Many people who have come to work in Taiwan have had to undertake the inglorious journey of what is commonly called a “visa run,” in order to acquire the necessary status to work here legally.
The phrase instantly brings to mind English teachers working here under shady circumstances, but the reality is that economic immigrants to Taiwan in an array of industries find it necessary, at some point, to change their visa status.
If you are seeking employment, but arrived in Taiwan on a landing visa or some types of visitor visas (such as a student visa), at some point you will have to leave the country in order to be able to apply for a resident visa — which is a requirement to apply for an Alien Resident Card to be able to work here legally for any length of time.
Such a trip may come at a difficult time, financially speaking. If you are just beginning a new job, you may not be receiving a regular paycheck yet.
With this in mind, there are several options available to those who wish to save as much money as possible when undertaking such a journey.
The usual destinations (the ones with the least expensive round-trip airfare) people think of for visa runs are Hong Kong, Okinawa, Japan and Bangkok, Thailand.
But there is another option: Macau, the destination of choice for a combination of convenience and thrift.
Despite its booming economy, which is driven largely by legal gambling and tourism, it’s possible to get by in Macau for around MOP300 (roughly US$37 or NT$1,130) per day, including accommodations.
What we are talking about here is barebones, no-frills tourism: Your mode of transportation (except to and from the airport) is by foot, and your meals are not going to be journeys to a gastronomic wonderland.
But with an adventurous spirit, you can still have a good time; and more to the point, get your business at the visa office taken care of quickly and cheaply.
AIRFARE and ACCOMMODATIONS
Typical airfare for a one-person, round-trip ticket on Air Macau will run you between NT$7,000 to NT$9,000, but you can often find bargain deals for as little as NT$6,000. Some packages even include hotel accommodations (one night) and airfare for less than NT$9,000 — it is definitely worth checking with your travel agent for any bargains.
EVA Airways and Air Macau both have flights to Macau from Taiwan, and not just from Taoyuan International Airport. Several flights a day go through Kaohsiung, so if you live down south, it might be easier to fly from there.
One reliable travel service in Taiwan with a friendly, English-speaking staff is Interlink Travel, in Taipei. You can book your tickets by phone or e-mail and pay by ATM transfer or credit card. It is likely that you will receive an electronic ticket, if so you will receive confirmation and your itinerary by e-mail; otherwise Interlink can mail paper tickets (same day service to many locations) to you quickly.
Your next order of business is accommodation. If you have not managed to swing a package tour, a cheap place to stay is Hotel Central, with standard rooms running as low as MOP250 per night.
A word of caution: This is a budget hotel, with the emphasis on budget. The best thing about it is its price; the second-best is its location. After that, you might struggle to find something to praise.
It is English-speaker friendly, but this is a cheap place to stay in Macau: it’s not a haven of Puritanism. Don’t be surprised to see “masseuses” hanging around in the lobby, or to get an evening knock on your door, asking if you would like a massage. It isn’t probable that a massage is all that is involved. But a simple “No, thank you” will send your visitor on her way, and no one should bother you again.
RSS