Job Discussion Forums

[citylightsruralcalm]

Hi. I have been in Hong Kong for the past 3 days to get my 60 day TW visa. When I picked up my passport, there wasn't a visa but instead a piece of paper stapled to it. The paper is titled "Visa Application Form for Entry into Taiwan". It instructs me to go to the visa office at the airport in Taiwan. Is this normal procedure? I am flying to TW tomorrow so should I be worried?

thanks,

City

[Taylor]

If they let you on the airplane, then you'll at least be allowed to enter Taiwan, I presume.

Just make sure you don't end up with the 14 day 'landing visa' at the airport. If necessary, tell them at the airport that you want to visit Taroko Gorge, Ali Mountain, Sun Moon Lake, etc....

Please let us know how it works out.

Taylor

[citylightsruralcalm]

Um, your message isn't very reassuring. Like 99% of us on this forum, I am going to Taiwan to work. I have an invitation letter, should I present that if I get grilled at the airport?

[Taylor]

Years ago (in the 1990s), we needed to make 'visa runs' because our tourist visas could NOT be changed to work visas unless we left the country of Taiwan. By 2000, the rules changed in our favor.

So, why are you needing to make a 'visa run' now? Has the KMT under Ma Ying-jeou changed the rules back?

Here's the big question: Why did you need to be in "Hong Kong for the past 3 days to get [a] 60 day TW visa"???

Can anyone else shed some light here? THANKS!

Taylor
(10 years in Kaohsiung)

[MomCat]

This isn't normal unless it's new. You "should" have received a visa pasted in your passport.

[dangerousapple]

to the OP,

It's not a problem, the same thing happened to me in 2004 when the "expert" hired to do my school's paperwork forgot to renew mine in time, causing me to do a visa run to Hong Kong.

The woman at Chung Hwa Travel Service told me that they don't actually issue the visas in Hong Kong, just review the paperwork and give approval for the visa to be issued, which must be issued in Taiwan. That little paper stapled into your passport is the approval.

It scared the utter crap out of me, because I had already lived here for 10 years at the time, and had never heard of this procedure, but everything was fine in the end. It will be fine for you too.

[jotham]

Yes, ditto with me this last September. I can't say I worried about it, because the woman had indicated that I had been approved to get the visa. Does this only happen in Hong Kong (the first time I've gone there)? It seems I did the same thing in Okinawa before, but they just took care of it there.

[citylightsruralcalm]

yes everything seems to be ok. i came to Taiwan and got the visa at the airport. I had come to HK from the mainland so perhaps it's undiplomatic to give an ROC visa at a semi-PRC territory at this time. All is well, thanks for the replies. Kudos.

[MyTrunkshow]

This is very good information for some. I've never heard of this before. My room mate had done visa runs 3 times and gets the one page sticker in his passport in Hong Kong. Something has changed..but the one poster said it happened back in 2004, so it's been going on for awhile.

Something like this is un-nerving when it happens a first time. Adds a new twist to shake things up.

mts.

[MomCat]

Yes, thanks for the information. I also got my first visa in HK and it was seamless. Knowing this could happen would send me slightly less postal than it would if it was a total surprise.

[citylightsruralcalm]

It was postal but the mail has been delivered. That's all that matters.

[MomCat]

Glad it turned out well. Hope all goes well for you here.
Cat

[citylightsruralcalm]