Dude, Is That A Passport In Your Pants, Or Are You Just Happy To See Me? (Citation: CLB)
June 6th, 2008
Some of you have recently asked me what to do with your passports, particularly in China. Carry them on your person or other?
I can’t/won’t advise you on this. In the FAQ document I try to give you some items and issues on this to think through and analyze. This is your call to investigate and make. For myself, I will likely carry a copy of my passport and visa on me, not the original. I will also carry with me a copy of the Trip Information Sheet and my airline ticket so that if I am stopped I can pull out a document that verifies what I tell people as to why I am in China. There is risk in my strategy. I may find that they don’t find this acceptable. So you should not assume that my way is the only way or right way. Everybody is responsible for their own selves on this issue on this trip. I will also copy and email to my email account a PDF of my passport, visa and airline ticket.
See this recent good CLB post on this very topic, Is That A Passport In Your Pants or Are You Just Happy To See Me? Thanks, Dan Harris. As always, you have a way with titles for blog posts, of which I admittedly used verbatim in this post to grab my own student’s attention.
As I try to mention in our predeparture sessions, China is cracking down on expats with the wrong or expired visa in advance of the Olympics (and World Expo in Shanghai). There are a number of theories why they are doing this. I won’t go into that in detail here, but in short, my own view is that they are coupling the Olympics and World Expo with visa issuance and renewal to find out who the “gamers” are in their country that are not playing by the rules, paying taxes, starting unregistered firms, to get a handle on who is legitimately there, etc., and, they are doing this as part of a fear of terrorism in lieu of those events. Whatever the case, this is an issue to take seriously.
See, e.g., the below email excerpt I recently received from one of our MBA alumni now living and working in China where he/she describes a situation that is even more heavy handed than I realized:
The visa situation is horrible leading up to the Olypmics. The government is going to the [___ citizen] homes and trying to take away their visa by showing they are on the wrong type (i.e., working with a tourist visa). I got mine before these problems. I was on a student visa and now on a business visit visa for work. It was easier to call me an “internship” to get the visa. When I need to renew it might be difficult. My _____[omitted] company is trying to get a license here and get him/her a working visa but he/she is having difficulties so he/she keeps going to other countries to get a tourist visa. We have had guests who had a lot of problems, it is hurting our business. Last week _______ [omitted] came and spoke to ______[omitted name] [and us] because the police are calling people and asking questions to find reason to deport them. It is crazy here. They have pulled over two of my foreign friends and taken away their scooters and tried to take their passports.
As you can see, the Chinese don’t waste time endlessly debating visa, passport and immigration issues like we do in the US and Washington D.C. They make a decision, execute and get it done. Don’t blame them. They are only enforcing the laws that have been on their books for some time which hoards of companies and expats were violating en masse, but now said expats are crying that the enforcement rules have changed. Happens all the time in regulatory environments across the globe. Further, in terms of an checkpoint, or an opportunity to create a checkpoint via the Olympics or World Expo, the Chinese strategy here is pretty darn effective and efficient, in my view.
And for cryin’ out loud, folks, if you DO carry your original passport on your person or in your backpack (can easily be cut open with a knife from behind), do NOT lose it or let it get it stolen!! Per the FAQ document, if your passport is lost or stolen I can do nothing for you other than drop you off at the embassy or consulate to solve this problem (plan for it to take a few days), you are on your own, and the rest of us move on. Any extra expense in you catching up with us will be yours to incur.
Take this issue seriously! Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore.
Entry Filed under: Pre-Departure, China, India, Pre-Departure
44 Comments Add your own
1. Simeon Trieu | June 6th, 2008 at 9:00 am
When I travel, I keep my original passport on my person. People can break into your hotel room and steal your passport that way, also. So, the best way that I’ve found to keep my passport safe is to get a small neckback that I carry my cash, ID, passport, and checks in and store it UNDERNEATH my clothing. They may be able to slash and pick your backpack, but they will sure have a hard time getting under my shirt and suit!
2. Dan Harris | June 7th, 2008 at 5:08 am
IF you keep your original passport and visa on your person (and even if you don’t), I suggest you upload a copy of them to somewhere on the internet (your hotmail or gmail account, for example) so that even if you lose everything but the clothes on your back, you still have a place you can go (fairly easily) with the key information.
3. Eric Kvilhaug | June 7th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
For people who have been to China, how likely is it that laptops, passports or the like will be taken from hotel rooms. I worry that my laptop will be taken, I am not sure if the worry is warranted (sounds like it is), so here is my question. What are you going to do with laptops, cell phones, camera, passports, gifts for tours, etc?
4. WhiteDuskRed | June 8th, 2008 at 3:34 am
We have colleagues who gotten their laptops stolen when they left it in the car trunk. Suspected the driver to be in cahoots with whoever who stole the laptop but with no evidence whatsoever the matter was laid to rest and they poor chaps got to replace the company laptops with their own money.
Heard hundreds of stories regarding hotel staff opening and stealing stuffs from the safes in the rooms. Anyway most laptops will not fit into the safes in hotels. If you must keep it in the room, keep it in a robust suitcase/lugguge and keep it well locked. I do that even in major hotels since I cannot be assured of the integrity of the staff.
When in China, keep your valuables (cash, IDs and travel documents) with you wherever you go. But there’s always the risk of getting robbed. So always travel in a group, avoid suspect areas and be aware of your surroundings…
5. Matt Fencl | June 10th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Nice work using the Wizard of Oz quote to illustrate your point. Ironic that I lost my Driver’s License my senior year at the University of Kansas and used my passport to get into bars for several months. In retrospect it was a pretty stupid habit, but I ended up only losing my dignity at the bars, not my passport.
6. gary chou | June 13th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I have heard argument for both ways–bring your passport with you or keep it at the hotel. While many people (including Dr. Carr) thinks keeping the passport at hotel is safer, I personally wouldn’t do that. True, there are risks for both routes, but the level of risk is simply hard to compare. One thing for sure is that, if the passport is lost from my body, I will know about it immediately and have the first opportunity to react to it. Also, I will have more information regarding how it’s lost. (e.g. the physical appearance of the robber.) If it’s lost in the hotel, there will be confusion first. For example, is it really lost or a misplacement? Why hasn’t anything else being lost? Did the cleaning staff take it? Did other students take it as prank? etc. Too much uncertainty.
7. Robyn Bowie | June 13th, 2008 at 8:41 am
As long as there is a safe in the hotel rooms, I think I would feel better about leaving my passport there. It is a good idea to carry a copy though and I am planning on doing that as well as sending myself a copy over e-mail so I can get to it anywhere in the world. I am also sending copies of any credit cards I am bringing as well as debit/ATM cards. Same with driver’s license and any other ideas such as international student ID. I did purchase a money belt, though it is going to be so hot, I’m going to try to avoid wearing it and just bring less money with me or something. My biggest worry is my camera and I’m still on the lookout for the perfect case to keep it safe. If anyone has any ideas shoot them my way!
8. Lonnie | June 16th, 2008 at 8:50 am
The customs and police landscape is changing here. Hong Kong just announced that all leaves are canceled for customs inspectors thru the Olympics and they are really scrutinizing credentials at the border and elsewhere.
I took the train from Guangzhou to HK the other day and was subject to three x-ray screenings one-way. And because these guys aren’t much brighter than the Homeland Insecurity folks in the US and know only minimal English it is a daunting task to get where you are going if you don’t speak Chinese.
With terror alerts now abounding I would not be caught anywhere without my passport on my person. It is not just customs that will be checking foreigners coming in and out of the country. Too, word on TV tonight was that those with any criminal convictions may be refused entry. And do not leave any bags unattended anywhere as they will be carted off and searched thoroughly.
I too often use a waist wallet even if it means I will get slowed down coming through the metal detectors. And Dan is right: email yourself and one of your classmates a copy of your documents to make it easier for the State Department to help you if you lose your ID here.
It is stricter now, but the officials are courteous and respectful. The earthquake may have taken the world’s focus off of political issues, but the central government is doggedly in pursuit of a trouble free Olympics.
Everyone expects a halo effect of about 1-3 months after the Olympics before some “normalcy” is restored.
It is good to see you unblocked in South China!! Life here is wet: homes near me are flooded and 800,000 from Guanxi south have been displaced. China has had a rough year. My professor friends in Gansu are shell-shocked by quakes, floods, riots and in-classroom camera surveillance of minority students. It is a fragile time for everyone, so be empathetic…
L
9. Rob Belloni | June 16th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I’ve been reading this thread with much interest, and appreciate the feedback. Despite a high level of awareness, I seem to have a knack for getting robbed and hope to avoid the hassle on the trip. What follows are a few robbery stories, in hopes that you might learn from my mistakes…
Lent my truck to my Dad. Dad forgets to lock the door and parks it on the street. Someone steals my ash tray along with the $4 in pennies and nickels.
Moral - Ask “did you lock the car?” Thieves are generally idiots and will steal anything if given the chance.
Park my truck at the lake to go fishing. Lock everything up. Return at sunset to find that someone pried the camper shell open, crawled in through the sliding window, stole my cd’s and chopped apart my dash board with a screw driver in a failed effort to steal the cd player.
Moral - Camper shell rear doors are not the best protection. Get a car alarm
Left for memorial day weekend in the dorms. Returned to find my printer and my roomate’s 200+ cd collection stolen. Despite the police’s insistence that we left the door open (we did not), it was later determined the thieves had a master key to the dorms.
As a humorous aside, the thieves also stole my roomates video card, used it, and did not return the movie. Somewhere in the San Luis PD’s archives is a video of the thief parking directly in front of the video store with license plate visible and using the card to rent the video. San Luis PD was unable to find this person due to poor video quality.
Moral - A locked door at a dorm or hotel doesn’t always mean much. Even with a video of the person who stole your stuff and their car - they’ll probably get away with it anyway.
My parents, who had been robbed once before and have a full alarm system, left the maid at the house to run errands. Return to find the alarm off and jewelery stolen. It was almost certainly the maid (they pretended to force the window open but the latch was not broken).
Moral - Maids occasionally steal your stuff. Better to clean your own house (as my parents do now) and when you are traveling - hang the do not disturb all day.
Vacationing in Hawaii Summer and I took a surfing lesson. The surf coach guy (stoner) encourages us to leave our stuff in a cubby hole where we they run the lessons, “Someone is here the whole time, nothing will happen.” Being paranoid, I put everything in the car except the rental car key. Return from the water to find someone has stolen the rental car key (and the safe key to our hotel).
Moral - Don’t leave your stuff with people - ever. That one cost me about $200 for a new car key, a taxi to bring it, and a new safe key. When in the water on vacation, bring a waterproof plastic case (they make them especially for swimming/diving) and bring everything you can with you. Someone on the beach is probably going to steal your stuff.
After being robbed enough times, you learn to roll with it. My main goal on this trip in this regard is to put myself in a position where if I do get robbed, they don’t get very much. My Dad suggested wearing a cheap wallet filled with monopoly money just for the humor aspect when someone decides to snatch it. I’m considering it…
10. David McKinnon | December 12th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Great ideas from the comments. E-mailing documents, money belts, etc. Rob, I hope your luck changes!
Maybe the Visa checks will calm down a bit now that the Olympics is over? Even if that’s the case we should still plan and prepare for the worst.
11. Morgan O'Hara | December 14th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Yes, that is a passport in my pants, and though it’s kind of bulky, it doesn’t stick out too much.
Abroad, I keep my passport in my front pocket. It wears a plastic cover. I don’t drink anymore, so the risk of me mistaking it for a flyer at some dive bar is no longer an issue. I’m also pretty aware, so the danger of it getting swiped is minimal. In fact, the chance of me forgetting my passport in a hotel room safe is much higher than me losing it (though in the first case, it should be retrievable). Finally, I would not stash my passport in my book bag for prolonged periods. Or my purse, if I had one.
As for the joys of bureaucracy – often times you can skirt around it, but rarely can you brazenly beat it. And though it might seem painful, when it comes to official procedures and rules and regulations, it’s best to conform. That’s what you call prudence, not surrender.
12. Jenna Healy | January 1st, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Wow. Paranoia or justified precaution?
What I got from the article and the comments is that there is no safe place for a passport. It can be stolen from your body, your safe, your suitcase, anywhere! Foreign countries are exactly that—foreign. There’s no telling what will happen or predicting or controlling situations.
I think we will all be OK. I’m going to keep my passport and important documents around my neck under my clothes… and sleep with it on! And email and keep copies. Then, I’m going to let go of the fear and know that it will all be OK.
Great post Raquel.
13. Nick Chamness | January 4th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I have done pretty extensive traveling all over the world, and have considered this problem many times. Luckily, losing my passport is never something I have had to deal with. I have almost always tried to carry it with me and did make several copies that were placed in other locations. I am always paranoid that somebody will slash my backpack open and steal all kinds of stuff, which is why I usually carry my backpack facing forward. Not the most comfortable thing, but at least you can keep an eye on you stuff at all times. The passport holder that goes around you chest also seems like a good idea.
Bottom line is that you can only be so careful. Unfortunately stuff happens when you are traveling and you just have to deal with it and adapt to the situation. I am sure everyone will be very careful with their passport while we are over there!
14. Amy Cook | January 15th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I think if I left my passport in a hotel room safe I would spend too much time worrying about it. For this reason, I’m thinking I’ll wear it around my neck, under my clothes and leave a copy of it in my hotel safe, (along with one in my suitcase and one under my pillow). I did like the idea about keeping your own hotel room clean and leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign up so that other belongings don’t disappear during cleaning.
To Morgan’s point, I’m willing to bet the chances of losing a passport or other important documents increases significantly when drinking is involved. I hope everyone remembers that we are in a foreign country and extra precautions should be taken to avoid these situations. I like the buddy system!
I’m not generally a paranoid person. Sometimes bad things happen. The best thing to do is to take the proper precautions, stay aware and enjoy the experience.
15. James McMillan | January 18th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I think Dr. Carr made a good call by not recomending any one way of dealing with the passport issue. The money belt is probably the safest thing but I hate wearing that thing. Putting it in your backpack is a risk but so is leaving it in the hotel room. Putting it in your pocket has the risk of falling out when you reach in there to get something else but if your careful this should not happen. Call me weird but when I travel I alway reguarley check myself for a few things about every hour or so (wallet, camera, shades, passport, room key). I find this to be effective for staying on top things and making sure I always have the items that are most important to me. If I’m missing something I know I ‘mprobably not that far from wherever I might have left it. Bottom line, if your carefull and alway make sure to do regular checks of where it is, your risk of loosing it is minimal. The best way is whatever works best for you.
16. Jason Larocco | January 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
This is definitely a legit concern. I have done a decent amount of traveling in Latin America and the only times that I had any problems (attempted pick pocketing) was when I had my big packs on and stood out like a sore thumb. Unfortunately in China there is no way for me to not stick out, pack or no pack. Anytime I head out for a trip overseas I e-mail a scanned copy of my passport to a family member or friend. If for some reason I lose everything I can at least access my e-mail (assuming I can access the internet) and print of some form of ID.
Drinking aboard probably creates the most risk for me, even when it’s with locals. Of course as you drink you become a much easier target for pick pocketers. Locals get pick pocketed too, so you can’t assume a greater level of safety because you are with them. I will have to find ways to be responsible and limit my risk, but at the same time I can’t be so paranoid about potential bad events that I do not experience the all the trip has to offer. Like Dr. Carr said finding that balance is up to each of us individually. Our mommies are not coming with us.
17. Xiaofei Song | February 21st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
This seems not really related to me, but I never take it with me anyway. I never even take my ID with me when I am in China. It is not because I am afraid someone will stole it, I am just a massy person, always lose something. I think people are more interested at your money than your passport, so my suggestion is dont put them together!
18. Amanda Podesta | December 19th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
I’ve just been spending some time in S. Florida over the Christmas holidays (“Go Miami Heat!”). It is very international here and after reading this post I took to asking around at the hotels, restaurants, and the shops how much an American passport would be worth on the streets. After about a dozen quotes (including one from a bunch of cops on Ocean Ave.), the ballpark figure seems to be approximately $1,500-2,500.
I don’t really know how rampant crime is in China— nor do I believe that their black markets would be necessarily equitable but I tend to think if you get a large enough group of people together there will be an element of crime. So if we look like an obvious group of foreign tourists, this might be something to bear in mind (or at least warrant you to take extra precautions while carrying a passport on your person—if not in China, than at least in Miami!).
19. Chris Bruns | January 9th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
I have developed my own traveling system after being in foreign countries, being robbed, and having things ‘lost’ while abroad. My system is that I have an electronic copy of everything in my email in case of emergency. I make a copy of everything, and keeping a copy of my passport, and original ticket/itinerary together at the place I am staying. I keep my passport and paper copy of my ticket in the right front pocket of my pants. I keep a fake wallet with a few dollars and expired grocery cards in my right back pocket, and my debit card and cash in my front left. The fake wallet was an idea I had just before going to Columbia and hearing some horror stories of being robbed and mugged from my cousin living there. I also keep emergency cash and my driver’s license in my right shoe. I know this is extremely paranoid, and after writing this I know I sound like two-cups of crazy, but this works for me and has helped a lot in some less-then-desirable situations.
While my system is beyond overkill, I think that it is very important for everybody to pray for best case scenario, but plan for the worst. These possibilities include being harassed, robbed, losing luggage, and other possible accidents.
20. Katie Moeller | January 11th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
When I have traveled in Europe, I have kept my passport in a neck pouch. It has seemed to work well. It’s best to keep it inconspicuous and hidden under your shirt. I have had a few hotels in Europe (Italy specifically) keep my passport to ensure the bill was paid when the stay was complete. At first I was a little nervous about leaving it with them but that’s how it’s done there. The article implies that getting stopped by officials in China can easily happen. I want to be prepared. I will be making copies and a PDF. (I never thought of making a PDF before, great idea.) I will definitely add this to the “to do” list before the trip.
21. David Hart | January 16th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
I don’t think you can be too careful with this issue. Better to be safe than sorry. Also, I had never thought to carry a copy of my airline ticket with me–that is a smart idea. When I have traveled internationally, I have always debated what to carry with me and what to leave in the hotel. You never know when you will get stopped.
One thing that I have done when traveling also is to bring a copy of the phone numbers with me of the embassy, my credit card companies (or bank for debit cards) in case I lose them or they get stolen. This way I can cancel them quickly. I also have found it helpful to call the bank to let them know where I will be traveling so there are no surprises to them.
22. Tim Easton | January 24th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
After multiple trips to Europe I have developed a decent system for carrying important items. Making a copy of my passport and flight information is always a must. I have not thought about the electronic PDF copy, but I really like that idea and will do that for this trip. I leave the copies at the hotel, or hostel, locked in my backpack or safe (if available). As David said, I also bring the phone numbers for my bank and credit cards so I can call and cancel if they get lost or stolen. I have to call the bank and credit card companies if I am leaving the country or my account gets stopped, it happened before and was a pain to fix.
When walking around I have used a neck pouch to carry my passport and any excess cash that I don’t think I will need that day. If I am heading to a place where I don’t feel threatened I will sometimes just carry my passport and wallet in my front pocket. It is way too easy to having something taken out of your back pockets. From personal experiences, do not carry anything important in backpacks and fanny packs (and who really uses fanny packs anymore). I had a friend who got his backpack cut; luckily there was nothing in the pocket they cut. On another trip, one of my parents’ friends had his fanny pack opened and multiple wallets were stolen out of it. The Italian criminals had a pretty impressive system set up on the subway, where they probably make multiple thefts per day. The subway was packed and two people appeared to be fighting (the distraction), a third guy bumped my parents’ friend to get him to turn a certain way, and finally the fourth guy made the steal. All four got off on the next stop, and we had no idea anything happened for about an hour. The main thing is being aware, and finding a system that works for you.
23. Chris Fung | February 2nd, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Having traveled internationally many times I carry my passport and visas on my person at all times. I am another one of those users who utilizes a neck pouch carry case that fits under clothing. I do carry a wallet with me but keep small denominations of cash for everyday transactions (food, public transportation, carrying receipts, etc. ) and my California drivers license (for age verification). I’ve made copies of visas, passport and airline tickets before and stored them in the luggage, however emailing scans of them to an email account would be another helpful method of providing access to that information while overseas. You can never be too careful about losing your passport; my dad lost his once and it was a pain to go through the process of getting readmitted to the United States of America. Be wary of pickpockets when traveling - they can be really good at getting your stuff!
24. Cassie Bettencourt | February 2nd, 2011 at 8:37 pm
I agree with Tim’s comment that the main thing is being aware and finding a system that works for you. I also agree with Chris’s comment that you should pray for the best case scenario, but plan for the worst. These comments apply to carrying documents in foreign countries, as well as many other aspects of life. I found it interesting that the Olympics somewhat served as a catalyst (or excuse) for this visa “crackdown” in China.
When I travelled to Europe, I kept my passport on me and copies of my passport and travel documents in my luggage. It is hard to weigh out whether an attack/robbery would occur on me directly or on where my stuff is. That being said, at least if my real documents are locked away in my belongings, I do not risk the element of human error (losing them, taking an eye off of them, etc.). I think the main key to success is having plenty of back up. Preparation is key too. I have never met someone that has legitimately thought or said that they were too prepared for an experience like this one. Keeping a PDF version in your email is a great idea that I have never done before, and it is something I will definitely do that this trip.
25. Brady Haug | February 5th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
The email in the blog post does raise some alarms on this issue. Now that the Olympics have passed, I wonder whether the Chinese police are scrutinizing tourist in the same manner. In traveling, I think that best way to keep track of your passport is to make yourself worried about it. When I have been traveling overseas, I typically put my passport in a secluded pocket at the bottom of the main zipped compartment in my backpack. This way it prohibits someone from reaching it without me knowing. Since I have gotten myself worried about passport theft, I am constantly checking my backpack to ensure it is there. I have used one of the security sashes before but they are remarkably uncomfortable. This post made me feel as though I want to keep these documents on me at all times, but that I should put them in the most secure location possible. I have kept copies of my passport before in order to avoid losing them and this seems to be an effective method, you can simply put it is your wallet. A close friend of mine had his backpack stolen off his luggage cart last year in Paris, while he turned to look at something in the airport for roughly ten seconds. You can never be too cautious and I recommend never setting your backpack down unless it is wrapped around your leg.
26. Matt Streiter | February 8th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Very clever Chris! I haven’t really put much thought into what I am going to do with my passport until now but that last thing I want to happen is for me to get stuck in China! I know when I went to Italy with my family my Dad was confronted by a pick pocket, good thing he didn’t have his passport on him! Taking copies of the passport and scanning images is definitely a good idea that I will be doing before we take off. I suspect that I would feel having my passport close to me would be safer than leaving it behind at a hotel though. I have heard a few horror stories from people in the past of things getting stolen out of Chinese hotels. As someone who is fairly paranoid about losing things, I believe I will be on top of the whereabouts of my passport.
27. Sarah Weinzapfel | February 8th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
I am extremely nervous about this situation. I have been debating since our first China meeting about how I am going to go about it. I had no idea there were issues of hotel room robbery. I’m making copies of everything, sending myself copies of everything, and keeping items in my shoes and under my clothes. I have never traveled internationally (except to a safe part of Mexico) so I have never had the experience of watching my things every second of the day. I’m sure parents are going to have no problem with this issue.
28. Kyle R. | February 13th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
To carry, or not to carry, that is the question…..I agree with Chris in preparing for the worst case, but hoping for the best. Having never been to a foreign country, I have not had the pleasure of carrying a “decoy” wallet. Bottom line: I do not want to be in a foreign country having my passport and important information stolen or lost. It’s bad enough being robbed in your own city or country, but I can only imagine the complications that would arise is something were to happen abroad. The PDF suggestion is a great idea and I plan to do so before leaving.
I have a friend who was mugged in the Dominican Republic for his digital SLR camera. One man knocked out my friend with an unexpected punch and then proceeded to take the camera from around his neck. His 100 pound wife tried to go after the attacker, but then realized this probably wasn’t the right thing to do since he had many friends with him. It’s a good idea in many aspects of life to have a back-up plan, so I guess this is just another instance of such.
29. Tara Millard | February 15th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
This information has given me great anxiety about traveling to China, as I have never traveled anywhere where I needed to keep my passport and Visa with me extensively. I am grateful that many of my classmates appear to have practice in this arena, as I will likely need advice on hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
As this post extensively mentions the Olympics, I wonder if this frenzy has died down as of recent. Regardless, I will not take this issue lightly and I will plan ahead and employ the best practices to ensure a safe and successful trip to China……… and back to California at the end.
30. Will Moeller | February 19th, 2011 at 8:18 am
When traveling abroad, my sixth sense is passport awareness.
Unfortunately, my European travels probably wont’ compare well with China travels on this topic. There I didn’t bother to carry much of anything with me, not even copies. It sounds like Chinese officials are more apt to check passports now than ever before. It seems that the majority of the crowd is now carrying their actual passports, and if you’re the one poor shmuck who doesn’t have his passport on him, but rather a copy, you’re going to end up finding more trouble than you’d like.
In Latin America, I carried a copy of everything - passport, visa, driver’s license, health insurance card, vaccination card, etc. I use the neck pouch as well even though it looks about as hip as the belly bag and ruins just about every picture you take. Still, there’s something to said for returning home from foreign travel while avoiding a disaster such as a passport debacle. I’ll have to look into this issue more before we leave.
31. Jessica Shayler | February 19th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
Anyone who wants a secret interior pocket sewn into their shirts, let me know… I think Brady’s comment about making yourself think about your passport’s whereabouts is the key ingredient to retaining its possession no matter what back-up system you have in place. I do the same thing with my wedding rings. I am constantly feeling for them to make sure they have not fallen off unawares. I will probably be one of the overly paranoid ones with multiple copies stashed in various locations, hidden compartments, decoys, pdf’s on flashdrives, etc. All we need now are flame-thrower pens and phones in our shoes (”Get Smart” anyone?).
32. Jason Jay Sharma | February 22nd, 2011 at 1:50 am
I am fairly worried about the decision to either carry my passport and visa with me at all times or leave it in our hotel rooms during our outings. In one situation, if you carry your passport securely, you will not need to worry about ever running into legal issues if we are randomly pulled aside. If we don’t carry it securely, however, any one of us could run into more trouble than we anticipated if our passport is lost or stolen. In the other situation, leaving our documentation in the hotel sounds like it could be safe, but how secure are the hotel rooms themselves? Would carrying copies be enough? Compared to my previous travels, I more worried. Unless I am reassured about the security in the hotel rooms before we take off or if copied documents will be enough, I may consider investing in one of these and making it part of my daily wardrobe:
http://www.amazon.com/Secure-Passport-Holder-Mens-Lanyard/dp/B0007KVLBA
33. Ben Raymond | February 26th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
I think that in general it is best to keep a copy of your passport on you at all times and the original in the hotel safe if available. Leaving it unsecured in your hotel or in your luggage is putting a lot of trust in the hotel staff and your passport is something too valuable for that. Wearing a money belt or something similar under your clothes seems to be the best option when having your original passport is necessary because back packs and outer pockets are much easier targets. I plan to carry my passport with me as well as PDF copies of my passport, debit card, driver’s license, and plane tickets on my Droid and on my gmail account. It is hard to predict what we will need but there’s no harm in taking as many precautions as possible. The bureaucracy in China is something I want to deal with as little as possible and the only way to ensure any interactions go smoothly and quickly is to have as much documentation as possible.
34. Randy Camat | February 26th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
A neck pouch! Finally I found out what it was called. I’ve seen this product before while browsing for traveling accessories, but I could never go back and find it. I also never thought about carrying a decoy wallet. Pretty clever. Man it feels like on a mission of some sort. In all seriousness though, losing these items – passport, visas, id, and money – would be a real blow to this trip and experience. The only place outside the US I’ve been to is the Philippines. One thing I always did was keeping all my important documents in my room/suitcase. I also never carried around my wallet, just a few bills just in case I needed to purchase anything. However, I didn’t have to face being pulled aside to show my passport or visa. I’m definitely going to purchase that neck pouch. For those that would like to do the same, here’s a link to one:
http://www.zappos.com/eagle-creek-undercover-neck-pouch-tan
35. Kristine Spencer | February 26th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
I don’t think that taking crazy precautions is paranoid at all, because from my travels I have seen multiple tourists get mugged, robbed by groups of people working together, and their passport stolen. I have carried a scanned copy of my passport on me before, but an emailed pdf is something I will definitely do for China. I will also be utilizing the safe in the hotel if there is one. I will definitely use one of those dorky under-the-shirt protectors because I don’t like carrying things in my pockets. I always travel with either a backpack or a cross-shoulder purse so I can have a good hold of my other things. Another thing to consider is how much cash to have on hand. I feel uncomfortable carrying too much cash, but I have also heard that using credit/debit cards is not very safe in China.
36. Tyler Sereno | March 1st, 2011 at 8:16 pm
This blog post made me realize that I really need to start making a plan on how to manage my passport and other important documents. I plan to make copies of everything and have electronic copies as well. I have always heard how careful you must be with your passport when traveling out of the country. A friend of mine lost her passport while on a train in Italy and she had to go through a long process. My dad carried a fanny pack with a lock on it that held all of his valuables when he went to Italy, so I will probably ask him to borrow it. This is definitely a serious issue and it is good that it is addressed.
37. Robbin Forsyth | March 1st, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Original documents on my person at all times during actual travel.
Original documents locked in hotel safe during stay at a given hotel.
Color copies of passport, visa and plane tickets on person while originals are locked up. Adding the FAQ documents for the class to this list is a good addition well.
I will also have color scans of all of the same documents on Dropbox just in case…
With that said, I’ve never had a problem with documents or robbery while traveling and I going to assume this trip will not be any different.
The enforcement of visas is new to me. You simply cannot get into the country without a legitimate visa and if you stay in country on a tourist visa to work, you most live with the consequences if caught.
I’ve been looking around the web and I have not been able to find any info on visa crackdowns on tourists in China since the olympics in 2008. Having a multiple entry tourist visa, confirmed itinerary and return plane ticket should be more than enough to eliminate any problems with the Chinese authorities.
38. Ashley Ogden | March 2nd, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Wow, random checks for foreigners. Before this blog I hadn’t realized that this occurred. I guess it makes sense for them to be so strict, especially when this post came out, before the Olympics. When I studied abroad in Australia, I made three copies of my passport. I took two copies with me to Australia and the original and I left one copy with my Mom in the US in case something happened. It wasn’t necessary to carry your original with you there, but I usually carried a copy in my wallet. I will probably do the same in China. My question is whether the original will be safe if I leave it somewhere? Couldn’t just as easily get stolen if it is not on your person? Either way I will be extra cautious with such an important document.
39. j hurley | March 5th, 2011 at 11:10 am
When I travel I always pack my passport with me at all times…right in my front pocket. However, just to make sure I take pictures of it with my cell phone and email myself a copy.
I have heard too many stories about leaving the real deal in your room and having it stolen…
As long as simple precautions are taken, I have never had a problem. However, I am constantly feeling my pockets to make sure my belongings are still where they should be.
40. Dan N | March 9th, 2011 at 7:39 am
While it’s important to be responsible about documentation, this isn’t something that anyone should feel anxiety about. In fact, there is nothing about this trip that anyone should feel anxiety about. Actually, let me restate, as long as you don’t do anything stupid then you have nothing to fear, ie just use common sense. Take risks at home, not when you are in China and under the care of the university. Passports? The neck pouch, money belt is probably the way to go when we are likely to be in crowded areas. When touring factories/businesses, I think it’s probably a bit excessive.
The thing for the anxious ones to remember is, if you lose your passport, you go to the US Embassy and get a new one. It’s as simple as that. Sure it’ll be an inconvenience, and Vickie will probably give you the look of death for being so careless. But you aren’t going to end up in a Chinese prison indefinitely for such a crime. Think of it as an adventure, a story you can tell your grandiose someday.
41. JP Salazar | March 12th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
There are two questions that come to mind on this topic:
1. Has the climate surrounding random checks and visa crack downs eased up now that the Olympics have passed?
2. Are we really at that much risk in this particular instance?
I can understand the desire of the Chinese government to crack down on such issues with events on the horizon that will be played out on the world stage. There were legitimate security threats leading up to the Olympic Games and part of mitigating those issues is cracking down on visa enforcement. But now that the event has passed, will a group of American students, traveling together, sporting Cal Poly polos really be seen as threats and necessitate random stops? I just don’t see that happening, although I could be dead wrong.
While I do not have much experience traveling abroad, I have picked up some good habits for protecting my belongings. The first rule (for guys) is to never keep your belongings in your back pocket. This is hard for me as I usually carry my wallet in my back pocket, but I know how easy it is to lift something from that position. The second rule I follow is to keep anything important directly next to my body. Jackets, backpacks, and handbags can be gotten into quicker than you would believe without your knowledge. It is very common for a thief to carry a razor blade and simply slice any fabric to get to your valuables. In a crowded area, this can be done without you noticing in just a couple of seconds. I am still not sure what I will be doing with my passport on this trip. When I have traveled with it before, I kept a copy on my person and left the originals in the safe in my hotel room. I am interested to know if the rooms we will be staying in China will be equipped with a safe.
42. J Vail | March 14th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I have taken a few trips internationally, but I didn’t put enough of an emphasis on protecting my personal information and carried my passport on me. I think the other posters sold me on a neck pouch – that seems to be the best balance of convenience and safety. I am going to try to avoid carrying a backpack and travel light, as I have heard similar tales of them being cut open or picked through.
43. Anthony Kallioinen | March 17th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
This is an important issues for foreigners (especially when they ‘look’ like foreigners) studying or traveling abroad. I’ve heard many horror stories of people having their wallets/money/passports stolen. (From gypsies throwing fake babies to grab someone’s attention while someone else robs them, to a robber dashing on and off of a train at a station and stealing someone’s money while they are stuck guarding the rest of their belongings) Basically, there are many ways for us to be hoodwinked abroad. I have even heard about the not-so-subtle pickpockets who simply use a knife to open backpacking bags in public in broad daylight. The point being, I have developed a system to minimize the damage if something like this happens to me. I keep two sources of cash/cards/identity on me while traveling and copies at my base camp. I generally keep my actual passport and a credit card in my breast pocket and my wallet in my back pocket with my side-bag covering that pocket. (I’ve actually had my wallet taken out of that pocket by a pick-pocket but since I felt it I was able to grab it back from him!)
To the argument of not keeping one’s real passport on them while traveling (and keeping it in the hotel room instead) I’ve had friends who have had their hotel rooms/apartments abroad robbed. The reason your real passport is good to have on you, is that I have been told by many hotels that they do not accept copies, only the real thing. The best way not to get taken advantage of is to be vigilant and proactively do not make yourself a target for pick-pockets. The police are another matter.
44. Omar Pradhan | March 18th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
I like Dan Harris’ suggestion to upload a copy to the web (attachment to Hotmail, etc.). Also, I will plan on bringing a copy of our class itinerary, airline info, important phone numbers (credit card cancelation numbers, embassy numbers, Carr text / mobile number, etc.). I have a neck pouch and will utilize it to keep my actual passport & visa with me at all times. Also, given my state department / DOD training, I should add that traveling in a group is a helpful way to NOT be seen as an “easy” target, whenever possible. Good stuff.
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