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Q: If you have a residence permit, do you still need to report to the PSB when you visit another city?
Just wondering, let's say you are in China in city A on a Z visa and residence permit. If you want to visit city B and stay with locals, do you still need to report to the PSB?
9 years 4 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Wow. Good question.
I think, technically yes. The Government want to know where you are.
But in reality, nobody cares.
What is the actual law? Yeah, I think you need to register. The house needs to be in a gated community with security etc. The local Police need to know that a foreigner is in the hood, but in reality the local Police don't know the law, and are more likely to do the "Hellloo" thing than check your passport.
I find most Chinese have no idea that we need a visa to be here. They think we can come and go as we want. It's only the Police in the smart and well pressed uniforms that know the law. They are the guys we don't argue with 
BHGAL:
my local police told me to register in Guangzhou, they couldn't care less who, what or where I am.
Wow. Good question.
I think, technically yes. The Government want to know where you are.
But in reality, nobody cares.
What is the actual law? Yeah, I think you need to register. The house needs to be in a gated community with security etc. The local Police need to know that a foreigner is in the hood, but in reality the local Police don't know the law, and are more likely to do the "Hellloo" thing than check your passport.
I find most Chinese have no idea that we need a visa to be here. They think we can come and go as we want. It's only the Police in the smart and well pressed uniforms that know the law. They are the guys we don't argue with
BHGAL:
my local police told me to register in Guangzhou, they couldn't care less who, what or where I am.
I read about that here I think, but it never crossed my mind. Sometimes, I stay in visiting city (Nanjing) for whole month, and I don't even know where PSB is.
whom cares said the bedbug. not eye said the blind man.
Philosophy 101: Does complying with orders encourage the fascist to give/enforce the orders? I advocate Passive Resistance for those of us too lazy, meek, mild, unconcerned, and/or apathetic to truly stand up and engage in Active Resistance.
The Fall of Spartacus
'diverdude1:
haha ... yeah,,, sittin' around bored. went to a dinner party last night and wound up drinkin' too much beer when I got home to wash the taste of roast pork outta my mouth. anyway, chillin' at home is the only thing on the cards today. so, post on ECC I must!
I think this is most annoying and Soviet era's law. Only because of this law sometime its hard to find hotel in the city like jinan,Tianjin. receptionist will refuse u because of this damn law.
Actually the law said u must register with PSB within 24hours. That's ridiculous. I mean technically if u r going to live there for months or year.its alright to register.
I think government should make some changes in the law.
icnif77:
'Not to be admitted to Chinese Hotel(s)' is different matter/Law.
Chinese hotels must have Gov. permit/authorization to house laowai, what most of them don't have it.
I think, only '5 stars' Hotels in China have that permit, so if you don't want to spend fortune for overnight stay, you're bound to lowest Hotels/motels possible, mostly in big cities, as Bj, Tianjin, and similar. Best IMO is to catch pusher on the street for short/overnight stay.
Hotwater:
It's not just 5 star hotels Icnf. I've stayed in a lot of 2 & 3 star that have taken my passport to register me. Also stayed in small village ones that didn't want it....as they couldn't register me. Seems to depend on the area.
icnif77:
@Hot: probably area is an issue, or 'no enforcement' in smaller cities. I had trouble in Beijing, close to W. Railway Station hotels. If I wouldn't be that tired, I'd just stay overnight in Railway Station wooden chair, but I had to have shower and sleep.
I was told yes by the PSB, they gave me this speech: If you don't want to have any issues renewing your residents permit than you should report your return each time you cross the border back into China... This also counts for going to Hong Kong..I go there a lot, so after I went to my local PSB to report my return they told me to "GO", it's a waste of time, but I didn't I told them you must do it, the Louhu PSB told me I must, so they did it and told me next time do it a month before your visa will be renewed, So lazy PSB staff are useless...Who knows..
Does anyone reports anything to the PSB beside moving to a new apartment?
Technically you have to report so many things, for e.g. I live in Foshan and I am supposed to report whenever I go to nearby Guangzhou, 3 or 4 times a week.
In fact I never do it, and every expats I know here never do it, and the local PSB doesn't give a damn about it.
