[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] A 90-year-old couple from Vietnam came to Taiwan last year to visit their two daughters who were married to Taiwan. However, due to their limited mobility and busy work of two daughters, they overstayed for 93 days. On the second day after the “Expanded overstayers voluntary departure program” was launched, accompanied by their daughter the old couple self-report to the NIA Taoyuan City Specialized Corps. of the Northern District Affairs Brigade. After paying a fine of NT$4,000, they have returned to hometown accompanied by their daughter on February 7th.
The NIA Taoyuan City Specialized Corps. stated that the 41-year-old Vietnamese-born Chen(陳氏詩), married to Taiwan in 2007, and obtained Taiwanese household registration 11 years ago. The 78-year-old mother, Ruan, was blocked by the epidemic and missed her daughter. She came to Taiwan on August 3rd last year (with a 90-day stay). Chen was unable to accompany the return home within the validity period of the stay, so the relevant legal provisions were ignored.
Read more: NIA to Publicize "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program” at Taipei Main Station
A 90-year-old Couple from Vietnam to Self-report and Return Hometown Safely Photo provided by Taoyuan Specialized Corps.
When Chen learned that the National Immigration Agency is implementing the “Expanded overstayers voluntary departure program”, with minimum fine of NT$2,000 for each, exempted from entry ban in 1 to 3 years and no detention. Chen took her parents to self-report immediately; the old Vietnamese couple, 94 and 78 years old, expressed their gratitude to NIA for allowing them to avoid paying a huge fine. Minister of the Interior (林右昌) also specially came to visit before their departure, and welcomed the couple to visit their daughter in Taiwan next time, remember to abide by the relevant regulations.
“Expanded overstayers voluntary departure program" starts from February 1st to June 30th, 2023. In the future, the penalty amount of the revised law will be increased from NT$2,000 to NT$10,000 to 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. NIA has also set up special hotline: 0800-024-881 for overstayers to inquire.
