Newsgroups: aus.culture.china
Subject: Re: Change of passport, a question
From: chai_z@wehi.edu.au
Date: 4 Nov 92 17:19:08 +1000
Organization: Walter & Eliza Hall Institute
Summary: repost


In article <1992Nov2.114434.90482@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au>, weiping@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au writes:
> Hi, all.  Since I wasn't prohibited to post here (although I have been advised
> to keep this 'space' tidy, which I will try to comply) I would like to ask a
> question: what is the procedure in Australia to change passport from Public
> Affair to Private Affair?  I read some time ago that in Toronto many people
> have successfully done this.  I am aware of the document carried by the
> People's Daily, what I'm interested to know is the attitude of the Chinese
> Embassy (consulates) here and the procedures, conditions.  Specific examples,
> with respect to how the person came to Australia, where/when s/he has applied
> for the change of passport and the result, are welcome.  It would also be
> interesting to know how many people are really interested in this.
> 
> W. Hu


I was once attracted by the propaganda in the PEOPLE'S DAILY, and from the
education group (Jiao Yu Zu), the consulate in Melbourne. I had try. I can not
say it was successful. 

The procedure:

	1. Write an application, containing the details of your background of
when you came, who sponsored, and your fund source and your current situation,
etc.

	2. Fill a provided form, containing your general personal information
and the the money you have received from the Chinese government, your home
institute/university, your airfair, salary during your stay abroad, etc. 

	3. You will be asked to make a plan to returne the money, written in 
the same form.

	4. They will YianJiu YianJiu (consider) for maybe a few days or a week, 
or until you call them again.

	5. You will or will not be issued a permission from Madam Zhou Qun, the
group leader.

	6. You have to bring the permission from Jiao Yu Zu (East St Kilda) to
the consulate in Toorak, with 2 (?) passport photos.

	7. .................


The Attitude:


	The attitude the Jiao Yu Zu staffs showed to me and the people I knew
was not very good. Madam Zhou Qun said she did not want to handle my case 
(because I am not sponsored by the Chinese National Eduacation Commission? or
what?), unless my home or former institute ask (Wei Tuo) her to do so.


What they want: Money!

	You may be successful if you can afford (a big sum of money). The exact 
price is not clear. But I can tell you that if you could pay A$2,000 you would
be successful likely.

My case:

	I came here in Feb, 1989, with all the fund from a project of Victorian
Department of Agriculture. My salary and all the other benifits in China were
terminated as soon as I left. I did not have any dressing fees from my former
institute as many public affair people did. As my time expired, I delayed my
stay in Australia and started my PhD study. My former institute resigned me 
without any economic demanding. As a result, I did not consider returning any
money to anyone, but Australian government, if any. 

	I was told NO PROBLEM to have my passport changed by the staff the
first day, but I have to re-consider the money-returning plan.

	Mr Fang Jun, one of the staff, refused to tell me how much is their 
requirement. "Wo Men Bu Hao Jiang" he said.

	I argued that The regulations set by the goverment (9 items?) don't
have the conditions they required. The regulations say that all the Chinese
nationals holding a public-affair passport who, for any reasons, stay in
overseas over the time set by their home institute/university, or who have 
an expired passport, could have  their passports changed to private passport,
as their status don't match the public-passport any more.

	Mr Fang Jun answered that I should consider returning money with the
sense of affection (Gan Qing) and good-heart (Liao Xing).

	I argued that my home institute did not demand any money return.

	Mr Fang Jun answered that they represented the country (Goverment? 
"Guo Jia", he said), they do demand money.


P.s. The regulations related to the money return are that the individual should
actively (Zu Dong) contact his/her home institute to clear economic problem, if 
any. If they were not able to clear economic problems very soon, the passport
should also be changed. 

A successful case I knew could be useful for you to understand the situation in
Melb. The individual has exactly the same background as I do. We were
colleagues in the same institute, in China, came to Australia the same day 
under the same project with the same sponsor. The only differnce is that the
individual is employed and plans to pay A$2,000 for the passport change. As 
soon as the cheque was written, the permission was issued.

So, if you guys need your passport changed, be careful.