Job Discussion Forums

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Is it normal for an employer to demand that you pay for and apply for the ARC yourself? We were told today that we had to go to Taipei before Friday to start the ARC process in person and would be required to pay 3,000 out of our own pockets.
Can't we just get the school to send the relevant documentation away?
Also, in China the school generally paid for the Work / Residency Permit, so this begs the question who owns the ARC? If I pay for it does that mean the school I work for can't cancel it if I leave before my contract is finished?
I'm guessing not...but can somebody shed some light on this subject for a newbie to Taiwan?

Thanks.

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

It sounds like your boss is a cheapskate. A school should take care of everything for you, or at least pay for it. Is the school going to reimburse you after 6 months? Some schools prefer to do it that way.

Toe Save · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:15 am Post subject:

blateson · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144

I assumed most school pay for it all. But last year when I did an interview at David's English School they said I'd have to pay for both work permit application and ARC, which I decided not to. While I never plan on having to pay, I would say that judging by the fact you are overseas I wouldn't even consider doing it until at least you were here already.

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

Hmm, sounds like I was mistaken. All I can say is the schools I worked for in the past paid all my fees, and I pay the fees for my teachers now.

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:55 am Post subject:

I'm with dangerousapple on this one. I've never heard of a school making the teacher pay for his ARC, and making the teacher take it all up to Taipei by himself is certainly not done.

Here is a scenario that should not be discounted:

You are not the candidate the laoban really wants, but he needs a white face, so he hires you and continues to search for his ideal foreigner. Once he finds what he's looking for you will be on the other side of the door.

It's happened to me, and to many others I know.

craigzy · Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 87 Location: taichung

i have to pay for mine. that 'going to taipei' thing is really weird, though.

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

I just asked for some clarification re: the whole trip to Taipei thing.
1st let me tell you that we are only about 45 minutes from there by train so it's not a huge undertaking.
2nd the reason for the trip is to get our resident visa not the ARC.
Apparently they are different documents (?).
Like probably most of you we entered Taiwan with 60 day visitor visas and I guess this is the next step since we have been OK'd for our work permits. Seems kinda convoluted to me; having to apply for a resident visa, and THEN an ARC...

Oh well, not my rules but does this sound strange to anyone else?

Toe Save · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:51 am Post subject:

This is all natural. When you get your work permit, you use it to change your Visitor Visa into a Multiple Entry Visa. Then you use that to get your ARC. A lot of red tape to be sure, but that's SOP around here. Having you make the trip yourself is understandable as the only other way to do it would be to relinquish your passport to your school. Not usually a problem, but it is your passport. Maybe your school doesn't want to be responsible for it.

Hope that helps.

Oh yea:

Work Permit issued by Central Labour Administration

Multiple Entry Visa issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

ARC issued by Foreign Affairs Police