[quote=“Dr. Milker”]To clarify about the new rules, they’re not “based on the press release,” but rather the latest amended version of the Regulations Governing Visiting, Residence and Permanent Residence of Aliens, which came into effect on October 25th, and can be found on the National Immigration Agency’s website
here: immigration.gov.tw/ct.asp?xI … 29649&mp=1[/quote]
Yes. I realize that rules, policies and laws aren’t based on presss releases.
However, in Taiwan, many times the press releases are the only “formal” notifications we get regarding changes in policies and laws. Further, as is clearly shown in the past couple postings, we foreigners end up knowing more about the rules, policies and laws than the NIA agents who are supposed to be the duty experts. I had to practically hold the hand of the APRC processing agent and explain the rules to them when the NIA first started up in 2007 because they didn’t have a clue what was required. I was even asked for a copy of my checklist for the APRC procedures! :loco: Lastly, official government webpages aren’t usually found to be up to date with current and relevant information and/or there is conflicting and contradictory in nature. Just last week an APRC agent laughed in one of my client’s faces for suggesting that he no longer had to submit an FBI background check and health check and that the rules wouldn’t go into effect for at least a year! He wants to go back and laugh in her face and tell her what the score really is. However, I’m recommending against that because we wouldn’t want to hurt the poor NIA official’s feelings for not knowing her job and make her lose face. It might make my client’s application have “problems”.
I thank you for directing all of us to the relevant official web page with the official gouge. Now we can all print out a copy and if necessary roll it up into a sharp point and stick it into the eye of our APRC processing agents if they give us any shit regarding the criminal record check or the health check if in fact we meet the requirements where it’s unnecessary.
I will update the first page of this APRC thread, so we can be as current as possible.
Thanks again.