Job Discussion Forums

[maudgm]

Hey,
I've read many things about it but I'd like to know if by going and asking them questions about visas, work etc they can kick you out or put you in trouble ? Can you talk about "everything" with them (illegal work, multiple F visas) or no ?
And do you HAVE TO get registered with them ? How long after you arrived in China ?
Are they friendly ?? Any particular advice on who to see at the one in Shanghai ?
Thanks a lot.

[Freaky Deaky]

Yes, it is their job to help you. You can ask them anything. Register with them within 48 hours.

I forgot to register once. Took myself and my landlady to the PSB and got it sorted. Just used a bit of politeness and that was it.

Now there are others on this board who love scaremongering. They will tell you that the PSB eat babies.

[MyTurnNow]

Well, sometimes "scaremongering" is justified here....
None needed for this, though...not a big deal.

You are required to register with your local police within 30 days after you move in. This is a local thing and has nothing to do with your arrival in the country...it goes into effect when you take residence somewhere. As FD pointed out, a little respect and politeness can often squeak you through some minor trespasses. They already consider you utterly pig-ignorant, so you might as well claim it as a defense if needed.

They are usually quite friendly...nothing to worry about. Who to see? Depends upon where you live in Shanghai...this is handled at certain stations in your area rather than at a central location. Best advice is to get a bilingual FA person at your school to go with you...chances are slim the officers will speak much English, even here in Shanghai. You'll need to bring your passport, FEC and green card if you have a Z visa, a letter from your school with letterhead and stamps, and contact info for your landlord.

If your apartment isn't an area already approved for foreigners (or sometimes even if it is) some officers may come home with you and inspect your apartment. They want to make sure it is safe for you, but I've had this turn into an opportunity for them to sell me window alarms, which they just happened to have handy. I've known of cases where this inspection precipitated people having to leave their apartments- the police insisted on such safety measures as window bars, which the landlord refused to pay for. How stringent this really is will depend upon your city, your neighborhood, and the current mood of the inspecting officer. Sometimes they don't inspect at all...but put your bong away before going to the station just in case.

You can ask them about the laws in general, but I absolutely WOULD NOT ask the PSB about any illegal activities/status/employment I was currently engaged in. It begs the question of why you want to know. You never can tell...you may be talking to a good ol' boy, or you may be talking to a zealot who would like nothing better than to defend his motherland and home town against the depredations of a scheming laowai. Handle such inquiries indirectly through your school or a local friend.

If you have an L (tourist) visa you aren't legally permitted to live anywhere except a hotel...might want to skip the registration. Sometimes an F (business) visa can also restrict you to short-term housing of some kind. If either of those apply to you I strongly recommend you work through your school. If they tell you "you don't have to be registered" I strongly recommend you find a new school.

MT

[Morpheus]

I know the above poster eats dinners with his local PSB but I say Fook the Police.

I never registered wih them. Maybe my employer registered me. Who knows. I do not trust them. I do not fear them either because I have no need to. I don't do drugs, go to church (he he) go out with chickens, play with bombs or bianpao, or any of that. So, it is none of their business. Just bringing a little of my culture to the pot.
Also, I doubt if they care whether I register or not. They are probably too busy devising ways to get bribe $

Let the Trolls begin

[Freaky Deaky]

The PSB are totally cool. I needed to extend my visa and forgot the letter from the school. The girl in the PSB office said 'Oh, don't worry just fax a letter to us within 48 hours. no problem'. I sometimes find China a very easy place to live...

[Ted]

Easy? Dude I heard that you were almost stabbed on sat night

TED, Professor!!

[Freaky Deaky]

Yeah, but knife fights are fun. It's my way of chilling out...

This is you -

[Roger]

So, everybody concurs this year the PSB all over the country are eASY-GOING, RELAXED, you could almost say: XENOPHILE! Alright, maybe, maybe! Must be so because they no doubt got a few knockbacks over the last twelve months and saw their powers curtailed - after having killed a few vagrants (here in Guangdong). Now, they seem to be on their best behaviour...
In my experience, the PSB are almost always paranoid. YOu speak Mandarin? Too bad - you must be a spy! You don't speak the language? Why? What 'ye doing here???
Oh, don't worry about registration - that's automatic as soon as you fill in a hotel registration slip.
And, if you do not register at a hotel, you can't stay legally for any protracted period.
If you go to the PSB, you may very well ask the first question - but the answer will come a long time after they have grilled you.
And, it's really unwise to start talking about your job and your status as a tourist working illegally here!

[MyTurnNow]

Yes, JoeC and whatever name(s) you're posting under now, I DO eat dinner with the PSB. In fact, we were talking about you just tonight!

When living in an authoritarian country on the other side of the globe from home, I prefer to know the law and go through the basic motions of living within it. But then I'm weird...I don't need to get my jollies from passing on advice I know to be totally irresponsible to those less experienced than myself, much less from setting out to show everyone what a wretched and desperate pinhead I am by trying to destroy online forums. Like I said....weird.

But I do strongly encourage you to follow your own advice. Someday, when you've perhaps unwittingly committed some minor infraction (Looking Foreign In A No-Whiteys Zone, Crossing The Path Of An Officer That Didn't Get Laid Last Night, Attracting The Attention Of Someone Who Needs To Build Face By Hassling A Foreigner, etc.) your lack of compliance and all your cool will be revealed, and we'll see who exactly "fooks" whom.

And if God is anywhere close to as cool a guy as we hope He is, I and a few of my friends will be on hand to watch it happen.

Oh, and sorry for the delayed reaction. These days I'm mostly at a place where you have to have both an age and an IQ of over 18 to get in. This means I'll have to take my leave of you now, Josie. Sorry.

As you were,
MT
Off to the bar