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tommyp32
Joined: 12 Nov 2014
Posts: 19
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 Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:52 am Post subject: Schools asking for passport as part of the application |
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| So I'm seeing a lot of schools asking for a photocopy as part of the application. I was wondering if this was typical for schools out of China, or if these are places I should stay away from. I'm a bit worried about identity theft. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:12 am Post subject: |
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| I can't speak for China, but some job seekers prefer to email a copy with their passport number redacted (blacked out). I don't bother, since there's not much personal info on the document. Besides, if you've ever travelled abroad extensively, every time you stay in a hotel or hostel, you end up handing your passport over to some unknown employee to photocopy for their records. |
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wangdaning
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 3154
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:50 am Post subject: |
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At application stage they don't need it, but they will need it. Like Nomad said, it is unlikely they would use it, it is not useful.
I just signed my name and gave my passport like 50 times, not to hijack, but my baby was born. Wonderful baby boy  Wife's family were certain it would be a girl, haha. |
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tommyp32
Joined: 12 Nov 2014
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:03 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| I can't speak for China, but some job seekers prefer to email a copy with their passport number redacted (blacked out). I don't bother, since there's not much personal info on the document. Besides, if you've ever travelled abroad extensively, every time you stay in a hotel or hostel, you end up handing your passport over to some unknown employee to photocopy for their records. |
True... I will probably redact it just to be safe, but I do understand about the hostel thing. I think I didn't have as much as a problem then because I was actually there and knew the hostel was an actual physical entity. |
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Listerine
Joined: 15 Jun 2014
Posts: 340
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:02 am Post subject: |
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edit the number in the early stages for recruiters, schools, spammers etc.
when a school gets serious about hiring you they are going to need to see the full passport info.
too much screwing them around will see your application moved to the circular file. |
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Bud Powell
Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 1736
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:36 am Post subject: |
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| Listerine wrote: |
edit the number in the early stages for recruiters, schools, spammers etc.
when a school gets serious about hiring you they are going to need to see the full passport info.
too much screwing them around will see your application moved to the circular file. |
Listerine is 100% correct.
After you accept the contract, DON'T FORGET to send a scan that shows your passport number. Listerine is right. It is incumbent upon you to remember. Failure to send a second scan that shows the number may seriously slow down issuance of the letter of invitation which you will need to get your Z visa.
I know. I didn't send a scan that showed my pp number, and the FAO of the school didn't check it. It arrived at the Ministry of Education, and it wasn't discovered that there was no pp number until two weeks later. I was two weeks late getting my letter of invitation. Add the seven days of back-and-forth paperwork to the Consulate to the fact that the school took its merry time sending paperwork to the Ministry of Education in the first place. I was late arriving at the school. Not good. |
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BleedingBlue
Joined: 22 Oct 2014
Posts: 87
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:09 am Post subject: |
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I'm confused about the evilness of proving your citizenship to a potential employer. Why should they spend time working with you only to find your claim of being "from an English speaking country" doesn't jive with the local authorities country requirement? Why should they believe your age, etc.?
If you're that paranoid, then get a job at McDonald's back home. |
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Bud Powell
Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 1736
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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BleedingBlue,
Don't you think it's understandable that someone new to teaching abroad would be hesitant to send a scan of his passport for an application with no guarantee of being hired? Most westerners can apply for domestic jobs without providing more than a resume. For that reason, it comes as a surprise to a lot of people when they're asked to provide personal information right off the bat when they apply for a job in China.
Raving paranoia better describes the scambuster who ACTUALLY SEES fraud behind every tree because he has a friend who knows someone whose brother-in-law said his roommate's identity was stolen. |
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mysterytrain
Joined: 23 Mar 2014
Posts: 366
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Schools asking for passport as part of the application |
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| tommyp32 wrote: |
| So I'm seeing a lot of schools asking for a photocopy as part of the application. I was wondering if this was typical for schools out of China, or if these are places I should stay away from. I'm a bit worried about identity theft. |
From my experience, it is quite typical of many employers to request a passport scan and scans of other documents (diploma, teaching certificate, even birth certificate, etc) almost as soon as one applies or even sends an "email of interest".
I consider this as a bit of "jumping the gun" on their part, if they ask for these right off the bat, but again, it seems to be fairly "normal" that many do so.
The employer, if legit, does have a legitimate interest in verifying your citizenship, qualifications, etc.
I have sent a scan of my pp / bc before with some information redacted, such as pp number, just to be on the safer side, but as Bud Powell notes, an employer will HAVE TO have a full, unredacted scan of your passport info page in order for the invitation letter, etc, to be approved and sent. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:44 pm Post subject: Re: Schools asking for passport as part of the application |
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| mysterytrain wrote: |
| tommyp32 wrote: |
| So I'm seeing a lot of schools asking for a photocopy as part of the application. I was wondering if this was typical for schools out of China, or if these are places I should stay away from. I'm a bit worried about identity theft. |
From my experience, it is quite typical of many employers to request a passport scan and scans of other documents (diploma, teaching certificate, even birth certificate, etc) almost as soon as one applies or even sends an "email of interest".
I consider this as a bit of "jumping the gun" on their part, if they ask for these right off the bat, but again, it seems to be fairly "normal" that many do so.
The employer, if legit, does have a legitimate interest in verifying your citizenship, qualifications, etc.
I have sent a scan of my pp / bc before with some information redacted, such as pp number, just to be on the safer side, but as Bud Powell notes, an employer will HAVE TO have a full, unredacted scan of your passport info page in order for the invitation letter, etc, to be approved and sent. |
Make sure the PP you send, is the one you eventually travel on.
If your school does prep work for your registration in advance of your arrival and you arrive on a different PP.. well join the dots.
Last edited by Non Sequitur on Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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wavelength
Joined: 27 Jan 2015
Posts: 151
Location: The Feel Good River of a Celestial Rainbow
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Bud Powell wrote: |
| ...Don't you think it's understandable that someone new to teaching abroad would be hesitant to send a scan of his passport for an application... |
I hate it, and I've taught for 5 years now. I don't really know who I'm sending it too, they haven't offered a position by presenting a contract, and it's just none of their business at the beginning of the application process.
It's a little like asking a girl how many guys she's slept with on the first date... I think.
(Every time I've sent out a redacted passport scan, I never hear back from them. Any time I mention I'll provide a passport scan when I receive an offer, I never hear back from them.)
There are too many people trying to make a quick buck in this industry, and some 20% of ESL teachers applying to China have their identity compromised. When I was teaching in Cambodia, a young man was arrested after 200+ blank British passports were found in this bags. Identity theft is actually a hugely profitable industry all on its own. |
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The_Kong
Joined: 15 Apr 2014
Posts: 349
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| wangdaning wrote: |
At application stage they don't need it, but they will need it. Like Nomad said, it is unlikely they would use it, it is not useful.
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Exactly.
When I'm hiring I just ask for it upfront and say you can block out any sensitive information so that I can weed out some of the non-native speakers who try and slip one by by passing themselves off as being American.
There are requirements in China based upon age and where you are from so an employer asking to see a scan of the information page of your passport is the easiest way to verify someone is from where they say they are and are the right age.
If you're nervous just block out the passport number. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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Mr. English
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
Posts: 298
Location: Nakuru, Kenya
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| Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I never provide copies of any documents with my initial enquiry; I wait until the potential employer has answered and I have a sense that it is a serious job offer before I send copies of anything. |
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weigookin74
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 265
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| Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:05 am Post subject: |
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| Black out most of the material if you scan it. I'd even black out my last name along with the numbers, date of birth, etc. Identiity theft has happened to folks in China. Understand that. |
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