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Q: My work permit has a different freaking face! HELP!

So my training school had given back my work permit after some months of waiting from their "agent", and oh wow, it has a different photo!

 

All infos are correct except my freaking photo! It's not me! My training school said it's not their fault nor their agency since they submitted it correctly and they can't pay again for me to re-apply coz it's way too expensive for them (work permit is worth RMB20,000, is this correct?). The police must've scrambled the photos. Any advice?

4 years 39 weeks ago in  Visa & Legalities - China

 
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Hi everyone. I honestly don't know what to do. Turns out they're illegal and I'm not 100% legit (I know this since day 1) - not from a western country, nor having a TEFL certification, though I am fairly confident of having extensive English training from different schools with legit referrals. I know the caveats of all these, but having played around isn't my biggest concern until now. It's such a burden having all the troubles submitting the correct documents from previous employer to another, getting late wages, no reimbursement from my travel expenses as stated on our contracts and at the end of the day, this is what I get - a work permit with a different photo! I mean, I could go to jail for this compared to at least having an incorrect name spelling. I didn't know I should be there in person verifying my work permit with the local labor bureau. I haven't been there since my first employer down to 3rd, though I've been in the local police hq's getting my rp. This is a lesson for me. This training school I'm currently in always has an agent. I can't go to SAFEA, I can't go to PSB - I don't know where else to go. My consulate? This training school just don't want to help. Stiggs' old Chinese line is right.

ambivalentmace:

Well there is one way to turn this around, in my province schools are hiring from South America and saying they are Spanish teachers needed for trade and then they actually teach English. I suppose some college there needs a legal Russian, Arabic, French, whatever on a visa and you teach English instead. When I worked for Jinan Foreign Language School years ago, we had a gigolo from Barcelona for Spanish, a tall blond goddess from Germany for German, a gay poor clothing designer for the French, an overweight former sumo wrestler for Japanese after the young lady teacher got knocked up by an American teacher and skipped the country, almost forgot, we said we had a Russian language teacher but he was an old gay guy that actually taught classical music, He had a gay wife from Beijing and they played the happy couple every year for Chinese New Year and lived in separate cities. SO MUCH DRAMA, the reason I left but they had a western chef and free food. The food was actually damn good, but the pay was average at best.

4 years 38 weeks ago
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Stiggs:

That sucks man, I don't know what to suggest but here are a few things to consider at least.... maybe someone here will know.

 

If they have the wrong picture of you in the system would that come up on a computer screen at an airport when they put your visa number in to the computer? If so that could be very problematic but maybe the RP picture is the one they take of you when you go into the police station and if that's the case you might be ok.

 

If it's just the I.D card thing thing they give you that has the wrong photo is that going to be a problem? I mean, what do you use those cards for? Could you get away with using the card with the wrong picture for a year until your visa comes up for renewal and they replace it?

4 years 38 weeks ago
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icnif77:

You should contact SAFEA despite you are illegal worker. It is your Co.'s fault and not yours that much. 

The other option you have, is to find new employer ASAP ... You will be required to exit China and apply for new Z visa abroad, i.e. most likely at Chinese embassy in your home country.

I contacted SAFEA first time in 2010 while working with F (Business visa) and they helped me (to get my last pay and so on) around. 

4 years 38 weeks ago
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nick.serp.com:

Hi Stiggs. My visa has expired a few months back. I only have my work permit and rp which are both very important as I have to go back to my country this August 1. If they scan my wp at the airport and will show a different photo, I'd be arrested for sure. Her appearance fairly resembles to mine however, she has a small mole above her right brow. Tried scanning my work permit and my supposed photo clearly shows otherwise.

4 years 38 weeks ago
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Stiggs:

I left China just before they started the new system so I don't know much about those cards but when I left all they ever looked at when going through the airport was the RP in your passport, so as long as the photo on that is right when it pops up on the computer you should be ok.

 

 

4 years 38 weeks ago
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nick.serp.com:

Hi Stiggs. Thanks for your last reply and for everyone helping me verify things. Turns out a WP is as useless as a piece of empty paper while outside the company. My colleague told me no one uses it for verification but your residence permit only along with your passport. In fact, he always leaves his new work permit card in the office wherever he goes. I was concerned they're going to check it at the airport when I get back. For the WP photo, it is not taken live during your registration or your school's registration. It is to be attached along with all your required documents. Only the residence permit photo is taken live where I'm fairly confident I was there at the police hq. In fact, my colleague's wp photo, as he clearly remembers, was an old photo of him. This settles my mind. Thanks everyone for your help. Bet being ignorant costs me so much mental troubles.

4 years 38 weeks ago
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4 years 38 weeks ago
 
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Dial SAFEA and ask them for an advice. It might be not big deal in China, buTT ...

 

SAFEA (Foreign Expert Bureau) approved your WP, so they might suggest what you should do.

 

Stick 'SAFEA' in search above for the thread where provincial SAFEA's address and phone numbers are listed.

By dialling provincial HQ, you will most likely encounter English speaking Chinese agent.

 

Good luck!

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4 years 39 weeks ago
 
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The only thing I can think of is to tell your school that you can't use the wp as it is and if they aren't going to fix it you'll be forced to go to the PSB yourself to explain the situation and the school will be needing to deal with them one way or the other.

 

I don't know what it costs these days... 20k seems steep but if they're using some agent then there's a good chance the school isn't 100 percent legit and they'd rather handle it themselves than have you show up there drawing attention to them.

TPP:

I'm pretty certain it is 800rmb or 880rmb. 888 would be too much to hope for. I also remember that they took my photo with a webcam when i was required to attend when the paperwork was submitted. This all sounds too shifty.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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Stiggs:

Yeah I thought it was somewhere in that vicinity too.

 

If they're saying 20k then either they're lying cos they don't want to deal with it or they're not licenced to hire foreigners and are paying someone to get them the visas. Or both probably.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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philbravery:

I recon your right Stiggs. Although I am interested to know what way out excuse they come up with to explain their way out of that

4 years 39 weeks ago
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Spiderboenz:

¥400. It costs ¥400. 

4 years 39 weeks ago
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Stiggs:

So definitely not 20k then.

 

Sorry to say it Nick but it looks like you're getting the old Chinese 'it's impossible, no way around it you'll just have to accept it and please don't bother me with this again' line.

 

Except you really can't accept this. I would make the school aware of this, it's their responsibility and they need to sort it out.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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biggj123:

20K?? hell no. Last I checked it was 800.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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4 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Has anyone done the "don't worry we all look alike anyway " joke?

Stiggs:

Haha actually I did wonder if anyone would notice cos like you say, we all look the same... 

4 years 39 weeks ago
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4 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Just walk into a PSB office and show them the card and tell them this needs to be fixed, heads will roll and chances are since the school has made a government agency look bad to a foreigner (loss of face) , the Psb might find you a better place to work. Since you are supposed to be present for the photo, somebody has caused an embarrassment to the agency. Screw the school, screw the agency, fraud on an ID in China could get you jail or deportation, voluntarily walking in it's much better then being caught, China believes everyone is a good person, confess and all is well, Evil does not exist here, some people are just temporarily crazy and commit crimes.

ambivalentmace:

If its a training school you get 6 months for 400 rmb, if its a public government school you get a year 800 rmb.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

If you are not from a legal western country with a degree and 2 years verified teaching or a TOEFL course, then disregard everything I said. YOU ARE SCREWED AND YOU HAVE BEEN PLAYED.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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Stiggs:

That's a good point. If you're not 100 percent legit going to the PSB might not be the best idea.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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biggj123:

If he got all that way with the work permit, he shouild be legal if the permit is for that school. Sounds just like some mix up with the photo.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

yes but somebody went around the rules since your photo at least in Shandong has to be given by the PSB themselves with you there for the photo. If this was done another way, someone has some serious explaining to do. I can see the worker trying to explain, "now how exactly how did you put the wrong photo to the wrong paperwork when the guy is standing right in front of you, no more smart phone computer games at work". Sucks to be that poor incompetent sucker.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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Stiggs:

Yeah I think there's a bit more to this story... the picture thing and the fact that there's an 'agent' involved instead of the school.

 

Not trying to judge the OP in any way here and I hope it works out for him but it sounds to me like the school is pulling some sketchy moves.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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biggj123:

In Jiangxi or least the PSB where I go to you dont have to be there in person. It can be submitted by a 3rd party without you being there. The last few visas I have gotten I had my wife do everything for me, I never showed my face once.  The work permit is similar too according to people I talk to. It's all done by an agent.

4 years 39 weeks ago
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4 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Did you consider plastic  surgery?

 

You could ask surgeon to mimic your new photo ... and give expenses bill to the School for refund.

Stiggs:

It would probably be less hassle than getting the photo replaced...

4 years 39 weeks ago
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icnif77:

I really wanted to say 'GM!' ... buTT ... it slipped my mind ... 

4 years 39 weeks ago
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4 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Hi everyone. I honestly don't know what to do. Turns out they're illegal and I'm not 100% legit (I know this since day 1) - not from a western country, nor having a TEFL certification, though I am fairly confident of having extensive English training from different schools with legit referrals. I know the caveats of all these, but having played around isn't my biggest concern until now. It's such a burden having all the troubles submitting the correct documents from previous employer to another, getting late wages, no reimbursement from my travel expenses as stated on our contracts and at the end of the day, this is what I get - a work permit with a different photo! I mean, I could go to jail for this compared to at least having an incorrect name spelling. I didn't know I should be there in person verifying my work permit with the local labor bureau. I haven't been there since my first employer down to 3rd, though I've been in the local police hq's getting my rp. This is a lesson for me. This training school I'm currently in always has an agent. I can't go to SAFEA, I can't go to PSB - I don't know where else to go. My consulate? This training school just don't want to help. Stiggs' old Chinese line is right.

ambivalentmace:

Well there is one way to turn this around, in my province schools are hiring from South America and saying they are Spanish teachers needed for trade and then they actually teach English. I suppose some college there needs a legal Russian, Arabic, French, whatever on a visa and you teach English instead. When I worked for Jinan Foreign Language School years ago, we had a gigolo from Barcelona for Spanish, a tall blond goddess from Germany for German, a gay poor clothing designer for the French, an overweight former sumo wrestler for Japanese after the young lady teacher got knocked up by an American teacher and skipped the country, almost forgot, we said we had a Russian language teacher but he was an old gay guy that actually taught classical music, He had a gay wife from Beijing and they played the happy couple every year for Chinese New Year and lived in separate cities. SO MUCH DRAMA, the reason I left but they had a western chef and free food. The food was actually damn good, but the pay was average at best.

4 years 38 weeks ago
Report Abuse

Stiggs:

That sucks man, I don't know what to suggest but here are a few things to consider at least.... maybe someone here will know.

 

If they have the wrong picture of you in the system would that come up on a computer screen at an airport when they put your visa number in to the computer? If so that could be very problematic but maybe the RP picture is the one they take of you when you go into the police station and if that's the case you might be ok.

 

If it's just the I.D card thing thing they give you that has the wrong photo is that going to be a problem? I mean, what do you use those cards for? Could you get away with using the card with the wrong picture for a year until your visa comes up for renewal and they replace it?

4 years 38 weeks ago
Report Abuse

icnif77:

You should contact SAFEA despite you are illegal worker. It is your Co.'s fault and not yours that much. 

The other option you have, is to find new employer ASAP ... You will be required to exit China and apply for new Z visa abroad, i.e. most likely at Chinese embassy in your home country.

I contacted SAFEA first time in 2010 while working with F (Business visa) and they helped me (to get my last pay and so on) around. 

4 years 38 weeks ago
Report Abuse

nick.serp.com:

Hi Stiggs. My visa has expired a few months back. I only have my work permit and rp which are both very important as I have to go back to my country this August 1. If they scan my wp at the airport and will show a different photo, I'd be arrested for sure. Her appearance fairly resembles to mine however, she has a small mole above her right brow. Tried scanning my work permit and my supposed photo clearly shows otherwise.

4 years 38 weeks ago
Report Abuse

Stiggs:

I left China just before they started the new system so I don't know much about those cards but when I left all they ever looked at when going through the airport was the RP in your passport, so as long as the photo on that is right when it pops up on the computer you should be ok.

 

 

4 years 38 weeks ago
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nick.serp.com:

Hi Stiggs. Thanks for your last reply and for everyone helping me verify things. Turns out a WP is as useless as a piece of empty paper while outside the company. My colleague told me no one uses it for verification but your residence permit only along with your passport. In fact, he always leaves his new work permit card in the office wherever he goes. I was concerned they're going to check it at the airport when I get back. For the WP photo, it is not taken live during your registration or your school's registration. It is to be attached along with all your required documents. Only the residence permit photo is taken live where I'm fairly confident I was there at the police hq. In fact, my colleague's wp photo, as he clearly remembers, was an old photo of him. This settles my mind. Thanks everyone for your help. Bet being ignorant costs me so much mental troubles.

4 years 38 weeks ago
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4 years 38 weeks ago
 
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icnif77: Are they going to give me my release paper while under contract? As far as I know, they're having financial difficulty so hiring a new teacher to replace me wouldn't be an option for them. Or is it fine to ask for help from my new employer should there be any problem releasing me? My current training school is kinda sketchy anyway and is operating illegally. 

icnif77:

Release letter is usually issued at completion of the contract. However, if you resign because of some of their irregularities, they should give you Release letter, too.

RL was important before 2017, if you wanted to change an employer in the middle of the Contract (I resigned in Henan!) and I got new employer in different province (Guizhou).

To extend or better rename (different sponsor) my still valid RP, I had to get Release letter from Henan, and after I got it, I continued with work in Guizhou without exiting China. I got new 1-year RP in Guizhou in April of 2016.

I dialled SAFEA in Henan to get RL from Kaifeng Uni. Then, my new boss in Guizhou apparently had to call them, too ... I gave her Henan's SAFEA's ph. no. and then we finally got RL from Henan a month or so later. My new boss completed new Residence permit in two weeks time after that.

SAFEA will help you sort out the questions you have ...

4 years 38 weeks ago
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Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77