Job Discussion Forums

MissEvei · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 4

I'm in Taiwan right now on a 30 day, non-extendable, visitor visa. I have just been hired by a company willing to sponsor my work permit and ARC, however, I only have 20 days remaining on my visa.

I asked the school if this was enough time to process the permit and they aren't sure. The health check alone takes 1 week and the permit could take at most 3 weeks, so it's cutting it very close. I'm not sure if I should begin the work permit process since there may be a chance my visitor visa will expire in that time. If that happens I am assuming my work permit will get rejected.

I have thought of one way to get around this...

I am thinking about flying to Hong Kong for one day and re-entering Taiwan to renew for another 30 days.

I have spoken to a travel agent, someone very good in his field, and even he is not able to give me an answer without checking.

Do any of you have experience flying to Hong Kong in order to renew your 30 day visitor visa? Any advice, suggestions, or tips would be greatly appreciated. I am a bit stressed at this point and no doubt wishing I had applied to TECO back in the states.

BigWally · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject:

You do not have enough time to get your paperwork processed. You will have to do a visa run to HK. Its a fairly common thing to happen, and there have been posts before about this. Do a search for visa runs and see what you can find.

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

Do you need to do a visa run at all? Yes, you do need a new visa but can't you get this near NTU hospital station? After the school sorts out all the work visa crap you still need two weeks left on your visa. Otherwise they may deny you. As happened to me.

So you go to the place near NTU and get another visa on the basis of you beginning work. So you will need a photocopy of your work contract and other crap.

Then you can go to the foreign affairs police department to get your ARC sorted out.

But I did have a 60 day visa to begin with. But if I had to get another visa in Taipei before my ARC anyway then shouldn't this also be fine when on a 30 day landing visa?

Well.... for the sake of a visit or phone call in Taipei it might save you a trip to HK.

Feel free to contradict me though.

BigWally · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject:

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Miss Evei,

Someone from your sponsoring school MUST make a phone call and ask the proper government authorities (in Taipei, I presume). Make sure that you get the nicest, most mature person at your 'school' to call on your behalf.

Taylor

MissEvei · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 4

I'm really starting to hate Taiwan for this reason. I tried speaking to my school about all this and they simply don't know or don't care enough to find out. I suspect getting extra documentation or having them call on my behalf will be very difficult, but I suppose it's all I can do.

Do you suggest I speak to AIT or just find the nearest TECO office and contact them?

Also, Is it true that a 30 day non extendable visa does not qualify me for a work permit? In which case doing a visa run be pointless?

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Hello Miss Evei,

Good to hear from you. I don't think AIT would be of any help in this situation. And contacting a TECO office in the US would just stir up trouble.

Is there one certain person at the school who is responsible for taking care of this? There certainly should be! Can you find out who in your organization most-recently took care of this process for another 'foreign' teacher?

This is not quantum physics. The process has changed over the past few years, so I don't know all the details. However, I can assure you that some person in Taipei can answer the phone and answer any relevant questions.

Your health exam will be valid for 2 or 3 months, so that's always been the first step. Get that done Monday morning.

Don't give up too soon! I had to deal with all these hassles in 1995 and it all worked out eventually. As far as I know, only the 14 day landing visa was impossible to get converted to a work visa. Did you not have a visa at all when you got to Taiwan? Is it just a landing visa?

Keep the posts coming. You can e-mail me back at the address below...

Taylor
taylorclint 'at' gmail.com

asianconsultants · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Hi,

The whole visa ordeal is stressful.

They changed the rules last year,so it is possible for you to obtain a 60-day tourist vis right here in Taiwan. You can do so at the BOCA near NTU Hospital MRT. However, you must have work permit in hand in order for BOCA to give you the visa.

You can email me at: julie (at) asianconsultants.com and I will send you information on it.

Best wishes,

Julie