Job Discussion Forums

[blateson]

Over on forumosa website in the visa section, there are two users swearing in bold capital letters they just both got back from the Hong Kong office and they were both told that: even if you arrive to Taiwan with your Visitors Visa all prepared and processed in your passport (60-day, renewable or non-renewable) at a consular office outside of Taiwan, that once you find the place you want to work at IN Taiwan, you NOW have to take yet ANOTHER trip out of the country and do another consular office run, for the process of going from a Visitors Visa to a working visa ("Resident Visa" I believe). They're swearing they were told at the Hong Kong Zhonghua office this can now no longer be done all within Taiwan (visitors visa to resident visa, without leaving country). In other words, if you came in on a Visa-exempt Permit 30-day pass, you did a Visa run to Hong Kong and only received a 60-day Visitors Visa, you then will have to make a 2nd visa run within just a couple of months in order to process to a 3rd visa, or Resident Visa. They're saying this is all new rules they just heard last week. However I walked into two school offices this afternoon and evening -- one big and one small -- both saying my current 60-day non-renewable Visitors Visa is no problem and they would be able to take care of it. However schools can say anything.

Is this hogwash, what do you think?

[wix]

It is best to ask the BOCA in Taiwan to get a definitive answer. They are the government department that handles visa issues and can issue visas in Taiwan.

[Dr_Zoidberg]

TECO in Macau told me that last year. It's complete bullshit.

[TaoyuanSteve]

The Hong Kong staff are rude pricks who seemingly like to harrass applicants for visas. I had to visit them a short time ago and they were trying to give me that crap as well. Until we hear --or see-- otherwise, assume nothing has changed here and disregard what some functionary who doesn't really know how things work here says.

[clark.w.griswald]

Visa offices are more obstructive than helpful and no matter how wrong they are on a subject you will never win.

I think that they need to have a look at the very visa regulations that the government in Taiwan have out which state clearly that a visitors visa can be changed to a resident visa within Taiwan.

http://www.buxiban.com/Legislationview.asp?cde=1&subcde=3&itmcde=106

[SanChong]

The visa offices can be very difficult. I don't think this is a real change, but rather some misinformed people.

I know a lot of people who have had no problem with the changeover recently. Again, a good reason why schools should be taking care of this stuff.