This emergency message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Taiwan that the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau are tracking Tropical Storm FITOW across the Western Pacific. At this time, the storm is expected to pass by northern Taiwan this weekend, but the storm’s path may shift in the coming days. The storm is projected to strengthen over the next few days and become a category 1 typhoon with winds up to 110 mph and gusts up to 132mph. Heavy rain and strong winds can be expected across the entire island.
AIT Consular Chief to Visit Hualien November 22 for American Citizen Consular Services
(Note: Payment for Services by Local Bank Draft In USD Only, No Cash Payment will be accepted)
NOTE: Some jurisdictions do not require re-registering before each election. Check with election officials where you are registered to confirm.
Got this in my email today:
As the busy summer travel season ends, the U.S. Department of State encourages U.S. travelers to assess their passport needs now ahead of any future holiday travel and trips in 2023. Maintaining a valid passport for both adults and children reduces the risk of missing a trip and prepares travelers for last-minute travel opportunities. The Department encourages U.S. citizens to stay prepared by knowing their passport’s expiration date and applying well before travel.
The Department has issued 17.9 million passport books and cards this year. Applying in the fall or winter allows for faster routine processing due to lower seasonal demand.
Many destinations abroad require passports to be valid for at least six months after arrival. In most cases, passengers will not be allowed to board an international flight if they do not have the required amount of validity remaining on their passports. Travelers should plan ahead and apply for their passports early. We recommend renewing a passport when there is one year of validity remaining.
Good luck everybody!
U.S. Social Security Administration Town Hall
AIT Taipei
2024-02-01T06:00:00Z→2024-02-01T07:00:00Z
The American Institute in Taiwan is pleased to announce that a representative from the Regional Federal Benefits Unit will visit AIT Taipei to answer general questions about U.S. Social Security and other U.S. federal benefits. The representative will also be available to accept annual questionnaire forms (SSA-7161 / SSA-7162) at this event. The event is in English.
General U.S. Social Security Services Meeting:
The Regional Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines is responsible for providing services to customers in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific Region. The FBU assists U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who have inquiries or receive benefits from the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management, Department of Labor, and other federal agencies. Come learn more about the services provided and benefits offered by U.S. federal benefits paying agencies.
When: Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 2:00 pm.
Where: AIT Taipei, 100 Jinhu Road, Neihu District, Taipei City. Parking is not available at AIT.
How: You must RSVP to request a seat at this event and receive a confirmation email from AIT in order to attend. Visitors who do not RSVP via the Registration Link or do not receive a confirmation email will not be allowed to enter. Use the following Registration Link (CLICK HERE) to request a seat. Space is limited. If you receive a seat, you will receive a confirmation email from AIT at a later date with instructions for entry. The passport used for registration will be required for entry. You may also include any questions you have for the representative in your registration.
Location: Worldwide
Event: Due to the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events and advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. U.S. citizens should:
- Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, including Pride celebrations and venues frequented by LGBTQI+ persons.
On September 16, 2024, the Department of State launched a new version of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Re-enroll in the new system at step.state.gov to continue receiving alerts.
The new STEP platform allows you to use a login.gov account to customize your subscriptions and receive country-specific email alerts during the timeframe of your choice. You can enroll multiple trips or locations at once and can modify your subscriptions or unenroll at any time.
Enrolling in STEP makes it easier for the nearest U.S embassy or consulate to contact you during an emergency and send you safety and security alerts. We strongly encourage all U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad to enroll or re-enroll today to take advantage of new functionality.
Actions to Take:
· Visit step.state.gov to enroll in the updated STEP to set your preferences and continue receiving alerts and messages from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
· Encourage friends and family traveling or living internationally to enroll in STEP. Travelers may choose to sign up for alerts for individual trips or to receive alerts long-term for specific countries where they or their loved ones are visiting or residing.
· Follow the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs on social media (@travelgov) as well as the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
- A Message from the American Institute in Taiwan: The U.S. Department of State recently launched a new version of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP is a free service for U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad to receive safety and security alerts and other local updates by email from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If there’s an emergency, it also helps us contact you with instructions on what to do. Anyone previously enrolled in the STEP system should re-enroll to continue receiving alerts. All U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to enroll (or re-enroll) at www.step.state.gov.
The State Department has somehow managed to make STEP registration even worse than it was before. This is what I ran into before I gave up:
For my contact info I couldn’t select a country code for the phone number, though this was an option for phone numbers of other contacts. In addition I couldn’t put in a + at the beginning of the phone number to make clear it was an international number, so I guess they just have to guess at the phone number format?
For the location where I’m “staying” there is no option for a home. The closest option was with “family.” Does the US government not realize that citizens live in their own homes outside the US?
I was able to say that I’m staying outside the US indefinitely, but for travel alerts I can only register for up to one year. I’m not going to re-register every year.
It’s clear that the US State Department still has no idea that US citizens have permanent lives outside the US.
If + is not an option then put a 00 instead.
+886 9… -> 00886 9…
00 is not an international format used in either Taiwan or the US. The international dialing prefix in the US is 011. + is commonly used because it is unambiguous and is the standard used on mobile phones.
The international call prefix is defined in the telephone numbering plan of every country or telephone administration. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendation E.164 specifies the sequence 00 as a standard for the international call prefix and this has been implemented by the majority of countries.
International direct dialing - Wikipedia
Hey, but USA still measures with feet and inches 
+ sign is supposed to be accepted to indicate international number anyway. So the form sucks like you said. I just mentioned how one can try to bypass it.
The fun continues. I tried to send feedback on the new registration system. The State Department directs me to email AIT at TaipeiACS@state.gov which results in an auto-responder saying that they don’t read their emails anymore and to use a Google Docs form to get help. Said Google Docs says for travel alerts says to visit the State Department page which says I should contact AIT.
The only other option is under other questions which says to email TaipeiACS@state.gov with subject line “E99 - OTHER QUESTION - FULL NAME” but says that they will delete any inquiries already covered by the Google Docs form, so who knows if they’ll even notice?
This appears to be the magic formula. I got a nice reply from AIT thanking me for my feedback and that they will pass it on for improvement in the process. If anyone else has issues with the new STEP registration, you can try the above as well.
Anyone have a link, ID, QR code, etc. for the AIT Line Group?
New AIT Director
How is AIT handling the shutdown?
I’m in need of a passport renewal in the next few months.
Message for U.S. Citizens: Join AIT Director Raymond Greene for a Town Hall
American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene invites U.S. citizens in Taiwan to a town hall at AIT Taipei on Friday, 2026-08-14T06:00:00Z
Director Greene and his team will answer your questions and discuss AIT’s role in promoting U.S.-Taiwan relations. We will also share more information about the services we provide to U.S. citizens.
This English-language event will be off the record. No photography, filming, or recording is allowed.
When: Friday, 2026-08-14T06:00:00Z
Where: AIT Taipei, 100 Jinhu Road, Neihu District, Taipei City. Parking is not available on the AIT compound but is available nearby. Due to security, you may not bring electronics, to include cell phones and laptops, into the AIT facility; there is no public storage on-site.
Each individual must request a seat for this event and receive a confirmation email from AIT in order to attend. Use the Registration Link to request a seat. Space is limited, and requests must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Sunday, August 2.
If a seat is available, you will receive a confirmation email from AIT no later than August 10 with instructions for entry. The U.S. passport used for registration will be required for entry. Visitors who do not receive a confirmation email from AIT will not be permitted to enter.