Job Discussion Forums

beautification · Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 111

Who keeps the Foreign Expert Certificate? My school is telling me they keep it. I was under the impression I keep it though, because I will need it for exchanging money. Any help in this matter would be great. If i don't get to keep it, it sure makes exchanging money a problem since I will need to borrow the certificate every time I want to get money to send home.

KES · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 722

You keep it.

Read the back of it.

Red flags should go up if school wants it...

But, if they insist, demand that they ley you keep their SAFEA License to hire Foreigners (joking)

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Nowhere on the final "page" of the booklet does it state that the work unit is to keep possession of the FEC. For one thing, it's "printed by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs" not the school.

"The certificate is to be used as an identification card for foreign experts working in China". Argue with your school why they should be in possession of your I.D. card., and ask for written documentation to prove their claims, or just demand a written guarantee that anytime, anywhere when you require to use your card for I.D. reasons (aside from the bank), they will rush right over with the card. Personally, I've never used my FEC -- but a situation could arise. Knowing that it's in my drawer, and not an absent director's is assuring.

The school has no rights to your FEC. You are the foreign expert, not them.

erinyes · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 272 Location: GuangDong, GaoZhou

The school gave me a photo copy of mine.

I didn't care though. As I got the teachers to help me change money.

You would probably find the black market so much easier to deal with, if you change money in the bank I assume there will be hundreds of forms and crap.

If you really want it I suggest is borrow it one time. Insist on going to the bank by yourself and never give it back.

If you just want to change money then make a friend and ask them to change money for you and then take them out to dinner or free English lessons for their friend's kid once or twice or whatever.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

I think that you are better off keeping all required documents close at hand even if you never find the need to use them. You never know when you may need them.

It is not worth getting into a dispute over but there is no harm in asking for the documents as you have been told that you should be the one to keep them as you may need them. If however the school is determined to keep this or any other document then I think that eriyes had a good suggestion - just borrow it and don't return it as it is afterall 'yours' for all intents and purposes.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=42398

www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=49144

beautification · Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 111

Thanks for the quick responses. I figured that I was suppose to have it. The problem is there is another ESL teacher working at the High School attached to this place and she has been her four years and has never had the certificate. I think when I borrow it I will likely not return it.

Ideally I want it but don't really need it as I likely won't be using it for banking. Other ways to send/convert money I find easier, blackmarket, friend, western union, etc.

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

you have no real benifit from keeping it...and a lot to lose if you make a scene over who "holds" it...in the end it should be returned to the issuing authority...the school...

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Actually, the school itself does not issue the FEC. Take a closer look. The "发证机关" (the "organ" which issues the FEC) is the city's 外事办公室 (foreign affair's office). Nowhere within my FEC is there the university's stamp, just the city's FAO.

As for returning it, using the school is far simplier than paying how much in RMB for a taxi ride to the "issuer's" office.

jeffinflorida · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:15 am Post subject:

Ask for it. keep it. Don't give it back.

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

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

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

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

Be nice, smile, tell them that you only need it for a half day to complete some small errand, and get it. Then don't return it. Smile, lie, make excuses, but keep it and whatever they may say, "ting bu dong" your way through it but keep the thing and don't let go.

Doesn't this sound like popular advice? It is, and for 2 solid reasons. The first is a bad reason. Many of us are petty, small minded creatures, and after a lifetime (not really; certainly not so in my case. It just feels that way) of taking unnecessary crap like that to give a bit of it back. To play their game their way and score a point or two. It's a bad reason but it tastes good. The second is security. If at the end of your contract they are making noises about delaying payment of airfare, last month's salary or other monies owing, it's a good idea to have something that they want in return. Never make the mistake of trusting a Chinese businessperson to do business in an honourable and honest manner. It may happen one day, but it hasn't happened yet. Until you see it happen, CYA

Leon Purvis · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject:

I was never asked to surrender my FEC booklet.