The entrance to MECO in Taipei (Photo from Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino workers in Taiwan may now apply for a multiple re-entry visa following a new immigration policy from Taipei, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) said on Tuesday.
In a report to Meco, Director David Des Dicang of the Migrant Workers Office in Kaohsiung explained how Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), can get their multiple re-entry visas.
“Vacationing OFWs must first inform their Taiwan Manpower Agencies (Brokers) at least three weeks before their scheduled departure to give them ample time for the replacement of their ROC [Alien] Resident Certificate (ARC), which will indicate entitlement to the multiple reentry visa,” Dicang’s report said.
“Such reentry permit is for multiple uses, and its validity period shall not exceed the validity period of the ARC,” he added.
But Dicang cautioned that if the OFW’s work permit is cancelled, their reentry permit is also deemed cancelled.
He further reminded OFWs to adhere to the designated return period to Taiwan strictly.
Extended vacations may lead to Absence Without Leave, resulting in the cancellation of their Work Permit/ARC and preventing reentry into Taiwan, Dicang added.
According to Meco, multiple entry visas will help the over 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan save resources allotted for processing travel documents.
“We are very pleased with this latest development that will ease the burden on our OFWs. This means savings in terms of time and money in processing travel documents to Taiwan for our workers,” Meco Chairman Silvestre Bello III said.
Meco explained that previously, foreigners working in Taiwan and covered by its Employment Service Act were not eligible to apply for multiple reentry permits.
Taiwan’s new immigration policies will take effect this month.