Job Discussion Forums

limits601 · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:44 am Post subject: The green book

Hello

I have been told by some friends that i am suppose to have a green book. I have my red book which Foreign Experts something or other but this green book. I have been here for 2 months and still have not seen it. Am i suppose to have it ? Is the school keeping it from me ? Some advice would be great. If its not the green book, am i suppose to have 2 books ?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Perhaps you ask your friends whether they mean:
- the divorce book,

- or the residence permit.

There are in fact a number of green, red and purple books; if you have your FE booklet, I deem it all right. A residence permit is needed in certain circumstances as for example when the PSB effect an ID control. It also helps at hotels to have it instead of your passport.
If your school houses you in their own premises you don't need to worry about not having a residence permit. But if you live outside the campus, then, yes, you do!

limits601 · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 4:00 am Post subject:

I will be leaving China on business for the weekend. I was told i need to hand over the book to customs in order to leave. Is this true ?

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

limits---When does the latest visa in your passport expire? If it expires before the end of your stay here (as mine does) you MUST have a green book.

You are in Zhejiang right? I am and have the green book. You should have it. Actually it might not be green---anyway it's a Residents Permit and you should make an issue out of it. (You likely know this but you need a re-entry to leave China for a weekend. Again check passport.)

limits601 · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 4:21 am Post subject:

Thanks for the helpful information Lager. I will go down today and ask where my residency permit is. Thanks again.

Dan__ · Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 87 Location: Hangzhou

If you have an un-expired re-entry visa, DON'T hand over your residence permit when you leave China!!

The folks at immigration should stamp you out according to your un-expired visa.

This happened to me once -- the border guards demanded my residence permit when I left China. Later, when I went to the PSB to extend my visa, they told me that the border guards had no right to take the residence permit, since my visa was still valid. The residence permit that was taken was valid for another several months beyond the expiration date on my visa.

I had to pay for an unnecessary visa extention and new residence permit.

burnsie · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 489 Location: Beijing

limits601 · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 9:41 am Post subject:

I think your side photo is hilarious !!

But thank you for all your help. So far, my Visa in my passport has not expried yet but will very soon (the end of this month). I have a temporary residence permit but im wondering where my green book is.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Rust-colored red book is your Foreign Experts book (given to teachers).

A brownish book is a working permit

A GREEN book is your resident's permit. I certainly don't know all the rules of China (and they are ever-changing), but I would be VERY uncomfortable if I didn't have a residence permit. Most visas expire within a couple of months of arriving in China and that green book tells any official that you are still allowed to live here in China (and the rusty red says you can teach here legally).

British · Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 133 Location: China

kev7161"
---------------
Its a Red Book for the "Foreign Experts"

Its a Green Book is "Foreigner Residence Permit".

it say at the back of the green book =

1. This permit should be carried at all times in case of inspection.

2. It must not be altered or transferred.

3. Any changes in the content should be reported immediately to public security authorities for alteration, no alteration should be made by the bearer.

4. This permit will be revoked by frontier inspection station when the bearer leaves China.

I also have a Z-visa in my passport as well.

tarzaninchina · Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 348 Location: World

I previously knew to keep the green book (Foreign Residence Permit) on you unless there's something funky with your visa like re-entry or whatever.

I know the red book (Foreign Experts Certificate) is linked directly with the school you're working for.

I'm curious as to the return of the red book. I know it is given back to the school themselves when your contract is up. But, you usually need a letter stating that you're finished working there (be it an early termination or upon contract completion). You then swap the red book for the termination/completion letter (which is useless if it isn't chopped). That's why, if you're disputing with your employer before the contract is up, so long as you have the red book they still have to keep paying you. Laughing

As for changing provinces, yeah. Worse case: visa run, re-enter, and then you can work anywhere but the province you were just in.

It took me over a year to find out that you (a foreigner) can be just as much of a pain in the butt to deal with as the Chinese can be over contract matters so long as you know these things AND you haven't committed any criminal behaviour. Now, criminal behaviour also means the things you could do, but that's small print stuff pending on 'verbal agreements' and those not actually being enforceable. Anyway....