Monday, May 21, 2007

Foreigner Police Registration Madness

I've just been informed of a new and exciting government regulation.

Apparently all foreigners, even long term residents with a residents permit and a work permit, will have to register with at their local police station within 24 hours of entering China having been abroad.

Every time.

During office hours.

I plan to go overseas 20 times this year. That will mean 20 half-days lost to mad bureaucracy. This seems crazy given the fact that the local police station won't ever know that I've been out of the country and the fact that the immigration bureau has computer records of all of this information that they could share.

I really, really hope this is just one mad policeman that thinks this as, we're told the fine for not doing so is 50 RMB per day that you're not registered.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I seem to recall having an 'assistant' go to the local cop shop in order to re-register my entire family when we changed our residence, I bet this would be the same.

John said...

AFAIK this has been the policy for years, at least in some cities. I believe, however, that if you're one a long-term visa that doesn't get changed or abolished when you leave the country and reenter, you can not redo the registration and nobody will notice. It's only if you come in on a new visa.

DB said...

There does seem to be a difference of opinion. The local 派出所 (pài chū suǒ) say it's a necessity. The main Hangzhou 公安局 (gōng ān jú) say it's absolutely not necessary with a resident permit. The 公安局 should win the day but they're not the ones on my doorstep...

melissa said...

Mmm.. I'm currently studying at Hangzhou, but I will go out of the country on the summer so I guess I'll have to go to the police station to register when I come back...? Can you give me the address? Thanks!! Melissa

DB said...

Melissa - it varies depending on where you live so your pài chū suǒ might have a different idea to the one we've spoken to which will be different again to where I've just moved to (I've only just moved so I'll ask them tomorrow when I register my new address).

Anonymous said...

Have we upped the admin workload?