I had to make an appointment to submit my application too.
They got my documents, asked some questions, explained the process and characteristics of the APRC and told me when to go back to get the card.
All with an smile in their faces!
I can’t complain.
9. Setup an appointment with an agent to turn everything in. I know some people have just walked into the NIA and taken a number instead of making an appointment, but that is not the way to do it. Call your agent and make an appointment. They are not always there (they do take vacations), plus who wants to sit and wait in line. The agent in Taoyuan at the time of writing this was Vivian Tseng. She doesn’t take shit and her English isn’t that good. It is a major plus if you can speak Chinese when dealing with her but not necessary. Her number is 033310409 ext 121. She sits at the back of the office and you don’t need to wait or take a number to speak to her unless she is busy with someone else. At the time of writing this, she was the only agent in charge of dealing with APRC applicants in Taoyuan. Don’t get on her bad side, because she is all you got!!
In Taoyuan at least, when I got mine a few years ago, an appointment was required (I remember that they had only one APRC rep at the time). I don’t know the situation now in the Peach Garden.
I imagine the majority of applications go through Taipei or NTC so perhaps there are more reps and usually not a need for appointments? Or, like you mentioned, probably a lack of communication on their part. Shocking, I know. /s
In Hualien last week put in my application without an appointment. Was told need 4 weeks to complete.
A strange thing happened the day after I submitted my application. While in the office the immigration officer showed me a table with my arrivals dates. I did not examine closely but in last 10 years not that much travel so seemed right. I assumed she was only interested in more recent arrivals. However, the next day the immigration officer called my mobile phone which was answered by my wife. She said she wanted to confirm an arrival in 1990. She asked if I was working at company XXX which my wife confirmed as correct (but was actually not correct as started at that company in 1992). The officer said their records back at that time were not so good.
1990? Wow. I really did not expect them to care about arrivals 30 years ago. I guess could tell them my first entry was 1987…and been in and out of Taiwan at least 50 times.
Lol, had no idea. Back in march I just walked into NIA in Nantou with the documents.
They did not mention anything. Just filled out the forms and that was it.
There was no wait either. Nobody besides me was in there at that time.
May I remind you that for years -YEARS!- the address for NIA’s New Taipei location was NOT updated in their English website? Many a poor soul thought it was a stone’s throw from the Banciao station, almost next door to Far Eastern mall …only to embark in a trip if disappointment.