I am a US citizen coming to Taiwan from Korean in late June. I have not been able to save much since I’ve been in Korea because my husband and I are on one income, so I don’t have proof of having a ton of money in my bank account. I do, however, already have a signed and submitted contract, stating that I do have work and a place to stay once I get to Taiwan. Is this going to be a problem for me? Can I just come in on a tourist visa?
You cannot tell them you are looking for work if you want a tourist visa, so showing them a contract wouldn’t be a good idea.
So, can I go in on a tourist visa and change it to a working visa? I have seen that I can and that I can’t on here. Can I get a visitor visa with my contract? This whole process is far more confusing than the Korean process was.
Just go to the Taiwan representative office in Seoul, or phone them, and ask them what kind of visa you should apply for. If you can show that you have a job lined up, I don’t think they will care about your savings or lack of them.
Great suggestion! I just wish I could figure out how to call them from my phone!
You cannot tell them you are looking for work if you want a tourist visa, so showing them a contract wouldn’t be a good idea.[/quote]
Yet at the Manila TECO you can’t get a tourist visa unless you have employment papers or school enrollment. Go figure…
If your passport has more then six months validity on it when you arrive in Taiwan simply come in on the VISA FREE 30 days. Your school can convert this to an ARC within the 30 days unless they are very inefficient.
Since you already have a job. A visitor visa is good for sixty days for Americans. But if 30 days is enough, then just do that. No need to get a visa prior to arrival.
DO NOT OVERSTAY your Visa Free or you lose that privilege for a year or so or more. Time counts from the day After Arrival.
Note: This is NOT the same as a Landing Visa (which costs money and is for people who have passports with validity less then six months left or travelling with temporary passports and is not convertible to an ARC).
p.s. Chances are good Taiwanese immigration will ask you zero questions and probably wont even ask if you have an onward flight reservation. So keep your lips zipped and just flow through like you know what you are doing. Dont talk , unless talked to and if talked to, answer minimally.
Have read here that some people print out “fake” onward flights that has worked. IF push comes to shove you may have to buy a one way ticket out of taiwan on the spot (pay full fare to HK and have that refunded later). But this is exceedingly rare.
If asked, just say “oh i have a friend from back home i want to visit with for a coupla weeks” or something like that.
The vast majority of people are asked no questions. Just smile and be pleasant and you will be fine.
IF u got a tourist visa they cost something like near 200 dollars American !
[quote=“tommy525”]If your passport has more then six months validity on it when you arrive in Taiwan simply come in on the VISA FREE 30 days. Your school can convert this to an ARC within the 30 days unless they are very inefficient.
Since you already have a job. A visitor visa is good for sixty days for Americans. But if 30 days is enough, then just do that. No need to get a visa prior to arrival.
DO NOT OVERSTAY your Visa Free or you lose that privilege for a year or so or more. Time counts from the day After Arrival.
Note: This is NOT the same as a Landing Visa (which costs money and is for people who have passports with validity less then six months left or travelling with temporary passports and is not convertible to an ARC).
p.s. Chances are good Taiwanese immigration will ask you zero questions and probably wont even ask if you have an onward flight reservation. So keep your lips zipped and just flow through like you know what you are doing. Dont talk , unless talked to and if talked to, answer minimally.
Have read here that some people print out “fake” onward flights that has worked. IF push comes to shove you may have to buy a one way ticket out of Taiwan on the spot (pay full fare to HK and have that refunded later). But this is exceedingly rare.
If asked, just say “oh I have a friend from back home I want to visit with for a coupla weeks” or something like that.
The vast majority of people are asked no questions. Just smile and be pleasant and you will be fine.
IF u got a tourist visa they cost something like near 200 dollars American ![/quote]
So I can get a 60-day visa free entry which can be converted to an ARC? Are you 100% sure about this?
US citizens get 30 (thirty) days NOT 60 days Visa Free. And yes it is convertible to an ARC. Provided that your employer works fast so your time doesnt run out .
Sorry, I noticed I had misread what you wrote about 20 minutes after posting.
Thank you for the information.
Yet at the Manila TECO you can’t get a tourist visa unless you have employment papers or school enrollment. Go figure…[/quote]
There is no such thing as a “tourist visa” for Taiwan. You can get a visitor visa, and you may state that the purpose of your visit it touring, or various other things.
Yet at the Manila TECO you can’t get a tourist visa unless you have employment papers or school enrollment. Go figure…[/quote]
There is no such thing as a “tourist visa” for Taiwan. You can get a visitor visa, and you may state that the purpose of your visit it touring, or various other things.[/quote]
What else can you say? From what I have seen, all you can say is that you’re coming for travel.