Just moved to shanghai like 2 weeks ago, moved into an apartment 1 week ago and registered with police. Got a call yesterday asking if i live in the apartment, who else lives there etc.

Normal?

No! Very much not normal!!

They're on to you man!


RUN!!!!!!

intelcoree wrote:Just moved to shanghai like 2 weeks ago, moved into an apartment 1 week ago and registered with police. Got a call yesterday asking if i live in the apartment, who else lives there etc.

Normal?

Totally normal.

I'd say that it happens, but I'm not sure if it happens normally. Nothing to worry about it, though.

When I first arrived and registered at my local PSB, they called after some days. There was a time when they'd come to the apartment, too, to check if I was indeed living alone as I declared. Then they'd remind me to re-register when there's a change in my personal data (passport and visa number, that sort).

That happened when I was living in north of Jing'an District. When I lived in Pudong, Xujiahui, and Jing'an proper, I never got a call from the police regarding such checks.

They must have some reason to want to know, I would hire a lawyer, call your embassy, and close the drapes/blinds. Have a bag pre-packed for quick run, and have a safehouse.

I get one or two calls per year like this, usually around residence permit renewal time. Nothing to worry about. There are many reports on this forum of police knocking on your door to do a physical check, so consider yourself lucky if it was just a phone call.

jonasei wrote:I get one or two calls per year like this, usually around residence permit renewal time. Nothing to worry about. There are many reports on this forum of police knocking on your door to do a physical check, so consider yourself lucky if it was just a phone call.

Does it involve plastic gloves and awkward lower body positions?

Bshaw wrote:

intelcoree wrote:Just moved to shanghai like 2 weeks ago, moved into an apartment 1 week ago and registered with police. Got a call yesterday asking if i live in the apartment, who else lives there etc.

Normal?

Totally normal.

PROBABLY just burglars checking if you are home.

Or financial advisors.

I have had a check here too - a couple of women came by to check who was living in this apartment, and checked it against what we'd registered at the police station. It only happened the first time, each time since when we have renewed annually no one has come by or called.

They are just protecting the Shanghai Peace. Everyone would be checked, Chinese or foreigners.

This is one point I love Shanghai, as I feel so safe here, not like the other big cities.

I had a visit from the pigs in my first year here and a phone call when i moved into my current apartment two years ago. Nothing much to worry about I guess.

During Mid Autumn fest, I had a knock on my door. Opened it to find a hallway full of police (10 or 15). First thing on mind was "OHHHH SH*T". Turns out they brought me mooncakes and wanted to wish me happy Mid Autumn. I do have good relations with local police station but still scary.

Don't worry, perfectly normal. It kind of depends on which district you are living in, as each district police station(s) will have their own way. Some check, some don't.

Expect calls or visit every time your visa is running out, and be a nice boy and re-register every time you renew it or re-enter China, so they cannot blame you for anything.

Sometimes community people come by to check as well, usually women, wanting to know who lives there, what are your passport numbers, where do you work, whats your education blablabla. I just give them my first name and gender, the rest is none of their business and I tell them this as well, no problem so far.

The last time that happened, the police came to the door and started questioning my normally gentle, kind, happy and smiling wife about the reasons for my visit to China.

She copped an attitude. Told them that I registered at the police station as required, had already given them all the information they asked for, and asking any further questions now is highly inefficient. If they want to know more, they should ask for it on the forms instead of wasting police time making house calls. She went on to berate them for not preventing a burglary of her apartment the year before, and for not catching the guilty party. They should be catching crooks, not harassing law abiding people!

I would never have taken that tack. But the two cops slunk away with their tails between their legs. That was 1.5 years ago, and no repercussions so far.

Good on your wife!

I've never been visited. Got one call, years ago. The caller spoke English, did not identify himself or who he represented, started asking questions. He knew my name and my address and asked for verification that I lived there and wanted to know whether anyone else lived there. I told him that I would not answer any questions until he identified himself. At this point he simply said "good-bye" and hung up. Weird.

So are locals getting these calls too?

If so, I suppose what they are looking for is unregistered waidiren, or foreigners overstaying their visas.

Somewhere along the line, the cops issued me a temp res form with an incorrect address and phone number. I didn't realize it until later. The other day when I was there informing them of my new residence permit, I told the guy behind the desk that the address and phone number were wrong. Not even close, different streets and everything. He looked at his computer and said something like "well, this is what we have in the system." He didn't even ask me for the correct information. Yeah... Shanghai's finest.

Long story short, turtle head peeking out, so I beat it. I found an old copy with the correct info, so maybe I'll head back and try to get it fixed.

normal but infrequent

happens in hotels as well , again depending on the area . I was in a country hotel once for 4 days the police arrived at 10 pm 2 out of 4 nights ........checking for girls i reckon.

nothing to panic about just keeping an eye on things. i doubt it happens in western level hotels

and it is not restricted to just checking foreigners .....I have seen them going in all rooms just checking id cards and thank you and good night

So, you need careful, not done wrongdoing.

Don't have this experience

I don't think it's anything to worry about.

During the first two years here I had visits by the community party people to my apartment & also to my office. They were always smiling & very friendly, but they were no doubt "keeping China safe" by making sure I lived where I said I did & worked where I said I did. Interesting that they felt the need to visit my office at least five times before they finally stopped. No visits of any kind since both my office & my apartment moved to another area. Some community party people & police are more enthusiastic than others.

Five visits to work? That is nuts. I've never had any phone call or home visit ever

I always give my standard answer to any question from the locals - 'ting bu dong!' - this can be repeated several times until it penetrates the lead plate that protects their frontal lobes.

Boronia wrote:I don't think it's anything to worry about.

During the first two years here I had visits by the community party people to my apartment & also to my office. They were always smiling & very friendly, but they were no doubt "keeping China safe" by making sure I lived where I said I did & worked where I said I did. Interesting that they felt the need to visit my office at least five times before they finally stopped. No visits of any kind since both my office & my apartment moved to another area. Some community party people & police are more enthusiastic than others.

That's what Old Tiger called the "granny state." Give those old gossiping ayis an armband and watch out.

My guess is that occasionally they find someone living where they shouldn't be living.

Think of it as a salary bonus for them...

As others have said, never give them more information than they already have on the relevant forms. The enthusiastic pair who kept visiting the office, also took to calling me on my cell phone on my day off, asking where I was & when I would be home. I'm afraid I gave them the standard responses of a teenager: "Out." and "I don 't know." they soon stopped, presumably out of boredom.

In the good old days(tm) used to be a little more strict.

You didn't have the luxury of living anywhere you wanted to like you do now. Us naughty foreigners had to live in approved apartments (which cost thousands of US$ a month, my moderate sized 2 bedroom was roughly 4,500$ a month in 95).

Or, you could take your chances, and live in a local place for cheap.

However, if one of your neighbors ratted you out to the cops out of jealousy of this new rental income their neighbor was making, you were out on the street before you could say huh?
(Which is why quite a few landlords would tell you to tell anyone who asked that you're their cousin from the states).

I often do weird hours (work late, sleep late, never answer the door), so I haven't had the police visit yet, although I know when they've been around, as the gate guards will generally give me a heads up.

They're just doing their jobs. Different area's as stated have different styles. When I lived in Jing an the community budget was higher, so you got the occasional gift, quarterly chinglish government magazine and invite to things like trips out of town. Now I'm living in XuHui, this years gift was an apron, and less magazines.

It is a nanny state, but it is run with good intentions (although that can be the worst type of nanny state for some). Sure you get the nosy ladies wanting to know what you are doing, but you also get them going to visit the old and invalid on a regular basis to make sure they're ok. Be nice to the old lady type people running the local area management office, and they'll be nice right back.

Once I got a call from the local police station.
They told me that my visa was close to expire.
I replied that the passport was already in entry- exit bureau.
I think that the management office of the compound updates them regulary about foreigners.