URGENT Visa Question

Legal Visa & Residency
1

Here’s my situation:

I’m a US citizen on a Taiwan scholarship (1 year language study, and 2 years for a Masters). I’ve finished my 1 year of language study at Taida’s ICLP, and I start at Zhengda (NCCU) in September.

My ARC expires on August 24th 2012, so I went on Monday (8/6) to the immigration office to extend my ARC, but they said I had the wrong type of Visa (I have a Language Visa, but I need a Student or Study Visa or something). So, I went to the BOCA/MOFA office with my documents, and they said I needed another health check. So, I went to Wanfang Hospital and got my health check, but the health check documents won’t be ready for pickup until August 20th in the afternoon. I have all the other documents needed (at least to my knowledge), but will I need to leave the country (i.e. a Visa run)?

This paragraph is how I think the process will transpire:
I should have everything processed at the BOCA/MOFA office on Aug. 20th, and I’m guessing they’ll just give me another page in my Passport (that same day, hopefully). Then I will go back to the Banciao Immigration Office and get my ARC extended (probably on Aug. 21st). Is this how everything in a perfect world should transpire, or am I delusional and missing a piece of the puzzle? Is there anything I can do to avoid wasting money flying to HK? And, does anyone know how much the Visa+ARC renewal process fees will cost me? Seeing as I’m on a Taiwan Scholarship, I’m hoping some part of the VISA/ARC fees will be exempt/discounted?

On a side note if it matters, I returned to Taiwan from visiting the US on July 18th.

Sorry if I wrote anything poorly. I’ve been through hell this week, and after I got all my documents together, I’ve come down with food poisoning. But, thanks for any insights y’all can help me with!

-Jef

2

I don’t think you need to do a visa run.Go to NIA -again- and show them that you have done the medical exams. Ask for a temporary extension based on that, enough to process the change. If push comes to shove, have someone from NCCU’s OIP call them to explain that the paperwork is in the pipeline.

Visa runs are for emergencies or radical change in visa -say work to study. Do not mention it at all to NIA! Yes, above all, avoid overstays, but you are a bona fide student. Talk to the people at NIA, they are usually very reasonable and helpful.

Good luck, keep us posted, and come back if you have further questions.

ps.
what are you going to study at NCCU? I might be your shue mei. :smiley:

3

It’s hard to type at the moment (fiance poked my eye on accident and I spent the day at Wanfang with a new in-fashion eye patch and cut cornea ( -_- ) I’ll be in the IMAS program, and you? BTW, thanks for the response and I hope we’re classmates!?

4

Ugh, sorry to hear about the eye -the docs at Wangfang are the first line of defense, LOL. And I meant shue jie -my Chinese is gone to the dogs- I graduated ages ago.