Nothing at all but when the government here asks you to supply notorized copies and they also write to the school to confirm you have in fact graduated you could then be busted for forgery and fraud. Now you get a criminal record to go along with your deportation, and maybe a free stint in a nice cell prior to departure. :discodance: :discodance:
[quote=“Andrew72”]So I guess I am going to have to dig for my actual degrees in my parent’s basement for the actual framed diplomas? Ridiculous, but if thats the rule, I’ll accept it.
But realistically, whats to stop me from busting out Adobe photoshop and making up my own diploma from a better school… if an employer is not going to actually check transcripts?
I always assumed that transcripts (GPA’s, attendance, or whatever else data is on them.) is far more superior then a fancy printed document with a little gold foil on it.[/quote]
From this person’s Taiwan experience, and he had a college degree and some teaching background!
Unfortunately, the good old days for foreign backpackers probably has long gone due to Taiwan’s slow economic situation.
Regardless your legal statement, do you have some saving in order to survive in Taiwan without a full -time job, or…without a girlfriend , let’s say … 6 months?
With your girlfriend’s words, then, I would assume that she and her family will sponsor you for a while, according to Taiwanese culture. However, I wouldn’t expect it last too long if I were you! Things worn- out fast when it comes to money.
Sincerely wishing you the best of luck. Heed the advice here and know what you are doing before you come over.
No offense to your beloved (it’s sweet she wants you over as soon as possible), but it’s quite probable she doesn’t have all the knowledge with regards to all it requires to be hired legally (unless she has been involved in the administration of a school employing foreigners). If you read around on forumosa, you’ll probably also find that getting work is a little less easy than it used to be, whether one is legal or illegal. A drop in birth rates will do that.
Furthermore, when I first came to Taiwan 10 years ago, my original diploma sufficed. But when I started at a varsity job two years ago, they required notarization and transcripts. So I had to mail my degrees to South Africa, get them notarized and also stamped by the Taiwanese office. So I agree that you should just have everything stamped by as many people as possible.
Years ago, I had housemates earning more than me while teaching illegally, but it is a risk - and as others here have stated - more so, if you plan to have a life here.
I’m an idiot when it comes to regulations and administrative paperwork, so can’t provide as many details as you’d like.
Good luck with all the preparations and setting out on a new phase of your life.
A update of sorts:
I found my original college diplomas, I also asked for mailed transcripts.
I went to the Taiwan Consulant and applied for a extendable visitor visa, paid $140… and followed practically every word of advice on (another website) regarding talking to them, and I think it went well. I will know in 5-7 business days.
I am getting my Teaching English advice from my girlfriend who is Taiwanese, and who taught english for many years before completing her Doctorate in the US…(when I met her.) She is convinced that its easy to find work.
I am not a one trick pony, so hopefully I can establish some import/export deals as well… which in turn would require travel all over.
Financially I could be in better shape… but who isn’t suffering a little right now. I am not that materialistic anymore. Well…wait ( I just posted a thread about android tablets.) 
I am trying to balance the amount of money I would bring…without dipping into items that were ment for my retirement someday… I’m 38 years old. Not a spring chicken…call me crazy… but… hell I would rather go for it… for a woman I love…then sit on some shitty bar stool wondering “if only I went back to Taipei…” Call me crazy, but hell thats what adventure is for!
Good for you. Hope everything works out well. Let us know how things are going.
I got my Visa Today! :discodance:
It’s a 60 Day Visitor Visa, Multiple Entry!
It also says on it the following: Enter Before Aug 2015, Remarks “P”.
So does this now mean that I wont have to make “visa runs”… I can just go to the local Taipei Consulant and get it renewed a few times?
This website http://www.taiwanese-secrets.com/taiwan-visa.html was very helpful… I did everything they said to do… and everything went very smooth.