Job Discussion Forums

[Volver]

I have been teaching at the same private school for 3 years and there has never been a problem with renewing my visa/residency permit. However, nobody ever gave me an FEC. I had an FEC when I worked at a uni in Henan province, but never got one when I moved to Tianjin. Not exactly sure what is the purpose of the FEC. Should I be concerned?

V

[JB140767]

[Elicit]

[Tazz]

It used to be needed back in the day [12+ years ago] when there were restrictions on changing money etc.....it still has it's uses now-and there's no reason why it should remain in the possession of the employer. For one, it's a form of id. it states this inside the back cover. Who wants to carry a passport around with them?

[Volver]

OK. I will get on it in the AM.

Thanks for the info.

V

[hz88]

It largely depends on how relaxed your school is about these matters.

Some schools seem to be okay with it, others tend to want to keep it for safe keeping. I always had mine until this year when the rules changed. There is now a deposit held on the book and the books have to be returned in if a teacher leaves or changes jobs.

It involves a lot of work if the book is lost or damaged to obtain a replacement.

There should be no reason why they would not give you a copy of the data page. I have had no problem using this when transferring money overseas earlier this year.

Technically it is for us to keep for the duration of our contract so you could push that point but don't be surprised if you meet with resistance because of the potential risk to the school if you lost it.

[Tazz]

'This certificate is to be used as identification by foreign experts working in China...'-point 2 of the notes inside the back cover. if the employer starts playing 'ours to keep' crap, point this out to them. It's yours!

[backtochina2017]

[hz88]

[The bear]

[backtochina2017]

[hz88]

As often happens we could end up in a revolving loop over such matters.

I just say things as they have evolved where I am concerned and is quite often the case they may or may not transpire to follow elsewhere.

When applying for a resident permit, yes, the FEC needs to be produced. The PSB don't retain it, they merely check it matches the accompanying paperwork.

Previously the PSB used to keep it for a cancellation but now this is not the case. It is the Foreign Affairs Office that initially issued it that keeps it when the school requests a cancellation. They will not issue the cancellation letter without it.

Regarding being 'charged' for something. This was not the case, the letter was merely to say that if it wasn't given back or lost then the FT will be charged for it. While some may argue the moral issues here, I don't think its that unreasonable if a deposit has been paid and potentially someone will lose out.

It really does depend on the view of the school. In my experience Universities tend to be more relaxed about such matters, other establishments seem to want to keep it.

Some people may think it is the schools way of ensuring the FT does not flee without notice but even if they did with the new procedures in place, the school holds all the cards anyway. If you tried to turn it in yourself you would not get very far as it would not have the accompanying paperwork to go with it.

[The bear]