Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network-Overstayers to Self-report: NIA Helps a Thai Migrant Worker Home!

Overstayers self-report for reduced penalty! Let NIA help you home!

From February 1st to June 30th,2023, National Immigration Agency will promote the "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program".Those who report yourself during the program period will be treated "leniently," receiving punishments like no detention, minimum fine of NT$2,000, and exempted from entry ban. NIA encourages expanded overstayers to report themselves.National Immigration Agency also noted that the Legislative Yuan has been provided draft modifications to some provisions of the entry-exit and immigration legislation for assessment.From February 1st to June 30th,2023, National Immigration Agency will promote the "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program". Photo provided by NIAAmendments to increase penalties:In order to prevent foreigners from overstaying in our country, the overdue fine will be increased from NT$2,000 ~ NT$10,000 to NT$30,000 yuan ~ NT$150,000, and the certain period of time of banned from entering Taiwan will be increase from a maximum of 3 years to a maximum of 10 years.National Immigration Agency has set up a free consultation hotline 0800-024-881 (ByeBye) for this program, which provides multi-language services. Citizens and foreigners who have overstayed can also use this hotline to inquire.

NIA to Publicize "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program” at Taipei Main Station

Special Report

[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] Given that the relaxation of the epidemic situation in countries and the resumption of international flights, National Immigration Agency promotes the "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program” from February 1st to June 30th, 2023. On the first Sunday (February 5th) of the project, a press conference was held at Taipei Main Station. Not only the Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior, but also the Director-General of NIA and guests from various units stationed in Taiwan also attended the event. Indonesian band and Taiwan-Vietnamese second-generation immigrants singers were invited to perform live. There were also activities such as check-in and gift giving, hoping to attract the crowds of Taipei Main Station on weekends and holidays to publicized "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program” to the general public, so that foreigners who have overstayed in Taiwan for some reason can return home as soon as possible.Read more: Overstayers self-report for reduced penalty! Let NIA help you home!Many new immigrants who wore traditional costumes and brought their families to participate in the event. Photo provided from Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News NetworkUndersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior(吳堂安), but also the Director-General of NIA(鐘景琨), promote the policy in person and toured the food stalls. Photo provided from Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News NetworkIn the hall on the first floor of Taipei Main Station, there are also cultural and food stalls from the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, which bring artworks and daily necessities with cultural characteristics from each country. Each stands also prepares local traditional food for free to the people participating in the event. Before the start of the publicity activities, the main stage of the hall invited the Indonesian band(第5音符) and the well-known rapper "Peach A1J" of the second-generation immigrant of Vietnamese to sing the opening performance in the hall of Taipei Main Station. There were also many new immigrants who wore traditional costumes and brought their families to participate in the event.Read more: Overstayers self-report for reduced penalty! Let NIA help you home!National Immigration Agency also sent out immigration officers who are fluent in several languages to take turns at the activity. Photo provided from Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News NetworkThe immigration officer doll at the activity. Photo provided from Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News NetworkNational Immigration Agency also sent out immigration officers who are fluent in several languages to take turns at the activity and inform the locals of this policy in Chinese, English, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese. This was done in order to ensure that everyone there understood this measure.Read more: "Undiscovered Taipei" Brochure to Take Tourists for Cuisine in TaipeiIndonesian band(第5音符) performed at the activity. Photo provided from Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News NetworkThe Ministry of the Interior said that a draft modification of several sections of the "Immigration Act " has been revised to stop foreigners from overstaying in our nation and has been forwarded to the Legislative Yuan for evaluation. After the project period, the overdue fine will increase from NT$ 30,000 to NT$ 150,000, and the control period for entering Taiwan has been changed from a maximum of 3 years to a maximum of 10 years. The current overdue fine is NT$ 2,000. It is strongly advised that immigrants who have overstayed in Taiwan to seize the opportunity to report themselves.Read more: New Immigrants are Encouraged to Cast for Rising New Immigrants themed SeriesParticipating new immigrants went on live to share the information to friends. Photo provided from Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News NetworkAccording to the National Immigration Agency, a couple of Indonesians who had gone in a relationship during their overstay in Taiwan returned to their country together and got married on the first day the program was put into action. National Immigration Agency has set up a free consultation hotline 0800-024-881 for this program, which provides multi-language services. Citizens and foreigners who have overstayed can also use this hotline to inquire.There are also cultural and food stalls from the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, which bring artworks and daily necessities with cultural characteristics from each country. Photo provided from Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News NetworkThere are also cultural and food stalls from the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, which bring artworks and daily necessities with cultural characteristics from each country. Photo provided from Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network"Taipei Main Station is gathered with people on weekends and holidays, and it's also a place where many new immigrants gather here," said Undersecretary (吳堂安) of the Ministry of the Interior. “In order to return home and be reunited with their families as soon as possible, foreigners who have overstayed in Taiwan can learn about this program and are invited to come to the case on their own.” He added.

The Indonesian disconnected migrant workers couple to Self-report and take children home

Special Report

[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] National Immigration Agency is currently handling the "Expended overstayers voluntary departure program." On the first day of implementation (February 1st) this year, a couple of disconnected migrant workers from Indonesia who lived in Hsinchu acknowledged that the program not only adopts the minimum fines and exemption from entry ban, but also avoids detention. The couple took the child to the Hsinchu City Specialized Corps. of NIA to go through the formalities of self-report.The Indonesian disconnected immigrant couple, as far as the Specialized Corps. is aware, resided in Hsinchu City's Nanliao seashore neighborhood at the time they lost contact. The couple have always wanted to bring their kids with a decent identity and life, but because they are both missing migrant workers, they can only work as part time jobs covertly, making their dream of going back to Indonesia unattainable; they were thrilled and moved when they knew about National Immigration Agency’s "Expended overstayers voluntary departure program."Read more: Overstayers self-report for reduced penalty! Let NIA help you home!The Indonesian disconnected migrant workers couple to Self-report and take children home Photo provided by Hsinchu Specialized Corps.According to the leader (范育誠) of the Hsinchu City Specialized Corps. that in response to the relaxed epidemic situation in various countries and the assistance of overstayed (resident) immigrants to return to their country, National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior will promote "Expended overstayers voluntary departure program" with no detention, minimum fine to NT$2000, and exemption of entry ban from February 1st to June 30th. More than a dozen foreigners voluntarily self-reported on the first day of the program and went through the formalities for returning to the country.The Hsinchu Specialized Corps. of NIA stated that in order to prevent foreigners from overstaying in the country, the future revision of the law will increase the penalty amount for overstayers from NT$2,000 to NT$10,000 to NT$30,000 to NT$150,000, and to control the time limit for entering Taiwan, and increased from a maximum of three years to a maximum of ten years. The investigation will be strengthened during the program period in addition to self-reporting to the case on their own to demonstrate their commitment to implementing the law.Please assist and encourage the overstayers to come to self-report if you are a nation and know foreigners who have overstayed (reside) in Taiwan. Contact the National Immigration Agency special free consultation hotline 0800-024-881 if you have any questions, which will provide multilingual knowledge of the program material.