AIT Announcements Thread

Legal General Legal Matters
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[color=blue][Moderator’s Note: Announcements for US Citizens from AIT will periodically be posted in this thread. Please note that these are unofficial re-postings and any information should be checked for accuracy with AIT.][/color]

The US Election Assistance Commission is doing a survey on the absentee voting registration or voting process for the November 2006 election.

[quote=“AIT”]Online Voting Survey

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is sending this message to
registered American citizens to inform them that the U.S. Election
Assistance Commission (EAC), through the Overseas Vote Foundation,
is conducting a survey on absentee voting. EAC has asked for the
State Department’s help in disseminating the survey to Americans
worldwide.

The survey asks voters about their experiences and preferences with
respect to electronic (fax, email, online) submission of voting
materials and seeks to improve the ability of overseas citizens to
vote. The results and EAC’s recommendations will be reported to
Congress.

Below you will find an invitation letter and a link to the online
survey, which should take 8 – 10 minutes to complete. Your personal
information will remain confidential. Participation is voluntary.

Dear Voter:

We are conducting a survey of overseas and military absentee voters
and are inviting you to tell us about your experience with voting or
trying to vote in the November 2006 election. Please take 8-10
minutes to fill out this survey. Your responses are confidential
and will be used to improve overseas voting programs.

This survey is sponsored by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission,
and being conducted by the Overseas Vote Foundation and our project
partner, Q2 Data & Research, LLC. Your feedback will help to
influence developments which will make it easier for us to
participate!

Please help by sharing your experiences and opinions with us. Only
with your feedback can we make good recommendations. Thank you in
advance for your time.

From your friends at Overseas Vote Foundation

Please use this internet address to begin the survey:
zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2267HAA8QWY[/quote]

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Thanks for posting this.

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[quote=“AIT”]AIT AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES OFFICER TO VISIT TAICHUNG MAY 2, 2007
FOR CONSULAR SERVICES

Representatives of the American Citizen Services Unit of the American Institute in Taiwan will be in Taichung on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, to provide Consular services. American citizens applying for U.S. passports, and anyone requiring the services of a notary public for U.S. purposes, may come to the American Corner located in the National Taichung Library at 291-3, Jingwu Road, Taichung City from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Only passport renewal and notary services will be available at this time. Payment for services must be made in cash in either NT$ or US$ dollars only. Please bring the exact amount as we cannot give change.

For adult U.S. passport renewals, one A4-sized photocopy of each page (that contains a photograph, personal data or an amendment) in your current passport is required. You must present your current passport plus the copies with your application.

For U.S. passport renewals for a child under 14 years of age, the applications must be signed by both parents in the presence of the Consular officer. If only one parent is able to come, that parent must bring notarized written consent of the other parent or an original or certified true copy of the custody decree showing sole custody. The child must also be present. We require one A4-sized photocopy of each parent’s passport (or other valid photo ID showing
name in English) plus the original documents (or certified true copy), and an original or certified true copy of the child’s birth certificate. If your current passport is an emergency passport, please bring your receipt and instruction letter from your emergency passport application.

New passports will be delivered via registered mail to a Taiwan address, so all passport applicants must provide NT$30.00 for postage. For passport renewal information and required documents for adults and children under 14 years of age, please refer to our website at: ait.org.tw/en/uscitizens/US_Passports.asp

Please contact AIT’s Taipei Office at 02-2162-2000 ext. 2306 or by e-mail at ait.org.tw/en/uscitizens/[/quote]

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[quote=“AIT”]Social Security Administration Officer to visit AIT Taipei’s American Citizen Services Office Friday, May 18, 2007

The Social Security Administration’s Regional Federal Benefits Officer (RFBO) will make a brief visit to AIT Taipei’s American Citizen Services Office on Friday, May 18, 2007, from 1:30 - 3:30 PM to provide limited Social Security and Federal Benefits assistance. Anyone who would like an appointment with the RFBO should contact AIT as soon as possible. Because the RFBO is in Taipei for such a short period of time, only a limited number of appointments are available.

Please contact AIT’s Taipei Office at 02-2162-2000 ext. 2306 or by e-mail at aitamcit@mail.ait.org.tw for further information or to make an appointment.[/quote]

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[quote=“AIT”]The American Citizen Services Unit of AIT Taipei will be closed on the afternoon of Friday, June 1, 2007 for a staff event. Normal public hours for all Consular Services will resume the next business day, June 4, 2007.

During office closures, consular assistance will be available only in case of emergencies, such as life-and-death situations, arrest, and indigence. Routine services such as notaries, passports, and general inquiries must wait until June 4, 2007.

For further information, please refer to our website at:

ait.org.tw/en/uscitizens/

Thank you for your cooperation.

Consular Section
American Institute in Taiwan[/quote]

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[quote=“AIT”]MASSACHUSETTS TO HOLD A SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE 5TH DISTRICT

On September 4, 2007 there will be a special primary election in Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District to fill the seat of Representative Martin T. Meehan. To determine if your legal residence is in the 5th Congressional District, you can click on “Communicating with Your Elected Officials”, then “Who is my Representative?” at the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website, www.fvap.gov.

The winners of this special primary election will compete in a special general election to be held on October 16, 2007.

REGISTERING TO VOTE AND REQUESTING A BALLOT:
All citizens residing outside the U.S. who are Massachusetts residents from the 5th District should request a ballot for this special primary election by completing and submitting a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF-76, as soon as possible, if you have not done so already in calendar year 2007. The online version of the FPCA is available from the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html. Specific instructions for Massachusetts are available at:
fvap.gov/pubs/vag/pdfvag/ma.pdf.

Registration is waived for Massachusetts citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. To request an absentee ballot, the local registrar of voters must receive your FPCA or any other form of written communication with your name, date of birth, former residence and present residence not later than noon the day before the election.

You may submit the FPCA for absentee ballot requests by fax. After faxing, you must submit the FPCA by mail so that it arrives by September 4 in order to have your ballot counted. Use the following toll-free fax numbers for the U.S. and Canada: 1-800-368-8683, (703) 693-5527 or DSN 223-5527 (military). At www.fvap.gov/services/faxing.html, there is a list of additional toll-free fax numbers from overseas countries.

APPLICATION FOR BALLOT BY PROXY:
Massachusetts allows your spouse, or person residing in the same household, parent, in-laws, brother, sister, son, daughter, stepparent, stepchild, half-sister, half-brother, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, grandparent or grandchild to request that a ballot be sent to you. Necessary forms may be obtained at the clerk’s office in the city or town of voting residence. Any form of written communication containing the required information may also be sent to the clerk’s office.

RETURNING YOUR BALLOT:
Return your voted ballot to the local election official so that it arrives by the close of polls (8:00 p.m. EDT) for the September 4 primary.

Massachusetts does not allow electronic transmission of the blank ballot or the voted ballot.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the Massachusetts Secretary of State website, sec.state.ma.us/ele.

The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach the FVAP toll-free from 67 countries using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov.[/quote]

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[quote=“AIT”]IMPORTANT CHANGES IN FEES TO FILE U.S. IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS OVERSEAS

USCIS Update - New Application and Petition Fees Go Into Effect on July 30, 2007

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds its customers that the agency’s new fee schedule is effective on July 30, 2007. Applications or petitions postmarked or otherwise filed on or after that date must include the new fee.

For more information concerning the final fee rule, we invite you to visit USCIS’ Web site at www.uscis.gov/21stCenturyService. The new fee schedule is available at
uscis.gov/files/nativedocume … 052907.pdf[/quote]

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[quote=“AIT”]The American Institute in Taiwan wishes to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Taiwan about approaching Typhoon Sepat, which may affect the island as early as August 17. U.S. citizens should monitor the progress of the storm on Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau website www.cwb.gov.tw and through local media and make appropriate provisions for food, water and shelter.

For additional information on storms, their effects, and steps you should take to prepare, please see the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website for several useful links related to natural disasters and emergencies:
travel.state.gov/travel/tips … _1207.html .

The Consular Section of the American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei Office, can be reached during regular business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by telephone at (02) 2162-2000; by fax at (02) 2162-2239; and by e-mail at aitamcit@mail.ait.org.tw. After hours, in case of emergency, a duty officer can be reached by calling the American Institute in Taiwan’s switchboard at (02) 2162-2000.[/quote]

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Any discount coupon print outs for Taiwan beer at the website?

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[quote=“AIT”]According to local police, as many as 2,000 protesters will hold a demonstration on Saturday, September 8, in Taipei. Participants are expected to gather near the Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall at 2:30pm before proceeding to the American Institute in Taiwan. Persons in the vicinity of the protest route, including visitors to the flower market at Jianguo Road, should exercise caution.

Best Regards,
American Citizen Services
American Institute in Taiwan
Taipei Office: Hsin Yi Rd. Sec. 3, Lane 134, #7, 2nd Floor
Web: ait.org.tw/en/uscitizens/
Email: aitamcit@mail.ait.org.tw[/quote]

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Why?

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Presumably because certain parties are whipping up anti-US sentiment over this referendum business, and things could get rowdy for any white people in the vicinity.

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Thats…(to be finished later)…

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[quote=“AIT”]The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) wishes to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Taiwan about approaching Typhoon WIPHA, which may affect the island as early as Tuesday, September 18. U.S. citizens should monitor the progress of the storm on Taiwan 's Central Weather Bureau website cwb.gov.tw/ and through local media and make appropriate provisions for food, water and shelter.

The AIT Taipei Office will be closed Tuesday, September 18. The AIT Kaohsiung Branch Office will remain open for normal business.

For additional information on storms, their effects, and steps you should take to prepare, please see the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website for several useful links related to natural disasters and emergencies: travel.state.gov/travel/tips … _1207.html.

The Consular Section of the American Institute in Taiwan , Taipei Office, can be reached during regular business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by telephone at (02) 2162-2000; by fax at (02) 2162-2239; and by e-mail at aitamcit@mail.ait.org.tw . After hours, in case of emergency, a duty officer can be reached by calling the American Institute in Taiwan 's
switchboard at (02) 2162-2000.[/quote]

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I just saw this. What an incredible load of it. Those folks at AIT obviously spend way too much time with their Blue friends. I marched in Kaohsiung last Saturday in the UN for Taiwan rally. I was warmly welcomed and there was a huge American flag at the rally later that evening. Pictures here.

This is an implicit replication of the old Mainlander slur against the Taiwanese as being violent and dangerous. You get used to hearing this crap from your Chinese teachers, but AIT should know better.

Mad betel-nut chewing protesters snatching innocent foreign flower market tourists and beating them into a pulp. Yeah right. !!

[quote=“jlick”][quote=“AIT”]According to local police, as many as 2,000 protesters will hold a demonstration on Saturday, September 8, in Taipei. Participants are expected to gather near the Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall at 2:30pm before proceeding to the American Institute in Taiwan. Persons in the vicinity of the protest route, including visitors to the flower market at Jianguo Road, should exercise caution.

Best Regards,
American Citizen Services
American Institute in Taiwan
Taipei Office: Xinyi Rd. Sec. 3, Lane 134, #7, 2nd Floor
Web: ait.org.tw/en/uscitizens/
Email: aitamcit@mail.ait.org.tw[/quote][/quote]

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Last year they issued alerts about the anti-Chen rallies, so it is unclear that their warnings have a bias.

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Fair enough. They probably just have some rule requiring them to issue warnings. Pretty silly in Taiwan though.

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It was a protest to the AIT after all. Taiwan has seen it’s share of violence in protests and it’s hard to tell how protsts can develop. Seems like a reasonable warning to me. I would imagine that if for example a 2000 person anti weapon sales protest to AIT was launched you would see the same warning.

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Not really. The warning doesn’t have to pertain to violence. I avoid almost all rallies and protests when I know of them simply because they make getting around difficult. If I was old, or with children, it might potentially be dangerous as Taiwanese are not exactly the most spatially aware of people and getting knocked or trampled by a large crowd, even accidentally, is a distinct possibilty.

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Feiren -
Not so much a ‘warning’ as an ‘advisory’ from the AIT group.
Thanks for the link to your blog story. Good coverage, except for a couple of paragraphs…:smiley:…and good pic’s of the event also.
Thanks.