China Work Visa: Illegal Foreign Worker Expelled from China

A foreigner in Beijing has been given a 7-day detention and a fine of 6,500 yuan ($1,070) for traffic violations and illegal employment and will be deported along with his father after serving the term, said police.

The foreigner, whose nationality and name haven't been disclosed, hit a middle-aged Chinese woman at the Zuojiazhuang intersection in Chaoyang district when riding a scooter on Dec 2.

The man was also detained for 7 days and fined 1,500 yuan for other breaches of the traffic regulations, as during their investigation into the accident the police found the foreigner had neither a driving license nor a motorbike plate and he was carrying a passenger on a scooter.

Police also found that the man and his father were working illegally. So he was detained for another 5 days and fined 5,000 yuan; his father was detained for 14 days and fined 10,000 yuan. The company that illegally hired the pair fined up to 20,000 yuan. Both the man and his father are to be deported on their release, the police said.

The police said expatriates in China should comply with the country's laws and regulations. Police protect their rights, but they will also keep lawful management of them and crack down on illegal behavior to maintain social order.

Every country is happy to see foreign visitors whose activities comply with the local laws, but unreliable foreigners should not be made welcome.

But although offenders are subject to criminal liability and deportation, the financial penalties are not severe. Under the provisions of the exit-entry law, foreigners staying in the country illegally may be given a warning before being fined, or a 500 yuan fine levied for each day they overstay. In severe cases the fine may be as high as RMB 10,000 and individuals could face detention for a period of between 5 to 15 days, and employers may be fined RMB 10,000 for every illegal foreigner they employ up to a maximum fine of RMB 100,000. Any monetary gains that have resulted from the employment of such individuals will also be forfeit.

So, if you are working in China, you had better get a resident permit (also known as work visa, z visa) to work legally. Touch Law Firm provides you professional visa consulting services. If you are interested in residence permit, please contact us by visiting our official website: www.touchlawfirm.com or email to infor@touchlawfirm.com to know more information.