Four elderly foreigners who have made significant contributions to Taiwan over the past few decades received their permanent residency status yesterday from Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲).
To signify Taiwan's high regard for their long-time devotion and good deeds toward the nation, Yu visited Bjarne Gislefoss and his wife Alfhild Gislefoss in Nantou County, Joyce Millan in Changhua County and Doris Brougham in Taipei City -- presenting them with Alien Permanent Resident Certificates.
Yu will today also travel to Ilan to present the same certificates to Ted Skiles and his wife, Beverly Skiles, while the ministry's Political Vice Minister Hsu Yin-shen (許應深) will travel to Penghu on behalf of Yu to present the certificate to Marjorie Bly.
PHOTO: TUNG CHENG-KUO, TAIPEI TIMES
Yesterday's recipients were the first beneficiaries of the relaxation of related legislation.
The Legislative Yuan on May 14 ratified amendments to the Immigration Law that approved a proposal to grant permanent residency to foreigners who have made commendable contributions to the nation. The amendments took effect on May 29.
The revisions to the immigration law also significantly eased the requirements for foreigners and alien family members of Taiwanese nationals seeking permanent residency in Taiwan.
"This [permanent residency] is the most valuable gift that both me and my wife have received in Taiwan," Bjarne Gislefoss was quoted as saying upon receiving the certificate from Yu.
The Gislefosses established the Puli Christian Hospital in Nantou County and have devoted nearly 50 years of their time and their medical expertise to the locals and Aboriginal populations.
"Many of our respected foreign friends have not been able to obtain their permanent residency under the previous rules that required applicants to live in the country for at least 270 days a year for seven consecutive years," said Yu at the presentation to Doris Brougham.
Yu was referring to the phenomenon that, due to frequent trips overseas -- and despite having lived in Taiwan for decades -- foreign missionaries and residents remained non-eligible for permanent residency under the previous immigration law.
"I am gratified that revisions to the immigration law in regard to that [previous situation] have been passed, thus allowing foreign residents whom have made great contributions to Taiwan to get permanent residency here," Yu said.
"I am thankful for all those who helped push through the process that enabled me to get my permanent residency," said Doris Brougham.
"By obtaining it [the permanent residency], I think it really serves as an encouragement to other foreigners who now can say to themselves that they also have the opportunity to obtain theirs."
Brougham, a Christian missionary from Seattle, has dedicated herself to advancing the Tai-wanese public's English proficiency since 1962 with her Studio Classroom magazine and radio and TV programs.
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
RSS