<prompt> Human: Hey guys,I just came home earlier this month after spending the last year studying abroad in China. While I was there, I opened up a local account and deposited money into it that I made from a part time job.Upon leaving China, I thought it would be safer to leave my money in the account, instead of taking it all out and carrying not an insignificant amount in cash with me. This is where my problem starts.I thought that I could just withdraw my money from an ATM once I got back to the US. However, what I didnt notice until after returning is that the strip of the card was slightly cracked which meant that each ATM I tried that accepted the type of card came back with a card could not be read error.So I called the bank and asked if they could send me a new debit card. They cant, because they dont send cards internationally.Then I asked if they could wire the money to my American account. They cant, because my money is in RMB and not USD and they dont want RMB leaving China.So then they suggested another option. Paypal. I could link my Chinese bank account to my Paypal and transfer it to my American bank account from there. This option seemed very promising...Until it came to verifying the bank account. In order to verify the card, I had to enter a phone number. A Chinese phone number, the one that I used when setting up the card. They would then send me a code that I would enter on the website to complete verification. However, since Im in the US, I no longer have access to that number. I called Paypal to see if there were any other options for verification such an email, or my American phone number and they said, no. I would have to physically go to my bank in China, and have them change the phone number that is associated with the account.Im a university student, with not a lot of money. I dont know when or if I can afford to go back.I know it was extremely shortsighted of me to just leave my money in China thinking I could get it later. Lesson definitely learned! But what I need now is some advice on how I could possibly get that money back. Its money I need for the upcoming school year.Thanks for all of your help!Assistant: You cant make an application to SAFE to have the money wired out? Your Chinese bank should be able to do that, but that leads me to this question:Did you pay income tax when you worked this part time job or was it under the table? Theres some restrictions involving working in the country youre studying at depending on their visa laws.Human: It was definitely under the table. I was in China under a student visa, which allows me to work up to 8 hours a week. However, I need to declare any job I take, which is something I didnt do.Would that affect my eligibility for a SAFE application?Assistant: It very much affects your SAFE application, since its primarily to determine if you paid income tax on the money and to protect the Chinese economy. Similarly, youre not allowed to physically leave with more than 20,000 RMB at the airport, so if you had more than that you wouldve been breaking laws that way as well.Your funds may be frozen until you sort this out - declaring the job first, and then paying the appropriate tax, which Id highly recommend you do. It may affect your future visa eligibility with China though if you plan on going back.If you do manage to get PayPal set up with the bank, PayPal will very likely report this money to the IRS as well when you transfer it overseas to here, so on top of tax youre supposed to pay the Chinese government, theres definitely money youll be paying to the IRS this way.If you did get a debit card, I doubt the bank would approve the withdrawal from an ATMABM internationally, again for the reasons of SAFE applications and whatnot.Human: Its about a couple of thousands dollars USD. I think the IRS allows you to choose not to declare anything under 10,000 right?  <response>: If its income you declare it. 