Job Discussion Forums

Polina · Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 71

I need to leave my company.

1. Can I cut off my own work pemit if they fail to do so? If so, how?

2. If they don't cut it off and i can't, can I come back and study Chinese on a student visa?

Anyone with any knowledge of this? I need to know urgently!

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

killian · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 2:18 pm Post subject:

back in the day, a boss threatened to revoke my ARC( i requested my legal health insurance card). i hit it to hong kong ASAP after cajoling him to be cool. went straight to the HK office and applied for a tourist visa. the lady looked at my passport and noticed my work visa. she asked "do you want to cancel your work visa?" i replied "yes". the old visa was cancelled. as you know, the visa and the ARC co-exist. if one gets whacked the other bites it as well. i returned to taiwan, relocated to a different county and obtained a new ARC with no, out-of-the-ordinary hassles.

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

brian · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 299

Unfortunately I cannot give you a definitive answer on this question as I really don't know for sure. Having had dealings with the FAP over the years I would say 'Yes' you can cancel your own visa. It would be a bit out of the ordinary and may raise some eyebrows at the FAP or visa office, but this doesn�t mean that you can�t do it. With an explanation of why you are requesting this you would most likely have no problem. This is just commonsense really. Killian's experience seems to bear this out, and I agree with his comments about the ARC and visa being interlinked - I know this from personal experience.

The biggest problem that you may face is being blacklisted with the MOE, which wouldn�t prevent you from getting a new visa to come here, but would prevent you from being approved to work as a teacher for a while.

My advice would be to avoid confrontation with your previous company. Tell them that you have some pressing issues back home (family matters) and that you have no choice to break your contract. Accept a penalty for doing this if necessary and be as apologetic as possible - without going overboard. Don�t give them any indication that you will be coming back. Leave the country as per your plans and comeback in on a new visa. It does all sound very cloak and dagger which may not be necessary, but you never know so it is best to look after yourself.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Go to the FAP and tell them you quit your job. Have a letter clearly stating that you quit. If they won't cancel it for you take down the officers name and office address then give to me.
You are going to have to make a visa run.
Your best bet is to get a new passport and apply for a multiple entry tourist visa for business purposes.
Don't tell them you are a teacher or that you have been to Taiwan before.
The easiest way to get a multiple entry visa is to claim business as your reason for applying. A business card and possibly a letter of invitation from a Taiwanese business to come and see there products works very well. Just contact them and ask for one, they will usually oblige you without hesitation. Acer is a good company for that as is Evergreen, there are thousands just Google for the contact info. You might also try buying tickets to one of the various international trade shows. Use a travel agent and specifically request a multiple entry visa for business purposes. A 5 year multiple entry visa is the best visa that will be available to you just for asking. It allows you to stay in Taiwan for up to six months with extensions and is renewed every time you exit R.O.C. controlled territory, for five years.
You can also extend it for study or change it into an ARC.
You can extend a single entry visa unless there are prohibitions for this stamped on the visa. Landing visas cannot be extended.
Good luck,
A.

brian · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 299

Hey, Aristotle. This is a great answer. Very informative.

Just out of curiosity, are these 5 year visas open to foreign nationals of countries other than the US?

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Contrary to what you may hear any nationality is eligible for a 5 year multiple entry visa. Unfortunately government policy and enforcement is openly biased in these matters and most others.
White, American and business oriented is the preferred tourist. I have known white Canadians and English "business people" that have received multiple entry visas for one to three years.
Africans and Asian business people will be lucky to get a single entry visa just for asking and teachers will usually get nothing but a polite refusal.

Polina · Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 71

Thanks a lot for all the info guys - really useful.