Job Discussion Forums

[chengdude]

The header says it all: I'd appreciate any advice from those contributors in Chengdu and/or environs who have endured the process of exchanging part of their salary into foreign currency. I have been told by my FAO that, yes, you may but, no, you cannot do it monthly, only once every 3 months (this from the paper-pushers in the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Stanching RMB). I and my creditors would appreciate the flexibility of accomplishing this monthly, but this doesn't seem very likely at this point.

Additionally, any experiences with electronic transfers abroad would be welcome. I assume the main branch of the Bank of China near Luomashi would be the obvious choice for both tasks, although if anyone has found any particularly sympathetic and/or efficient souls in other bank branches around town, I'd appreciate the guidance.

[Spiderman Too]

One of the frustrations of living & working in China is that many Chinese 'officials' do not know the laws and procedures of their own country!

The law governing the exchange of salary into foreign currency applies to ALL of China; it's not a provincial thing. So, what I do in my part of China, you can do in Chengdu.

70% of my salary is changed into American currency EVERY month.

This first time is a little complicated.

You and your FAO need to go to the MAIN branch of the Bank of China in Chengdu.

You need to show your employment contract, Foreign Experts Certificate, Foreigners Residence Permit & passport. You must also show them your monthly income tax receipts. You CANNOT change your salary unless you are paying tax (in my case, 75 RMB per month).

The currency exchange is recorded in the back of your Foreign Experts Certificate (which is, of course, a booklet). For every subsequent transaction, the bank clerk checks your book, sees that your 'status' is already approved, and proceeds with converting your money. You don't have to show all of your other documents each time.

If your FAO is unsure about what to do, PM me with his/her contact details and I will ask my FAO to contact your FAO.

[parvati_overdrive]

take your horde and cross the border into lao (vietnam?), you can change it for Thai Baht which is as good as real money. well, sort of...but you can convert this at the airport - I dont think reciepts are needed any longer.

[cflan]

Chengdude:

I'm also teaching at a uni in Chengdu (CUIT). After requesting & requesting & requesting, they finally gave me the paperwork for salary conversion -- for the four month period of the Fall semester (also 70%). I don't know about next semester yet, but I expect I'll have the same deal, & only be able to convert at the end of the semester.
(And the bank to go to is the main Bank of China branch on Renmin Zhonglu).

--chris