Lawmakers across party lines have reached a consensus on some articles of a draft amendment that would loosen requirements for permanent residency.
The legislature’s Internal Administration Committee is to meet today to continue its review of draft amendments to the Immigration Act (入出國及移民法). Committee members have so far reached a consensus on some parts of the amendment, including the required length of stay in Taiwan for people to be eligible for permanent residence.
Under the amendment, holders of an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate would no longer be required to have lived in Taiwan for 183 days of every year, as long as they have been in Taiwan for that length of time on average over five years, the committee said.
Photo: Lin Liang-sheng, Taipei Times
This would add a degree of flexibility for foreign residents who stay in the country for longer periods in some years, but in other years go abroad for work or family matters, it said.
Committee members also reached an agreement on a stipulation that would change the rules for Taiwanese who do not have household registration in Taiwan (for example, those born abroad to Taiwanese parents).
Currently, they need to be in Taiwan for one year prior to applying for permanent residency, but the amendment would reduce the required length of stay to 335 days.
This would allow them to spend one month outside the country, in case there is a family emergency or other issue, the committee said.
Lawmakers also agreed to change a rule that affects foreigners who have divorced a Taiwanese if they have children in Taiwan from the marriage.
The current regulations stipulate that foreign divorcees can continue to reside in Taiwan only if they obtain custody of their dependent children after divorce. This would be annulled under the amendment.
Foreign divorcees who divorced due to domestic violence and have not remarried would also be allowed to continue their residence.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old