I am an ABC living in the San Francisco Bay Area currently, and I’m thinking about moving to Taiwan in about a year with my husband and 2 daughters, who will be ages 5 and 6 at that time. We plan to stay in Taiwan for 1-2 years, primarily to give our children an opportunity to learn Mandarin, experience a different culture, etc. I have some extended family in Taiwan, but my immediate family (parents, siblings) all live in the U.S. My parents are both ROC nationals, so I understand that I and my children will be able to get Taiwan passports through my parents (my mom has passed away but my dad still has his Taiwanese passport and needs to “reactivate” his household registration since he has not lived in Taiwan for 40+ years). Also, I intend to apply for a Taiwan Area Residency Card (TARC) so that I may be able to apply for a work permit if I need to work while there and to help establish residency for my children, who I’d like to enroll in public schools while in Taiwan if possible (which is why I’m planning on getting a TARC). I’m not exactly clear on the following though:
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I understand all the documentation that needs to be gathered for the TARC and that I’d apply for the TARC after entering Taiwan on my Taiwan passport. Has anyone applied for the TARC before entering Taiwan at an overseas TECO Office ? I wasn’t sure if this was a possibility. I have a lot of family in Taiwan that would allow me to use their address for household registration purposes (if that matters at all).
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After submitting all the relevant documentation for the TARC, how long does it take to get the TARC? I understand the clock for the 1 year consecutive stay in Taiwan doesn’t start until after you receive the TARC.
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The TECO office in San Francisco told me that I would have to stay in Taiwan consecutively for a year on the TARC to establish household registration, and THEN after that one year, I could apply for household registration for my children. During that 1 year period residing in Taiwan, will I be able to enroll my children in public school with just my TARC since my children won’t have any household registration yet? (Not sure if I should post this question in a different forum?)
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My husband is a U.S. citizen only and will enter Taiwan on his U.S. passport. Will he be able to obtain any kind of residency if I hold a TARC, or will he be forced to do visa runs every 3 months in order to stay with us for the 1-2 years?
Thanks in advance for any information!