Category: WeChat

On May 9th, Shenzhen entry and exit issued a notice that they are cracking down on “sānfēi foreigners”!

 

What is a Sānfēi Foreigner?

 

The term refers to foreigners who fall into one of the 3 illegal categories: entering, working, or residing in China without valid paperwork.

 

In order to maintain the entry and exit administration of Shenzhen and the public security order of the foreign-related society, it hopes that the general public will actively participate and report sānfēi foreigners.

 

An informant in Shenzhen who discovers a foreigner has committed any of the following illegal or criminal acts, he/she may report the matter to the public security organ.

 

Each foreigner shall be administratively detained and a reward of 500 RMB will be given to the informant.

For every administrative fine of 1 foreigner, a reward of 300 RMB will be given to the informant.

 

What punishment will be issued for illegal foreigners and those assisting in illegal employment?

 

In accordance with the provisions of articles 41 and 80 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, foreigners working in China shall obtain work permits and residence permits for work in accordance with relevant regulations. 

 

Employers may not employ foreigners who have not obtained proper work or resident permits.

Employers who illegally hire foreigners will be fined 10,000 RMB according to the law of the People’s Republic of China on Entry and Exit Administration.

Employers who accommodate illegal foreigners will face a 5,000-20,000 RMB fine and 5-15 days of detention. Any income received for illegal foreign employees shall be confiscated.

Agencies that introduce foreigners to illegal employment will be fined 5,000 RMB for each referral.

A foreigner who enters China and exceeds the valid stay period stipulated on the visa or residence permit shall be deemed illegal in China and fined a maximum of 10,000 RMB or detention of 5-15 days.

According to article 318 of the criminal law of the People’s Republic of China, if the company is suspected of organizing others to illegally cross the national border, the person in charge and the person directly in charge of the company shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 2 years but not more than 7 years and shall also be fined. 

 

If the circumstances are serious, the person shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than seven years or life imprisonment.

How to Report Illegal Foreigners

All of these outlets are secure through the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau for citizens to report.

 

1. Telephone: 

Phone Number: 0755-22222110

 

2. Online:  

Website: www.szga.gov.cn 

WeChat public account: “深圳公安” (Shenzhen public security)   

Email: [email protected]

 

3. On-site: 

Shenzhen Public Security Bureau in the City’s Public Security Organs at all levels including the police station and special reporting centers

 

The Shenzhen Public Security Bureau keeps informants safe with a strict confidentiality system.

WeChat continues to push forward with more ways to connect and communicate. In the latest version, WeChat 7.0.4 is now available on both the iOS App Store and Google Play.

01

Registration and Login via Facebook Login

Are you registering for WeChat for the first time? In that case, we’ve added a new option that will make Facebook even more convenient: When tapping “Sign Up”, you can now select “Sign up via Facebook” to link your WeChat account to your Facebook account.

After verifying your Facebook account, you will still need to provide and verify your mobile number. Sometimes, when you opened a new sim card, it may be blocked or registered by others already. So, you can’t use it to register.

 

However, subsequent to signing up via Facebook, you will be able to easily log in to your WeChat account via your Facebook account instead of having to type in a password.

Note: This feature isn’t available in this version now, but we can see it in “What’s new” from App Store”. Hope this available feature will be issued soon to improve communication and make WeChat globally.

 

02

Translate images in chats

WeChat is used around-the-world and we want to make communication even easier for our users. Previously, we offered chat message translation-if you receive a text message in WeChat in a foreign language, just long press the message and select “translate” to translate it to your language.

Now, you can do the same for photos in your chats. Open any image in your chat that contains Chinese text, long-press the image, select “Translate Image Text”. Your image will be automatically scanned for Chinese text and will be translated for you in an instant.

NOTE: This feature is initially being released for a select number of users and will be available to all users soon. Translating image in chats is currently only supported for English and Simplified Chinese users. Hope to support this valuable feature in additional languages soon.

03

Moments privacy options

Now, by going to “Me” -> “Settings” -> “Privacy” you can also set your Moments to only be viewable to others for one month. 

Together, these Moments and Time Capsule offers the best way for you to record your everyday life while still maintaining your personal privacy.

04

 Improvements to Time Capsule

From the “Me” tab, tap the camera icon in the upper right-hand corner to begin recording your own Time Capsule and it will be shared with your friends for 24 hours.

With the latest version of Time Capsule, after capturing a video, tap the music note button to receive a smart recommendation about what song to accompany your Time Capsule. You can swipe left or right to sift through the recommendations.

Already know what song you want? Tap the search bar and search for the song that you want to play in the background of your Time Capsule.

Music makes your short Time Capsule videos even more lively and interesting!

Check out your friends’ Time Capsules by tapping the “Time Capsule” area at the top of Moments. When viewing their Time Capsule, you can now leave a private comment by tapping the Comment bubble at the bottom. 

Any comments that you leave will only be viewable by the owner of the Time Capsule so all your comments and “bubble” likes remain completely private!

We’ve also added the ability for you to mark a Time Capsule as “private” so that only you will be able to view it. This is a great way to use Time Capsule as your daily video diary available for your viewing only.

Starting May 1st, travelers from 53 countries can enjoy a 144-hour visa-free period when transferring through Guangdong. 

 

 

At present, channels for visa-free transit passengers are set in the ports of entry.

 

“Foreign transit passengers are, however, required to remain within Guangdong during the 144 hours,” Lin, Deputy Director General of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department added.

 

01

Available Ports

 

Airports

Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Meizhou Airport, Zhanjiang Airport, Jieyang Chaoshan Airport

Railway

Guangzhou East Railway Station, Dongguan Railway Station, Foshan Railway Station, Zhaoqing Railway Station

Highway

Shenzhen

Shatoujiang Port, Wen Jindu Port, Huanggang Port, Luohu Port, Shenzhen Bay Port, Futian Port

Zhuhai

Gongbei Port, Hengqin Port

Harbors

Guangzhou

Port of Guangzhou Gang, Port of Nansha Gang, Port of Lianhuashan Gang

Shenzhen

Port of Shekou Gang, wharf of Shenzhen Bao’an International Aiport

Zhuhai

Port of Jiuzhougang, Wanzi Port, Port of Wanshangang, Port of Doumen Gang

Jiangmen

Port of Jiangmen Gang, Port of Heshan Gang

Foshan

Port of Foshan Gaoming Gang, Port of Rongqi Gang

Zhongshan

Port of Zhongshan Guang

Dongguan

Port of Dongguan Humen Gang

 

02

Available countries

 

Europe

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus

America

United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile

Oceania

Australia, New Zealand

Asia

Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar

03

Steps&Sample

 

 

04

Q&A 

 

Q1: Where can foreign passengers eligible for the 144-hour visa-free transit apply when they arrive at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport?

Special areas for 144-Hour Temporary Entry Permit Application have been set up in both T1 and T2 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Passengers eligible for visa-free transit can follow the guide signs to the application area.

 

Q2: What documents do I need to show the immigration officer for inspection while applying for 144-hour visa-free transit?

1. Passport or other international travel documentation with a remaining valid period of more than three months;

2. Arrival card for temporary entry foreigners (144-hour visa-free transit) filled out;

3. Onward ticket to a third country (or region) with confirmed departure time and seat within 144 hours of arrival, which can be an air, sea or train ticket

 

Q3: How long does the whole process take?

It will take about 10 minutes during passenger-flow rush hours.

 

Q4: When do the 144 hours of visa-free stay start?

After confirming your qualification for the 144-hour visa-free transit, you will get a temporary entry permit from the immigration inspection station. Then from 00:00 of the next day upon your arrival in China, you can stay within the designated area without a Chinese visa for a maximum of 144 hours (6 days).

 

Q5: Under what circumstances are foreigners not allowed a temporary stay permit?

Under any of the following circumstances, foreigners will not be issued a temporary stay permit by exit/entry border inspection authorities:

 

1. Circumstances in which entry is not allowed in accordance with laws or administrative regulations;

2. Valid period of passport or other international document is less than three months, or there is a previous rejection stamp from China’s visa-issuing authorities;

3. Have a record of illegal entry into or exit from China, illegal residence or illegal employment in the past five years;

4. Have violated regulations on accommodation registration under serious circumstances over the past two years.

 

05

Special Notes

☉During the visa-free transit period, foreigners should abide by China’s laws and regulations and stay in the designated area.

 U May Stay in China Illegally? Check This First!

 

☉If foreigners stay in hotels in China, the hotels should register their stay. For foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels, they or the persons who accommodate them should, within 24 hours after arrival, go through the registration process with the public security bureau or foreigner service stations in local police stations near the place of residence.

 

☉If foreigners need to stay in the designated areas beyond the 144 hours due to uncontrollable circumstances, they should immediately notify and apply to the exit/entry administration department of the public security bureau for corresponding stay permits.

 

☉Foreigners who fail to remain in the designated area or fail to leave within the specified time limit, to exit from designated ports or process accommodation registration, will be punished by exit/entry border inspection authorities or the local public security bureau according to the law.

If you saw someone collapse or walk so hard in front of you, would you come to his or her aid or just walk on by? 

 

As is vividly depicted in the video given above, we can observe that an old man is tottering across the street with his walker, and walking so slowly and hard.

 

Now is the time for lunch. A lot of people walk so hurry that ignore this man who needs help. Crowds of pedestrians and countless vehicles in the street look like they are trying to bypass him. 

 

Or they may have no time to pay attention, or they are afraid? Like touching porcelain.

 

Anyway, there are no pedestrians and vehicles to be still for him until these two foreigners’ appearance. (I cannot identify their religious belief from the video, but there are 3 WeChat accounts about Islam that describe these 2 foreigners as Muslims.)

Finally, they help him to cross the street successfully, though they are hard to communicate due to different languages.

 

In fact, kindness has no borders as the video says in the end! (善良没有国界)