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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Can you refuse to show your passport to a policeman and get away with it?
Okay, China isn't home. However, there is something deeply offensive to me about police officers feeling they can just ask to see your passport and expecting to be obeyed unthinkingly. This is an abuse of power no matter how you cut it. It's only happened to me once here, but I got quite angry about it afterwards. Not that I showed it to him; he accepted that it was at home and that I worked just a couple of minutes walk away. Had he insisted further I would stil have refused.
One of my Western colleagues wasn't so lucky. He was dragged to the police station because he didn't have his on him.
Is my attitude just unsuitable for life as a foreigner or is it okay to make a small stand?
Well, if you're a foreigner in any country and you are asked to show your passport, you should probbly do it.
I'm not really thinking that China is the place to make a stand. Why don't they have the right to ask for it? What does it hurt to show it? You are living in their country by their rules, whatever those rules maybe. When you become emperor, you can change the damn rules. Until then, if you don't want to have to show it, go home.
Funny I hate carrying my passport all the time. I do because I am supposed to, but I have never been asked once to show it.
I think it also depends on where you are in China.
I have heard some people here say that all you really need to carry is a photocopy of the passport main page and the current visa, and you will be fine. I plan on doing this soon as I am always scared of something happening to my passport when I always have it on me.
Hate it or not, there is nothing we can do about it.
Personally I get a far harder time going by car into the US from Canada then I ever get here.
The PSB come to school once a year to tell new teachers the basic rules and having a photocopy of current visa and info page of passport would be acceped 99 times out off 100 they said better than carrying your actual passport i think,i cant see a problem showing ID maybe once a year or even never as OP says
I would say NO you cant refuse, its their country obey by their rules I have been here 5 years and never been stopped ,the only time i show is when I go to registar at the police station where I live be careful law is law but I disagree with one stupid comment this is not a Police state
mrpopular:
Why the thumbs down you must thnk this is a police state get a life or go home
No. You don't have to show it to chengyuan, security officers, or neighborhood snitches (people with red armbands) but you have to show it to the cops if they ask for it. Refusing would be a very bad idea. One of the worst you could possibly have in China.
You may do as you please, if willing to suffer the consequences of your actions. And also I would add that you took a very risky stand. Be thankful the Police allowed you to go without further action.
I never carry my original passport with me. I had the info page copied, plus the visa page, and the latest entry stamp page. On the reverse, my temporary residence permit issued by the neighborhood Police. That I do carry all the time, and has been accepted. I only have the passport with me if I travel outside the city.
And since everything is according to Law here, and I do not have anything to hide, I will show it to anyone requesting it in proper unfiform and I will be alert if the requesting person starts to run away.
In Guangzhou, you used to be able to carry a B&W copy, but then they said that wouldn't do. Then they said that a color copy would work. But they changed their minds again. Now they will only accept the real thing. If you don't have it on you, they can (and most likely will) haul you down to the police department until you can get someone to get it for you.
Can you say no to the cops? Well... In your home country if you are driving and a police officer pulls you over and asks for your license, can you refuse them without concequence? I don't think so.
Your passport is your license to be in this country. It is no different from needing to have your drivers license when you are in your home country (or here for that matter).
In 5 years I have been asked for my passport about 5 times. On two of those occasions they actually came to my home in order to check. One time they stopped me as I was walking down the street. And the other two times was when they went to an expat bar and refused to let anyone leave until they showed their passport. Anyone who didn't was taken to the police station.
Of course, this being China, every city (and cop) has different rules they are willing to apply. My suggestion is that you always be prepared to do whatever the cop asks you to do.
I never been asked by police for my passport, but ill never refuse to show it, they just do a job and there are many people here without a visa or expired visa. There people who overstay here is the cause that China keep making more rulles for issuing or extending a visa.
I've only been asked to show my passport once in my 2 years in China, and that was on the very first night I arrived (some police wanted to check our vehicle after we cleared the exit toll booth from the expressway). Anyways, as posted earlier, I also do not carry my passport with me except when traveling out of town. Just carrying the paper copy is better and safer....who wants to get their passport stolen?
Other than other obligatory reasons, I've not had to show my passport. By obligatory, I mean hotels, banks and work (and I think for a D train). Is there any real difference between those and a police officer?? They're all pretty discriminating - although, the fact that the locals have to do the same makes it seem fairer.
Speaking of fair and the concept of harrassment, I think how the US government treats visitors to its country is worse... treating everyone like a criminal (or at least, a suspect). So,while the Chinese government has a stack of discriminatory pracitices, that US policy of fingerprinting every visitor is, in my mind, worse.
Oh, and just FTR - yes, it is required by law that every foreigner carry their passport with them at all time, and be able to present it to any ploice officer on request.
GuilinRaf:
I arrived early last month back home to the US, and the treatment was extremely rude, yelling, etc. So far, whin I have had to present my docs in China, it has been polite but firm. Naturally, I know that the behavior will change if I were stupid enough to have contraband, but at least the initial encounter is polite. Back home? When the Flight Attendant announces that we are beggining our decent to JFK, my stomach gets a knot.
I don't carry my passport with me unless I'm traveling. I don't like the idea of it getting lost or stolen. However, I live in a small city with very few foreigners. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm the only young (caucasian) female foreigner in this city. It wouldn't be difficult to figure out who I am.
I have been asked to see my passport a couple of times. I just tell the cop it is at my house and that was it. A cop really doesnt care about your passport unless there is some kind of trouble.