I worked for a company in China and left more than a year ago. Today they emailed me asking me to return my Alien Employment Permit (blue book) and Working Card (green book). They also wanted me to send along a passport photo. These documents expired in August of 2010 and I am no longer living and working in China. My question is should I return the documents to the company, send to relevant office in Beijing, or just take them and return them to the consulate here in New York? The company says they need to return them to the government agencies. And if I do not return them it could have a negative impact if I wanted to return to China again. I don't trust this company much and found it odd that they wanted a photo. Does anyone have an idea what this is about?

I have never returned any of my Alien Employment Permits.


As long as you have a letter from the employer stating you are no longer working there, there will be no issues with you coming back to China to work later on.

I left the company and China more than a year ago. I do not have the letter any more. Would not having the letter make a difference if I tried to return at some point in the future.

You can still return to China as a tourist or on an Business visa, etc.

But without the letter, supposedly, you cannot get employed here again.

"Supposedly" because I doubt they'll actually be able to check it... Anyway, that's the rules..

Thanks. I guess I will just tell them that I will send them the stuff after they send me the letter. I guess best to have in case I do back and work in China one day.

.

Those docs belong to Chinese Govt issued for you to your previous employer. There is a limit of how many foreigners the firm can employ, they cannot replace you without the permit being cancelled or returned. As its been over a year I imagine the permit has already expired.

Fleurette7 wrote:Yes thats good, threaten them and when you get the letter, keep it anyway.
My last company never even let me SEE my own alien permit, that's how bad they were!
Unfortunately there are many bad companies. Don't listen to them.
Even if you do want to go back to China,there are always ways to figure it out.

Yes, my company also holds the work permit. They said it was to prevent it being lost which can be a big problem. I wanted to hold it myself and they reluctantly agreed, but made me sign a letter taking full responsibility if I lost it.

Last page in the Alien Employment Permit lists 6 points.

Point 1: This permit should be carried at all times in case of inspection.
Point 6: Keep carefully to avoid its loss. In case of loss, report immediately to the issuing authority.

HaroldTheIronmonger wrote:Last page in the Alien Employment Permit lists 6 points.

Point 1: This permit should be carried at all times in case of inspection.
Point 6: Keep carefully to avoid its loss. In case of loss, report immediately to the issuing authority.

Yes, I keep mine in my safe to comply with point 6 and I carry the safe around with me all day to comply with point 1!

I would return it for the exchange of a couple of letters,

1, Letter of "no objection", in case you want to work in SHanghai again.
2, Police Clearance to say you have no criminal convictions in China, you may need this for a job in another country.

Your company has to return the book to the Local Government to cancel it and get a new Permit for another person. Companies are limited to the number of Aliens they can employ.

chingiskhan wrote:

HaroldTheIronmonger wrote:Last page in the Alien Employment Permit lists 6 points.

Point 1: This permit should be carried at all times in case of inspection.
Point 6: Keep carefully to avoid its loss. In case of loss, report immediately to the issuing authority.

Yes, I keep mine in my safe to comply with point 6 and I carry the safe around with me all day to comply with point 1!

Oh, you compliant you..

Yes the can be canceled online, but to renew them for another person the old one has to be surrendered. This stops a company hiring and firing people at will and causing problems with complaints. The letter of "No Objection" does exsist and you may find it difficult to obtain a new work visa/FEC without it in Shanghai. It all depends on how good your companies relationship is with the Minitries involved. If the company has a habit of not completing their paper work to close a work visa done they could be punished by not been aloud to open a new one. Their is a limit that a company can employ, so returning the book is evidence that that are keeping within that number.

The "Letter of No Objection", is common in most coutries as it stops a POS changing jobs at will and leaving one company for another. Someone could leave job A that a company has paid flight/shipping costs, that person then leaves after 3 weeks for company B and does not repay the costs of bringing them out to China.

This may be done to the "new" vigilence in dishing out visa I have had in the last month. Definately t been crossed and i dots checked when it comes to visa re-newal.

I know the police clearance is done by a Notary, but your company has to write the original letter saying you have worked for so long and to the best of their knowledge have no convictions. I have had to do this for several people who have left Shanghai for HK and SG where they need the clearance to get a works visa.

If the company was good to you, what is it going to cost you to post the book back?

As part of the squeeze it was said that small companies will find it increasingly difficult to hire a foreigner.

^^ What is written in this so called "Letter of No objection" ?

what-to-do-if-employer-refuses-to-give-release-letter-t83462.html

Maybe its a "Letter of Release"?

HaroldTheIronmonger wrote:^^ What is written in this so called "Letter of No objection" ?

It's a bit like when you get married and the priest says does anyone have any objections. At that point, every one of the guests need to hand a letter of no objection to the priest so the wedding can proceed.

Honestly this sounds like nonsense. If I leave my current employer he has no right to block me working for someone else any more than I can object to him hiring someone to fill my old position.

Mister_happy wrote:Maybe its a "Letter of Release"?

That makes perfect sense yes.
A release letter is needed not only if you stop working in Shanghai, but in China in general.

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This is the blank I have.

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Yes, I know. But surely it maks things easier to have it?

Fleurette7 wrote:They are not supposed to have it. You might need it in case of an inspection or whatever.

I think they try to keep it to keep you in their clutches.

Other expats have expressed concern about this too but I think they're being pedantic. In some ways it's better they hold it. I don't then ever have to worry where it is. If there's an inspection, I won't have to wonder if I left it at home (it's at home right now!).

The only reason I asked them for it was because I needed it for something or other.

overh20 wrote:

chingiskhan wrote:

Fleurette7 wrote:They are not supposed to have it. You might need it in case of an inspection or whatever.

I think they try to keep it to keep you in their clutches.

Other expats have expressed concern about this too but I think they're being pedantic. In some ways it's better they hold it. I don't then ever have to worry where it is. If there's an inspection, I won't have to wonder if I left it at home (it's at home right now!).

The only reason I asked them for it was because I needed it for something or other.

Gotta agree with that.

Sure, it's cool, has your picture in it, can make a great souvenir and conversation starter, but as far as being crucial to daily survival outside of the workplace it ranks right down there with the hand-over-your-head umbrella.

I would have to say, though, it is equally pedantic for the employer to cry and moan about how it's the end of the world if you don't return it.

It just seems like a control / anti-control thing.

Yeah, I didn't realise they had it until one day I was looking for it and asked my assistant if she knew where it was. At first I was angry (they never informed me they would hold it) but now I don't care. But actually I have it in my possession as I never gave it back after I used it. Can't even remember why I needed it. Oh well.

I have only used the "Little Red Book" 3 times in 8 years.

1. To get married,
2. Buy and arrange loan for an Appartment,
3. Buy and arrange loan for a car.

It is no other use to you apart from when you need to do any of the above. If I need it from the office, I just go in a sign for it and return when I am finished.

chingiskhan wrote:Yeah, I didn't realise they had it until one day I was looking for it and asked my assistant if she knew where it was. At first I was angry (they never informed me they would hold it) but now I don't care. But actually I have it in my possession as I never gave it back after I used it. Can't even remember why I needed it. Oh well.

It's funny how different companies can be. I asked my HR department to hold mine as I rarely need it and don't want to lose it. They refused saying it's my responsibility!

It's useful as a proof of address.

tengis wrote:It's useful as a proof of address.

If your current address is in it yes... If not, then not..

overh20 wrote:

tengis wrote:It's useful as a proof of address.

Who would you use it with as a proof of address?

His mother.