I was searching for a bit of info. and came across this.
[quote=“joesax”]You’re quite right Sandman. On my re-entry to Taiwan early Monday morning I only had to show my current passport and ARC.[/quote] Why do they ask to see your ARC? It’s just ID for use within Taiwan isn’t it? As you’ve already presented ID in the form of a passport, why would they ask for more? Taiwanese don’t have to show their ID cards when they come through passport control.
Anybody else had to show their ARC? Serious question, gravedigging not intended.
Yes, I have. Doesn’t it state somewhere that the re-entry permit is only valid when accompanied by a current ARC? I think they’re supposed to ask for it, but don’t always bother/remember. I could be wrong though.
[quote=“taffy”]Doesn’t it state somewhere that the re-entry permit is only valid when accompanied by a current ARC?[/quote]Not sure about that myself, dunno.
If it’s right, it seems pointless. It’s the resident visa that gives you the right to be in the country, and you can’t get an ARC or reentry sticker without it. Again, an ARC is just internal ID. Shouldn’t they just check the passport and reentry sticker, as you can’t get a reentry sticker without having the other stuff in the first place. I apologise in advance for applying logic to Taiwanese immigration policy.
[quote=“taffy”]Doesn’t it state somewhere that the re-entry permit is only valid when accompanied by a current ARC?[/quote]Not sure about that myself, dunno.
If it’s right, it seems pointless. It’s the resident visa that gives you the right to be in the country, and you can’t get an ARC or reentry sticker without it. Again, an ARC is just internal ID. Shouldn’t they just check the passport and reentry sticker, as you can’t get a reentry sticker without having the other stuff in the first place. I apologise in advance for applying logic to Taiwanese immigration policy.[/quote]
Heh, apology accepted. I think the “logic” is that your resident visa is cancelled on first use - your ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) is continuing evidence of your eligibility to live here. Reason being that your ARC can be cancelled for a number of reasons, which also cancels your right of abode. So if you get sacked half-way through the year, the only way they will know is by checking your ARC. Although I would have thought that all the relevant info would be linked by computer, but again we’d be making the (Taiwan + logic) fallacy.
Alternatively a simpler explanation of why they ask to see your ARC is “because they can”. We are supposed to carry it with us at all times, like Taiwanese are supposed to carry their IDs. Call it a remnant of martial-law thinking.
They don’t need to even look at the ARC to see if it’s still valid. It is, in fact, linked by computer to your Multiple Re-Entry Permit in your passport, but it all depends on how thorough they are when they check you at immigration.
One time I entered and exited on an invalid Multiple Entry Permit (my ARC had been cancelled) but the next time I tried it (on a different invalid Multiple Entry Permit) I was caught and only given a 30 day landing visa. The last time I entered (after incurring yet another invalid Multiple Entry Permit) I actually told them it was invalid because the guy first just stamped me through. Then when I finally left again they checked the Multiple Entry Permit (not noticing the 30 day landing visa stamped in my passport) and then after some confusion finally stamped a rather large “CANCELLED” on my Multiple Entry Permit.
So long story short, sometimes they notice and sometimes they don’t. But no, an ARC is not needed for them to know if it’s still valid (though they may still ask to see it).
However, with all that said, the way I understand it is that the new IC ARC cards have the validity and Multiple Entry Permit embedded within it (and the Multiple Entry Permit is thus not given in your passport) so yes you will have to show that card in the future.
Kind of a rambling post but I still hope it clears things up.
Your ARC is not an immigration document. They have no right to ask to see it. They asked me once upon entry and I just said “Huh? Why on earth would I carry an ARC off the island?”
“You must show.”
“I must not. I don’t have it. I don’t need it.”
“Oh. OK.”
[quote=“sandman”]Your ARC is not an immigration document. They have no right to ask to see it. They asked me once upon entry and I just said “Huh? Why on earth would I carry an ARC off the island?”
“You must show.”
“I must not. I don’t have it. I don’t need it.”
“Oh. OK.”[/quote]
Nevertheless, the re-entry permit is embedded within the new IC cards so that tough stance won’t work in the future.
[quote=“Eros”][quote=“sandman”]Your ARC is not an immigration document. They have no right to ask to see it. They asked me once upon entry and I just said “Huh? Why on earth would I carry an ARC off the island?”
“You must show.”
“I must not. I don’t have it. I don’t need it.”
“Oh. OK.”[/quote]
Nevertheless, the re-entry permit is embedded within the new IC cards so that tough stance won’t work in the future.[/quote]
I doubt it. Your ARC is an internal document. You won’t need to show it because there will still be a re-entry sticker in your passport. Just like Taiwanese people don’t need to show their ROC ID cards at immigration. They just show their passports like everyone else.
[quote=“sandman”][quote=“Eros”][quote=“sandman”]Your ARC is not an immigration document. They have no right to ask to see it. They asked me once upon entry and I just said “Huh? Why on earth would I carry an ARC off the island?”
“You must show.”
“I must not. I don’t have it. I don’t need it.”
“Oh. OK.”[/quote]
Nevertheless, the re-entry permit is embedded within the new IC cards so that tough stance won’t work in the future.[/quote]
I doubt it. Your ARC is an internal document. You won’t need to show it because there will still be a re-entry sticker in your passport. Just like Taiwanese people don’t need to show their ROC ID cards at immigration. They just show their passports like everyone else.[/quote]
sigh Ok… I’ll say it once more. They don’t give a re-entry permit in your passport any longer. Some other threads on Forumosa have said as much and I just applied for my IC card on Friday and wasn’t given one in my passport.
The point is that the re-entry info is embedded into your new IC card and thus they don’t give one in your passport.
So you now have to take your ARC in and out of the country with you? I’ll need to check up on this. Complaints will need to be lodged, protests made. Basically, then, you’re fucked on getting back into Taiwan if your ARC is stolen overseas when you’re on holiday, for example? That’s wonderful, you Taiwanese fucktards, just wonderful.
Oh, and did they warn you that your passport is no longer sufficient for entry to Taiwan, or are you just supposed to find out the hard way at the airport?
Yeah, I agree that it is stupid. I wasn’t warned - but I asked them after I noticed that my re-entry permit wasn’t put in the passport. I assume if you forgot your ARC at the airport that you could still leave but you’d have trouble getting back in unless it was on a 30 day landing visa. Then what? Get your ARC and leave again? Or go to NIA and get it sorted out?
The Immigration Law to show an ARC to officials states that you must at all times carry a passport OR ARC OR APRC. It doesn’t say you need more than one. So that part of the law wouldn’t require you to show an ARC at immigration.
The Regulations on Entry and Exit state that a passport and entry permit are sufficient to complete inspection procedures. So that doesn’t require one to show an ARC at immigration either.
However the Immigration Act does state that the entry permit is considered canceled if the ARC is canceled. An immigration officer who wants to check the validity of the entry permit could conceivably use this to demand to require presentation of a valid ARC.
Additionally, I didn’t see anything in the regulations to say what form an entry permit must take. I don’t see anything that would stop them from changing the entry permit to be embedded in the ARC. In that case, you would have to present the ARC at immigration in order for the immigration officer to see the entry permit.
This is what I was bothered about. The authorities appear to have opened a new can of worms and created a worse service for resident visa holders, with a scheme presumably meant to be an improvement on the old system. Don’t forget your ARC!
Just got my ARC in the mail and it does explicity state on the back of the card that “The holder of this certificate may have multiple entry into Taiwan and this certificate shall be renewed before expiration.”
Mystery solved - the ARC is in fact the new multiple entry permit.
Waited in line to get my re-entry permit, but was told that your arc is your re-entry permit and if coming back to TW you forget it, you’ll have to re-apply for a resident visa…Is this true? Did I miss understand??
Also, not to get too technical (or show my poor English), but how do you know what “may” they are talking about in “The holder of this certificate MAY have multiple entry into Taiwan and this certificate shall be renewed before expiration.” Does that “may” indicate possibility or permission?
Eg.
“I may go to school tomorrow. (meaning - possibility)”
“You may have a piece of cake. (meaning - permission)”
In any case, I think it says in Chinese that the type of ARC is multiple entry right on the face of the card.
[quote=“OKao”]Waited in line to get my re-entry permit, but was told that your arc is your re-entry permit and if coming back to TW you forget it, you’ll have to re-apply for a resident visa…Is this true? Did I miss understand??
Also, not to get too technical (or show my poor English), but how do you know what “may” they are talking about in “The holder of this certificate MAY have multiple entry into Taiwan and this certificate shall be renewed before expiration.” Does that “may” indicate possibility or permission?
Eg.
“I may go to school tomorrow. (meaning - possibility)”
“You may have a piece of cake. (meaning - permission)”
In any case, I think it says in Chinese that the type of ARC is multiple entry right on the face of the card.[/quote]
Good point about the “may” wording.
I don’t mean to be on the wrong side here, but I don’t see what all the fuss is. In the US I carried my driver’s license with me wherever I went, including out of the country. I always kept it in my wallet. I still have it there now. Same thing goes with my ARC; it’s just another card in my wallet, albeit a very important card. Just be responsible and make sure you don’t lose it or “forget” to take it with you when you travel. You would not forget your passport when leaving, so apply the same thought to your ARC.
I do agree that it feels like not enough notification is given to the foreign community in Taiwan regarding these policy and procedure changes. However, on the flip side of the coin, how is the Taiwan government supposed to notify all of us ARC wielding foreigners scattered across the island and the globe? They really can’t. It is up to us to keep up to date on these changes, be aware of what is going on around us, and find out about policy / procedure changes when we go in to keep our permits and papers up to date.
I do agree that it feels like not enough notification is given to the foreign community in Taiwan regarding these policy and procedure changes. However, on the flip side of the coin, how is the Taiwan government supposed to notify all of us ARC wielding foreigners scattered across the island and the globe? [/quote]
not aimed at you, but for a start, they could actually say something to this effect when you go to the office to apply/pick up, rather than letting people get into crap first. perhaps a letter, since they have most/many people’s addresses?
they could try the english rags/mags on the island.
they could use that intranet thingy.
much easier to do nothing, as it’s only going to affect the big-noses and construction workers …
