joshuawbb Posted March 17, 2011 at 08:36 AM Report Posted March 17, 2011 at 08:36 AM Hi there again, sorry to be a pain but I'd just like to get your opinion a little urgently on something regarding passport renewal and my residence permit. To put it shortly, I'll be applying for and then presumably starting a BA degree this September; meaning later a new residence permit. At the same time (April) I plan to renew my passport. This is simple for my UK passport - I send a photocopy plus application the HK UK embassy and then hopefully get the new one 4 to 6 weeks later through the post. I get to keep hold of my old passport. Just to add, I'm likely visiting home later this month until sometime in April, but not long enough to sort out a new passport. The question I approached the PSB officers with today was that after I receive the new passport, presumably in May, I'll have a new empty passport, and a deactivated passport - which contains my current residence permit. What are the procedures the old permit? What I was told today was that if you have an existing permit in an old passport, you can keep using it just fine as long as you keep the two passports with you. New passport for travel, old passport for residence permit. I was told there is no such thing as transferring an old permit into a new passport, and if you want to put a new residence permit in the new passport, then you get the usual documentation (from the university, etc) for that and do so, invalidating the old permit. This presumably refers to me applying for next year's residence permit. This sounds fine, and this was echoed by two other PSB officers and a well-travelled Chinese man in the office today. If it's this way, I just need to keep the old passport along with the new one, then wait until June before sorting out next year's permit, showing them both passports at that time. But I'm a bit confused - I've read before on places like TheBeijinger and ShanghaiExpat, and I think at least once here maybe (?) that people replacing their passport can no longer use their old passport as proof of visa/residence permit, i.e. when the passport is invalidated, so is the permit inside and a new one must be issued (though using both passports is okay for entering China). Some posts mention a 10 day limit to 'transfer' the old permit into the new passport. Some just say follow procedures, pay a fee and put a new permit into the new passport. My PSB say there is no such thing as transferring a permit and that I can use both passports, saying that despite the old passport being invalid, the visa inside is still good even despite being associated with the old passport number. So...I'd really appreciate some help in clearing up this little issue. After getting the new passport, should I use it along with the old passport, only replacing the residence permit when needed/it expires? Or do I need to immediately put a new permit into the new passport, assuming the old one is no longer valid for anything? Many thanks, and sorry for going on for so long. Quote
gerri Posted March 17, 2011 at 10:49 AM Report Posted March 17, 2011 at 10:49 AM I had a somewhat similar case, where the relevant authorities (back home) made sure to invalidate the old passport but not the residence permit, the entry back into China was no problem, and I then went to the PSB and had them give me a new residence permit (with quite a bit of trouble, but it was necessary - and particularly troublesome - because I had changed my name)... I'd say, just get the new passport, make sure to keep both, and head back to the PSB when you are back in China to ask them if they really want you to run around with an old passport/permit... Quote
imron Posted March 17, 2011 at 11:09 AM Report Posted March 17, 2011 at 11:09 AM I'd take the word of the PSB officers over what I'd read on an Internet forum somewhere (including this one). Quote
889 Posted March 17, 2011 at 04:59 PM Report Posted March 17, 2011 at 04:59 PM The IATA Visa Database -- which airline clerks check when they want to be fussy -- says specifically about China, "Valid visas or resident permits in expired passports are accepted, provided holding valid passport of the same nationality." That is, if your old passport with the visa is American, say, then your new passport has to be American as well. http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp 2 Quote
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