Job Discussion Forums

[fedsy]

I am filling out my visa forms, but I do not have my airline tix, just yet. The visa forms ask specifically for Arrival and Departure dates. Are these intended to be approximations of the date or do I need to settle on the date and buy my airline tix?

If possible, to save cash, I want to get my roundtrip ticket for only a month stay(cheaper), and have my visa read for a two month stay. Will that pass? How strict are they about dates and are they tied to the plane tickets you have? Really my overall question. Any advice?

Thanks in advance

Fedsy

[killian]

get your return plane ticket open ended. it costs more now, but'll save you in the long run.

by all means get your visa back home. taiwan visas issued from their business offices "back home" generally tend to be of greater duration (usually 60 days) than what one can get in transit without school issued invite in HK (thirty days). a thirty day visa will almost guarantee you a visa run (hence more cash spent) in a month as most schools are just too inept to process the paper within this time frame; the bureaucrats will always be kicking it back for fine tuning.

[jason_seeburn]

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[TaoyuanSteve]

The need for a return ticket stems from the fact that you have to enter Taiwan on a business or tourism visa. You have to have an onward ticket (as well as demonstably sufficient funds to support you for the entire length of your"visit") to obtain a visa. So a return ticket is really a requirement. You may be able to get a phantom return printed on your travel itinerary if your travel agent is willing to play along, but don't count on it. Also, one-way costs more than 3/4 of a return, so why not buy an open return and use it for your flight home when you leave/ go on vacation?

[jason_seeburn]

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[brian]

I took Jason to task regarding this very matter some time ago. I have since asked around and found that some people do indeed arrive here on one way tickets.

It seems that technically you do need a return ticket, and this seems logical to me - if you are coming here on a two month tourist visa, surely you need a ticket to leave the country at the end of the two months. Some times the visa office wants this confirmed before issuing a visa, sometimes the ticket counter of the airline will question you on this and other times you will run into questions at immigration upon arrival here in Taiwan. Having said that, it is possible that you could have a straight run through and it seems that this is what happened in Jasons single experience. Having flown in and out of the country numerous times I have encountered both.

I think Jason makes a good point regarding having to leave early if you are here for only a year. It is worth ensuring that this is understood and contained in your contract if you do need to leave early due to return ticket requirements in order to ensure that you do not need to breach your agreement.

Personally though, I would go with Taoyuan Steve's suggestion about taking advantage of the better price of a return ticket. For those staying for longer than a year, the return portion can be used during the contract year to return home and visit the rellies. It is a good idea to go home once a year to keep Ma and Pa happy after all.

[Aristotle]

Get an open ended ticket. They are usually valid for one year. Rely on the rule not the exception and you will have a much less difficult time in Taiwan.
When I say the rule I mean the one that is enforced not necessarily the one on the books.
People with good luck or guanxi can have doors opened and less problems than us lowly mortals.
Do you feel lucky?
A.

[TaoyuanSteve]

I'm curious to know what class of visa people who purchase one way tickets are arriving on and if they have to do additional visa runs etc. The best class of visa to arrive here on is the 60 day, multiple entry visa. The requirements for it, for me at least, were the following: A travel itinerary of more than 30 days, but less than 60; proof of an onward ticket, a purpose of travel (anything but teaching) and sufficient funds to support you during your stay (I forget how much exactly, several thousand dollars I think). For contact information, I didn't list a recruiter or school, I simply stated "Taipei hotel."

I agree with Aristotle on this one. I think it is best to take the path most travelled and that which has the least potential for complications or difficulties. The free flight home was a convenient thing to have. Yes you could have issues with your ticket if you wait to the very end of your contract to use it (but I don't think, in my case, that my airline would have cared that much if I wanted a flight a week or two after the deadline if I arranged it ahead of time). Still, we do take vacations, don't we?. And I've also noticed that alot of foreigners leave before a year is out-- most, I think.

[jason_seeburn]

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[TaoyuanSteve]

Of course, you paid full price for your return trip to Canada when you couldn't take living here for more than seven months...

[jason_seeburn]

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[brian]

I have taken a moment to edit Jasons previous post in the sake of accuracy, bearing in mind that Jason arrived in Taiwan once and left once.

[fedsy]

I will be getting my visa in Chicago, and getting a round-trip ticket to be safe. (I can't afford to lose the cash.) Do I need my tickets before applying to the consulate here in Chicago, or should I just fill out the approximate dates I will be in Taiwan? Anyone know if approximates will work?

[jason_seeburn]

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[jason_seeburn]

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