Job Discussion Forums

TheCathedral · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 6

Maybe someone has some advice for me.

I have been trying to get my 60 day visitor visa at a TECO here, however, the individuals there are telling me that they won't issue me a 60 day visitor visa because my reference works for a language school in Taiwan and they presume I am going there to teach. They didn't deny me the visa but I was pretty much told that if I continued with the application I would be denied. I have already been to that TECO twice trying to resolve this, and they now already know me there. I thought I would travel to a different TECO and use a different reference, however I don't have any other reference to use.

Has anyone encountered a similar problem and dealt with it? Or does anyone have any advice when I visit this new TECO location? Also, for those who have successfully applied for a 60 day visitor visa, did you write the name of your reference down? Or did you only issue the name and arc # of your reference when asked? Is it possible to get a 60 day visitor visa without a reference?

MomCat · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 297

Where are you from? Although I had the name of a friend they didn't even want to see it. I think they have different rules for different countries.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

How do they know that the person is related to a school? Did you make note of the schools name? Why not just make an application using that persons name as a friend without mentioning the school?

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

I would suggest listing no reference at all. Where it asks where you will be staying, put "Taipei Hotel" and nothing more. If they ask for anything else, say you are going to visit, know nobody there and will stay in hotels.

TheCathedral · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 6

Thanks guys for the advice.

It's been complicated and I've ended up going back to the TECO in NY--the one I've been going to--and applying instead for a 30-day visa which they seemed more willing to give from the last time I went in. I just got a voicemail that the director needs more documents from me though I've given them so many documents already. I wish I didn't write the name of the reference down the first time but it's too late and now it's in their hands and I know they know what I intend to do in Taiwan though I have always insisted I was just visiting.

The lady who was helping me knew the name of the reference I wrote down for some reason--it has probably been used numerous times before--and immediately got up and told the director who came out and scolded me.

To answer one of the questions asked, I didn't tell them that the reference worked for a language school, they just seemed to recognize the name and know. They also said they can look up his arc number and find out his work info.

timmyjames1976 · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 148

Does your reference work for a big chain school? I had zero problems my first go with the NY office, but things change all the time. Also, there seems to be a lot of "this will be denied if you continue." That strikes me as odd, since they lose nothing by actually letting you pay for processing and then denying you. I think this kind of thing comes in cycles.

BigWally · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject:

well if the school in question, always uses one foreigner who they have on staff, living in country of course, for the applications then there are bound to be several names that the people in the TECO office would remember...i mean how many foreign (English named) applicants do you think come thru their office?

but what choice do the schools have? it would be a lot easier to explain why you're going to visit another foreigner than going to visit the director of a bushiban and his family....i think this is probably a case of your school being a bit short sighted in their hiring process...

i think its all part of the Taiwanese way of enforcing the rules at their discretion...for how painless the process was for me, I find it hard to believe that there are some offices out there that can cause some people such hassle....

TheCathedral · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 6

For those trying to apply for a visitor visa in the future, I would avoid TECO NY. TECO NY denied even a 30 day visa to me even after they told me if I applied for a 30 day they would be more willing to grant it than a 60 day. The consulate demanded more than the avg. amount of documents from me (itinerary, bank statement with at least $5,000, copy of a reference's ARC in Taiwan, letter of invitation from that same reference, and a certified letter of employment). Additionally, the director even called my reference in Taiwan and spoke to her about her relationship with me. This is really surprising as--reading from many other people's experience with applying for a vv--it seemed so easy. Maybe the director personally has something against me.

Now I guess my chances are slim for getting employment in Taiwan...though if anyone could give me any hope, that would be very welcome.

If I went elsewhere to try to apply for my vv again, do any of you guys think that those denied stamps or whatever it is they put in your passport (I haven't yet picked it up from TECO) would make it very difficult for me to get one? Even outside the US...like HK or elsewhere?

Any advice is welcome. Thanks to those who have commented thus far.

baasbabelaas · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 142

Try to get on a first-name basis with one of the TECO/consular officers.

I did that in SA and he pushed my application through nice and easy, I even avoided the witch who (wo)mans the front desk.

Ask to speak, in person, to one of these guys.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Jamer · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 39

I really don't understand why the Taiwan government doesn't use the same process as Korea in getting work visa....Swear to god Taiwan wastes so much time and energy on visas with both themselves and the people applying

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

AQUA MARINA · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject:

I think it's great that Taiwan has system the way it is. True no policies are perfect.

We can avoid signing a contract in order to enter the country and have the freedom to check out our potential empolyers before commiting

Other countries like Japan and Korea make you sign the contract to get a legal work permit before you can enter in the country.

I think we should have a choice, makes life easier