since most threads are already really old and also sometimes there is conflicting information, I just wanted to ask a few questions. I am currently doing visa runs on 90 days visa excempt free for almost 1 year now and I am planning to change that.
1 - Can I convert a visa excempt free for a working permit + visa without leaving Taiwan if a school wants to hire me or do I have to fly to Hong Kong for that ?
2 - Can I convert an visa excempt free / apply for a student visa without leaving Taiwan or do I need to go to Hong Kong for that ?
3 - If one of above requires Hong Kong, is there somewhere a short Guide on where to go in Hong Kong and what to do there ? If I would leave Hong Kong Airport I wouldnt even know where the consulate is and what I have to apply for (I read somewhere that for example I have to apply for a visitor visa and change that in Taiwan to a school visa, something like that ?!)
4 - If you enter Taiwan on a Visitor Visa instead of excempt free, can the visitor visa be changed into either a work visa or a student Visa
Ok, thank you guys for helping me out. I know these questions have already been answered many times, but I think some informations are outdated and some are conflicting
Visa-exempt entry cannot be converted to visa-based stay, unless any of the following applies:
white-collar professionals who have obtained a work permit within their permitted duration of stay(Brunei, Philippines, Russia and Thailand are not included) may apply for a work visa together with their spouse and minors (under age 20) who entered the ROC at the same time.
Manila is indeed cheaper, but Manila also has particularly poor public transit and gridlock. That might be daunting for some who are probably not in the right state of mind or in a bad situation.
Don’t go to Manila
The treatment I received when applying for a visitor visa there a few years ago was appaling.
They just outright refused … said that office doesn’t issue visitor visas. I had to finally demand to speak to the consulate officer and finally they agreed after a major argument.
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail. — Ralph Waldo Emerson