My Taiwanese wife and I are in Taiwan now. I have obtained all of the documents required for the application, including from the FBI, and am ready to apply here, but someone told me that I would have to return to the US to give my application to a TECO there. Can anyone confirm this one way or the other?
Are you here on visa exempt status, or are you here on an ARC?
If on visa exempt status, I believe that traditionally you would have to apply for the JFRV out of country (I did mine in Macau, but HK is also popular).
- Due to the current pandy, however, you may have luck being able to do this in country (I feel like I read someone else on the forums being able to plead their case successfully, but I don’t know their specifics) – it would very much be worth trying to talk with NIA to see if they’ll give you a special exemption from having to leave the country
If you are here on an actual visa (work visa, or actual tourist visa [sticker in your passport]), I believe that you can switch it down at the local NIA office.
Good luck!
Any documentation is going to need to be stamped in your home country. They like stamps. First by some government organisation and then by the TECO.
This is true, your FBI background check will need to be stamped from the DC TECRO (I was able to do that from Taiwan, however).
- And if they do let you apply for the JFRV in Taiwan, you’ll probably need to get it translated into Chinese and then the translation stamped at a local notary office (my wife did the translation and we paid like $800NTD for the stamp)
If you’re marriage certificate is also not Taiwanese, you’ll need that stamped in whatever country its from as well.
stamp, stamp, stamp…
My status is visa exempt, no ARC. I don’t have an actual visa, such as you described. Travel to HK before my visa expires and making the application there may be my best course of action, but, of course, I’d rather not travel right now if I could avoid it. Did you make an appointment when you did yours in Macau? How many days should I plan on being there (not counting possible requirement of quarantine)?
I’d still definitely try to plead your case to NIA before organizing the trip (trying to get them to pity that it’s dangerous to travel right now) – I have read of others being successful recently.
I think pre-pandemic HK could do rush processing in 2 days (drop off on the morning of day 1 and pick up on the afternoon of day 2), but I’d probably call to see what their current rush processing status is before booking a trip. I do not believe that you can make appointments ahead of time but might be worth asking on the phone as well.
I wrote a little bit about my experience here – if you want to apply directly for the JFRV you’ll need to get an affidavit stating that your marriage is valid in the US (and have that affidavit stamped at MOFA here in Taiwan).
- I didn’t have the affidavit so got the “tourist visiting relatives visa” which is then convertible to a marriage ARC once in Taiwan (a little more expensive), but I’m not sure if they are currently issuing tourist vising relatives visa during the pandy
Also note that you’ll need a negative wuhan virus test 3 business days before your flight departs back to Taiwan
Your advice relieves some of my worries about all of this. First off, I’ll visit the NIA. Thanks, everyone!
You might consider applying for a Taiwan Gold Card, which gives you residency for up to 3 years if you qualify. See https://taiwangoldcard.com/ You won’t need the FBI report/marriage certificate authenticated or a health exam.
Thanks, JohnTN. I looked into the TGC, but I don’t meet one of the criteria.