Visa Application

WARNING: This is a long read. Sorry! :D


I'm now in the process of applying for a Student Visa for Taiwan. Last Friday, after the scholarship awarding ceremony, my visa application was not accepted because I was missing some documents. (The DFA certified ToR and Diploma, to be exact.) I'm sure that a lot of the grantees also had slight problems during their application so here's me trying to help consolidate the requirements (even though I'm still not finished with mine, yet. Hahaha!). :-)


1. Know Your Dates

Make sure you know the enrollment dates for the school you will be attending so that you know when you are needed in Taiwan and what flight schedule you'll need to book. For NTNU, enrollment is scheduled for August 25-27, 2009 (last Tuesday to Thursday of August).

If possible, book you're flights (earlier booking = cheaper rates) and find temporary accommodations to give you ample opportunity to house-hunt when you get to Taiwan. For temporary housing, look for cheap international hostel accommodations like Taipei Hostel Home.

My sister is going with me to Taiwan on my first week there, and we'll be house-hunting together. We'll also do some sight-seeing during free times. I'm booked via Philippine Airlines to fly on August 23 (Sunday), and my sister is scheduled to go back to the Philippines on August 31 (Monday). We've also reserved temporary accommodations in Taipei Hostel.


2. Basic Visa Requirements

Check out the TECO site so you know what documents are needed for Visa Application. Listed below are the visa requirements for studying Mandarin in Taiwan:

1. A duly filled up visa application form and indicating N/A if not applicable (download here)
2. Two (2) 2 X 1.5 head & shoulder photos with white background (taken w/in 3 months)
3. Passport valid for at least six months and old passport showing previous travels
4. Birth Certificate issued by NSO
5. Marriage Contract (if applicable) issued by NSO
6. Admittance letter from any of the accredited school
7. Financial supporting documents of the applicant such as:
   a. ) Income Tax Return
   b. ) Bankbook or Bank Certificate
8. Attendance Record ( we don't need this )
9. Study plan ( we don't need this )
10. Interview ( scheduled at 4pm on the day you file for your visa )
11. All documents submitted to this office should be Original and 1 photocopy

The visa application fee (PhP2,400) is waived for TECO scholars except the Huayu scholars. (Thanks for the correction, Jackie!)

Quick Tips:

• Check out Citizen Service for an easy and convenient way to get your Birth Certificates / Marriage Contracts delivered to you.
  
• Take note that there are different sets of requirements for Visitor Visas and University Student Visas.
• Maximum visa duration is 180 days. Some Huayu scholars (like me!) might need to apply twice during their stay.
  

3. Additional Visa Requirements for Scholars

Aside from the normal requirements listed on section 2, there are additional requirements for the TECO scholars.

1. DFA Certified Transcript of Records and Diploma
2. Photocopy of your Scholarship Award (Ms. Happy provided this to us last July 31.)
   
3. Medical Certificate and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) Vaccination
   

For the DFA-certified documents, I suggest you call the DFA Office of Consular Affairs first (Phone number: 556-4080). They will be able to tell you how to apply for your DFA certifications.

• For universities under CHED, call up your universities to find out the guidelines for DFA application. I think it's a three-step process: get certified true copies from school, go to CHED for DFA Certification, and go to DFA to claim documents.
  
• For non-CHED universities (like UP), contact your registrar to find out the correct process. It's a two-step for us: get certified true copies and file for certification directly to DFA. (Here's the number to the Transcript of Records Section in UP Diliman Registrar: 981.85.00 local 4561, 4562.)

For Medical Certificates and MMR Vaccination, please proceed to the TECO-accredited medical centers for the necessary procedures. Make sure to call the medical centers first to inquire if MMR vaccination is available; the vaccination might be unavailable when you visit the medical center.

Quick Tips:

• Bring along a stool sample so you won't have to return to the center for stool submission. Yucky tip, I know!
  
• Drink plenty of water prior to your medical examination to ensure you have an easy time producing urine samples. Hahaha!

Timelines
Just a rough summary here on the timelines for some documents:

• NSO Citizen Service: 3-4 days
• DFA Document Certification: 4 working days
  
• Medical Certification and MMR Vaccination: 2-3 days
• TECO Visa: 1-3 days (visa application is done in the morning ONLY; interview is done 4pm on the same day. )
  
• UPD Certified True Copies: 1 day
  

Final Words

I'm listing everything that I know based on my Visa application. If I missed anything or put in some things that are incorrect, please feel free to correct me so I can update this entry for everyone's use.

Lastly, budget your time wisely; and always remember to have fun! We are venturing towards a great and fun adventure, after all. :D