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Registering with Police

Shanghai Expat Forum Index » Hot Topics Forums » Visas, Taxes, and Legalities

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shanghaikid

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Joined: Apr 06, 2004
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Posted: June 16, 2004 - 12:28 PM
Post subject: Registering with Police

Do you have to register with police upon arrival into Shnaghai. Many people have not. I have been leaving and coming back in before my visa expired. What is the official stance on registration.

findus

Fire-eater

Joined: Feb 03, 2004
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Posted: June 16, 2004 - 01:29 PM

You should register within 2 (maybe 3?) days of arrival. Not doing so runs the risk of being fined, the longer you leave it, the greater the fine.

It'd be good if they frickin told you this on the flight in / hotel checkin.

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Magnolia
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Joined: June 01, 2004
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Posted: June 16, 2004 - 01:48 PM

I think it depends where you stay. If you are in a hotel, then you are automatically registered when you check in. If you are staying with friends then technically you should head down to the station and register soon after arrival. If you have your own apartment, then you should register once (no need to do it again, unless your work/residency permits expire). I have had friends and relatives stay with me many times and have never had them register with the police. Never a problem but they were usually here for two weeks or less. Several have done this many times and so far there has never been an issue. I think it only becomes a problem if you don't register and then later need to register . . . I remember that happening to me and the company had to pay a fine of several hundred RMB. Something about me moving in, not registering, then when it came time to apply for the resident permit I had to submit the police registration form and when we went to the police the register they could see that I had been here, unregistered for several weeks. Some buildings offer the registration at the management office - then you need not go to the local police station to register, you can just do it there.

GC
The Ginger Prince

Joined: Dec 01, 2003
Posts: 22183

Posted: June 16, 2004 - 05:37 PM

From a legal view point you should register but in practise the only personal reason for registering is if you want to apply for residence status or need to renew a visa. For either of these you need the yellow temporary residents permit the nice local policeman will issue when you register.

The above assumes you are not staying in a hotel, if you are then its up to the hotel to register you. The hotel completes their own temporary residents permit for you which you can get a copy of if you need to renew your L visa.

Its interesting that the local police and the people at Wusong road have no interest in each other. Last year I was staying in private accomodation on an L Visa but never registered with the local police. When i applied for a visa extension at Wusong Road i had no yellow form and was told to register first. The local police wanted to 'fine' me 300rmb to register me but when it was pointed out i could stay in a cheap hotel for 1 night(160rmb) and get a temporary residents permit from them, he basically told me to go and do that then.

If you get your Z visa from the chinese embassy in London they attach a piece of paper telling you that you must register with the police within 24 hours. Little effort but very helpful.

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MahamYe

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Posted: June 16, 2004 - 06:18 PM

Do all visa types have to register or are there any excpetions based on the type of visa?

Magnolia
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Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31550

Posted: June 17, 2004 - 11:23 AM

I think all visa types are subject to the regulation.

mikegee

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Posted: June 18, 2004 - 05:04 AM

oh, is it the yellow paper they give in the plane before arriving to shanghai ? I just went to shanghai once, last winter, and i remember they gave me a paper to fill, in the plane. Was it the same one ? (i remember i had to write some informations like where i will live and so on...i just put the name of the hotel on it...)

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bjohn888

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Posted: June 19, 2004 - 04:07 PM
Post subject: Registering with Police

Legally, everyone must register. It is not something you do on the airplane. If in a hotel, they do it for you. Otherwise, you should go to the local police office nearest to where you are staying and register. Is a very simple process, with no cost, and they will help you do it.

I guess its like driving without a license. No problem until you get caught.

AlexK

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Joined: May 31, 2004
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Location: Pudong
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Posted: June 19, 2004 - 04:35 PM

To answer the visa types question:

In theory, even tourists should register. However, as John just so rightly pointed out, it's no problem unless you're caught, which never happens for temporary visitors. And even then, as we can see from other posts, it's really no problem.

Basically, you only need to register if you think it will ease your conscience, or if you plan on applying for a residence permit later.

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Kittynui

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Posted: June 19, 2004 - 11:59 PM

How often do you have to register?
I have renewed my L visa in France and comming back in shanghai this week end, do I have to go again to the police station so that they can issue a new yellow paper? or I can keep the one they gave me 3 months ago (it's mentionned on the paper that the duration of my stay is 150 days )

Occult

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Joined: May 29, 2004
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Posted: June 21, 2004 - 09:55 AM

List of the Polic stations and their locations and contact details in Shanghai?
Thanx

NY-Viking

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Joined: June 16, 2004
Posts: 33

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Posted: June 21, 2004 - 10:52 AM
Post subject: As with most things, if you don't get caught, it's not a pro

I won't repeat what everyone has all ready said, but the law is that unless you are staying in a hotel, everyone is supposed to register with the police after arrival. Hotels and some serviced apartments will do the registration for you when you register with the hotel at check-in. (Compare the information required on the registration form you fill out at Chinese hotels with that of most hotels overseas.) It actually lists this requirement on your arrival card (I think), but since you don't have that after you submit it to immigration upon arrival, you won't remember it unless it's something you know you have to do.

Anyway, there are only a few ways this will affect you:
1. You apply to extend your visa (or get a re-entry permit, etc.) in which case you'll need the yellow slip from the PSB (or your registration form from the hotel you just stayed in).

2. You get into some kind of legal trouble - either for something you did, or something that was done to you.
a. I had a friend that was getting a ticket for something (don't recall for what now) and when he was asked for his yellow registration paper and didn't have it, they added an additional fine).
b. I had a friend whose house was broken into. She had some stuff stolen and called the police to report the burglary. To add insult to injury, the cops then asked her for her registration slilp. She didn't have one, so in addition to being robbed, she was also fined by the police for not registering.

3. You may also need it if you apply for a marriage license or something like that with another government office.

For most people, they can continually enter and exit China, stay in apartments and not register without a problem. Note that if you don't register within a couple of days of arrival, and then decide to go and register, the PSB will try to fine you. You may be able to negotiate some with them to reduce the fine, but "I didn't know" won't get it removed completely. Also note that you can get around the fine by staying in a hotel for a night and then registering with the PSB by showing proof that you just stayed in the hotel. (You'll have to save the registration form you filled out at check-in for this.)

Registration will last as long as your visa does - so if you have 6 months multiple entries, the PSB will register you at your residence for that entire time (even if you plan to leave before the end of the period). If you move, you'll need the yellow slip to register your new address, or it will result in a fine as well.

Occult

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Joined: May 29, 2004
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Posted: June 21, 2004 - 09:38 PM

Thanx for your advice, but I asked for a list of Police Stations in Shanghai, their contact details, like phone number and address.
Anyone? thanx.

rongchi

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Joined: July 07, 2004
Posts: 203

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Posted: Aug 06, 2004 - 10:19 PM

Can someone tell me the address for PSB?
Thanks!

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Kittynui

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Posted: Aug 10, 2004 - 11:24 PM

333 wusong lu (bus 55 from the bund --> one stop to wusong lu)
Hehe just went there today

Andreas
Shanghai Royalty

Joined: Feb 27, 2004
Posts: 9140
Location: s/v Waratah

Posted: Aug 11, 2004 - 01:34 AM

For F and L visa, not registering is no problem at all. Nobody can be bothered. Done that for 3 years nobody cared. If you are going for visa extension or a Z-visa, you need the yellow paper, which is easy to get. Another myth is that you have to get your Z-visa abroad. You can get it here easily, as long as you have an employment contract. You should always go for the multiple entry Z-visa. Again no problem. Goes together with your work permit (little brown book), and resident permit (little green book). The yearly renewal is a piece of cake, takes about one week here, a few days in most other places. If your company pays a shitload of taxes here, as most do, you might even be eligible for a multi year resident permit, up to 5 years. Happens more and more.

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aline

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Posted: Aug 12, 2004 - 02:57 AM

Do you have to pay to register? I'll be studying in Shanghai for a period of 4 years and I was told that I'll have to go to the police station within one week of my arrival to register so as to be able to stay in China.

Kittynui

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Posted: Aug 12, 2004 - 08:04 AM

Aline,

You don't need to pay when you register, and also be careful, you have to register within 48 hours max after your arrival: I went one week after and they wanted to fine me, but i argued a little and didn't have to pay anything.
But doing in in the first 24 hours will save you some hassle.

aline

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Posts: 45

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Posted: Aug 12, 2004 - 11:45 PM

Within 48 hours? argh. I'll try. I might be busy with university procedures and stuffs but I'll ask a friend to take me to the police station. Thanks for telling me.

Kittynui

Seeker

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Posts: 47
Location: Shanghai
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Posted: Aug 13, 2004 - 10:43 AM

Well the police station is open 24/7 I guess you'll have no excuse... Wink

NY-Viking

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Joined: June 16, 2004
Posts: 33

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Posted: Aug 13, 2004 - 06:13 PM

The police station is open 24/7, but the Registration Office (Pai Chu Suo) is NOT. The one in my area (Tian Lin) is open from like 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (I think).

Aline are you staying in a private home or a dorm? If you're staying in a dorm, the school will be taking care of it for you and you won't have to make a trip.

rongchi

Reacher

Joined: July 07, 2004
Posts: 203

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Posted: Aug 15, 2004 - 08:52 PM

If you intend to extend your visas later, must remember to register with PSB within 24 hours upon arrival, just take 5 minutes of your time. I had no clue about this and was 50 days late. Spent about 2 hrs at the PSB being questioned by the officer and he had to fill up so many forms, was later fined....grrrrrrrr Evil or Very Mad

aline

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Posted: Aug 16, 2004 - 07:02 PM

NY-Viking wrote:

Aline are you staying in a private home or a dorm? If you're staying in a dorm, the school will be taking care of it for you and you won't have to make a trip.

I'll be staying in the university campus. I asked someone else and she said that someone from the university will take me to the police station along with the other international students. I guess I don't have to worry then. Smile

kiwiguy_china

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Posted: Aug 16, 2004 - 11:26 PM

Occult - i do not know of any such list of PSBs, but every neighbourhood should have its local PSB. Ask someone in your building if you are not sure where it is. I moved just last week into a new apartment, so had to go and register at the local PSB - no sweat, no cost, took less than 10 minutes. Need to have your passport and foreign residents permit (the latter, if you have one). Also, if you are renting, your landlord must also supply you with the Apartment Rental Certificate of Ownership and his/her houkou (sp?) as the PSB need this too.