Job Discussion Forums

Asialiner · Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Hainan Island

I applied for a re-entry permit, and got a new "Residence Permit" - a sticker in my passport. I was told by my FAO that this replaces the green card which was not returned by the PSB. There is nothing on my new permit about number of entries, only an issue date and valid until date. I tried to find out if this is a single or multiple entry visa. My FAO doesn't ask questions.
Anyone else know about this? I just want to make sure I can get back into the country or be sure to take all my valuables with me when I leave.

Norman Bethune · Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 731

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

I have the sticker and I understand that the sticker in the passport is the same as the green book and can be used as a re-entry visa

Asialiner · Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Hainan Island

All four foreign teachers were given the same new "Residence Permit" with hopes of leaving China for the Spring holiday. This is all we were given. The PSB kept our green residence permits as they were replaced by the new one in our passports. The stamp in our passport is called "Residence Permit" and is not a visa. There is nothing about entries, exits, nothing. Is the new residence permit good for multiple entries?

smalldog · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 74

Yep, I just got one too in Beijing. It does replace the green book, but it's different in that it also functions as a multiple entry visa. Check http://www.speedbusiness.com.cn/residence-permit.htm for details and a pic.

clomper · Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 251 Location: Beijing

need info:

I plan to exit the country for the winter holidays to head to Hkg and Taiwan.. when I entered the country, I had a tourist visa. The school had it changed to a multiple working visa.

I entered the country last August 18 and my visa is for 30 days. When the PSB issued the working visa and residence permit it was beyond the 30 day period. However, the school submitted my papers before the 30 day period ended.

My question is: will I be fined at the border??

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

My question is: will I be fined at the border??

A: No.

I too was just told that things are a'changin' again to the tune of 500 to 600rmb!! If they are truly replacing the green resident books with a simple sticker in the passports and my residence book has not yet expired, then this change should be free of charge - - at least in a sane world it should be. I'm going to the PSB on Monday to get a re-entry visa and I'm betting I'll have a similar story come Tuesday. Is this happening now due to the new year passing or is it conveniently being done so just before spring festival break? Hmmmm.

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

I am having trouble getting a handle on this. I have been working in Shanghai, and I will be signing a new contract (also in Shanghai) soon. Formerly, I would simply get a new PSB stamp in my green book.

Does this mean that I must now have a residence permit pasted onto one of the dwindling number of pages in my passport? Or would the resident permit (as Norman Bethune seemed to suggest) be stapled somewhere in my passport? Is all this even operative yet in Shanghai, or is the new procedure still inching its way southward from Beijing?

Sorry. Too many questions, I know. But I don't want to have this thing suddenly bite me in the nether regions.

smalldog · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 74

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

Thanks, smalldog. God knows what comes next.

parvati_overdrive · Joined: 09 Jan 2005 Posts: 69

Question:

The residence booklet is/was to be carried about your person in lieu of the passport. Now the stamp is in the pp - doyou have to carry it around? I REALLY dislike carrying my pp on my person unless I am traveling.

Thanks for clarification -

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Carry your passport around? What a question!

In most countries the world over you have to carry on you some form of ID. If you are a local a number of official documents might be acceptable in lieu of an ID card or a passport, but for foreign nationals it is either a special permit or their passport. I don't see why this should not be so!

In fact, in view of China's II problem the authorities show an enormous amount of leniency! This doesn't mean you can take it for granted. The cops may actually lay in wait for you if they know a foreign national has set up his home in a neighbourhood where no foreign national is reported to be in possession of a residence permit.

I waqs waylaid on two occasions: first time when I was working and living in a province my boss had posted me to illegally; it took the cops only 5 weeks to locate the foreigner in that neighbourhood and to wait for me one evening as I walked home... That was the end of my stint in that particular town, and my boss paid a huge fine.

A second time, some police on their beat noticed me as I walked to a kindergarten. They were on their beat every day, at the same time, in the same streets. When they saw me again the next morning they stopped me. I had no ID on me; luck came my way in the form of a local resident who recognised me and vouchsafed for me to the two cops. I was let off without any ado. But it could have gone the wrong way.

Even in Hong Kong, any visitor must at all times carry some form of official document on them. If you are found without any proof of your identity you will be hauled in to a police station and investigated.

Usually, having a PHOTOCOPY of relevant docs is accepted by police as proof of your ID.

KES · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 722

Our Chinese Manager was summoned this a.m. to the PSB to be briefed on the new "Green Card" issues. This is of course, coming second hand, but what I have been able to gather is as follows:

"Green Cards" in whatever form they may be, will now serve the dual purpose of showing residence and will also serve as a multiple rentry visa for the duration of the document's valid dates.

Apparently, this was supposed to have become effective 20 Dec 2004.

I'm afraid I do not have further "hard" information to provide.

My foreign manager's personal interpetation is that the purpose of the change is to allow greater convienience and flexibility to foreign employees.

That's it for the "facts" and speculation based on this early report.

As usual, your milage may vary.

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

Hey K-man...doughtful if for your convein....
What this does is allow a better inforcement of foreign teachers leaving a school in that the passport number is now tied to the resid. sticker in the passport which can be cancelled with a simple form filled out by just about anyone over the counter of the local PSB..you have to reg. with them so when the information goes into the computer there is no trouble in finding you should the school cancell the res. pass.

smalldog · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 74

Kes, 'green cards' in China refer to the new system of permanent residency. Green cards are pieces of plastic similar to the ID cards Chinese citizens have. They are different to the non-permanent residence permits/stickers which most foreign teachers have.