Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network-A 90-year-old Couple from Vietnam to Self-report and Return Hometown Safely

Overstayers to Self-report: NIA Helps a Thai Migrant Worker Home!

[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] National Immigration Agency encourages overstaying migrant workers to self-report since February 1st this year. Those who "self-report" during the program period will be given a "lenient" punishment. They will be no detention with minimum fine of NT$2,000 and will not be exempted from entry ban.Song, a Thai migrant worker arrived in Taiwan to work. He ran away to Kaohsiung City and hid there for a month. In Gangshan, he has been doing part-time work at a Thai restaurant. When the employer learnt about his predicament, she accompanied him to the NIA Kaohsiung Specialized Corps. to self-report. Song was relieved with joy that he is allowed to return to Thailand and reunite with his family with minimum fine of NT$2,000 and no detention.In October of last year, Song arrived in Yilan, Taiwan, to start working in a steel factory. He frequently got sick because he was unbale to adapt the environment here. He quitted the factory where he had initially applied and moved to Kaohsiung to work part-time jobs in a Thai restaurant and became a disconnected overstayer.Read more: Overstayers self-report for reduced penalty! Let NIA help you home!"Expanded overstayers voluntary departure program." Program period from February 1st to June 30thPhoto provided by National Immigration AgencyThe kind-hearted employer accompanied Song to the NIA Kaohsiung Specialized Corps. to self-report day before yesterday. She learned that from February 1st, the National Immigration Agency promoted the "Expanded overstayers voluntary departure program." Migrant workers, who voluntarily self-report from February 1st to June 30th, can not only end their illegal working life in hiding, but also return home safely without being detained, and the fine can be reduced.NIA Kaohsiung Specialized Corps. stated that the draft amendments to some provisions of the entry and exit and immigration laws have been sent to the Legislative Yuan for review. Overstaying fines will be increased from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. The maximum length of control for arriving to Taiwan will be expanded from the initial maximum of 3 years to a maximum of 10 years, and fines of overstaying will rise from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. NIA has also suggested enhancement measures to address the flaws in immigration and epidemic prevention.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 (resident) can also use this hotline to inquire.

NIA Helps Disconnected Migrant Worker from Indonesia to Return Home for Children

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[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] National Immigration Agency encourages overstaying migrant workers to self-report since February 1st this year. Those who "self-report" during the program period will be given a "lenient" punishment. They will be no detention with minimum fine of NT$2,000 and will not be exempted from entry ban. Many foreigners who have overstayed in Taiwan voluntarily went to the case on the first day of the program. Finally, they no longer need to live in fear of being caught and can finally go back to their countries with peace of mind.A disconnected Indonesian migrant worker went to NIA Tainan City Second Service Center to self-report. The Indonesian migrant worker came to work in Taiwan with her husband who is also an Indonesian 3 years ago. After coming to Taiwan, she realized that her job was far from what she had expected. She wanted to change employers through legitimate methods, but she left alone under the instigation of her friends. She has been hiding and working part-time jobs for many years, and lives in fear every day.Read more: Overstayers self-report for reduced penalty! Let NIA help you home!National Immigration Agency promotes “Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program” from February 1st to June 30th.Photo provided by National Immigration Agency Accompanied by her husband, the Indonesian migrant worker came to the case. She decided to take advantage of the “Expanded overstayers voluntary departure program." They paid a fine of NT$2,000 and were exempted from entry control for 4 years. After returning to Indonesia for settlement, she will come to Taiwan to visit her husband.According to the director (陳南翰) of NIA Tainan City Second Service Center, “Expanded overstayers voluntary departure program" takes into account both epidemic prevention and the protection of basic human rights, and the original fine was NT$10,000, which has reduced to NT$2,000 for self-reporting. The 4-year entry ban is also exempted. Disconnected overstayers should not hesitate any longer.In order to prevent foreigners from overstaying in Taiwan in future, overstaying fines will be increased from NT$2,000 to NT$30,000~NT$150,000. The maximum length of control for arriving to Taiwan will be expanded from the initial maximum of 3 years to a maximum of 10 years. NIA has also set up special hotline: 0800-024-881 for overstayers to inquire. For further information on the NIA website: https://www.immigration.gov.tw

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.