New biometric ARCs?

[scomargo]

@Eros

[quote=“Belgian Pie”][quote=“scomargo”][quote=“dumas”]The only thing biometric about this new card is the photo, so the old one could have been considered biometric as well. The new cards do look like legitimate ID cards, complete with holograms and a second picture under the type face. It also eliminates the need for a re-entry permit in the passport.

Does that mean that you’ll have to get a new card every time you renew it? There’s no way to simply stamp a new expiration date on the card then, is there? If so, it sounds like more trouble every time you have to renew.[/quote]

That’s where the ‘IC’ comes in … it’s probably sandwiched between two layers, just put in a new expiry date …[/quote]

Just got my IC card in the mail. If they can just update the chip (though I’m doubtful there’s really one inside) why do they actually print out the expiry date on the card itself?

I have a sneaky feeling that means next year (and every renewal thereafter) will result in a whole new card.

Progress, huh?[/quote]

Yes, it does sound like everytime you need to renew your ARC, you’ll have to pay for a new card.

The Taipei Times wrote on July 1st, 2007:

The agency has purposely hidden other facts. It told the public that the fee for replacing ARCs will be reduced from NT$1,000 to NT$500 to ease the burden on foreign residents. However, it did not say that since the space on the back of paper cards that is used when extending an ARC will not appear on the new card, it will be necessary to apply for new cards when extending an ARC. With the old cards, foreigners only need to pay NT$1,000 when applying for a new card every four years, but under the new policy, they will be forced to pay NT$500 when applying for a new card every year. Thus, the cost for foreigners will not decrease, they will pay double.

The article implies that instead of stamping a new expiration date on the back of the card, you’ll have to get a whole new card. That also means you’ll need new photos every time. If true, this seriously sucks, and might be enough to make me consider permanent residency, even though I’m only planning on being here about 10 years longer.

[jlick]

That Taipei Times article is so riddled with errors that it is hard to believe a single thing in it. ARCs can be a max of three years, not four, and the fee was charged per year, not for replacement of the card. For those who have renewed recently and received a new smart card, how long did you renew for and how much did you pay?

[scomargo]

@jlick

That Taipei Times article is so riddled with errors that it is hard to believe a single thing in it. ARCs can be a max of three years, not four, and the fee was charged per year, not for replacement of the card. For those who have renewed recently and received a new smart card, how long did you renew for and how much did you pay?

I think the article just meant that for those with 1 year ARCs, there is only room on the back of the ARC to renew it 3 times, meaning that you’d need a new paper card every 4 years.

However, now that I think about it, I think it’s possilbe that in the past, you were only charged for a new paper card if you lost yours. I’m not sure if you’d be charged because your old card had no more room for extensions.

I think as more information comes out, we will learn the whole story. The part that bothers me the most is if I had to take new photos every time I renewed.

[Enigma]

I just submitted my paperwork and was told to come back in two weeks. The officer also told me that I would not receive a new re-entry permit as this information will be included on my ARC. I understood that this whole biometrics thing was to make this card readable and updatable. Am I wrong? This one cost me 1000 - not 500. Possibly because I needed to extend for 30 days as my docs were slow in getting to me. Ponder?
Not having a re-entry permit in my passport troubles me unless their is a location I can go to read the card myself. I can just see an error someday and being told that I can’t re-enter.

[Belgian_Pie]

It’s because they suck, as the Belgian government sucks, passports with IC in Belgium are only 5 years valid, most countries honor a validity 0f 10 years on their passport … I guess it’s just a way to get money in the drawer … and let the economy run …

[cfimages]

@scomargo

[quote=“jlick”]That Taipei Times article is so riddled with errors that it is hard to believe a single thing in it. ARCs can be a max of three years, not four, and the fee was charged per year, not for replacement of the card. For those who have renewed recently and received a new smart card, how long did you renew for and how much did you pay?

I think the article just meant that for those with 1 year ARCs, there is only room on the back of the ARC to renew it 3 times, meaning that you’d need a new paper card every 4 years.

However, now that I think about it, I think it’s possilbe that in the past, you were only charged for a new paper card if you lost yours. I’m not sure if you’d be charged because your old card had no more room for extensions.

I think as more information comes out, we will learn the whole story. The part that bothers me the most is if I had to take new photos every time I renewed.[/quote]

I’ve had to pay each time I’ve renewed my ARC, even though it’s just a stamp on the back. $1000 the first time, then $3000 the next (I got a 3 year ARC to save the hassle of renewing every year).

[Icon]

I got that one too, but last time I was at the new NIA office they told me I was overcharged. Apparently, they can tell from the seals you got you are entitled to at least one free year - something to do with work visa being more expensive.