I want to gain P.R. with out having to do it via marriage or other common ways?
I am a US citizen and have lived in Taiwan about 3 years ago for a period of 1.5 years.
If I am able to do the military service for 2 years then I wouldn’t need a work permit after this service. I heard stories, but didn’t get the details or how and where to even find out about this option.
Thanks in advance for any info!
I believe that you have to obtain citizenship before you’re eligible to be drafted. If you’re not a citizen you’re not going to be drafted, obviously.
Yes, permanent residents are not drafted, although maybe they should be. 
Poagao is a non Chinese and he completed his military duties after becoming an ROC national. :bravo: :bravo:
You will need to live here another 5 years continuously to become a permanent resident.
But the title of this thread is COULD he join the military. This indicates that he would be volunteering, not drafted. So a more appropriate question is whether or not non-citizens can volunteer.
Maybe they need English teachers for greater interoperability with the US?
I can’t imagine any country allowing non-citizens to join their military.
I think the US allows non-citizens to join their army, but I could be wrong. I don’t think Taiwan does, though, and in any case I don’t see what it would get the OP. After he was done he would be right back where he was started, with regards to residency.
A lot of people seem to get this mixed up. They think I joined the army in order to become a citizen, rather than the truth: I was drafted because I was already a citizen.
I believe you have to a citizen to join the military, which for you would also include renouncing your US citizenship. [However, renoucning your US citizenship will not automatically make you a non-us citizen.] The law on military service is always changing. My son who is a dual citizen met with a recuiter for the army. The recuiter told us a dual citizen could join, but there is paperwork to fill out and the us gov’t can suspend or revoke your citizenship for joining a foreign military. I can give you the recuiter’s name, if you are interested.
The US has had an influx on non-citizens serving in its military. It puts you on the fast track for citizenship, and there aren’t as many young american men and women looking to join.
Paogao renounced his US citizenship to become and ROC national. The law here requires you to renounce citizenship of your own country before you can become and ROC national.
It’s quite a long drawn out process and not for the feint hearted.
Only ROC nationals can serve in the ROC military. 
It’s allowed in the US.
From the NZ Army website:
[quote]Welcome to the Overseas Recruitment area of the New Zealand Army website.
We are recruiting applicants of foreign nationality in order to meet personnel resource needs. However, we currently only have vacancies for current or recent ex-serving full time military personnel from either UK, Australia, USA, Canada or New Zealand.
To find out if you fit our needs, please read all of the information provided, which includes details on:
Eligibility
Vacancies
Overseas Enlistment Conditions of Service
General Information about the NZ Army
The Overseas Recruitment Process
If, after reading all of the information above, you’d still like to be considered, please complete the Overseas Recruitment Questionnaire with as much detail as possible. Our Overseas Recruitment team will then complete an initial assessment regarding your suitability. Please do not complete the full online application form at this stage.
If you do not have any full time military experience you will need to meet the following criteria to be considered:
Be a Permanent NZ Resident AND have either:
Lived in New Zealand for at least 5 years
OR
Have held citizenship of Australia, Canada, US or the UK for at least 10 years.[/quote]
Aha, the PR thing makes sense. I should’ve thought of that. But the OP’d still be screwed - because he wants to get PR through service.
Well he can’t volunteer to become a citizen. So he’ll have to live his 5 years continous on an ARC and then become either an ROC national or a permanent resident.
I chose nationality and the PR is not really permanent. If you leave Taiwan for 6 months it gets cancelled 
Hey poagao, how did you find life in the Taiwan army? I know a few Westerners who have successfully acquired Taiwan citizenship but they’re either old enough to be exempt drafting or avoided it in some other way. I have Taiwanese citizenship as a long-term goal and I really don’t mind army service but what does it actually involve? Did it make your hair fall out or did it turn you into a sex beast in only 3 months?
Well, looking at things from the other side of the Tai Ping Yang: unless things are cleared beforehand and there’s a good documented reason to be away so long, a US permanent resident staying out of the US for more than 6 months runs the risk of losing his or her green card.
Also, I’ve met at least one American citizen who fought (not just served–fought!) in the Israali army, for what it’s worth. I don’t know if the US makes an exception vis-a-vis revoking citizenship in a case like that.
Whats worse is that I am an “ABC” but not born in the states, and people there expects me to act and behave like a local. They do not care if I have lived overseas for years and stuff… I dont know about forigners but you will probably lose hair (imagine working 24/7 for several days)
Whats worse is that I am an “ABC” but not born in the states, and people there expects me to act and behave like a local. They do not care if I have lived overseas for years and stuff… I don’t know about forigners but you will probably lose hair (imagine working 24/7 for several days)[/quote]
I think it’s pretty much the same. There’s very little room for exceptions in the army, everyone is expected to do their part. There was an Indonesian guy serving there when I was in, and neither of us got special treatement. Cushy posts are cushy all around, difficult posts are hard for everyone. Helmets are definitely not good for your hair, but that’s ok because they cut it all off anyway.Anyway, now they have alternative service, so at least you have a possible way out.
I posted some old photos I took when I was in the army here.
[quote=“Tetsuo”]I can’t imagine any country allowing non-citizens to join their military.[/quote]Wonder Woman was the secretary to a high ranking Major in the War Department during WWII. And had no citizenship of anywhere (Paradise Island is not recognised by the USA, nor they even know where it is, being invisible due to some sort of anomaly) or even any checkable history. But she did do well at the tests.
Specially created for foreigners who want wish to join the French military. You serve, you get French citizenship.
Yeah, but only if you make it thru and don’t get killed. The death rate is pretty high.
You serve, you get fubar, then you get a new id with a frog passport, move to New Caledonia… get a suntan and then die.
