(Clearwisdom.net) On the web recently, some Falun Dafa practitioners have discussed the difficulties of obtaining their passports. This problem is universal. For example, there are many practitioners near me who have come across this difficulty. During the process of applying for a passport, they learned that every county and district's Ministry of Public Security has an Entry/Exit Country Control Section. They process Dafa practitioners' applications within their territories. They note that this individual practices Falun Gong and cannot exit the country (this includes Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan).

This goes with the individual's personal identification number. According to China's household registry policy, this number will never change throughout one's life, regardless of whether there is a name or address change. To apply for a passport, one has to go to the city Ministry of Public Security Entry/Exit Country Control Office. The personnel at the widow would right away see this restriction after entering the individual's personal identification number and the application would then be refused.

This restriction has a valid date of expiration-one or two years-which gives one the false impression that it is short term. In fact, related personnel explain that toward the end of the valid time, one has to obtain a written repeal from his local Entry/Exit Country Control Section to change this document; otherwise, it will automatically extend until the next valid date, in effect making it an indefinite restriction. Related personnel call this system a national form, a nationwide web including customs, border control, etc., which prohibits Falun Gong practitioners from exiting the country. Practitioners have been to local Entry/Exit Country Control Sections and asked whether there are related documents. Officials admit that there are, but practitioners are not allowed to see them. Practitioners have asked if those documents can be removed and personnel have told them they have to seek approval from their local 610 Office.

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Zhan Shuying from Weihai City, Shandong Province, has lived alone since her retirement. Her son lives in the United States and had intended for his mother to join him, however, Entry/Exit Control would not issue her a passport. Zhan Shuying went to appeal her case, but was instead illegally sentenced to forced labor camp in 2004.

The ones who apply for a passport include the elderly who want to visit children, students who want to study abroad, young people who want to get married, spouses who want to reunite, businessmen who want to negotiate deals, etc. Regardless of the reason, Falun Gong practitioners are not allowed to leave the country. There are even some individuals who use this opportunity to trick and coerce practitioners into writing a guarantee statement. But this is only an underhanded trick. In fact, even if a practitioner signs this statement, he or she will still be forbidden to leave the country.

My passport application has been repeatedly denied

In 1999, at the beginning of the persecution, my friends knew that I was in the process of applying for study abroad. They tried to convince me to apply for a passport early, but I did not do so at that time, as I still had hope for and delusion about the central government: We are only practicing meditation, how can a government harm their good hearted civilians?

In 2000, although I received the acceptance letter from Goldsmith College in London, England, my passport application was rejected by the local Entry/Exit Country Control Department, their only reason being that I was "practicing Falun Gong." I demanded a formal document to refer to for the future, but they would not give me one. I asked them whether their act is based on any legislation. They said that Falun Gong practitioners who go overseas would damage our country's reputation. In other words, they are afraid that their irrational persecution will be known internationally.

In 2001, I received an acceptance letter from Cambridge University, England. My passport application, however, was rejected again and I was notified that I could not appeal.

In 2005, my fiancé, who was in Canada, and I wanted to get married, but my passport was still rejected.

My employer is an international trade company, so a lot of foreign travel is needed. Since I practice Falun Gong, I have not had a passport for work or personal use, and my work has suffered greatly.

For the past seven years that I have not had a passport. I have not been able to complete my studies or get married, and my work has suffered very much. Needless to say, I have been persecuted.