[quote=“sandman”]Some people report the change. Some don’t. I didn’t, because it would have cost me about five times more in lost wages, time spent and hassle than just paying the fine when they find out. But they CAN fine you if they want to. Depends, really, on how much your time is worth. For me, the fine was by far the cheaper option.
And don’t forget that they speak Englishee these days, so its easy to just tell 'em straight up that “no, I 'aint about to schlepp all the way out to fucking Banqiao just to register an address change with you bozos! You think I have time for that kind of shit?”[/quote]
You call locals hayseeds and have no respect for local laws… Taiwanese people must LOVE you…
Well, it used to be that they would open until 8pm on Wednesdays so us office drones could go there without our bosses throwing a fit. Either that or open regional offices. I have friends that have to travel with 3 kids in tow all the way from Jinshan/Danshui… We all do our best to comply but easy it is not.
[quote=“ludahai”][quote=“sandman”]Some people report the change. Some don’t. I didn’t, because it would have cost me about five times more in lost wages, time spent and hassle than just paying the fine when they find out. But they CAN fine you if they want to. Depends, really, on how much your time is worth. For me, the fine was by far the cheaper option.
And don’t forget that they speak Englishee these days, so its easy to just tell 'em straight up that “no, I 'aint about to schlepp all the way out to fucking Banqiao just to register an address change with you bozos! You think I have time for that kind of shit?”[/quote]
You call locals hayseeds and have no respect for local laws… Taiwanese people must LOVE you…[/quote]
How would I know? I only know a few and they’re friends and colleagues. Can’t number more than about 20 or 30, probably. The rest don’t mean SHIT to me. Just like – GOSH! – the vast majority of the locals. As for “respect for local laws,” well, I follow the old “when in Rome” adage.
As for the Hayseed thing? Well, lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of those fellows call me “big nose,” “hairy barbarian,” “white ghost,” etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum, so I figure hayseed or preferably bumpkin is pretty damn tame by comparison.
I can confirm this; they do run spot checks.[/quote]
They ran a spot check in the building that we used to live in. We ran into the police in the stairwell and they simply asked which apartment we lived in and if we were registered to live there. I offered to show my ARC but they said it wasn’t necessary. They did seem very interested in the foreigners living on the roof though.
Changing address costs nothing - I did it and they even changed my old ARC to the new one. Of course, two trips to Banqiao are neither fun nor free.
I can confirm this; they do run spot checks.[/quote]
They ran a spot check in the building that we used to live in. We ran into the police in the stairwell and they simply asked which apartment we lived in and if we were registered to live there. I offered to show my ARC but they said it wasn’t necessary. They did seem very interested in the foreigners living on the roof though.
Changing address costs nothing - I did it and they even changed my old ARC to the new one. Of course, two trips to Banqiao are neither fun nor free.[/quote]
Just change your address already, even in Australia people get deported for that sort of thing. ie You are sent an important letter, you dont respond in time. The police (literally) are sent to get you.
[quote=“ludahai”][quote=“spaint”]
I changed my address six months into an APRC and it was free. And it used to be that extending for three years meant you didn’t need to go back for three years. I don’t know the current regulations.[/quote]
I did the same and didn’t have to pay. Though I wonder if the fees are different between APRC and ARC, given that we pay NT$10,000 for what is basically a lifetime ARC. I don’t think anyone at NIA expects anyone to stay at the same address for decades…
Also, I made the mistake of going into NIA a couple of months late to change the address (caused mainly by my work schedule) but while they mentioned it to me, a couple of sorries (bu hao yi si’s) and I was ok… The Taichung NIA people have always been nice and very helpful to me…[/quote]
Change of passport number on my APRC done today. It was free. I asked the lady if this was because I had an APRC and she said an update done because of a change of address or change of passport number is free.
Now all I have to do is go back with a photo (oops) and then go get my OWP renewed, and visit all five of my banks to update the information that those clothheads require (WHY do they want my passport number, not my ARC number?)
Well, perhaps because your ARC does not allow you to move from country to country. Leave this rock with any debt or outstanding financial issues and your ARC number ain’t gonna do squat for anyone trying to find you.
[quote=“spaint”]Change of passport number on my APRC done today. It was free. I asked the lady if this was because I had an APRC and she said an update done because of a change of address or change of passport number is free.
Now all I have to do is go back with a photo (oops) and then go get my OWP renewed, and visit all five of my banks to update the information that those clothheads require (WHY do they want my passport number, not my ARC number?)[/quote]
Sweet, I was expecting to have to pay up, going to get mine sorted out tomorrow as I got a new passport as well
[quote=“sandman”][quote=“ludahai”][quote=“sandman”]Some people report the change. Some don’t. I didn’t, because it would have cost me about five times more in lost wages, time spent and hassle than just paying the fine when they find out. But they CAN fine you if they want to. Depends, really, on how much your time is worth. For me, the fine was by far the cheaper option.
And don’t forget that they speak Englishee these days, so its easy to just tell 'em straight up that “no, I 'aint about to schlepp all the way out to fucking Banqiao just to register an address change with you bozos! You think I have time for that kind of shit?”[/quote]
You call locals hayseeds and have no respect for local laws… Taiwanese people must LOVE you…[/quote]
How would I know? I only know a few and they’re friends and colleagues. Can’t number more than about 20 or 30, probably. The rest don’t mean SHIT to me. Just like – GOSH! – the vast majority of the locals. As for “respect for local laws,” well, I follow the old “when in Rome” adage.
As for the Hayseed thing? Well, lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of those fellows call me “big nose,” “hairy barbarian,” “white ghost,” etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum, so I figure hayseed or preferably bumpkin is pretty damn tame by comparison. [/quote]
You know, I don’t get that experience very much. And if you are going to live in a foreign country, I think it is try to try to respect that country and the people who live there. Yes, there are things I don’t like here and I bring them up. But those who know me also know I love living here and I love Taiwan, so they accept it from me. As for you, personally, with our attitude, I think you should just pack up and get out… but that is just one man’s opinion… enjoy living in a country whose people you seem to not like whatever… not the way I want to live…
[quote=“ludahai”][quote=“sandman”][quote=“ludahai”][quote=“sandman”]Some people report the change. Some don’t. I didn’t, because it would have cost me about five times more in lost wages, time spent and hassle than just paying the fine when they find out. But they CAN fine you if they want to. Depends, really, on how much your time is worth. For me, the fine was by far the cheaper option.
And don’t forget that they speak Englishee these days, so its easy to just tell 'em straight up that “no, I 'aint about to schlepp all the way out to fucking Banqiao just to register an address change with you bozos! You think I have time for that kind of shit?”[/quote]
You call locals hayseeds and have no respect for local laws… Taiwanese people must LOVE you…[/quote]
How would I know? I only know a few and they’re friends and colleagues. Can’t number more than about 20 or 30, probably. The rest don’t mean SHIT to me. Just like – GOSH! – the vast majority of the locals. As for “respect for local laws,” well, I follow the old “when in Rome” adage.
As for the Hayseed thing? Well, lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of those fellows call me “big nose,” “hairy barbarian,” “white ghost,” etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum, so I figure hayseed or preferably bumpkin is pretty damn tame by comparison. [/quote]
You know, I don’t get that experience very much. And if you are going to live in a foreign country, I think it is try to try to respect that country and the people who live there. Yes, there are things I don’t like here and I bring them up. But those who know me also know I love living here and I love Taiwan, so they accept it from me. As for you, personally, with our attitude, I think you should just pack up and get out… but that is just one man’s opinion… enjoy living in a country whose people you seem to not like whatever… not the way I want to live…[/quote]
