The Ministry of Education and the National Immigration Agency (NIA) have decided to allow foreign students who have received the Taiwan Scholarship and who graduated in the past school year to stay in the country until the end of June next year, the ministry said yesterday.
The ministry’s Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations said in a press release that the government branches reached the decision in a bid to counteract an amendment to the Immigration Act (入出國及移民法) that could inconvenience the students.
The amendment, which cleared the legislative floor on Jan. 23, states that the NIA should cancel the Alien Resident Certificates of foreigners whose reason for staying in the country no longer exists.
The amendment makes it impossible for students in the scholarship scheme to stay in Taiwan for up to a year after graduation, which was previously permitted.
The original one-year “grace period” was intended to help the country attract foreign talent, but under the amendment, students in the scheme who graduate next year will only be allowed to stay for a maximum of three months following graduation, the bureau said.
Students graduating in the summer will only be allowed to stay in the country until Sept. 30 of the same year, while those graduating in the winter will only be allowed to stay until March 31 of the same year, the bureau said.
The bureau said the restriction does not apply to graduates who have already found jobs or who are pursuing further studies in Taiwan, as they can renew their residency application through their employer or educational institution, the bureau said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man