Job Discussion Forums

[jrwilheim]

I was hired by a branch of Shane from the States. Before leaving, I was unable to get a 60-day tourist visa--I suspect because they suspected I was not really a tourist but a teacher. The guy at the window specifically mentioned language teachers coming over on the wrong visa, etc., and I think it was a coded way of telling me to apply for a proper residency visa.

So I came on a landing visa (my school would not have cooperated in working to get a residency visa from abroad, and there would not have been time at that point, anyway) and had to do a visa run to Hong Kong a couple days ago.

I applied for a tourist visa again, since my branch does not have its operating license yet and couldn't apply for a residency visa for me. I wasn't turned down in Hong Kong, but neither was I given a visa. Officially, my application is "still under review" while the office there waits for a reply from immigration in Taipei. They mentioned something about having been in contact with the New York TECO office regarding my application there. I asked for my passport back and got it. Last night, I flew back to Taiwan on a landing visa.

My school and my recruiter both claim they have "never seen anything like this" in 10+ years of dealing with teacher visa applications. I really don't know why I'm being jerked around like this, except perhaps that they suspect I'm a teacher (I had a book on English grammar with me the day I applied at the TECO office in New York, which someone might have seen) and are using me as an example. I have no criminal record and can't think of any reason they don't want me in the country.

What should I do? Should I try to find an attorney in Taiwan? I am meeting with people at my school about this on Tuesday, my usual day off. But this whole thing is so bizarre!!!

[clark.w.griswald]

Since you are in Taiwan and it appears that the school that you work for cannot supply you with the legal documentation I would advise that you find a new school that can and get legal with them. You are currently in a no win situation so you can't really do worse elsewhere.

[BigWally]

I have heard from several people who have renewed, or arrived, that they have been specifically harsh when processing American applications recently.

Also, what TECO did you go to back home? Was it the NY branch by chance, because I've heard that they will "red flag" some people if they suspect them of wanting to come over to be a teacher, which makes it harder to get paperwork done in say Hong Kong.

[forest1979]

Find a new place to work. This matter with Shane could take weeks if not months to sort out given Taiwanese bureaucracy. Don't waste your time holding out on something that could go flat. You're in Taiwan, make new channels of work investigation.

[TaoyuanSteve]

The problems you are facing unfortunate and, sadly, typical of Taiwan. I wish the people in charge of visas and whatnot would smarten up and realize they are contributing to Taiwan's demise. Foreigners should not--and will not--- deal with this kind of crap. It's going to lead to more people giving Taiwan a miss. It is not the fault of the teacher that they must enter on a tourist visa because no one will hire and process an applicant ahead of their arrival. The fault lies with the Taiwanese and their conflicting bureaucracies, but the victims are the foreigners who are sought after by Taiwan. Taiwan has to streamline and simplify the processes by which teachers can enter Taiwan. Enforcement of any rules must target the employers and not the innocent employees who can-- and will-- go elsewhere if hassled too much. Want teachers to receive their resident visas from overseas missions? Fine, but actually make it so and eliminate the redundant system. Currently, it seems one bureaucracy wants to handle visas whilst the other does as well-- and a struggle has ensued. Schools opt for the one that suits their purposes and the other bureaucracy tries to cut out the comp by punishing foreigners who are simply following the instruction of their employers or agents. How very 3rd world of you, Taiwan.