Job Discussion Forums

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

Don't do this!!! I have been told horror stories of schools importing cars on foreigners passports and then when the foreigner leaves, they get stuck with the tax( tax free for foreigners to have a personal car in China) because the car has been resold.. Also as stated before no foreigner can rent an apt. The rental contract will be in the schools name, including the deposit they want you to pay.

Lobster · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:23 am Post subject:

Gotta join the chorus on this one. No way! If it's a full-time position they can provide housing or the housing allowance. You can rent an apt. in your own name here, but you should be quasi-independent to do that. You don't want to be on the hook to an employer anyway. Keep your passport firmly in your grip; only part with it when it's time to renew your RP.

RED

Riviello · Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 66

Perhaps I don't understand the situation correctly, but, they way I read the OP is that the school will provide you a housing allowance, but, you need to give them the money upfront = they will simply give you your money back!!

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

Look the way it is supposed to work is the employeer gets the apt. for you, then prorates the rent and deposit out of your check. You can easly find a job that pays 10,000RMB and gives you an apt. This employeer is smoking CRACK.. There all millions of schools screaming for teachers. I wouldn't even negotiate with this one. JUST LEAVE AND GO ELSE WHERE!!!!

drrjon · Joined: 09 Oct 2010 Posts: 35 Location: Chongqing

Foreigners can rent apartments in China. I have always rented my own apartment..I would not want an apartment that the school obtains. I find my own apartment, sign the contract myself,and get registered at the police station. I have done this for several years as has my son and most all the other teachers at our school. There is so much wrong information given out. As for the passport...the school probably wants to hold it to keep you from running. Do not let this happen. You can also find places to live that only require 3 months rent in advance and ask to lower the deposit.

chinaroman · Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Posts: 61

Terrible idea... don't even think about it! Not even for a second! Don't even try to come up with some rational scenario! There isn't one! RUN FOREST RUN! But if you decide to take the job, please do post an update. My life in China sucks and I could use a good laugh!

El Chupacabra · Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 378 Location: Kwangchow

If you are from the U.S., look closely at page 5 of your passport. Your "passport is the property of the United States" and "should be carefully safeguarded". Never let a foreigner take your passport.

Happy Everyday · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 268

Holding the passport is a no no. If it is needed for a visa, it is reasonable to go to the visa office with someone from the school.

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

What stops you accepting the guys offer, then when arriving and handing it over, the next day request it back [they will say no], then going to the police and getting them to get it back? They won't say no if you're from a major country.

dog backwards · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 178

Tell the school to call the American consulate to get the straight poop regarding the possession of your passport. NOBODY may keep your passport except you. The document is the property of the American government. Serious penalties may be imposed upon anyone who misuses it, INCLUDING YOU.

To clear up a possible misunderstanding in a previous post : The FEC is a CERTIFICATE, not a card.

I quote page one:

"This certificate is valid in the People's Republic of China."

Chinese citizens possess National Identity CARDS which exist in the form of one front side and one back side.

Foreign experts possess a CERTIFICATE which exists in the form of a booklet consisting of several pages. A Chinese national might not know this.

Have a blessed day.

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

Happy Everyday · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 268

dog backwards · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 178

dog backwards · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Posts: 178

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

It says quite clearly on the document that the bearer (holder is more like what the Chinese says) is the employee, not employer.

It also says quite clearly that upon leaving the bearer, employee, should return it to the issuer, usually provincial foreign experts office.

At no point does your employer have a right to hold or use your FEC. If they are holding it you can simply go the the issuing office yourself and say it has been stolen. You will pay a fee and they will issue you a new one, canceling the one held by your employer. The FEC is the property of the Chinese government, not you or your employer.

As far as holding your passport, contact your consulate, they will contact the police, and you will get your passport back...your employer will lose lots of face here, so you might want to mention you will contact the consulate. Simply go to the office of the person holding your passport, calmly ask for it back, and mention if they refuse what will happen. They will most likely hand it over. If not then call you consulate while they are there, possibly use their office phone and put it on speaker phone. The consulate will have someone to tell them they will contact the PSB if it is not returned. Next step gets a bit crappy. The police come, the employer denies having it, you file a complaint that they stole it/lost it, say goodbye to your job and head to court. Don't push too hard that they stole it intentionally, but make sure to hold that it disappeared in their possession, so they should pay for replacement.

Always make sure you know your co-workers names. Record who has taken your passport with emails asking when you will get it back. I have no problem with my employer going to do my RP for me, but they wouldn't try to hold my passport. If they did, I would have emails and names of who took my passport. If you are suspicious then go with them.

You need to be really cautious of who your employer is. I have been looking to move for the last two years, not because of employer, but location. I have gotten offers, but something is always a bit off.