The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) announced yesterday that the only proof of financial independence that Chinese spouses need to present when applying for permanent residency is either that they earn twice the monthly minimum wage or have financial assets approved by the MOI. This revision of the law will take effect on June 1.
"Now, Chinese spouses who wish to apply for permanent residency need to provide proof either that they earn double the monthly minimum wage of NT$15,840, or have NT$380,000 in savings," said Vice Minister of the Interior Chien Tai-lang (
A required NT$5 million worth of real estate or personal assets only applies to businessmen wanting to immigrate to Taiwan for economic reasons.
"We are separating marriage immigration from other forms of immigration and the NT$5 million financial proof only applies to businessmen applying for immigration," Chien said.
Due to opposition from the public and legislators since the public announcement of the revised regulations of the Statute Governing the Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (
Postponed
Earlier yesterday morning, Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (
"In order to promote this new requirement among families with Chinese spouses, the next three months will serve as a transition period," said Yu at the Sanitation and Environment Committee and Social Welfare Committee.
Heated discussion
At the committee today, a heated discussion on the new financial proof requirements for Chinese spouses took place between Yu and legislators across party lines.
Yu said that the newly added financial proof requirement for Chinese spouses is the same as for spouses of foreign nationals who wish to apply for permanent residency in Taiwan.
"The financial proof requirement applies to both Chinese spouses and spouses of other foreign nationalities. However, they are bound by different laws to provide financial proof," said Yu.
Yu said the Statute Governing the Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) applies to Chinese spouses, while the Nationality Law (國籍法) and Immigration Law (入出國及移民法) apply to spouses of other foreign nationalities.
Wu Wei-ting (
"Our immigration policy should be open and diverse. Our foundation is concerned about the fact that the government had not held any open discussion regarding this newly revised regulation before announcing its enactment," Wu said.
She said that many Chinese spouses are married into low-income or underprivileged families.
"Therefore, even a monthly income of NT$31,680, or twice the minimum wage, proved to be difficult for them to attain," Wu said.
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