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anonymous
Q: What to expect after the ploice come to "visit" your home?
This morning we(bf and I) got a phone call reminding us that our visas had expired, which is no big deal...its happened before. Usually its your friendly neighborhood police telling you that you have a few days to renew it. Today though, a few minutes after the phone call three policemen came, we showed them that we had infact already renewed our visas(student visas) we just had to go pick up our passports, they proceeded to take our photos and and our flat mates' photos as well(they have a baby, they took his picture too). They interviewed them about our "lifestyle", took their contacts and stuff and thats not even the most bizarre thing that happened, they wrote numbers on top of our bedroom doors (just 1,2,3) and ignored one bedroom which the "fandong" had just recently fashioned from splitting the living room and the dining room...so I'm guessing they are not happy with him either.
I'm completely disoriented at the moment, first I feel guilty for putting the poor couple through all of this and secondly I don't understand why its was necessary to send the calvary, lastly I'm worried that this might be just the beginning. Ofcourse they asked if we worked, ofcourse we said no. Any idea what to look forward to? Any suggestions? I'm in Shanghai btw(if that means eanything interms of the laws and stuff)
10 years 10 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Your story is too strange to be really taken seriously, but when I read this :
"...that our visas had expired, which is no big deal...its happened before."
I just want to say that whatever's coming, you had it coming.
:
I meant the phone call was no big deal I thought most people got those reminders, and every time they call we inform them that its already been taken care of.... none of us has ever overstayed their visa. My fault, I probably didnt say it right, English isnt my first language afterall and I hope I've cleared the misunderstanding.
TMaster:
Okay, yes it was not clear but I understand now.
Did the policemen show any sort of ID when they came? It all still sounds really strange to me.
:
And what do you mean "too strange to be taken seriously"? I'm living through that right now, if you don't have anything helpful to say please say nothing and just let me figure it out. Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean you have to rude about it.
:
Actually no, they didnt show us any ID but they told us that we need to report to the station after we get our passports back. We already got our residence permit through the same police station, after being in China for two years this is the first time I'm told that I need to go back to the station after I've filled for the residence permit and my visa is processed.
TMaster:
I was mainly startled by the "no visa no big deal" part, now it's clear, please ignore my first statement.
ironman510:
I agree, too strange to believe.. Or they're being scammed by fake police, even that sounds too strange.
TMaster:
I suggest you immediately contact your local police station and ask for more information.
I don't want to frighten you, but this tends to sound like a scam. I could be wrong though.
You should ALWAYS ask to see an ID before complying to police orders, this is the law, and when in doubt ask to be escorted to the nearest station, or at least give a phone call to check out BEFORE anything, there is no ground for legit law enforcement to refuse you that. You should never handle your passport without getting any sort of receipt in exchange (unless you have broken the law I guess).
ironman510:
I agree with Tmaster, if I were in that situation I'd demand to be taken to the PSB where my passport is being processed before handing over any information.. Next time use an app called "Sneaky Cam", take pictures and show it to the PSB... Remember there are many different types of police in China, not all come from the PSB... Did you know traffic police can't help even if a man is hitting a woman?That's because they must only stick their department and not assist in other police departments. So if not a scam or the PSB it might be a different police department altogether..
I'm confused, were your student visa's in the process of being renewed at the time when the police checked your apartment?
The BIG question: Did you go to your local PSB and registered your visa when you first got it? and did you have a rental contract with all your names on it, along with the owner? If so you should have had no problems..
ironman510:
Oh IF that couple or IF any one wasn't on a renatl contract and didn't have their visa registered at the local district PSB then they will be fined and maybe the owner of the apartment too.
If you guys are in a Dorm, then thats new to me, maybe the same rules apply to register your address and passport and visa.
:
Did you go to your local PSB and registered your visa when you first got it?- Yes
did you have a rental contract with all your names on it, along with the owner?- Yes
If so you should have had no problems- Thats what I thought, until this morning's incident I was worry free.
ironman510:
Then I wouldn't worry too much for yourself, sounds like you've got all your ducks in a row... I can't speak for the couple.. It seems there is a new nationwide crackdown going on, even in Shenzhen, police are checking a lot these days.. I guess they want to clean up before teachers and students start the semester. And this is the ending time for illegal F,L visa works so they might be trying to weed them out of China.
For you to not get the phone calls and visits you need to
1. apply for new visa in time
2. pick up your new visa
3. go register with the local police
I missed step 3 the first time I renewed (was business visa) and had to endure daily visits from out community security people because they got daily calls from the local police that they have a person living illegally. (not sure why the community people where involved, perhaps they were just henchmen for our landlady)
:
I think you're right,they probably just have our expiration date but don't know that we've renewed our visa(but thats also a bit strange coz we started by getting a renewed residence permit just a week ago), so I guess after we have our passports back we'll go register again..I'm not sure what for this time but I'll show up and follow instructions. Man!! I love being in China but this part is not fun :) cant wait to graduate and move to working visa, its got to be less stressful
Thank you guys. After double checking the facts , I guess I have nothing to worry about..either we were in the process of being scammed(because they haven't asked for anything yet) or the are genuine policemen flexing their egos just to scare us coz we have all our papers or the Exit and Entry Bureau hasn't communicated with the police office that they have our passports right now and that we submitted them on time(coz the expiration date is today but we submitted them a week ago, the collection date is on the 11th). I really appreciate the feedback, its been very helpful for his panicking girl.
Scandinavian:
In case of fake policemen, then now at least they know where the flat screen and other loot is.
This sounds very odd. The only time the took pictures of me and my housemates was when we threw a big party and had noise complaints. The police showed up and took a video of us making sure to get our faces. If you have all the paperwork and your visas are being processed then I'm not sure what they are doing. Don't even know if they are sure what they are doing?!
ironman510:
Was that party held by Steve Stifler? Ah man you didn't invite us, ah Stifler's mom!! miss parties like thats. lol
I have always had legit visas but havent always been real good about registering new visas with the police or if I change houses, so over the years Ive had a few police visits.
Once they came, saw my visa then told me to register, super friendly. I didnt. They came again a few months later and warned me to register. Again super nice about it. I didnt. Then they came again and ( in a manner as nice as they could) escorted me to register and pay a fine. ( 50kuai) When I didnt bring a picture and had to go back the next day , they gave me my 50 back, i guess surprised I came. All in Guangzhou
More recently in Shenzhen. I had a lady come alone with a polaroid camera. Show some government credentials and check my stuff and asked questions about the house. Who lived there and what not. I didnt let her in. She took my picture. I didnt mind as Im totally legal and had already registered but when I was pressing her for answers about why she was taking my picture, I didnt like the non answers. Anyways Theres a supermarket next to the PSB so a few days later I stopped in to figure out why the hell they came to my house as they all know me by now. They said it wasnt them and they dont do that and im all good. They asked who came, and I couldnt answer....... That was about 7 months ago now and nothing ever came of it... strange
Either way, in my experience , as long as you keep up your end of the deal theres nothing that can happen to you no matter how many times they visit so just relax
ironman510:
Ah, I know that lady with the camera, my wife found out that she's with the census bureau in China.. Yeah she can be annoying
I wouldn't worry about it. Police visits are normal.
Last visit we got, they put an electronic tag on the door. It looks like a small air freshener. Apparently they can scan it and get all the info about who is registered to live in the house. All the foreigners around this area here have them.
Most of the Police visits I get these days are the are from a pair of Police women who come to play with the baby 
.
The local Chinese Police are ok.
A good wee story about the Police in my neck of the woods....... A foreigner who lives in the apartment complex next to me has a motorbike he was zooming about on. No License of course, and in an area where motorbikes are banned. The local Police asked his GF to ask him to stop riding it or they would have to stop him and arrest him. Can't say fairer than that .
Dude what aren't you telling us. All is normal except the photograph part. Were you in a fight or dispute with someone in the last few months?
