The Employment Gold Card Super-Thread

I got it through economy. I’m a software engineer, they wanted more than tax documents for technology so I switched. They don’t like pay slips as much as government affiliated issued tax forms.

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If you are working as an accountant, it might be more relevant for you to apply under the “Finance” category since accountants in Taiwan are regulated by the Financial Supervisory Commission here.

https://foreigntalentact.ndc.gov.tw/en/Content_List.aspx?n=53F6D626B2230D86

If you have any of the certifications listed under point 2 or something equivalent, that would help your application.

I applied last week, putting salary slips under point 2 and my tax form under point 3.
Status now is “Professional Review by Workforce Development Agency” …not sure whether that means their first screening was satisfactory, though.

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@skilmosa Which category did you apply under?

Economic. No other items uploaded except for passport copy.

So passport copy, month of salary slips, and your previous years tax form? That’s it?

Yep! Others have been succesful that way, so no need to complicate things unless asked for more extensive documentation (I have several patents and publications waiting in reserve)

I just wanted to say thanks to the posters in this forum–I finally received my gold card after a lot of troubles, but received nonetheless.

Cheers for all the help!

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Awesome news. Congratulations!

Guy

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Share your process experience! please…

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so that was about 2 months overall for you @BananaJay ?

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Hmm, I think I applied early December, got asked to provide a couple documents showing evidence of income, and then after that it was about 5 weeks ± a lot of mixups with where to go…

My main piece of advice for anyone that hasn’t applied yet–put the pickup station as Taipei–apparently that then assigns your case to a worker at that branch.

Cost me a lot of headaches trying to deal with another branch who had no idea about the program nor any interest in helping. Taipei personnel we’re complete opposite though–extremely kind and helpful.

Good luck!

As my friend’s dog would say – ruff

This thread proved very helpful during my application process, so I’d like to contribute my timeline. I applied under the Economic category, though I believe another one would have been a better “fit.” I am an American citizen and submitted my application during my stay in Taiwan (less than 60 days into my 90 day visa exempt entry).

2020-02-19: Submitted application and paid fee on website (included copies of my passport, business card, last two biweekly paystubs (end of January and beginning of February), and 2019 federal tax return)
2020-02-20: Received a notification to enter my address in Chinese (should have remembered this from here!)
2020-02-27: Received an email from a person at the Workforce Development Agency asking for associated W2s from my 2019 tax return (forgot that Turbotax doesn’t include those in saved pdfs)
2020-03-09: Received an email asking that I bring my passport in to BOCA along with a Passport Submission Notice from the Gold Card website

I dropped off my passport and the form today at BOCA. They handed me a receipt and said I should be able to pick up my passport next Monday.

I was curious about whether they looked at gross or net income, but based on my understanding, it’s really AGI. The whole thing turned out to be pretty smooth, though I was getting worried that I’d have to do a visa run. Thankfully, it looks like I won’t have to. If anyone has questions, let me know!

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@wfh-jjw Did you need to submit your entire tax return document PDF (I’m not sure what’s it’s called in the US) and not just your W-2? Did they ask for that?

And on a side note, (if you feel comfortable sharing) what is your job? Mine is rather far away from anything related to “Economics”, and I wonder how this category became the one-fits-all.

I am curious to know if anyone has done this from out of country, been successful, and then got spouse and/or children resident visa(s) before arriving, and the process around that.

I initially submitted my tax return (Form 1040 and Schedules) that I prepared and sent to the US IRS (with the aid of commercial software). Not sure if it’s “required”, but I thought it would make things easier. I believe that when tax returns are physically mailed in, people usually attach supporting docs (like end of year wage statements), but since I e-filed, these were not included. This is probably why the WDA requested my W2s. It kind of makes sense since W2s are better proof of income than the tax return.

As far as profession, I am an (American) intellectual property specialist working for a firm back in the States. I think it’s tangentially related to “Economics”, but, as I mentioned, there were probably other categories I could have applied to.

I’m also single, so I can’t answer questions about a spouse/kids. (Sorry!)

The rest of my timeline turned out to be very similar to what others have reported. For completion’s sake:

2020-02-19: Submitted application and paid fee on website (included copies of my passport, business card, last two biweekly paystubs (end of January and beginning of February), and 2019 federal tax return)
2020-02-20: Received a notification to enter my address in Chinese (should have remembered this from here!)
2020-02-27: Received an email from a person at the Workforce Development Agency asking for associated W2s from my 2019 tax return (forgot that Turbotax doesn’t include those in saved pdfs)
2020-03-09: Received an email asking that I bring my passport in to BOCA along with a Passport Submission Notice from the Gold Card website
2020-03-13: Received an email saying my passport was approved
2020-03-16: Received an email saying my gold card had been printed. Picked up my passport at BOCA and the gold card at NIA (showed them my receipt from the website)

The issue date of my gold card turned out to be the 13th. Thanks for the info. everyone!

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@Noel

Yes. did the gold card process from India, got it in 20 days. Spouse will be joining me in a month after she gets her resident visa (Will apply soon).

Needless to say, I couldn’t have done it myself because of the language problems. I had a big consultancy company helping me with everything - from document notarization, to checking documents, submitting everything online, updates, advice, collecting the gold card from NIA office here, etc.

My situation is a touch different. I want to apply (and hopefully receive) the Gold Card, and then get my wife and son’s resident visa before we all go to Taiwan together.

So, my question is, you receive the email/paper/ whatever you get to allow entry into Taiwan as a Gold Card recipient living overseas (and will pick up the card in Taiwan), and then what?

Do we just provide copies of the proof of Gold card receipt for the office (and all other relevant documents), and all is good? It just seems that many of the offices overseas aren’t exactly super familiar with the Gold card, and what is required for pretty much anything that involves it, including family based ARCs.

It would probably just be easier to get my gold card done in Canada, and then my wife and son can enter Taiwan on the 90 day visa free entry, and then apply for the resident visa / ARC in Taiwan. I just worry that they would have to do a visa run to make this work though. The other thing is that we would rather not pay for a return ticket for all 3 of us, when a one way would be significantly less. Some airlines will let it pass if you don’t have an onward ticket, but many won’t let you board without one, unless you are a resident already. Cheap, I know, but it ends up being a difference of $3600 Can for a return for the 3 of us versus $2000 Can or so for a one way ticket for the 3 of us.