I study at a non university institute and therefore have to leave every six months to get a new two month valid student visa. Then I can extend that visa four times - each time for 30 days. Great.
But my question is this then …
If I would like to go and travel (say for argument sake) Thailand for a few days, maybe a week … Does that mean I lose the current visa, even if there was “time” left on it, and need to apply for a new two month student visa on my return to Taiwan ? Which in effect would mean taking the papers with me where-ever I go …
If you’re dragging out a 60 day extendable visitor visa thru studying at say TLI, then your visa dies when you leave the country. And yes, you have to get a new one. The only way outta that is to obtain an ARC by attending an approved school - usually a university Chinese program or the like.
Note that what I’m talking about is a visitor visa. With an ARC and a re-entry permit you’ll have no problems.
I was a student at an approved school , but I blew it by tripping off to Bali during a winter break only to return and be told I had no visa. Despite having a valid student ID - showing I’d paid up for several more months, evidence of attendance, the exasperated woman at the visa section at the airport and her sincerity in seeking any possible loop hole - all failed to gain me anything but a landing visa (two weeks) and it was off to the Chunking mansions for a night (HK).
Mind you, you could always time your holiday with ya visa run.