After I sent the application online to update the address and collected the card I got an email from an NIA Executive Officer at the Taipei City Service Center. The email had both Chinese and English text.
They asked if I could provide them a copy of the bank book cover and they will refund the $500NT fee.
I replied to the email with a copy of the cover and a few weeks later I was refunded.
I sent a chaser this afternoon
I have some new info and an update.
Last Friday they called me saying that the rules to confirming salary have changed and whereas before they needed a work contract / a letter signed by an employer, starting now they only accept tax statements.
It does make me wonder a bit how long that is going to last since at least in Poland no-one but you signs your tax statements 
Anyway, they also said that since I applied a long time ago when the old rules were still in place they are going to try to pass it but I may have to give them a tax statement if it fails. Okay.
And yesterday I got an email and carried my passport to BOCA 
Any updates to the proposed amendment to this that was going through the government? The one that was trying for only 3 years on the gold card and then you could apply for APRC? @fifieldt ?
It is in the new economic immigration bill, and may be no progress until the election done.
News about the tax benefit:
https://foreigntalentact.ndc.gov.tw/en/News_Content.aspx?n=F0746484B877D582&s=AB4D1406453F1C22
Some changes, still figuring out what it means.
Ok, so my interpretation of the interpretation - please validate!
This news does not apply to you if:
Not at all cryptic 
Does anyone know whatâs the procedure after submitting your passport? The day before yesterday (6 days after leaving my passport at BOCA) status changed to âUnder inspectionâ again 
I think thatâs normal just before they finally approve it?
Also retrieved the passport yesterday but no new visa inside. I guess itâs electronic or built into the card? I guess should be expected since they havenât finally approved it yet though.
Sounds like a normal procedure. 6 days is the âstandardâ BOCA turnaround.
Soon you should get a notification to pick up your card.
Youâre correct that the card itself serves as your visa. Should you get a new passport in the future, be sure to update the number with NIA by using the online portal to send an update.
I want to apply for a gold card. I hope to get it on the basis that I have a PhD and not much else. Do I need a certified copy of my PhD certificate? Certified by a TECO office? Do I need other certified copies of documents? Is there a chance to get the gold card just like that?
Welcome to Formosa!
Nope, non-certified copies are accepted by default. Youâre uploading digital versions to the website, anyway.
May we know which field you are in?
The PhD is in Musicology. So not directly in education but I aim to apply for the education sector.
Looks like youâve done your research So, you would choose to apply under Article 1 of the regulations for Foreign Special Professionals Possessing Special Expertise in the Field of Education.
Iâm not familiar with how the Ministry of Education approaches its assessments, but in theory if your degree is from the top 200 universities in the most recent QS World University Rankings or Times Higher Education World University Rankings, you could be good. If youâve also got evidence of a class or two you taught, even better.
If you want to get more information prior to applying, you could call the MoE contact on the official contact list.
Is it normal for the âUnder inspectionâ status to stay for 5 days after BOCA? Looking at previous timelines in this thread it should change within the same day.
Iâm getting impatient on the finish line 
Yes. Some people even found that their status never updated at all, and they found their card had long been printed. In theory, since itâs under NIA jurisdiction at this point you could give their official gold card contact a call to find out whatâs going on.
Iâll call them in the morning and let you know how it goes. Was going to do that anyway. So far the experience has been truly special 
Yeah, the person on the phone just flipped a switch and I got the approval email. He said to come in a few days to pick it up. It may be as you say and itâs already been printed
He also mentioned there were âsome opinionsâ on my application in the system and he had to consult with his supervisor. I donât know what that is about.
Hi Wo,
So you ended up getting approved under the Economic category? Can you tell me what you had to give them to succeed in that area? I fulfill the salary requirement (from my last job in another country) and have an MBA from Taiwan but I didnât think I qualified. Greatly appreciate any feedback, thanks!
Alright. Just picked up the card Thanks to everybody and @fifieldt
Yes I ended up approved under Economy (which makes no sense but meh). You can call Mr Huang at MoL from the list someone posted earlier (search this thread). He doesnât speak English but will redirect you to somebody who does. If you want you can ask for Ms Wendy, sheâs super helpful. Tell her your case and ask what they would need from you.
I sent them a contract, a bank statement and a letter from my employer stating that I am xyz and make xyz. From what I understand the bank statement is never taken into consideration. The contract + letter combo may not be anymore either. They said they will only accept pay slips and tax statements in future applications.
Also, the online application system is bugged to the ninth heaven. If you need to update your info at some point be prepared that some fields will not be updated, some docs will upload twice, some parts of the site will be in ä¸ć, the website goes down and comes back a few hours later. And call them every Monday or so to inquire after you apply.