No degree: Should I lie?

[Battery9]

well if Forumosa is so worried about legal things they should remove every ad being posted for 'full time hour' jobs, because that usually means kindy.

[jimipresley]

well if Forumosa is so worried about legal things they should remove every ad being posted for 'full time hour' jobs, because that usually means kindy.

Not strictly true. An ad for "full time" or "kindy" jobs does not legally compromise those with the correct credentials, residence status and/or qualifications.

[Confuzius]

well if Forumosa is so worried about legal things they should remove every ad being posted for 'full time hour' jobs, because that usually means kindy.

Not strictly true. An ad for "full time" or "kindy" jobs does not legally compromise those with the correct credentials, residence status and/or qualifications.

If a kindy job says it "provides arc"...it sure does violate the law.

[Petrichor]

Hi,
I was at university around 4 years ago where I completed 2 years of a degree in electronic and computer engineering and did a placement at a company in the UK, I did not finish my degree and then started my own company which I have been running for several years but am looking to move on and go to Taiwan. So the question is should I lie and say I completed my degree (and try to fake a certificate if necessary) would it ever come into question if I said I had a degree on my CV, I can more than pass off the competence for it but didn't know what the legal turmoil might be? I am looking to start a distance learning course soon so will have one in 3 years but didn't want this to hold me back.

any suggestions?

If you've been running a legitimate business for a few years there's nothing to stop you opening a branch of your business here and getting an ARC that way. This is what we've done and have two year ARCs. No need for a degree.

Are there not certain investment requirements?

I think the OP needs to explain his/her reason for wanting to come to TW.

It depends on what kind of business you're opening I think (i.e. branch, rep office). We did transfer some company money into a Taiwanese account but not a huge amount as I recall.

[Mother Theresa]

Hi,
I was at university around 4 years ago where I completed 2 years of a degree in electronic and computer engineering and did a placement at a company in the UK, I did not finish my degree and then started my own company which I have been running for several years but am looking to move on and go to Taiwan. So the question is should I lie and say I completed my degree (and try to fake a certificate if necessary) would it ever come into question if I said I had a degree on my CV, I can more than pass off the competence for it but didn't know what the legal turmoil might be? I am looking to start a distance learning course soon so will have one in 3 years but didn't want this to hold me back.

any suggestions?

I wouldn't recommend lying either, it's not just illegal, but also unethical, immoral and just plain tacky, but I wonder if it's true that the OP really could fake the competency of an English teacher, assuming that's the type of work he/she is interested in, isn't a certain level of competence required?

[Nuit]

it's not just illegal, but also unethical, immoral and just plain tacky, but I wonder if it's true that the OP really could fake the competency of an English teacher, assuming that's the type of work he/she is interested in, isn't a certain level of competence required?

It's all of those things, but then again we all lie at some point in our lives. I've known people who've lied here (or even been told to lie by local agents) in order to obtain teaching positions. If the post doesn't require any official teaching qualifications, then there's precious little difference between an 'OP with 2 years of a degree course completed' vs 'a graduate' and I can understand the frustration this may cause and the temptation to do something about it.

It's not like he's applying to be a doctor and then removing gall bladders.

[ironlady]

Just from a practical standpoint, which part of "They check" is not clear?

[Nuit]

The unwritten part after where it says "They check" but then they don't bother to do so.

[Battery9]

My school hasn't been able to apply for work permits for new teachers without sending a degree that has been stamped by a higher authority. Sure , the stamp can be copied or something, but I had a friend who was here for 5 years with a fake degree, then she left for a year, used the same one to get back and they denied it. Asked for it to be verified. So she went back to finish her studies, came to apply with her new REAL degree, and they said no, how could you have applied with a different degree before.

[cranky laowai]

If you're coming here as a backpacker intent upon hanging out for only a few months before moving on, you might be able to get away with lying. (This, however, is much less likely than it was more than a decade ago.) And if you're caught, well, you can leave. It's not like you had anything here or were planning on staying.

But if you are interested in perhaps staying to build a business or even a life here (which happens to a lot of people who initially came for only the short term), then lying will only hurt you in the long run, because it will almost certainly catch up to you eventually. And probably then at best you'll be kicked out of the country and barred from returning for at least a year. That's the sort of thing that plays havoc with that business you were trying to run or that relationship you had or....

You'd be better off following Petrichor's advice. Or get that degree. (Note: Taiwan has restrictions against distance-learning, so you should check on that first.)