I just realized that the Taiwan customs agent put a stamp in my passport that says “30 days”, but my visa that TECO pasted into my passport says 60.
What is going on?
Taiwan haggling system. Try for 60 but be willing to settle for 45 days, anything less and you will lose face.
I assume she means immigration official. Immigration has final say when you enter a country, regardless what your visa might say.
I have come across this a few times on my business travels, but usually in countries where I got a landing visa/visa exempt. The regulations might say I can get a 30 landing visa for example. The immigration official might ask how long you plan to stay and stamp your passport accordingly.
I do however believe that it is quite rare for them to “overrule” the visa issuing authority.
[quote=“bigduke6”]
I assume she means immigration official. Immigration has final say when you enter a country, regardless what your visa might say.
I have come across this a few times on my business travels, but usually in countries where I got a landing visa/visa exempt. The regulations might say I can get a 30 landing visa for example. The immigration official might ask how long you plan to stay and stamp your passport accordingly.
I do however believe that it is quite rare for them to “overrule” the visa issuing authority.[/quote]
So what do I do?
I HAVE a 60-day visa. They must not have even looked at it. Should I go to the immigration office?
I can not leave the country by next week.
[quote=“Lili”] Should I go to the immigration office?
[/quote]
Yep. Best to make sure rather than have problems later.
[quote=“Lili”][quote=“bigduke6”]
I assume she means immigration official. Immigration has final say when you enter a country, regardless what your visa might say.
I have come across this a few times on my business travels, but usually in countries where I got a landing visa/visa exempt. The regulations might say I can get a 30 landing visa for example. The immigration official might ask how long you plan to stay and stamp your passport accordingly.
I do however believe that it is quite rare for them to “overrule” the visa issuing authority.[/quote]
So what do I do?
I have a 60-day visa. They must not have even looked at it. Should I go to the immigration office?
I can not leave the country by next week.[/quote]
Of course they looked at it. They scan the passport’s barcode. My suggestion is to phone the National Immigration Agency’s foreigner hotline.It’s open 24/7.
Not sure the number, they sent me a brochure a few weeks ago, but I am not sure where it is. There was a post about this brochure somewhere in the forum. Not sure if they posted the contact details.
Yes it sounds like you were entered using “visa exempt” entry instead of the visa you were given before you arrived. This means from taiwans perspective you have to leave after 30 days, and that you have not yet entered on your 60 day visa.
[quote=“bigduke6”]
Of course they looked at it. They scan the passport’s barcode. My suggestion is to phone the National Immigration Agency’s foreigner hotline.It’s open 24/7.
Not sure the number, they sent me a brochure a few weeks ago, but I am not sure where it is. There was a post about this brochure somewhere in the forum. Not sure if they posted the contact details.[/quote]
The passport’s barcode?! That has nothing to do with the visa. They probably did not look at the visa.
And regarding the “call some phone number somewhere that is printed on some brochure somewhere”, lol!
Best just pay a visit to the NIA and sort it out ASAP.
[quote=“pqkdzrwt”]Yes it sounds like you were entered using “visa exempt” entry instead of the visa you were given before you arrived. This means from taiwans perspective you have to leave after 30 days, and that you have not yet entered on your 60 day visa.
[quote=“bigduke6”]
Of course they looked at it. They scan the passport’s barcode. My suggestion is to phone the National Immigration Agency’s foreigner hotline.It’s open 24/7.
Not sure the number, they sent me a brochure a few weeks ago, but I am not sure where it is. There was a post about this brochure somewhere in the forum. Not sure if they posted the contact details.[/quote]
The passport’s barcode?! That has nothing to do with the visa. They probably did not look at the visa.
And regarding the “call some phone number somewhere that is printed on some brochure somewhere”, lol!
Best just pay a visit to the NIA and sort it out ASAP.[/quote]
Actually I should have said optical character recognition strip that appears on your passport and visa’s. If this is scanned it tells the Immigration official whether the passport is linked to the visa.
I don’t think the system is as advanced as you think it is.
For example: When we last entered taiwan, my wife’s new Taiwanese passport was scanned, and they announced it was not in their computer system! They had to fuss around and call some phone number to verify that the passport was a valid Taiwan issued passport. It’s not like the passport was that new, we had had it for over 3 months.
[quote=“Lili”]I just realized that the Taiwan customs agent put a stamp in my passport that says “30 days”, but my visa that TECO pasted into my passport says 60.
What is going on?[/quote]
Did you get your ARC? If you came here on a "student’ visa, then you should have an ARC for studying. If you came here to accept work, then you should have an ARC for working. If you came here on a “tourist” visa, then you can only stay up to 30 days.
[quote=“pqkdzrwt”]I don’t think the system is as advanced as you think it is.
For example: When we last entered taiwan, my wife’s new Taiwanese passport was scanned, and they announced it was not in their computer system! They had to fuss around and call some phone number to verify that the passport was a valid Taiwan issued passport. It’s not like the passport was that new, we had had it for over 3 months.[/quote]
The system is actually very simple when it comes to visa’s. I am not sure how it works with a person entering a country with that countries passport in hand.
When you apply for a visa the sequence is scanned and printed on the bottom of your visa.
When you enter a country they scan and immediately know that you have a valid visa and, all the personal information on the visa and passport are the same. The machine simply compares the sequence on the ID page of your passport, and the sequence on your visa that is in the database.
[quote=“Gryphon”][quote=“Lili”]I just realized that the Taiwan customs agent put a stamp in my passport that says “30 days”, but my visa that TECO pasted into my passport says 60.
What is going on?[/quote]
Did you get your ARC? If you came here on a "student’ visa, then you should have an ARC for studying. If you came here to accept work, then you should have an ARC for working. If you came here on a “tourist” visa, then you can only stay up to 30 days.[/quote]
No, I have to be on a visitor’s visa until I prove I have studied for at least 4 months. Then I get the student ARC
[quote=“Gryphon”][quote=“Lili”]I just realized that the Taiwan customs agent put a stamp in my passport that says “30 days”, but my visa that TECO pasted into my passport says 60.
What is going on?[/quote]
Did you get your ARC? If you came here on a "student’ visa, then you should have an ARC for studying. If you came here to accept work, then you should have an ARC for working. If you came here on a “tourist” visa, then you can only stay up to 30 days.[/quote]
WTF is a tourist visa? There is no such thing as a ““tourist” visa” or a “student visa” for that matter.
The OP is assumedly talking about being entered using a “visa exempt entry” as opposed to the pre-arranged “Vistor visa” that should have been stapled into their passport.
To be sure we all understand each other, when talking about visa types, if at all possible, could you please use the actual names of the visa types, ie:
[quote=“Lili”][quote=“Gryphon”][quote=“Lili”]I just realized that the Taiwan customs agent put a stamp in my passport that says “30 days”, but my visa that TECO pasted into my passport says 60.
What is going on?[/quote]
Did you get your ARC? If you came here on a "student’ visa, then you should have an ARC for studying. If you came here to accept work, then you should have an ARC for working. If you came here on a “tourist” visa, then you can only stay up to 30 days.[/quote]
No, I have to be on a visitor’s visa until I prove I have studied for at least 4 months. Then I get the student ARC[/quote]
Ok. Well, best of luck to you. You might have to go visit HK for a short 1-day trip (assuming you have a multiple use visitor visa). Otherwise, try to see if you can get the visitor visa extended (although you probably won’t be able to).
[quote=“pqkdzrwt”][quote=“Gryphon”][quote=“Lili”]I just realized that the Taiwan customs agent put a stamp in my passport that says “30 days”, but my visa that TECO pasted into my passport says 60.
What is going on?[/quote]
Did you get your ARC? If you came here on a "student’ visa, then you should have an ARC for studying. If you came here to accept work, then you should have an ARC for working. If you came here on a “tourist” visa, then you can only stay up to 30 days.[/quote]
WTF is a tourist visa? There is no such thing as a ““tourist” visa” or a “student visa” for that matter.
The OP is assumedly talking about being entered using a “visa exempt entry” as opposed to the pre-arranged “Vistor visa” that should have been stapled into their passport.
To be sure we all understand each other, when talking about visa types, if at all possible, could you please use the actual names of the visa types, ie:
boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=130 … e=109&mp=2[/quote]
Thank you for your correction…although you could have been more gracious about it.
[quote=“Gryphon”]
WTF is a tourist visa? There is no such thing as a ““tourist” visa” or a “student visa” for that matter.
The OP is assumedly talking about being entered using a “visa exempt entry” as opposed to the pre-arranged “Vistor visa” that should have been stapled into their passport.
To be sure we all understand each other, when talking about visa types, if at all possible, could you please use the actual names of the visa types, ie:
boca.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=130 … e=109&mp=2[/quote]
Thank you for your correction…although you could have been more gracious about it.[/quote]
Sorry for being a little rude and grumpy tonight. It’s just that this type of thing gets posted a lot. It just gets a bit frustrating when so many people post so much conflicting information, often times its due to a simple mis understanding of the visa names.
You are a student? 
What happened to your job? (Or are you a different Lili and i am just confused? :s )
My two cents. Sounds like a mistake was made . The immi official simply gave you the 30 day visa free entry for Americans. Probably didn’t realize you have an actual Tourist visa valid for multiple entry and for 5 years (isnt that what you have?).
I would pay the foreign affairs police a visit poste haste (or the new immi office they have now) and get that straightened out immediately. Otherwise you MUST leave by the date stated or it will start to get unpleasant.
Now it also could be that is the new standard procedure where the immi official just stamps the 30 day and if you do indeed have a visa for sixty days when you leave they will do the number counting and you will be fine as long as you leave within the stated day.
in the days when i was there, you got a stamp only showing the day you arrived, not showing when you must leave. And you have to make sure you leave by the 60 day latest. Have to be good at counting and mark your calendar well. I never got a stamp showing when i must leave.
but to be safe, pay the immi office a visit.
The USA is different. The Immi official decides then and there how many days to give you. He/she is allowed to give you a max of 90 days IIRC but certainly can give you less.
AS i said, taiwan used to just stamp the DAY OF ENTRY. And you do your own math. Just dont make a frickin mistake.
So maybe the immi guy/girl just used the wrong stamp OR their new policy is one stamp for all. And as long as you leave by the allotted time you are hunky dory.
It will be interesting to know. So get it sorted and let us know.
I asked around and the consensus is go ask at the Immigration Office. From the people who I know personally, they say its probably just that the guy didn’t realize I have an actual Visitor Visa from the TECO and he just gave me an exempt entry for 30 days. They also believe, as do I, that my TECO has the ultimate authority and therefore if some douche at the gate didn’t do his job properly, immigration will honor my TECO visa.
I’ll let you know what happens.
This sucks. Hopefully immigration is understanding of their mistake.
I reviewed my passport and my visa exempt entries have the # of days specified (30) but the visa entries are only dates. I guess the visa exempt entries need this since there is no visa to reference but it’s strange.
I’m really not sure the system is as automated as some think. I think most of the time that I enter the immi official starts paging thru my passport and then asks ‘30 day visa exempt?’ And I either say yes or tell them to keep going since the visa is at the end (if I have one).