Job Discussion Forums

[IanMWashburn]

Dear Santa: I know yer busy, but do you think it's ok for the "Qingdao Municipal Foreign Affairs Office...Consular Division" to be issuing FECs to us Foreign Expert language teachers?

Went to their offices last Friday and they said yep, they issued my FEC alright.

That's why it doesn't say SAFEA on the first page, like my past FECs.

That's why it has slightly different typeface, different chops and seals. Tho, ya gotta look real close ta notice these differences. Otherwise it looks like, well, like a cheaper copy of the SAFEA issued FECs.

I mean, Santa, this here is the local "Qingdao Municipal Foreign Affairs Office". Not even the Shandong provincial government. And it's the "Consular Division" at that.

Didja ever hear of municipalities issuing FECs before?

I sure never did.

(Now I'm getting a headache again.)

The even told me that in their very same building, downstairs on the second floor, is the SAFEA office where ya kin git the bona fide SAFEA flavor of FEC.

So in the same building two agencies, one national and one local, are each issuing their own printed version of the FEC.

Pretty cool huh?

So they've referred me over to the Qingdao Education Bureau. This is real convenient 'cause in Qingdao they got this huge Municipal Government Building about 50 stories high, and most all the city offices are in it.

Thanks fer takin the time ta answer this, Santa.

(I deserve an answer 'cause I bin good I swear.)

[Uncle Vinnie]

Qingdao?

[fitzgud]

Uncle Vinnie,

As this is the festive season, ok, I love you, and all your so numerous aliases in the past. Now, what are we to do about this Asia prat?

[HunanForeignGuy]

Dear Ian,

This is not as strange as it may sound to you. It all depends upon the legal form of the institution where you will be working, i.e.,

in Guangzhou, for example, there are two Foreign Expert's Bureaus. The Guangdong Foreign Expert's Bureau handles FEC for college and institutions chartered either under the direct aegis of Beijing or under the direct aegis of provincial government. The City of Guangzhou Foreign Expert's Bureau, which believe it or not is quite proactive, handles FEC's for municipally-chartered institutions (such as high schools, primary schools, vocational college, universities whose original charter was issued by the city, and a host of other things). This is nothing new and has been like this for years.

I believe that this issue was discussed here more or less in toto about two years ago but the thread may no longer be available.

In Harbin, for example, federally-chartered universities are handled by one entity, provincially-chartered entities are handled by another and municipally-chartered institutions are handled by yet another.

Thus, I would truly not fret over the FEC you have because you at least have an FEC and in the case of a conflict, it would be incumbent upon the various entities to sort it out among themselves.

The crucial factor will be the issuance of your new residence permit based upon the FEC. If the local PSB accept the municipally-issued FEC and issue you a new resident permit, then the issue is closed and for all practical purposes moot.

SAFEA has longed been more-or-less eviscerated and most of its powers, if there ever were any, have been relegated to the various provincial governments, municipal governments, etc.

[IanMWashburn]

HunanForeignGuy:

Thank you for your on-topic reply. Very helpful.

You write:

"SAFEA has longed been more-or-less eviscerated and most of its powers, if there ever were any, have been relegated to the various provincial governments, municipal governments, etc."

How do you know?

Not disputing with you. I just want to know on what you base you statement.

Please provide concrete details, and specific cases if possible.

As always, references to local, provincial and national "chapter and verse" of laws and regs is most helpful.

Thanks to all replies, both here and in the PM.

--Ian

[arioch36]

What's important is if you got your residence permit in your passport. The FEC is not really used for anything else

In Zhengzhou, I see the battle a little differently, the SAFEA appears to have gained some jurisdiction back, but the Henan Foreign Experts Bureau has the much nicer building.

In CHinese, these names are very similar, at least what the Chinese actually call these offices.

That's why in previous posts I try just to say Henan Waishiban. I have never heard of a Zhengzhou City waishiban, though the PSB also has their waishiban office

Again, if the the PSB has stamped your passport, then I would accept it as part of the "real china" thing