Registering as a Foreigner

[rezaf]

big brother is watching us. Probably whatever we do will be reported to the police stations very fast. When last year I registered I gave them my previous cellphone number but then my cellphone got stolen and as soon as I told my university my new cellphone number the police station called me and confirmed my address and cellphone number with me.

[langxia]

This makes me wonder, last time I stayed at an hotel they asked for my passport looked at it and then asked my chinese friend to give them his id card even thou he wasnt staying at the hotel.

Now I wonder who would get into trouble if the police came for a check up ? Me or the hotel owner ?

[imron]

Me or the hotel owner ?

Why do you assume only one of you? ;)

[gougou]

It must be the hotel though in that case - as far as I can see, your only duty is making your passport available to them. Of course, knowing that they didn't end up using it puts you in a precarious position, but who can really prove that? ;)

[roddy]

The hotel has an obligation to register you, or if it can't or won't register you, to not let you stay there. It'd be a particularly bored policeman who tried to give you any hassle over it.

[Brian US]

I just saw a notice at the front of my building that they are checking 户口s from noon to 5pm today. It's almost 1pm and I didn't see anyone stationed at the front door checking, so they might be going door to door.

I didn't read the full notice to see what it's about, but maybe to update records on new people moving in? I can't imagine it catching those who are not registered, especially with a clear notice to warn them.

[amandagmu]

I haven't had any random checks (yet) but I did have a random phone call one Saturday afternoon a few months after I moved from my former place. It was the police station verifying I had actually moved and was no long renting from my landlord.... not sure what the deal was with all that, but I assured him on the phone I had registered with the new police station in Sanlitun (maybe he knew that already, I don't know). Since I am a generic, young-looking, western female with no roommates living in a mostly-foreigner apartment building they seem not care so much.