Overseas Chinese looking to get back into Taiwan, advice needed.

[jzgdian]

Hi everyone, I'm an overseas chinese who's looking to get back into Taiwan seeking some advice, here is some information about my background and current situtation.

-Both parents are Taiwanese, who have migrated to Singapore for work.
- I was made and born in Singapore but was not registered as a Singapore citizen then, instead I was a Permenant Resident similar to my parents and I held an ROC passport.
- I have spent all my life in Singapore, only going back to Taiwan a few times for periods not exceeding a month.
- I was drafted into the Singapore Army as required when I was 20 and served 2 years. I then got my Singapore citizenship and passport after my service, I was also required to renounce my ROC passport before that.
- My father has passed away a few years ago, my mother has decided to return and reside in Taiwan and since then I have worked and stayed in Singapore.

Fast forward to the present, as my mother is getting on in years and staying alone in Taiwan (we bought an apartment in Taiwan for her to stay in and due to family matters we are not on speaking terms with the rest of the extended family), I am considering heading back to Taiwan to take care of my mother.

Now I've run into immigration issues, I wish to be able to reside in Taiwan for an extended period of time instead of using my Singapore passport for visa exempt entries of 30 days. I'm also unwilling to give up my Singapore citizenship and acquire a ROC passport as the Singapore government does not recognise duo citizenship and also most of my assets are still in Singapore, there is also the issue of getting conscripted into the Taiwanese military since I'm born after 1984 and still under 36 years old.

I have read some posts here stating that you would be exempt from conscription from the Taiwanese military if you've already served in the military of another country, however the response I got from the Taiwan representative office here in Singapore gave a different answer and stated that I was still required to serve.

As I'm horrible with reading laws and regulations and coupled with the fact that my chinese is still rather terrible (and we use simplified instead of traditional), I wondering what options are available to me.

In short I wish to be able to reside in Taiwan for an extended periods of time a year or more, but am not willing to give up my current citizenship and reacquire a Taiwan passport or serve in her military.

I apologise if my situation is different from most other overseas chinese from America etc where duo citizenship is allowed, but I would appreciate any advice given.

[gnaij]

Apply for a Visitor Visa with your Singaporean passport. I don't what TECO will offer you, but I have a 60-day multiple entry visitor visa that can be extended twice by presenting my parent's household registration documents to NIA. The 60 days reset each time I leave Taiwan, and the visa is valid for 5 years. The reason indicated in the application was "visiting relatives." This means I can live in Taiwan for up to 180 days without leaving if I had to. Leaving once every 6 months isn't all that bad...

[jzgdian]

So I went to pay another visit to the representive office, and while I can apply for a 60-day visitor visa they said that it wasn't mutliple entries, and that it could not be extended. They didn't mention anything about the visa being reset if you leave Taiwan. May I ask how recent was your case? I'm not sure if the regulations were changed recently or if the lady at the counter was spewing bullshit at me.

[gnaij]

So I went to pay another visit to the representive office, and while I can apply for a 60-day visitor visa they said that it wasn't mutliple entries, and that it could not be extended. They didn't mention anything about the visa being reset if you leave Taiwan. May I ask how recent was your case? I'm not sure if the regulations were changed recently or if the lady at the counter was spewing bullshit at me.

I applied on a US passport. There may be some reciprocity agreements in place that make your case different, since US B1/B2 visas are usually 5-year and multiple entry too. If it's single-entry, then it does not get reset by exiting and reentering - it is no longer valid once you exit. What did you state as the reason for visiting?