Job Discussion Forums

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

If I am leaving the country before my residence cert expires do I need to turn in my Foreign Expert Certificate to the customs officer upon leaving or my FAO? I don't want a misunderstanding to happen if my FAO has it and the customs officer requests and wont let me leave until he/she gets it.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

I think the FAO keeps it. I left without mine no problem.

JamesD · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:24 am Post subject:

In short, no.
I've been in and out a few dozen times and never needed it. They're only interested in the passport. Stamped going out; check the visa or RP (which should be affixed in passport to replace initial visa) coming in.
I used to carry the certificate book but the first few times they confirmed it was unnecessary.

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

doogsville · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 924 Location: China

They have no way of knowing whether your leaving for good or just going home for a while and coming back, assuming they don't ask and you don't volunteer that information that is. They'll just stamp your passport with the usual stamp when you exit.

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

My experience and observation:

If your contract has expired, and you are on your way out of China, your FAO is required to collect the FEC. At one college, FTs were sent home for the summer (at the school's expense) and our FECs were collected because when we returned, we signed new contracts. When we returned, we were returned to us. (New dates were entered in the book--- perhaps they were new books. I don't remember).

One has no need for the FEC when he leaves, while he is gone, or when he reenters China. Customs doesn't ask for the FEC.