Job Discussion Forums

[anjinholuis]

GREETINGS

Has anyone ever been asked to hand-in their passport to a school or agency as a condition to being granted a WORK PERMIT????

If so, what was your response?

Sounds strange to me but does it happen?

Replies greatly appreciated.

CHEERS.

[dwightz]

When I worked in Saudi Arabia it was standard practice. You turned in your Iqama (work permit) to get your passport. It was your employer's discretion to give you your passport. It's still common for employers to keep menial workers from the 3rd world - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and others - especially women, as "prisoners". Skilled workers and professionals don't have to worry. VN doesn't pay enough for people to risk freedom to get a job and turn over their passport in the process. Inshallah, DZ

[H5N1]

[anjinholuis]

Just as I expected.

Keeping your passport hiden from greedy hands is the best way to ensure a stressless teaching experience.

Many thanks for the info.

[willow53]

It's good to be cautious, but in my case my school DID request my passport for a few days as they handled all of the visa and work permit application process for me. After a few days, the passport was back in my hands with a proper work permit.

I would first ask them how long the will require it and for what reasons.

If they want to hold it for the duration of your contract then that is a huge warning flag, as you'd be unable to travel anywhere. Even travel within Vietnam requires a passport as all hotels must check you in with their local government.

Good luck!

[DeanVN]

You need to hand your passport to them for a few days if they get WP or extend your visa.
Some schools need to report the local police. In the case they need your passport, too.
If the school needs some copies of your passport, you should show them your original when you hand them your copies.
Most of the schools in VN don't keep your passport long although some stupid schools want to keep your passport in order to "imprison" you. Keep off them!

[anjinholuis]

THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE EXCELLENT INSIDERS INFO.

HAPPY TEACHING AND GREAT TRIPS.

[Green Acres]

One must relinquish the passport quite a bit in Vietnam. Get used to it if you are to stay in Vietnam for a while. Standard operating procedure.

[SmithJones]

So, I have accepted a job in HCMC while overseas, and I'm due to arrive within a few weeks. The job itself is through (by all accounts) a reputable school/organization which provides my accommodation for the year in an adjacent hotel.

It recently came to my attention, however, that the hotel where I'll be living needs to hold on to my passport permanently while I am there. The (American) director of the school assured me that if I am going on a long journey I can ask for it back, while a short stay in a nearby hotel should accept a photocopy.

Has anybody gone through something similar, or can they corroborate what I've been told. As much as the travel aspect concerns me, it's just not having the feeling of control or freedom that bothers me even more about not being in possession of my own PP.

Thoughts?

[vabeckele]

When I first arrived to Vietnam, after school hours, they chained me (it was long enough to reach the water bowl) to the bed until the morning.

Without, Dave's, I would have thought this just to be part of the induction period. Thank, God, for Dave's.

An American, or any 'educator' from developed countries telling you they need to keep your passport indefinitely is...a douche bag.

For the work permit: they will need the passport for a few days while the cadres at the Ministry of Deceit process the papers, no more.

As for hotels: they will need a copy, and if by some wave of a magic wand, they register you with the police (if a long term stay or private digs), again, a copy is all that is required.

All it takes is a phone call to the embassy and those little buggers start running around like headless chickens...well, more than usual.

If you are staying in a hotel and have no safe in your room it may be a good idea to leave it in the hotel's safe. Just get a receipt for it for peace of mind - These guys are just covering their own asses; apparently, English teachers are a criminal bunch and commit serious crimes such as runners. It is still no reason to keep your passport as it is a flimsy one at best.

[spycatcher reincarnated]

Labor law

"The new Labor Code also prohibits employers from keeping employees� original identification cards and qualifications when signing and performing labor contracts. Moreover, an employer may not require an employee to pay cash or provide any assets to guarantee performance under the labor contract."

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=d414c255-0475-49b7-80d2-92bf8b585350

[Mattingly]

As many have stated on this thread (and thank you Spycatcher),

NEVER let someone have your passport unless you are checking into a hotel or apartment. Then, you get your passport back in an hour or two. (They have to file it with the coppers by law.)

Under no conditions do you give anyone else your passport.

Any organization or individual that asks for your passport is an organization or individual you need to avoid and stay away from.

[8balldeluxe]

The placement agency is not a reputable one if they put you in an adjacent hotel for a year. If it is asking for you passport for a year that is highly suspect and unheard of. There are some American persons here who might be working in a quasi- management capacity and who may be unscrupulous, desperate or ignorant enough to vouch for such a practice. You should not even talk to this school anymore, not knowing what else they might try.

[SmithJones]

Thanks all for the advice. It is a bit strange, but the part that made me think it was perhaps acceptable/normal behaviour was the fact that I am staying in one of the parent company's hotels, and as such figured it may be commonplace that the hotel would hold it.

Now to find a tactful way to bring up that they are breaching labour law...

[Anh Dep]

Smith Jones, why not mention the name of the school, interested to know who it is. I would not be handing over my passport for 12 months, something rotten in Denmark if you ask me.