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jrwilheim · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 34 Location: New York

Okay...I went to the TECO office here in New York to get a 60-day tourist visa today. I brought along everything my school told me to bring: the introduction letter from a "friend", passport, a bank statement, and my outbound flight. The school had only sent me the outbound ticket, which is Taipei to Hong Kong.

I was asked at the counter how I knew this "friend" and said we had taken a class together at Columbia a few years back. I think the bureaucrat was on to the fact that I'm an English teacher and not a tourist. He told me to come back with a letter detailing how I knew her, a a more recent bank statement (the one I had was 6 weeks old).

I am also concerned because the flight to Taiwan and my outbound flight are actually slightly more than 60 days apart. This is due to my having booked the flight to Taiwan before I got the package from my school including the outbound ticket. I'm not sure I can change my outbound flight at this point (though I'll see what Expedia can do).

Any advice on how to finesse people at a TECO office, to make sure they don't think you're blowing smoke up their you-know-where when in fact you are?

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

It really seems at times that the people in the visa offices have nothing else to do but to harass people. Unfortunately you are really at their mercy and you have no choice but to play by their rules.

If you are able to get a letter from your friend verifying what you told the TECO office as well as a more recent bank statement then that is what I would do. Play it nice and don't give them a reason to refuse you.

In the worst case scenario should they refuse then you could always apply for a visa at a visa office that is less difficult. Perhaps come to Taiwan first on a landing visa or 30 day tourist visa and then prepare everything to apply for a resident while on a visa run in a nearby country. Inconvenient for sure but the result will be the same.

jrwilheim · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 34 Location: New York

Thanks.

The problem is, my letter isn't really from a "friend" but from someone who works for Shane, the school I'll be employed by. I have a suspicion they're seeing right through this but don't really know how to handle the situation.

I have a more recent bank statement, no problem. My bigger concerns are the dates and the fact that this woman isn't really a "friend" and we may end up telling inconsistent stories.

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

I think you are having trouble because of the distance between your flights. No one needs to be in Taiwan more than 60 days without a decent reason, they know that. Standard visa is 60 days which they cannot give you because its not long enough. I suspect if there was 35 days between arriving and departing, you would not have had a problem.

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

Make sure you include your �friend�s�ID number and phone number. I always give them my �girlfriend�s�details.

There are ways to get around the bank statement thing. Once I got an ATM receipt from on bank, put the money in another bank, and then got a second receipt as proof of funds. But of course it is best to actually have this money for real to avoid being stuck in a bad position.

It does seem that the plane tickets are your biggest hurdle. Just the itinery of your return trip should be enough though i would guess.

BJ · Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 173

If your flights are more than 60 days apart then you have a big problem as it dosnt meet the requirement, an open ticket for a year is a good way to go, as you can use it any time as a holdiay, or if necesaary to collect your visa/visa run.
But trust me they have to get some enjoyment out of life and making people jump the hoops is one of them. As clark said, be nice smile and nod. be positive and they can often help as they are being given face by you asking for help.

jrwilheim · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 34 Location: New York

Okay...today I went back and they actually agreed to process the visa. I was told that, if I did not get a phone call this afternoon, that meant my visa was approved and I could pick it up on Monday. Here's hoping that was right and that they meant it.

Yeah...the dates might be a hurdle.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

Oh, for Pete's sake!!! WAKE UP!! Why do you think you are asked to show you have $3000?

Whether you are staying with a friend or not is irrelvant. The sum of $3000 is to show that you have enough money to last for 60 of your 'tourist trip'. It demonstrates you can arrive and travel in Taiwan for 2 months, it shows that you are not there for work, because if you had anything less how the hell could you last for 60 days? It shows you're a tourist and not a job seeker! And it shows too that you can get home from Taiwan, or at a minimum can afford a ticket off the island at the end of your alleged 60 day jaunt!!!

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

The Taiwan government cares for a number of reasons, amongst which are that you are not Taiwanese, you are a visit given legal right to enter the country, and secondly you are entering as a tourist. Thirdly, and get with the cultural scene, Taiwan like other Asian countries has a protectionist mentality to its economy. What that means, for better or for worse, is that it doesn't have an open gate policy to the work to come to Taiwan, to take jobs that theoretically could be filled with Taiwanese people. Oh, and the $3000? That proves a lot. It proves you can pay your way for 60 days while you, as tourist, do whatever you do.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

BJ · Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 173

The point is they want you to go through their prodcedure. ALl paperwork they will accept normally must have a LOGO (banks, police, company) stamped/signed.

This is quite common in many countries including the US and ENgland where visitors must prove the have sufficent funds to support themselves and not rely on the governmetn/heath care etc of the country they are visiting.

Would be interested to know how you ligitematley gain a piece of paper with the money? borrow it place it in the bank for a few days etc etc? or forgery.