As for the residence permit, it is for one year and I suggested that, as my British Passport expires before the year is up, maybe they would issue a six-months permit. They said that is was not a problem, and could not have been more helpful. Now why was that, considering all the bad press on here about the PSB? Simple - preparation. I have a folder with all of my documentation (excluding lung x-rays- too big to fit in the folder). In the folder are invitation letters; release letters; references from employers in both China and the UK; academic records and transcripts; birth certificate; teaching certificate; tax records and even an original of a certificate when I went back to college to do a course in sound engineering (hardly relevant). The other factor is that I have never worked on the wrong visa and all of my residence renewals were done in plenty of time. I let them have a look at the folder (they didn't ask) and they commented that I was very thorough. What fascinated them was my birth certificate - an historical document in their eyes- handwritten sections in a cursive style. You know how the Chinese just love paperwork and official stamps.

The session concluded with them recommending I consider applying for permanent residence and not waste time and money with annual renewals. I have to say that the fact I worked for 4 years for a well-known university was a bonus.

I shall overlook your apparent rudeness to me, because I am sure it was all in good humour hahaha- all good fun. Anyway your advice to fellow married FT's about how to(or not to) deal with the PSB is of such excellent quality that I can forgive you anything hahaha. So in a nutshell, you prepare well and you don't turn up like something the cat dragged in, reeking of fags and booze? Well, that may seem obvious, but it is a testing time for us oldies. For a start you have to get to the PSB and the journey could be traumatic-so need a snifter or three on the train. If you have an axe to grind about the authorities normally anyway, any one of us if we don't watch it could roll up stroppy and barely intelligible. Now ,I am sure that we will all in the future bare your advice in mind and leave the fags and booze at home. Thank you. Well said, Cunning Linguist.