Passport control

[Operator 1,927]

Happy Independence Day!

We are making our first visit back to China since Jane arrived last year and she brought up an interesting question this morning. Unlike a lot of other countries travelers leaving China must pass through passport control. Here they check each traveler's passport, their ticket and ensure that they have the proper visa for their respective destination. Her question is will she have a difficult time explaining her AP? Likely they are familiar with green cards and I'm sure she isn't the first to travel on an AP document. Anyone have experience?

Thanks!

[Anh map 2,098]

AP is for US entry.

[amykathleen2005 441]

AP is for US entry.

What the OP is asking is that China checks before you leave there that you are going to be able to get into wherever you are going with proper documents. Therefore the OP wants to know if China will deem AP sufficient to go back to the US?

Edited July 4, 2012 by amykathleen2005

[Darnell 8,478]

does she have paper or a 'card' for AP ?

The dual card (AP/EAD) is something new within the last 15 months, so is possible that fella sitting at passport control is not knowing about it.

But - his boss's boss knows about it - so if any problem, ask for the big boss on duty that day, at passport control.

[Operator 1,927]

She has the "combo-card" AP/EAD. I'm sure if she has any problems she'll take it as high up the chain as she can until she gets satisfaction... while I stand there with a dumb smile on my face as usual.

I thought the card was fairly new thats why we were wondering if they have seen it yet.

[bigdog 376]

It should work, we were stupid because of our attorney and had EAD card and paper AP, you should be fine, especially traveling together and more fun also..

[bobbyA 20]

She has the "combo-card" AP/EAD. I'm sure if she has any problems she'll take it as high up the chain as she can until she gets satisfaction... while I stand there with a dumb smile on my face as usual.

I thought the card was fairly new thats why we were wondering if they have seen it yet.

Chris,

I don't remember exactly when, but it was perhaps 3 or 4 months ago, my wife read a thread in the Chinese forum about a Chinese lady who got stuck in Beijing for almost a week because the Chinese immigration office did not recognize her new EAD/AP card. They refused to let her leave Beijing. She asked to speak to supervisors etc but none of them knew about the new card, saying its an "authorization to work" and not for travel. She even went to the US embassy in Beijing for help and didn't get any. Through the forum the lady learned that the Chinese immigration office at Shanghai Pudong airport knows about the new card, so she spent the extra money to change her flights and left from Shanghai. It was a nightmare for her.

Hope Beijing is up to date by now. I assume you're flying out of Shanghai, so you'll be OK.

You might also want to read this post about coming back to the USA: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/371933-advance-parole-experience/page__p__5432208#entry5432208

It seems EAD holders may be subjected to extra screening at POE's on their return to the USA.

[Operator 1,927]

Chris,

I don't remember exactly when, but it was perhaps 3 or 4 months ago, my wife read a thread in the Chinese forum about a Chinese lady who got stuck in Beijing for almost a week because the Chinese immigration office did not recognize her new EAD/AP card. They refused to let her leave Beijing. She asked to speak to supervisors etc but none of them knew about the new card, saying its an "authorization to work" and not for travel. She even went to the US embassy in Beijing for help and didn't get any. Through the forum the lady learned that the Chinese immigration office at Shanghai Pudong airport knows about the new card, so she spent the extra money to change her flights and left from Shanghai. It was a nightmare for her.

Hope Beijing is up to date by now. I assume you're flying out of Shanghai, so you'll be OK.

You might also want to read this post about coming back to the USA: http://www.visajourn...08#entry5432208

It seems EAD holders may be subjected to extra screening at POE's on their return to the USA.

Bobby? Is that you?

Hope you are doing well!

Yeah, thanks for the info. We are going through PuDong so I don't think it will be a problem. The airlines have to be up to date on this stuff to, I wonder how many people have had problems?

[bobbyA 20]

Bobby? Is that you?

Hope you are doing well!

Yeah, thanks for the info. We are going through PuDong so I don't think it will be a problem. The airlines have to be up to date on this stuff to, I wonder how many people have had problems?

Chris, It's me

Don't know how many people had the EAD/AP problem in China. If I recall correctly, the Chinese lady met a Chinese guy at the airport with the same problem. So it may have been the guy who later told her the Pudong airport was up to date on the EAD/AP combo card. So I guess I've heard at least 2 people indirectly. I'm sure there are more, given that new information don't always get distributed as intended. I remember reading a VJ post that even some US CBP officers were not familiar with the new card.

I'm doing well, I'm sure you are too!

My wife got her driving license for a few months now, and I'm still trying hard to relax when she drives. I'm still trying to get used to being a passenger. She's doing much better now. I think I need to learn how to be a better passenger instead of a backseat driver

[Operator 1,927]

Jane is working hard at driving, she has her permit but is still a little hesitant to get out of the parking lot and onto an actual road. Luckily she is working from home at the moment but she reall wants the freedom that a car will give her.

[bobbyA 20]

Jane is working hard at driving, she has her permit but is still a little hesitant to get out of the parking lot and onto an actual road. Luckily she is working from home at the moment but she reall wants the freedom that a car will give her.

Well, Barb is determined to learn to drive, I'm all for it, so we went all out. Ever since she got her permit, she's been driving with instructors 2 to 3 times a week, and I would spend 3 to 4 hours each day on weekends and holidays practicing with her. This went on for months since last December. We started in parking lots, then some parks, on to side streets and finally the highway. I yelled and screamed at times

It was hard work. Hard on emotions and our relationship It paid off. Now she can drive the highway with me by her side but still won't venture out too far without me. She can go shopping on her own since shops and groceries are within 3 miles.

She would much rather drive alone in peace without my yelling or complaining, but she needs my directions

One of her problems is sense of direction. I'm not that good myself, but I've lived here long enough to know where to go. She still needs to learn where things are etc.

She drives every time we're out together with me giving her directions. I told her she needs to let me drive at times so that she can look around and know where she's going. Most of the time when she drives she's looking at traffic and not really learning the landscape.

Well, she'll get there. It's a slow process that takes time, patience and practice. Lots of practice. Driving may be second nature to me, but it's totally new to her. Even the environment is new. So she has a lot to learn in a short time.

[bigdog 376]

I got YanJuan a Garmin also.

[Darnell 8,478]

One of her problems is sense of direction. I'm not that good myself, but I've lived here long enough to know where to go. She still needs to learn where things are etc.

GPS in Mandarin and Chinese Characters - 179 all day long at the Amazonia

[bobbyA 20]

GPS in Mandarin and Chinese Characters - 179 all day long at the Amazonia

Well, her English is pretty good so she can understand English instructions well. And we have built-in GPS

To her, GPS is not the same thing as human. She can ask for confirmation with me next to her, and she thinks I'm a lot smarter than the GPS when I'm not yelling Besides, if she gets into trouble, I'm there to give a hand.

There are situations she can't quite handle yet, like I still have to tell her to pull over when she hears sirens and see flashing lights from ambulances, fire trucks etc that a GPS can't do. Boy, I feel useful already Glad I won't be replaced by a machine or computer just yet

OK, so we digressed from the original post. But thanks for pointing out the $179 Chinese GPS at Amazon. It might be fun just to have one