "How do you know I can use a photocopy of my passport? What personal experience or authority do you have that backs up what you just said?"

They are outright LYING to you.

You tell them that any foreigner who goes to any hotel in China has to have their original passport. They MUST (under the law) see your visa to ensure you are here legally. Are they foreigners? Are they the police? Are they officials for the government? They simply are making things up. They have never been to a hotel as a foreigner.

Now that you know that your employer is a liar, can you trust them?

I'd hit dodge ASAP mate.

flyingscotsman · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Posts: 339 Location: Suzhou, China

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Has the school gotten your FEC yet? If they have, then the next step is to go with your FAO to the PSB to apply for the Resident Permit. The PSB will keep your passport for about a week, then you can go anywhere you want during the rest of the holiday. You really need to get that Z converted to the RP. Once the PSB has your passport the clock stops on your visa, so get it to them before your visa expires.

Disclaimer... that's how it has worked for me and many others. Things are always subject to change and/or interpretation by local FAOs and PSBs.

Let us know what happens.

.

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

daCabbie · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 244

I agree with the others. You need to get out. But you need to do it correctly or there will be problems later. If you entered on a proper Z visa for entry with purpose of working then there is a paper trail.

You will need to get a letter of release from this school to leave and go another. The chances of your employer giving you this are slim under these circumstances, unless you pay the breach of contract. They really did nothing wrong. You were the one who demanded your passport back. If you had allowed your 30 day visa to run out with it in the schools possession then you could have shifted the blame to them.

If you go to the PSB, the school will say, "We were trying to get him the FEC and RP, but he flipped out and demanded his passport back and we gave it to him and couldn't continue with the process."

I know that's not the reality of it but there is always two sides to every story.

Best advice, find another job and quickly. Or go and beg this school to get the paperwork done in a week (near impossible). Or pay the breach of contract and get the letter to go to another school.

Good luck. Why did you take this job if you knew the school had problems before you started there?