Job Discussion Forums

zaneth · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:48 am Post subject: Taiwan stigma

Does spending a lot of time on Taiwan make it harder to travel to the mainland? Will mainland authorities view a passport full of Taiwan stamps critically?

Not sure what the level of animosity is.

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

That is a legitimate question, and it is similar to those which I asked myself while sitting in Hong Kong recently...although my question was directed more to the TEFL world:

Could schools on the mainland "black-list" teachers who have worked in Taiwan? Confused

...for me it is speculation peppered with the reality of geopolitics.

I look forward to reading the responses of the experienced Taiwan TEFLers.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

The answer, for me anyway, is a definitive 'no problem'.

I have lived and worked in both countries at different times over many years. The authorities in China have not appeared to be at all concerned with the fact that my passport has Taiwan visas littering every other page.

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

It is definitely not a problem. I've been backforth over the years and it's fine.

When you think about it, the mainland considers Taiwan to be a province of the People's Republic of China. So where's the problem?

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

I agree Clark and Mark. I've been in and out of Taiwan so many time I had to have extra pages sewn into my passport. I came to the mainland in Aug. I had no trouble getting a visa or residents permit.

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

I did have a couple of friends (both Canadian) who finished their contracts in Taiwan, and wanted to travel through China by train, and then into Russia. When they tried to enter from Hong Kong, the woman was allowed, but the man was not. No reason was given, even though they both had the proper visas. This was about 5 years ago, however, so hopefully that kind of nonsense doesn't happen anymore.

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

xie xie...

[polite comment snipped]

Rolling Eyes

zaneth · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:43 pm Post subject:

Nice. One less worry.

saloma · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 211

Some schools in Shanghai ask during the interview, "Have you taught in Taiwan?"

It's considered a positive asset because TEFLers from Taiwan have had somesort of training and lots of experience.

I went to the Mainland, got my visa in Taipei, and I noticed it was issued on a seperate piece of paper and tucked into my passport, like the Israeli visa.