Job Discussion Forums

pelsaert · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

Hi Guys,

I posted a few questions here a few months ago about moving to Taipei to teach ESL!

Well, I'm almost ready to go. I have ~3k (~2.5k USD) saved, a 1.5k credit card (so far unused) and my BA (hons) certificate. I also have some income from my parents if needed.probably

I'm planning to go apply for a visitors visa, then book the next flight, arrive in taipei, check into a cheap hostel and find a job.

Does anyone have any tips about the Visitors Visa? I think I need it so I can convert to an ARC when I get a job, which I can't with a landing visa. it says they want a bank balance. How much do I need? I can always have my parents transfer me some money to doctor this a little if that's helpful.

Does this seem like a plan that's going to work??

Regards,
Thomas

merc_wilson · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Taipei

I came on a 60 day visitors visa. It was quite enough time to transfer to a work visa, though I did have a job lined up when I arrived and started work within a week.

You won't need much money in the bank to get the visa - well, I had about the same as you and it was fine.

Have you done any research on companies/recruiters before getting here? What's your plan for your arrival? Doorknocking?
Good luck.

pelsaert · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

Thanks Merc! hopefully the current balance will be fine Smile

As for my plans for getting work, I'm not quite sure. I'm basically planning to ring / email a bunch of places from tealit once I'm sure of my dates. Hopefully I'll line up some interviews, and failing that... doorknock Smile

Do you have any other recommendations? I'm honestly hoping it won't be too hard to get a job. I'm hoping to land there within say, 1-2 weeks.

Regards,
Thomas

Mangosteen · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 13

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

Do a quick sweep through the board. The subject of visas has cropped up 100s of times.

BigWally · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject:

TRUBADOUR · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 46

My 60 day visitor visa couldn't be changed into a work visa without a visa run. HK is a great place to visit though, and the flight was really cheap (200US).

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

I hired a teacher three months ago. I gave him a letter of introduction, stating that I was going to hire him. He got his 60 day visitor visa without needing to show a plane ticket or a bank book. His visa had a Chinese remark that said he was going to work at XXX Language School (meaning my school). This is the first time I have ever seen this type of remark on a visitor visa. Anyway, he was able to change it into a resident visa here in Taiwan without any hassle at all.

TRUBADOUR · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 46

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

That would be a dangerous thing to do, and would probably result in your visa application being rejected flat out.

TRUBADOUR · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 46

but what about what you said in a previous post?
Also I was told by a teacher at my school that her partner and herself did say they were looking for work when they applied.
And isn't there supposed to be some allowance for people to extend their visa's without doing a visa run?
Why would they object to it?

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

As far as I know, you still cannot use "looking for work" as a reason to apply for a visitor's visa. I supplied my teacher with an official letter of invitation written in English and Chinese, which he then used to apply for his visitor's visa. They gave him a visa because they knew exactly where he was going.

My school also received a visit from the labor bureau pretty fast after he arrived and we filed his paperwork. They were making sure that he actually showed up and started working for me.

TRUBADOUR · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 46

I thought they changed the reg's recently so that one doesn't have to do a visa run if you change visas - or was I imagining it?