With the reduction of the epidemic alert to level two, many foreigners went to the NIA’s First Service Center in Taichung. This is to remind new residents that the residence certificate extension service is postponed, and that they must proceed to the service station within 30 days from the lowering of the Covid-19 alert to level 2 (July 27 to August 25), to process their visa extension. Foreigners who have extended their stay or have extended their deadline must also prepare relevant documents within 10 days from the lowering of the epidemic alert (July 28 to August 6), to process their visa extension or leave the country before the deadline.
A lady named Miss Lin, wearing goggles, gloves, and a mask said that they have a newborn baby at home, and it has been a long time since she went to places with crowds. Seeing the crowd in the service center, she is very worried about the risk of cluster infection, but she needs to apply for the extension of her residence certificate. The staff at the service center immediately helped them. After getting a queuing number, there is no need to wait in the crowded center. She can stay in a less crowded area or in her car and check for her turn on Taichung First Service Center website on her mobile phone. She can enter the service station when her number is about to be called, to reduce the time of her staying inside the center.
National Immigration Agency Taichung City No. 1 Service Center website has the function of monitoring the queueing numbers. (Photo/Provided by the First Service Station of Taichung City)
Aside from the general public who apply for extensions, there are also many manpower agencies’ staff who gather in the service center to help foreign migrant workers to update their residence permits. Colleagues at the service center said that at present, both migrant workers and students can use the online system to update their information to extend the validity of their permits. It is also recommended that manpower agencies and students use the online application system, which is faster and reduces the risk of exposure with crowds.
The service center director Chou You-jen (周佑仁) said that the epidemic is still severe, and the service center is a public area with a lot of people; therefore, online application is really the safest. If there is a need to come to the station, it is necessary to maintain social distance, to wear masks, to disinfect hands and to avoid touching the nose and the mouth. Protect yourself and protect others.
