This month the final push is on. We’ve got loads to get done before we leave. Last week I had to go to the passport office to get a new passport because I don’t have enough pages to travel with. I was pretty surprised to find out that the Canadian government no longer allows us to add pages to our passports.
John and our friend, Mitch, were able to do this last year. However, they are both American. Still, it seems a little silly that I have to get a brand new passport again. I just went through this a year and a half ago! This is the first time I’ve had to renew a passport overseas and I’m actually pretty impressed with the Canadian Consular Affairs office here in Taipei. Despite not having a guarantor in Taipei, the process went quite swiftly and I can pick my new passport up on the 21st of this month.
John also booked our tickets last night from Taipei to Bangkok and we discovered this morning that we may have to pay a small fine at the airport because we’re leaving on the 1st and our ARC’s expire on the 31st. There was nothing we could do about it though. We didn’t really have any other options. So, there’s a chance we might have to pay up to an extra 1000 NT each or that they might just let us go.
Unfortunately, when we return, we will have to go through all the bureaucratic red tape again in securing our ARC’s, since we have decided not to stay on in our current jobs. No matter. We’re still trying to decide how we want to attack our work and study situation when we return.
In addition to all this bureacratic paperwork in Taiwan, I also have to renew my driver’s licence while in Canada. I’m tempted to just let it go, but it expired on the 18th of January and I still have time to renew it without going through the driving test again.
I’m also looking forward to finally FINALLY paying off the rest of my student loans. My Canadian bank accounts are still open and I send money home every once in a while, but since I am paying the rest of my student loan off next month, the need for them is getting smaller and smaller. Despite the fact that we have lived in Asia for years and plan on remaining here for a long duration, I’m a little uncomfortable with severing all my ties back home.
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“we discovered this morning that we may have to pay a small fine at the airport because we’re leaving on the 1st and our ARC’s expire on the 31st. There was nothing we could do about it though. We didn’t really have any other options. So, there’s a chance we might have to pay up to an extra 1000 NT each or that they might just let us go. ”
Make sure that you check with the foreign police that you will not be over staying your visa. You normally have two weeks to leave after the arc has expired and liek you said the fine is usually quite small. They have been known to stamp passports and ban people from returning for a year for overstaying. The cases I know were from years ago but you’d hate to be banned from returning for one day. My best bud got a one year ban for over staying for two days because his appendix had burst.
Yeah, that whole ARC situation gave us headaches as well when we changed over. It was a whole process to be able to find out what to do in order to secure a new one.
Anyways, we are good to go and our new contracts are half a page for jo and 1 page for myself. Pretty cool, no restrictions or any BS clauses like EZ English school.
PS EZ English school asks for a 60000NTD deposit that they will refund if you complete your first year, what kind of BS is that?
Elliot,
Many thanks for your warning. We are taking this situation quite seriously and were at the police station yesterday trying to sort things out. We were told we would only have to pay a small fine.
I haven’t heard of anyone being allowed back in after overstaying their ARC! But I have learned that anything is possible when you work and live abroad.
We are going to go back tomorrow and double check as we’re leaving all our belongings here in Taiwan while we are away. Thanks for looking out!
Range,
I’m glad to hear you guys have sorted everything out. It’s going to be great having you guys so close by!
I’ve heard of schools asked for a retainer, but haven’t encountered any yet. Mind you, Reach To Teach screens for all this kind of stuff, so we can be sure we’re getting in with a reputable school with no BS. I’m glad you decided not to work there!
I think that no matter what I would still keep a bank account of some sort open in either the US or Canada just so you have access when ever you travel back home.
Of course. I didn’t mean to give the impression that I would be severing all ties. I’ll always keep my main bank account open, but I’ve closed some of my other accounts and moved things around so my affairs are easier to manage from overseas.
This is the first time in three years that I’ve been able to deal with my banks back home. While I was in China, I couldn’t do anything with my accounts online. It was very frustrating!
We are still sorting out our own things at the moment, and getting updated health checks to be sure that everything is kosher.
Other than that, the rain sucks!
Just a suggestion. If you want to avoid the overstay problem completely (albeit at a little inconvenience), perhaps the airline might let you check in and clear customs at 11pm the previous day while your ARC is still valid? Means a boring time sleeping in an airport, but you have no chance of overstaying your ARC limit – a little hassle now, might save hassle in future.
Hi Mu,
This is a good suggestion. It never would have occured to me! I’ve slept in airports before and while it isn’t comfortable, it’s worth considering.
Happy days though. We were able to get in touch with our airline and they changed our tickets for us free of charge! I’m still completely flabbergasted. We’ve sorted things out with work too, so it looks like everything is going to be OK.
Hi Carrie,
Congratulations in almost paying off your student loans! I have about another 10 years to go so I am really impressed that you have managed to do it!
Well done!
Hi Jo,
Yep. I’m pretty stoked about paying everything off. It’s been a long road. Getting that loan paid off has been my top priority since I graduated. I hate being in debt!
Honestly, it’s one of the reasons why I love living in Asia so much. There’s no need for debt over here. John and I can live the lives we want to lead and put money away for our future together and relax because we don’t have to worry about mortgages, car payments or bills. It takes so much stress away from our lives.