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Renovator
Raver
Joined: Apr 18, 2007
Posts: 468
Location: Century Park & MA,USA
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Oct 03, 2008 - 11:25 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Re: Dont carry your passport with you all over the place! |
[quote="SnappySammy"]
| sweenytodd wrote: |
| Swiss-James wrote: |
| thanks for letting us know about this one Dasher- glad you only lost replaceable stuff. |
In The US you can now get a Passport ID card, so you don't need to carry your passport on your person all the time.... |
In the US there is no requirement to carry your passport at any time. The RFID chipped Passport ID card facilitates entry at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air.
I see little use for this card in China as a replacement for carrying a US passport because A) It does not contain any China visa status information and B) China requires foreigners to carry their passports with them at all times. |
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Zak101
Raver
Joined: Jan 20, 2003
Posts: 401
Location: Suzhou
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 04, 2008 - 05:48 PM |
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@ Renovator: "China requires foreigners to carry their passports with them at all times"....
Hmmm..... 5.5 years here and the only time I've been asked for my passport is when I attend to visa stuff, or at immigration - at which time it is eagerly handed over.
A full colour photocopy of your passport in your wallet ? Are you f*cking NUTS ?
Stories on this site abound of newbie folks who naively drag their passports everywhere like an ATM receipt - then have the passport stolen. Getting a new passport in Shanghai is an exhausting, extremely annoying, time-consuming, bullfeces-laden and expensive exercise. TRUST US.
If you feel the need to tote a photocopy, get a nice big marker pen and wipe out the last 4 characters of the ID number. If they start any sh*t, get THEM to ferry you back to your apartment and show them the real deal.
Passport stays in the bottom drawer at home, my friend.
Just a thought  |
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الله أكبر |
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monalisalee
Rocker
Joined: May 10, 2005
Posts: 612
Location: Shanghai
Status: Online!
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Oct 04, 2008 - 06:16 PM |
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Quite agree Zac. After 4 1/2 years, only take my passport when doing visa, checking into a hotel, bank transaction at counter, train, and plane travel. Never been asked for it anywhere else, and I believe you have the right to travel back to your apartment, if it is demanded. |
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johnboy88 |
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Renovator
Raver
Joined: Apr 18, 2007
Posts: 468
Location: Century Park & MA,USA
Status: Offline
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Oct 04, 2008 - 09:29 PM |
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I don't question what people may or may not be doing or getting away with for the past 5.5 years, just repeated what each one signs and agrees to on our entry/exit form when we now enter China. As we all know, enforcement in these matters change from day to day, foreigner to foreigner, official to official. What each person does is up to them but I think it is at least important for each one of us to know what the official Chinese position is in this matter.
I personally have carried my passport with me at all times while in a foreign country for just about the past 60 years and have never lost it to date. |
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leidelaohu
Wonder Wit
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 3725
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 04, 2008 - 11:36 PM |
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| Renovator wrote: |
| I personally have carried my passport with me at all times while in a foreign country for just about the past 60 years and have never lost it to date. |
I had mine in my checked luggage once. That became something of a problem |
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underh20
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 9647
Location: EOA Seminar
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Oct 04, 2008 - 11:42 PM |
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| Moaning Lisa Pees wrote: |
| ... I believe you have the right to travel back to your apartment, if it is demanded. |
Actually, no.
They can detain you until you either produce it through osmosis or have someone bring it to you.
The fact that they often do let people go home to get it -- accompanied or unaccompanied -- does not mean it is a right. |
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بارك الله ، بارك الله |
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skyline5k
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 06, 2004
Posts: 8658
Location: i am ERROR
Status: Offline
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Oct 06, 2008 - 09:46 AM |
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^agree. Last December, the Minhang PSB did a raid over where I worked and wouldn't let anyone go get their passports. One guy had a color copy of the passport & visa and that did him no good either. The company ended up paying the 5000 RMB fine for the 4 of us.
At the same time, they deported about a dozen Koreans from the area as well as 2 Americans from that week-long raid. |
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C:/Dos ~ C:/Dos/Run ~ Run/Dos/Run |
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Lordlunchalot
SuperStar
Joined: Apr 23, 2007
Posts: 1375
Status: Offline
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Oct 08, 2008 - 06:08 PM |
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I just applied for new resident visa and they will hold on to my passport for a week, what happens if I get checked in the mean time?
Last year I did get checked 2 days after handing passport in for the same thing, I knew my passport number at the time and told him what was going on and it was no problem, never heard from them again.
This year however I have a new passport and am yet to remember the number. Of course being a silly git I didn't write it down before I handed it in. Hello holding cell? |
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underh20
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 9647
Location: EOA Seminar
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Oct 08, 2008 - 08:51 PM |
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^ You get a receipt from the PSB when you hand in your passport for a new visa. |
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بارك الله ، بارك الله |
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SnappySammy
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 9729
Status: Offline
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Oct 15, 2008 - 10:51 PM |
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| Lordlunchalot wrote: |
I just applied for new resident visa and they will hold on to my passport for a week, what happens if I get checked in the mean time?
Last year I did get checked 2 days after handing passport in for the same thing, I knew my passport number at the time and told him what was going on and it was no problem, never heard from them again.
This year however I have a new passport and am yet to remember the number. Of course being a silly git I didn't write it down before I handed it in. Hello holding cell? |
Yep! Hope you like the Gang Showers |
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Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
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monkey7020
Barker
Joined: June 10, 2006
Posts: 154
Status: Offline
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Oct 16, 2008 - 02:52 AM |
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I was stopped in the street outside my apartment just prior to the Olympics and asked for my passport... First time in three years. Had a black and white photocopy in my wallet and explained I lived upstairs and they were welcome to come and see the original. Was waved off without any further probing.... |
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psiservice2
Newbie
Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 4
Status: Offline
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Oct 17, 2008 - 05:34 PM |
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I've been here over 6 years and I always carry a copy of my main passport page, plus my visa. That way I never need to get it out for anything other than a flight or new visa.
You need a passport for everything here, from picking up a parcel, changing money, renting an apartment etc. A copy is far safer to carry around, as it's expendable, the original isn't.
The police are even happy with a copy most of the time, the PSB sometimes have electronic devices where they just enter your passport and visa numbers and they know what your favourite flavour of icrecream is.
You must carry your passport with you at all times. That is a fact. They will mostly tollerate it if you haven't got it with you, but they don't have to.
I also carry it around for another very valid reason.... if I get run over or something, then they have all the identification they need to know my home address, place of work, next of kin contact details etc. |
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Swiss-James
StreetBeater
Joined: Jan 05, 2007
Posts: 2429
Status: Offline
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Oct 17, 2008 - 05:48 PM |
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| psiservice2 wrote: |
I've been here over 6 years and I always carry a copy of my main passport page, plus my visa. That way I never need to get it out for anything other than a flight or new visa.
You need a passport for everything here, from picking up a parcel, changing money, renting an apartment etc. A copy is far safer to carry around, as it's expendable, the original isn't.
The police are even happy with a copy most of the time, the PSB sometimes have electronic devices where they just enter your passport and visa numbers and they know what your favourite flavour of icrecream is.
You must carry your passport with you at all times. That is a fact. They will mostly tollerate it if you haven't got it with you, but they don't have to.
I also carry it around for another very valid reason.... if I get run over or something, then they have all the identification they need to know my home address, place of work, next of kin contact details etc. |
Confused- do you carry yours or just a copy? You seem to do a u-turn about half-way through that post! |
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My blog is working again now- which I'm sure is an enormous relief to everyone. |
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tigerduck
Reacher
Joined: May 05, 2008
Posts: 265
Location: somewhere
Status: Offline
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Oct 17, 2008 - 05:56 PM |
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| underh20 wrote: |
| ^ You get a receipt from the PSB when you hand in your passport for a new visa. |
With this receipt + copies of our passports we were even able to register with the PSB.
I always carry a copy of my passport + copy of pink slip. Never had a problem (I always try to bow, scrape and smile ) |
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The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest. |
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AD
Lurker
Joined: May 13, 2007
Posts: 36
Status: Offline
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Oct 18, 2008 - 08:38 AM |
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my wife is shanghanese and is ashamed of these scam activities, but just like all chinese take no action.
example - half km on wuzhong lu, 10 pink shops, shanghai people say they are for foreigners only, bullfeces - Chinese head in the sand attitude as usual.
its just the same for all the other scams, its bad because the local people dont tackle the issue.
I have to wait for my wife frequently on nan jing dong lu, so i am slightly short tempered with the girls n guys, wanting coffee or lady-sex-massage. I just tell them i want a special lady, in a blue uniform with a badge, they leave immediately!
who wrote the police here are honest? I never found a shanghanese who will agree with you!!!!!!!!!!!!
And i never found a policewoman who will give me a massage, but i'm sure it's possible somewhere in this wonderful city. |
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Zak101
Raver
Joined: Jan 20, 2003
Posts: 401
Location: Suzhou
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 18, 2008 - 09:18 PM |
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@ Under:
"The fact that they often do let people go home to get it -- accompanied or unaccompanied -- does not mean it is a right."
I totally agree. It's not a right, nor a defensible right to get ferried home by the PSB to display the real device, and the letter of the law indicates that we MUST carry our passports at all times.
However, a reasonable & pleasant chat with the officers involved, WITHOUT losing your temper and appropriate smiling goes a long way.
One could suggest that "it's not an appropriate venue to carry a foreign passport" or play 'dumb foreigner' - "I didn't know" might also work.
Just make damn sure you have a correct, valid visa and other paperwork at home. Or else you might keep a very good hold of the soap in the showers
Kidding.
You most probably won't get the "Shanghai Hilton", but make sure you are squeaky clean in terms of visas, residency etc.
I suspect that laowais might get a cursory inspection of their administrative affairs, but I have to tell ya, I've had 4 random breath checks for alcohol in Australia while driving, and I wasn't driving a jalopy - just the next driver, which was happened to be ME.
100% Much more investigation by "authorities" in Australia than here. Don't get too worried, be PLEASANT, show the documents and you'll be totally fine, not fined.
Zak |
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الله أكبر |
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alvinwwl
Newbie
Joined: June 05, 2008
Posts: 6
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 30, 2008 - 09:16 AM |
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| Post subject: Caution - Pickpockets |
For those who take the route from People’s Square subway exit 9, 10 & 11 towards Tomorrow Square past Kathleen’s 5, pickpockets are in action lately.
Normally it is a 2 man operation; both males below 170cm, untidy hair and wearing black PVC jackets waiting out at the exits for suitable targets. I had seen a few successful cases in board daylight because people just don’t care.
I had informed my police contact in another area but sadly is still the case. After spending 7 years in China, you know being cautious is paramount, so please take care out there as no look will look out for you. |
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andyfff
Rocker
Joined: July 03, 2005
Posts: 680
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 09, 2008 - 06:44 PM |
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| Post subject: warning - purse snatchers working overtime in Xujiahui |
Today (Sunday) between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. I witnessed two purse snatching attempts. The first one was on Tianyaoqiao Road, a 20- something Chinese woman tried to rip the purse out of the arms of a 30-something Chinese woman. The plot was foiled however, when the purse owners husband materialized from a few meters away, and locked his hands on to the shirt of the thief and would not let go. A few other people also grabbed on to the young woman, and multiple cell phones materialized instantly to call the police. The purse snatcher burst in to tears as they all waited for the police.
The second incident I witnessed was in the passageway from the Line 1 subway station in to Grand Gateway. I did not see the actual robbery attempt, but I saw two scruffy dirty Chinese guys running up the stairs and out on to the street, as a young woman down at the bottom of the stairs suddenly looked down at her bags and realized something was wrong. I am not sure if her purse had been opened, or if a bag was missing or something. It looked as if the two men had intentionally bumped in to her and jostled her around, and either taken something out of her purse or taken a bag from her. By the time she or I or anybody else realized what had happened, they were gone. It all looked very organized and choreographed.
So watch your stuff! Especially you ladies, it must be open season on purses, or maybe the Spring Festival thieves are getting an early start this year. Be careful everyone. |
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happyck
Reacher
Joined: July 11, 2006
Posts: 265
Status: Offline
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Nov 09, 2008 - 07:06 PM |
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oh dear....yes yes beware! This could happen anywhere, where there are lots of people and things happening:
I was on my way to the subway, in Pudong DongCang lu Station when I felt a tug on my bag, turnd around and a man was holding a baby in his left arm, and his right hand was IN MY PURSE. He took out his hand and kept walking.
I stood there stunned and then after about 10 steps he turned around and what looked like his accomplice turned around too, and they kept "working", while I watched on the steps of the entrance to the subway station, people rushing past me.
CAREFUL |
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be happy! and get out of my face. |
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medaman
Seeker
Joined: Sep 13, 2008
Posts: 52
Status: Offline
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Nov 09, 2008 - 07:24 PM |
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Saw some people running at a high rate today near Metro City. Thought it was just some kids playing around. Maybe this is related. |
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underh20
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 9647
Location: EOA Seminar
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Nov 09, 2008 - 07:33 PM |
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Unfortunately, an age old problem. |
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بارك الله ، بارك الله |
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SHstormtrooper
Seeker
Joined: Sep 18, 2008
Posts: 64
Status: Offline
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Nov 09, 2008 - 07:38 PM |
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I visit that area often, thank goodness I ain't a victim. |
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medaman
Seeker
Joined: Sep 13, 2008
Posts: 52
Status: Offline
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Nov 09, 2008 - 07:53 PM |
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You haven't been a victim. But I think the message is to be careful in the future. |
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Shangstar
Reacher
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 209
Location: The Motherland
Status: Offline
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Nov 09, 2008 - 07:58 PM |
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Grrr that kind of thing angers me. If I caught one on a Metro, I would tie 'em to the rear end of the train and let them have a bumpy ride around Shanghai..... |
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"You SHOT my speckled Jim!??" |
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leidelaohu
Wonder Wit
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 3725
Status: Offline
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Nov 09, 2008 - 09:20 PM |
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Assist and I were sitting in a KFC in Kunshan one evening when a kid who looked about six ran past me, grabbed the lady's purse on the chair next to me and was out the door like a flash. He was gone before it even registered that he'd just stolen someone's purse. The lady was sitting there watching it and still didn't react fast enough. |
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