Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster_2006]

Just wondering, what freedoms will I have as a teacher in Taiwan that I don't get in Korea? Are there any areas in which teachers in Taiwan lack rights that teachers in Korea have?

To get the discussion started:
1. If I hate a job, can I quit it without leaving the country, and find another job?
2. If I want to work at two schools, can I do this? Do I need the first school's permission to do it? Is it just completely, outright illegal?
3. Is there any legal way to do privates?
4. Is there a labor union for English teachers like there is in Japan?
5. What if I fall in love with Taiwan/a Taiwanese girl and want to settle down there? Is there permanent residency based on length of stay (as opposed to marriage or blood)?
6. If I'm too busy with my continuing education, can I quit my job and still stay in Taiwan legally?
7. Can I get a regular cell phone plan, or am I stuck with a prepaid phone like in Korea?
8. Can I register for Taiwanese auction sites, e-mail accounts, etc. with my ARC number? Or is it like Korea where foreigners are almost completed barred from making online accounts (due to not having a citizen number)?
9. Is it possible to get a Taiwanese credit card, or at least a pre-paid card that behaves like one?
10. Are there any weird restrictions on foreigners that aren't normally present in most other countries that I should know about?

I just figure it's good to know what I can/can't do before going, you know?

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

As this is the Taiwan forum, this thread must remain focused on Taiwan and not turn into a collection of postings related to living and teaching in Korea. Korean related postings should appear on the Korean Job Forums. Separate registration is required.

Korean focused postings appearing on this thread will be deleted.

[StayingPower]

Hope this isn't off track, but thought I'd answer a few and that in light of living in Taiwan.

1) You can quite any job you want. But then your ARC will be cancelled
and you either have to find a new job within 2-3 weeks of fly to Hong
Kong etc., to renew your visa.

2) You can work at two schools, but the hours mustn't exceed or be less
than, a certain amount.

5) If you get married you're a permanent resident, automatically, I
believe. Other than this, permanent residency takes 7years, and
that being and working here in a strictly, legal sense.

6) You can get a student visa.

9) Certain banks offer pre-paid visas. One such bank is Standard Charter.


No other restrictions here, as far as I know of, except being a legal worker and obtaining your ARC. You must remember too, that when you come here you'll have to put a deposit down on an apartment/house, so can't just up and go any time you want. You're somewhat restricted but do have a lot of freedom as to where and how you wish to live.

P.S. Watch out for old houses and old landladies.

[TJA]

A few bits from me:

2) SP is basically correct - you can have more than two jobs. It's tricky, though, because from what I know *usually* (but not always) it requires permission of the first school to get a job at the second one. There is a maximum number of hours you can be registered to teach, which is 32.

3) No. But everyone still does them.

4) No.

5) Permanent residency comes in two types, and the one you mean (by marriage) is not "automatic", but when you are married you can apply for a "spousal ARC" (spousal residency). This will let you stay in Taiwan indefinitely, but needs to be renewed on a periodic basis (every 3 years, I believe).

7) Stuck with pre-paid. You need a Taiwanese person to sign a contract for you if you want a 'regular' phone.

9) I don't believe so, but not 100% sure....

10) No, but there can be some weird "freedoms" we have here - stuff we can do and get away with. I won't go into this in detail, but I've seen foreigners get away with silly stuff here that would get them in bother if they tried to pull the same stunt back home.

Cheers,
TJA