Bonjour
I am a French English teacher, I wish to settle down and work in Taiwan in September. I’m hoping to be able to get a working visa.
I have a green card (my husband is Texan.) and I’ve been told that a TEFL/TESOL would greatly help? Would it get me a visa do you think? What are my chances? What is the best thing that I could do now to help my situation? ( I don’t have any teaching certificate yet)
Thank you
You’re supposed to have a passport from one of the officially approved English-speaking countries - for example, the USA - not just a green card. Still, that’s just for a legal job. You should be able to get an illegal job no problem. I interviewed at one school where the owner was very proud that their English teacher had a green card; he seemed to think that meant the guy was an American.
I would consider it unlikely that you’ll be able to get a legal job since the only legal job is teaching French. but if your husband is working then you should get an ARC/NHI and don’t have to worry about visa runs. And I’m pretty sure that kindergartens would hire you although it would be illegal and you would face deportation if caught.
Thank you.
I guess I could start with an illegal job and no visa run since my husband’s visa will allow me to stay.
And so you think that even a green card combined with a teaching certificate would not increase my chances?
I would love to heat that is does, it’s my optimistic side.
Your best bet would be to get qualified to teach French. Then you could find a legal job as a French teacher.
[quote=“helenlily”]Thank you.
I guess I could start with an illegal job and no visa run since my husband’s visa will allow me to stay.
And so you think that even a green card combined with a teaching certificate would not increase my chances?
I would love to heat that is does, it’s my optimistic side.[/quote]
It doesn’t. The laws are pretty clear that you have to be from one of the six countries that are considered native speaking. You could get a job to teach French like was suggested but I’m guessing that you would probably be looking at 4-6 hours/wk since there isn’t that much demand. The other option is to start setting up privates (also illegal but difficult to bust) in French or English. the important thing is that you have an ARC thru your husband though.
[quote=“Abacus”][quote=“helenlily”]Thank you.
I guess I could start with an illegal job and no visa run since my husband’s visa will allow me to stay.
And so you think that even a green card combined with a teaching certificate would not increase my chances?
I would love to heat that is does, it’s my optimistic side.[/quote]
It doesn’t. The laws are pretty clear that you have to be from one of the six countries that are considered native speaking. You could get a job to teach French like was suggested but I’m guessing that you would probably be looking at 4-6 hours/wk since there isn’t that much demand. The other option is to start setting up privates (also illegal but difficult to bust) in French or English. the important thing is that you have an ARC thru your husband though.[/quote]
There are some French cram schools. One may be able to find more than six hours of work a week but you will probably definitely have to live in Taipei.
Your best bet would be to try to get an M.A. in Teaching French before you head over if you have the time and resources. Then you might land a job teaching French at a university.
I unfortunately do not have the time or resources to get any certificate in French right now and I am in India.
I’ll definitely get a legal stay through my husband and then… well, here and there I will work for sure. I feel confident to be able to get hired and/or do privates.
Thanks for your help everyone 
Yes, you’ll get a Joining Family Residence Visa based on your husband’s status. But you need to remember that as he is not a Taiwan national, your JFRV does NOT entitle you to work. It only allows you to stay here with him. So anything you do work-wise will be illegal unless you get your own work permit, etc.
JFRV does give you open work rights same as a Taiwanese,you just need to be a teacher to teach any language,if your school gets raided you will be ok as your legally here,unlike teachers on a tourist visa with NO work permit ARC etc
Can anyone confirm or refute that having a JFRV will allow open work rights, even if neither party is Taiwanese? I’m the Texan husband… 
One party needs to be Taiwanese to get open work rights.
Thanks for the reply. Once she’s got her JFRV are there ANY work rights she can get? If not open work rights, then limited somehow?
She would have to find a job that could give her a work permit. The jfrv has zero work rights unless married to a local.
Thanks.
Did u manage to get her a visa? Im English and my wife is South African… we want to put on her my ARC so she can leave her job and stay at home… Any advice on how simple youu found it?
we’re still in process, but for her to get onto your ARC as a spouse you need: a criminal background check from South Africa and your marriage certificate, both of which have to be authorized by an ROC non-embassy, the criminal record in S. Africa and the marriage certificate in the country where you got married. Hope that helps, good luck!