Taiwan Visa Problem - ESL Teaching

rohan · Wed 16-Aug-06, 07:33 PM

Hi Guys,

I went along to the Taiwan Embassy today to sort out a Visa and had a rather enigmatic chat with a girl there. I’m wondering if anyone can add some something meaningful to her cryptic response.

I told her I want to get a 60 day travel visa and if I’m offered work to then extend the visa to a working visa. She told me 'we can't guarantee this'. I was rather hoping for a 'yes' or 'no' answer. Is it that they don't know, haven't decided yet or is it a whimsical choice depending on who I ask the question to? (I dont mean to be facetious)

As I am ready to leave immediately I was wondering if anyone can offer some advice on how to get past this cryptic impasse.

Many thanks
Rohan

Antonio · Wed 16-Aug-06, 08:03 PM

Assuming you are in Australia asking these questions to your local visa office.

Below is the advice we give to our teachers heading to Taiwan. They haven't had any problems doing it this way.

VISA OFFICE. Go to your local Taipei Trade or Cultural Office with your flight ticket, passport photos, passport and bank statement in hand. Apply for a 60-day multiple-entry visitor visa. The reason for the multiple-entry versus the single-entry is that you may want to go out of the country on a short holiday during your stay in Taiwan. If you have a single-entry visa and decide to go to the Philippines or Thailand, you will have to go to Hong Kong for a visa application run to be able to get back into Taiwan.

If they can't give you a multiple-entry visitor visa, just get a single entry visitor visa. If the visitor visa they give you is non-extendable visa, it's ok. You can still have it converted to an extendable visa when you are in Taiwan.

It is essential that you get a visa. Do not just fly into Taiwan and get a visa at the airport. That kind of visa is called a landing visa and it's totally non-extendable and can't be converted to an extendable visa/work visa.

In your visa application, indicate the purpose of travel is TOURISM. This will make the visa application move faster. Never tell them you're coming to Taiwan to work. This may sound strange, but if you try to apply for a work visa in your home country, it takes months of waiting and running around having documents translated, notarized and stuff. If you come to Taiwan with a regular visa, the process to get a work visa takes around 2 months and you can start working even if the work visa hasn't come out yet.

rohan · Wed 16-Aug-06, 08:19 PM

Im actually applying from London but Im sure I will be able to find the local Taipei Trade or Cultural Office as you suggested. Failing that I will have to go back to the Embassy tomorrow. Do you think they will object to my asking for a tourist visa tomorrow seeing as I asked for 60 day travel visa today? )She was a pretty testy old thing *lol*).

Antonio · Wed 16-Aug-06, 08:30 PM

See the attached visa flow chart. No harm going back tomorrow and applying for a visitor's visa. Just don't mention work.

See the attachment for the visa process flow chart.

rohan · Thu 17-Aug-06, 01:02 AM

Hi Antonio,

many thanks for your invaluable help to date. I think Im getting there slowly but surely. I have one (final I hope) question. To get the 60 Day Visitor Visa do I need to have an outbound ticket already booked BEFORE I get to Taiwan in order to enter the country? The reason I ask is it will cost almost $500US to get an outbound ticket I may not even use as by then I will have the work permit (visa).

Again many thanks for any suggestions?

gfell · Thu 17-Aug-06, 12:25 PM

If you look at it from the eyes of the visa officer, they will only want to issue a tourist visa if you have an outbound ticket or funds to purchase an outbound ticket. The visa office doesn't want to issue visas to those who cannot afford or do not have an outbound ticket from Taiwan.

Once you arrive to Taiwan, your well-being now rests in the hands of the Taiwanese.

You can always have the outbound portion of your ticket going to Hong Kong or somewhere near and just forfeit this outbound ticket if you do get your work permit whilst in Taiwan.

I think you will find a return ticket isn't much more expensive than a single ticket.

rohan · Thu 17-Aug-06, 05:52 PM

Hi there,
thanks very much for your advise:

1) does Hong Kong count as a legitimate port of call as a departure destination even though it is still under Chinese governance and

2) do I also need to supply Taiwan immigration departure/visa details for Taiwan?

(Im travelling from London on my Australian passport)

If its possible to get a reply soonish would be great as I should really put in my application today.Im very sorry for the rush .

Many thanks
Rohan

gfell · Thu 17-Aug-06, 06:07 PM

Yes, many in Taiwan do make visa runs to Hong Kong.

Not sure what your 2nd point is asking.

rohan · Thu 17-Aug-06, 06:45 PM

Dear Gfell,

Thats great news and SO helpful. I will go and book a ticket for Honkers and I think after that its a matter of sitting back and keeping fingers crossed.

Sorry for the one-man frenzy I seem to have created...so much for 'I have one simple request'.

Many thanks
Rohan

gfell · Thu 17-Aug-06, 08:00 PM

Hey, you're welcome. Am sure this thread will be of use to other too, so don't worry about asking questions. That's what we are here for.

Cheers!

Wed 16-Aug-06, 07:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
rohan ESL Rookie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Posts: 16	Taiwan Visa Problem Hi Guys, I went along to the Taiwan Embassy today to sort out a Visa and had a rather enigmatic chat with a girl there. I’m wondering if anyone can add some something meaningful to her cryptic response. I told her I want to get a 60 day travel visa and if I’m offered work to then extend the visa to a working visa. She told me 'we can't guarantee this'. I was rather hoping for a 'yes' or 'no' answer. Is it that they don't know, haven't decided yet or is it a whimsical choice depending on who I ask the question to? (I dont mean to be facetious) As I am ready to leave immediately I was wondering if anyone can offer some advice on how to get past this cryptic impasse. Many thanks Rohan

Wed 16-Aug-06, 08:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Antonio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Occupation: ESL Teacher Location: Posts: 119	Taiwan visa - the correct way to apply for it Assuming you are in Australia asking these questions to your local visa office. Below is the advice we give to our teachers heading to Taiwan. They haven't had any problems doing it this way. VISA OFFICE. Go to your local Taipei Trade or Cultural Office with your flight ticket, passport photos, passport and bank statement in hand. Apply for a 60-day multiple-entry visitor visa. The reason for the multiple-entry versus the single-entry is that you may want to go out of the country on a short holiday during your stay in Taiwan. If you have a single-entry visa and decide to go to the Philippines or Thailand, you will have to go to Hong Kong for a visa application run to be able to get back into Taiwan. If they can't give you a multiple-entry visitor visa, just get a single entry visitor visa. If the visitor visa they give you is non-extendable visa, it's ok. You can still have it converted to an extendable visa when you are in Taiwan. It is essential that you get a visa. Do not just fly into Taiwan and get a visa at the airport. That kind of visa is called a landing visa and it's totally non-extendable and can't be converted to an extendable visa/work visa. In your visa application, indicate the purpose of travel is TOURISM. This will make the visa application move faster. Never tell them you're coming to Taiwan to work. This may sound strange, but if you try to apply for a work visa in your home country, it takes months of waiting and running around having documents translated, notarized and stuff. If you come to Taiwan with a regular visa, the process to get a work visa takes around 2 months and you can start working even if the work visa hasn't come out yet. __________________ English Teacher Guru ! Ask me a question, and I'll see if I can help.

Wed 16-Aug-06, 08:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
rohan ESL Rookie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Posts: 16	visa Im actually applying from London but Im sure I will be able to find the local Taipei Trade or Cultural Office as you suggested. Failing that I will have to go back to the Embassy tomorrow. Do you think they will object to my asking for a tourist visa tomorrow seeing as I asked for 60 day travel visa today? )She was a pretty testy old thing lol).

Wed 16-Aug-06, 08:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Antonio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Occupation: ESL Teacher Location: Posts: 119	Visa process flow chart See the attached visa flow chart. No harm going back tomorrow and applying for a visitor's visa. Just don't mention work. See the attachment for the visa process flow chart. __________________ English Teacher Guru ! Ask me a question, and I'll see if I can help.

Thu 17-Aug-06, 01:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
rohan ESL Rookie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Posts: 16	Visa and outbound travel Hi Antonio, many thanks for your invaluable help to date. I think Im getting there slowly but surely. I have one (final I hope) question. To get the 60 Day Visitor Visa do I need to have an outbound ticket already booked BEFORE I get to Taiwan in order to enter the country? The reason I ask is it will cost almost $500US to get an outbound ticket I may not even use as by then I will have the work permit (visa). Again many thanks for any suggestions?

Thu 17-Aug-06, 12:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 656	Outbound ticket If you look at it from the eyes of the visa officer, they will only want to issue a tourist visa if you have an outbound ticket or funds to purchase an outbound ticket. The visa office doesn't want to issue visas to those who cannot afford or do not have an outbound ticket from Taiwan. Once you arrive to Taiwan, your well-being now rests in the hands of the Taiwanese. You can always have the outbound portion of your ticket going to Hong Kong or somewhere near and just forfeit this outbound ticket if you do get your work permit whilst in Taiwan. I think you will find a return ticket isn't much more expensive than a single ticket. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Thu 17-Aug-06, 05:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
rohan ESL Rookie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Posts: 16	IsHong Kong Valid Hi there, thanks very much for your advise: 1) does Hong Kong count as a legitimate port of call as a departure destination even though it is still under Chinese governance and 2) do I also need to supply Taiwan immigration departure/visa details for Taiwan? (Im travelling from London on my Australian passport) If its possible to get a reply soonish would be great as I should really put in my application today.Im very sorry for the rush . Many thanks Rohan

Thu 17-Aug-06, 06:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 656	Yes, many in Taiwan do make visa runs to Hong Kong. Not sure what your 2nd point is asking. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Thu 17-Aug-06, 06:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
rohan ESL Rookie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Posts: 16	brilliant and thank you! Dear Gfell, Thats great news and SO helpful. I will go and book a ticket for Honkers and I think after that its a matter of sitting back and keeping fingers crossed. Sorry for the one-man frenzy I seem to have created...so much for 'I have one simple request'. Many thanks Rohan

Thu 17-Aug-06, 08:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 656	Good luck Hey, you're welcome. Am sure this thread will be of use to other too, so don't worry about asking questions. That's what we are here for. Cheers! __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

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