Travelling to Taiwan and obtaining a VISA

[auperne]

Hi guys,

I am a 23 year old university graduate (undergrad in IT) looking to teach English in Taiwan. I am Canadian born and am currently living just outside of Toronto, Canada.

Finances are not an issue as I've paid off my school debts by working part-time while studying and I have more than enough saved for a flight to Asia and rent for the first few months. My issue now is getting into Taiwan. I've spoken to a friend who applied for a visitor visa and simply went to Taiwan in search of a job but that was many years ago. Recently I spoke to a representative at the ROC Embassy here in Canada and they informed me the only way to work in Taiwan was to first get hired as a teacher, get a work visa through the employer and then to head to Taiwan.

I was hoping to travel to Taiwan and do some travelling of the island prior to finding a job and also wanted to explore my options for employers in person. I am looking for some advice and alternatives to this situation. I have considered going to Japan instead but have been told it's very expensive to live there and Taiwan seems like such a perfect place to me.

Also, I hold an undergraduate degree but no TEFL, TESOL, etc. certificates, will this be an issue at all? I've studied other languages and have an extended French certificate (much similar to a bilingual certificate).

I'm just a little overwhelmed with all the information on this subject but was hoping to get some first hand advice from people with some background in teaching overseas.

Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Robert Klein

[Antonio]

Hello Robert,

I would say that the vast majority of English teachers to Taiwan nowadays head to Taiwan on a 60-day visitor visa. This is the easiest and quickest method. Once you have found your teaching job, then the school will prepare the documenation for your ARC or work visa. You may be required to make a visa run however to Hong Kong in order to get this visa issued.

Of course the local Taiwan visa office will tell you to apply a work visa prior to heading to Taiwan. They are not very creative in this respsect. It will be very difficult to find a school that will sponsor you for a work visa before even meeting you face to face. And doing it this way can take months.

As your friend suggested, just fly to Taiwan on a tourist visa and then apply for work. There is nothing illegal about that.

In Taiwan, a TEFL, TESOL, etc. certificate is useful in getting a nice paid position. Many schools also pay a little extra if you have this TEFL certificate.

Let me know if you have futher questions.

[auperne]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I was debating doing the i-to-i TEFL course online. Any recommendations on the 40 hour certificate or 60 hour diploma? Just seems odd to me that they offer the two. I've got $247US sitting in my Paypal account and the 40 hour is $236 and the 60 hour is $280 but those prices are only for a few more days, I think I'll wait to get $33 more and go for the 60 hour.

That was my plan all along, head to Taiwan on a 2 month VISA and find work during that time frame, but the issue is that they require proof that I'll be leaving sometime before that 2 month period is up and the cheapest I could find a ticket for was $320CAD (NT$8300) which seems like a lot to pay for a ticket I don't necessarily need. Im still researching the cheapest outbound ticket from Taipei but thats what I've found.

Also, its possible you may be able to answer this, I'm a male with my ears pierced and I also have my labret pierced (under my lip in the center). Will I have to remove these to find a job there, I figured yes, but was hoping to find out a bit more. If you dont know, your opinion on it would be still be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.
-Rob

[Antonio]

The i-to-i TEFL course online is probably the most popular amongst TEFL providers. Whether you do the 40 hour or 60 hour diploma, it really makes no difference to the pay you get or chances of getting a job. Yeh, you only have a few days left for their discount.

If you feel that you would benefit from a longer course, then by all means do the 60 hour TEFL diploma. If you have little confidence teaching English, then go for the 60 hour TEFL course.

Well, you wont be the first to forgo your outbound ticket from Taiwan. That's just the way things are at this stage. You could always use it if you want for a short weekend holiday to Hong Kong, but then you will need to purchase another ticket back to Taiwan.

An alternative is to get a 2 month return ticket with the return sector being changeable by the airline for a small fee.

Yes, I would recommend removing your piercings for job interviews. Once you get the job, best to ask your school if you can wear it or not. Most probably they will say no. In Asian countries, appearance means a lot to parents of the children you teach. I suppose once you prove yourself, you can always pop them back in.

Good luck. Glad to be of help.

[brucewyatt]

Are there any ESL certifcation programs in Taiwan? I have read that ESL certifciation is not required to teach in Taiwant, but I think it would be a helpful credential, for the sake of training and better teaching opportunities. I already have a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and six years of classroom teaching experience. However, I've not been in the classroom in over 5 years, and my teaching certifications have expired. As my military career ends this month, I think it would be great to return to teaching, but this time contributing in an unique and challenging capacity. I'll be vacationing in Taipei 30 September to 9 October. It would be nice to meet some potential employers then. Thanks for any advice and info.

Bruce Wyatt
Raleigh, North Carolina
bruce@wyattfamily.net

[auperne]

In the end I made a nice travel package about backpacking through Taiwan and they issued me a 60 day single entry VISA so a plane ticket isn't actually required but it did take me about 10 hours to make a professional travel plan up.

Got my plane ticket to Taipei for the 27th of September and heading to Taichung once I get there.

Thanks for the help everyone and thanks Antonio for your input.

Cheers.
-Rob

[Antonio]

Hey Rob! Great news about your visa. I hope you have a great time in Taiwan and all the best. Thanks for the feedback.