[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] The director (胡朝仁) of NIA Hualien County Service Center visited the Ji'an Township Office to help propagandas National Immigration Agency’s “Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program,” which aims to aid immigrants who have overstayed) in getting back to their countries as soon as possible. He visited the township head (游淑貞) at the Ji'an Township Office, and the head of township pledged to do her best to help and mobilize the local community to spread the word so that migrant workers who are unable to return to their hometowns due to the pandemic can do so without difficulty. The program will be given leniency from now until June 30 to encourage overstayers to self-report.
The head of township (游淑貞) appealed to the villagers to spread the program. In the past, due to the impact of the epidemic or special circumstances, migrant workers could not complete the visa and return to the country, so they were worried about being fined and avoided facing it. National Immigration Agency’s “Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program” provides overstayers who self-report exemption of detention, and with the minimum penalty and no restrictions on coming to Taiwan to work, so migrant workers can return home safely. The head of the township also instructed the officers of the villages to work together to visit and inform the villagers, so that migrant workers who encountered difficulties can return to their countries as soon as possible.
Read more: Overstayers self-report for reduced penalty! Let NIA help you home!
Photo provided by National Immigration Agency
The director (胡朝仁) further explained that the Legislative Yuan has been sent a revised draft of some provisions of the Immigration Act for review. One of these provisions states that the overstay fine will be increased from the current NT$2,000 to NT$10,000 to NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 in order to deter foreigners from overstaying. Also, the maximum control term for entering Taiwan has been increased from three to ten years. NIA make an appeal to the general people, asking them to encourage any foreigners they know who have overstayed in Taiwan to take the chance and self-report before the fines and controls are enhanced.
National Immigration Agency has also set up a special free consultation hotline 0800-024-881 (ByeBye), which provides multilingual services. Migrant workers and foreigners who have overstayed are welcome to use this hotline for consultation. More on NIA Hualien County Service Center Official Website.
