Legislators yesterday asked immigration authorities to change the practice of noting Taiwan passport numbers in the foreign passports of Taiwan nationals who have dual nationality. Their concern was sparked by reports of Taiwanese having their second passport confiscated by foreign governments who do not allow dual nationality.
Many Taiwan nationals carry two passports. Some dual nationals enter Taiwan using their Taiwan passport, but ask immigration officials to stamp their foreign passports as well on departure. The request is especially common among dual nationals whose second nationalities have been obtained in countries that do not allow dual nationality, because the immigration officials of these countries may check their passports in detail on their return.
When granting the request, however, Taiwan immigration officials also write the number of the person's Taiwan passport next to the departure stamp on their foreign passport.
The mark has caused suspicion when these people, using the marked passports, return to the countries of their second nationality.
New Party legislator Levi Ying (
"There have been many cases, but the people concerned don't want their identity exposed unless they are sure of their safety," Ying said.
In a recent letter sent to Ying asking for help, a Taiwanese woman with US citizenship said she has heard that a friend's son had his US passport confiscated because the number of his Taiwan passport was written in the US passport.
"I and some of my friends are really bothered by this matter," the woman said.
"My son has had two passports since he was born in the US. He has the ROC passport since I think he is a Chinese, and I'm proud of it," she added.
Another Taiwanese woman who is married to a man from a Southeast Asian country said yesterday in a public hearing that she knows many people who faced trouble because of the marks. And now she worries for her son since he has dual citizenship as well.
"Since the ROC government permits dual citizenship, why can't it make it convenient for us and let us have stamps on both passports. Why must there be an additional mark on it?" asked the woman.
She said it tends to arouse suspicion because the same number appears after each trip to Taiwan.
Steven Lin (
Officials from the Bureau of Immigration, meanwhile, said the marks are made to show that the people concerned had entered Taiwan with a Taiwan passport.
Ying, however, said the mark is unnecessary because officials can find out whether the person has a second passport by checking if there is any arrival stamp on the foreign passport.
"If there isn't any arrival stamp on the passport, that means the holder has an ROC passport," Ying said.
Legislators Chang Shih-liang (
"If Taiwan really wants to win the support of overseas Chinese and save them trouble, this matter must be taken seriously," Hau said.
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