Job Discussion Forums

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

The blacklist is used by the FAP and is totally illegal. It was started to appease some of more influential schools, Hess and ELSI/Kojen being the main culprits. You will be barred from getting a new ARC for at least a year and will receive and unofficial deportation order in the mail from the FAP. It will tell you to leave the country within seven days. You can get it extended to 30 with a little help.

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

What if I skip out on my contract, and then enroll in a University taking Chinese lessons? That way I can get a student Visa...which is what I want to do anyway!

I wouldn't need an ARC in that case, and maybe I can support myself doing private lessons? What do you guys think?

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Because you have had an ARC and are blacklisted you will not be able to get a student ARC. If you can get a mutiple entry visa, then you could extend it for study purposes, but that is becoming more and more difficult.

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

Is a student ARC different from a student VISA?

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

There is no such thing as a student visa in Taiwan. You get a tourist visa and extend it for study. After doing that for a couple of months and going to classes you may qualify for an ARC for study purposes. If you have been blacklisted that will be very difficult in most places. You may still be able to extend your tourist visa with a little luck.

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

Hey Aristotle,

thanks for the tips.

1. What is a FAP?
2. If the blacklist is illegal then how can I be prevented from getting a student ARC?

3. Who has copies of the blacklist? Is it some sheet that gets passed around? How does it work?

Again, thanks for the VERY useful information!

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

The FAP stands for Foreign Affairs Police. They are the ones responsible for issuing an ARC. They are also the primary culprits in blacklisting. When I say illegal I mean there is no law that implicitly allows for them to refuse to give you an ARC because of you breaking your contract. What happened was that FAP and other departments used to offer the blacklisting service on a case by case basis for those schools with the money and Guanxi to get a teacher barred. The Bushi Ban association in Taipei and other cities lobbied to have this service automatic when a teacher breaks their contract. When I say lobbied I mean paid off some government official. The government of the ROC is probably the most corrupt and incompetent institution on Taiwan. Even the gangsters are more honest and professional.
I don't know how they maintain the blacklist. My guess is that it is kept on a computer under your name and passport. If you change those you can often times get a new ARC.

Capergirl · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:28 am Post subject:

I don't know if things have changed since I was there, but we weren't even able to leave the country for our vacation unless our employer gave his explicit, written permission. Without it, we would not be allowed to board any plane going anywhere.

When I was in Taiwan, I also heard a story (a "friend of a friend" kind of thing, mind you) about a guy who asked his employer to be released from his contract. The employer refused and he tried to run anyway. The employer contacted authorities and said he had stolen something from them (the school). The guy was detained at the airport and returned to the employer. I have no idea if the guy telling me this story was on the level, but stories like this were common when I was there.

Anyway, Mozilla, you clearly have made up your mind to leave, so best of luck to you. I hope it all works out for you. Smile

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

brian · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 299

Did anybody else notice this?

Eric posted a question on another ESL message board about the HESS interview (I guess this was pre-interview) on Sept. 09. See below:

http://forumosa.com/3/viewtopic.php?t=11525

On Sept.23, Eric posted a query here about breaking his contract with HESS supposedly after working for them for 6 months.

Hey Eric. Whats up with this man? We all spent a bit of time helping you out and it seems that you may have been jerking us around. Twisted Evil

Or have I got it all wrong Embarassed

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

brian · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 299

Further to my earlier post regarding a guy called Eric.

I may be guilty of jumping to an incorrect conclusion on this one. It has been pointed out to me that the names of the posters are slightly different and may not in fact be the same person. I certainly didnt pay particularly close attention to the exact spelling of the names. Similiar threads, about the same company, around the same time by two people under similar user names. Apologise if I got it wrong. Embarassed

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

edited.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

brian · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 299

Your spot on 7969.

The suggestion that you can't leave the country without your ARC is incorrect. The ARC is only an internal document for Taiwan that is used for identification purposes and to ensure that foreigners working in Taiwan are working legally. Therefore it is wise to always carry your ARC with you, even if you are not working as it can help the local constabulary in identifying you and your next of kin should you get into an accident or suchlike. There is really no other use for the card.

What the police will be checking on at the airport is that you havent overstayed your visa - be it a visitor or resident visa. That's all that they want to know.