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Capt Lugwash
Joined: 14 Aug 2014
Posts: 346
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 Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 12:49 pm Post subject: Renewing British passport in China |
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I trust this is the correct forum in which to post this, if not I apologise but I feel it is akin to visa posts.
About 18 months ago I renewed my passport from within China, a little more expensive than doing it in the UK but all was relatively painless. I simply paid the fee, sent off my application and relevant documents, photos etc whilst retaining my passport to Hong Kong, who then sent it to London and a couple of weeks later a courier brought me my new one.
Not any more.
The process now involves a personal visit to a British embassy (Beijing, Shanghai etc) miles from here (or apparently you can send someone else in person) and then when the new passport is issued it is sent to the embassy for you to collect personally.
Why they have changed the system I know not but if any UK citizen is looking to renew they need to be aware it's not plain sailing any more. |
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El Macho
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 200
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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| After receiving your new passport, be sure to go to the Exit/Entry Bureau within the specified amount of time to move your Residence Permit to the new passport. Previously you could just show the RP in the old passport, but that no longer will work. |
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Capt Lugwash
Joined: 14 Aug 2014
Posts: 346
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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| You have a link to prove this? An RP is an RP is an RP regardless of where it is put. |
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doogsville
Joined: 17 Nov 2011
Posts: 924
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Actually it's now a little simpler than it was before. For a while they had stopped any passport applications from within China, so you had to send your old passport back to the UK by courier with the application, then the new passport was sent back to China. A friend of mine did it last year and it took about six weeks to get his new passport back. They seem to have had some feedback about how crap that system was, or perhaps they're responding to the bad publicity earlier this year about the huge backlog for passport applications within the UK itself. In any case, it's still a PITA, but slightly easier than it was. As to the cost, it's exactly the same price you would pay in the UK, but with the courier fee added on. |
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Capt Lugwash
Joined: 14 Aug 2014
Posts: 346
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry, having to travel to somewhere like Shanghai and spend at least one night in an hotel there because neither train nor plane will get you there in time so you can turn around and come back straight away, take everything to the embassy, come back and then go through it all again when the new one is delivered to the embassy is not my idea of "easier".
Getting a student to EMS my application form and two photos to Hong Kong and having my new passport arrive three weeks later on campus is MY idea of easy.
I am just thankful mine doesn't expire until I am 66. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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I'm surprised a RP was placed in a passport that was going to expire fairly soon.
That's if I read the OP aright.
There's a new British Consulate in Wuhan, although they may not yet offer full services. |
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Capt Lugwash
Joined: 14 Aug 2014
Posts: 346
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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NS it is in a passport that expires very soon - 2017 in fact, just three short years from now but due to extensive travelling has run out of space for stamps.
I will reiterate my OP. You cannot renew your passport as before by simply sending the application to Hong Kong and them send it to London to then send a new one here. You now need to lodge the papers with your nearest (and none are near to most of us) embassy who then send it to London.
London then send it back to the embassy from whence you must collect.
No posting the application and no delivery to you, yet it would seem some deem this change to be easier than before. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry OP I missed the inference that it was scarcity of visa pages not expiry by date.
My reference to Wuhan was a response to the comment that Shanghai and BJ are too far away to be conveniently visited.
BJ, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan would seem to be reasonable coverage.
After all getting a new passport isn't like popping out for Maccas. |
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Capt Lugwash
Joined: 14 Aug 2014
Posts: 346
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 4:40 am Post subject: |
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You are right there!
The colleague in question is a prolific traveller who enjoys exploring whenever possible and has indeed simply run out of space. This situation though does illustrate how quickly even personal experience can quickly become immaterial when offering advice - including about "stable" western countries.
The colleague knew I had no problems renewing and not unnaturally expected to be able to do likewise. We both received a surprise and as I said, I am glad mine will last until I am able to start drawing my UK pensions! |
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El Macho
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 200
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| Capt Lugwash wrote: |
| You have a link to prove this? An RP is an RP is an RP regardless of where it is put. |
If any information on your RP changes, you are required to update the RP. Your passport number is printed on your RP. Once your new passport is issued your old passport number is no longer valid.
The Beijing PSB state:
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| 2.Where the registered item in a foreigner's residence permit has changed, the holder shall ,within 10 days from the date of change, apply for going through the formalities for alteration. |
The Shanghai PSB also say that you should do so:
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Residence Permit Modification
I. Qualifications:
Items such as residence registration entry (Name, residence subject, passport or the number of other international travelling document) or accompanying person(s) of the holder of the residence permit has/have been changed; or the residence address, school, working unit of the holder of the residence permit has/have been changed, should the holder apply for modification to the residence permit issuing authority within 10 days since the change(s) |
Americans will have been told to do this by the US Embassy.
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/acs_faq.html#pptrenew
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Q: What will happen to my Chinese visa?
A: Your old passport will be canceled when you pick up your new one. You will be required to apply for a new visa to be placed into your new passport within 10 days. Please be sure to keep the envelope which contains your new passport with the date that you picked up your passport stamped on it as you may need it to renew your Chinese visa. |
When I renewed, the passport came in an envelope that was stamped with the date of pickup. When I went to the Entry & Exit office to move the RP they asked to see the envelope.
But, of course, TIFC and enforcement may be case-by-case. I'm sure we'll hear from people who didn't move their RP and had no problems, but regulations do seem to exist. |
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Capt Lugwash
Joined: 14 Aug 2014
Posts: 346
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for that, I am sure most people (including FAOs) are unaware of this. I will inform my colleague accordingly. |
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Listerine
Joined: 15 Jun 2014
Posts: 340
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| But, of course, TIFC and enforcement may be case-by-case. I'm sure we'll hear from people who didn't move their RP and had no problems, but regulations do seem to exist. |
Oooh! ooh me first! My missus called the PSB in Wuxi direct after changing passports and was advised to just use both and the next RP would go in the new passport - no need for a new sticker. This was as of last semester.
No dramas with new Residence Permit being issued months after the passport changed.
Makes sense as with everything that SH and BJ are more pedantic.
Always best to err on the side of caution though as the rules change all the time. Some PSB branches - as was my case simply won't issue a new sticker in new passport no matter how much you ask, beg or cry. Check with your local office. |
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Capt Lugwash
Joined: 14 Aug 2014
Posts: 346
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Those were my thoughts I(being out in the sticks) but it can't hurt to put the information out there. |
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Azile
Joined: 31 Oct 2013
Posts: 9
Location: Huadu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 7:01 am Post subject: |
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Canada is also the same now. You must apply at the Canadian consulate. However, you can arrange for them to EMS it to you if you fill out the EMS shipping doc when you apply for your new passport and it will be delivered COD for the shipping.
In Guangzhou, when applying for the residence permit, they also offer a service to ship it by EMS for 20 rmb, but only if you reside in the guangzhou area. |
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80daze
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
Posts: 118
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:46 am Post subject: |
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I just went through this process - I pick my new passport up in two days in Guangzhou. You hand over the paperwork - show them your originals so they can verify the copies - my driving licence and passport. They send it off to England and 6 weeks later send you an email telling you to arrange a time to come and collect them.
All very painless - I kept my passport with my at all times and will take it back on Wednesday to have the edges cut (minus my visa) and get my new one.
I did not know about getting my visa transferred I will ask them on Wednesday. |
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