Citizenship for a foreigner

[Feiren]

MOI just released the figures on how many foreigners immigrated here last year, 1465. 1411 were women and 54 were men.
1436 were from Asia, 1 from USA, 13 from "other countries" and 15 had no previous citizenship.

http://www.moi.gov.tw/W3/stat/year/y02-06.xls

Aren't foreigners who immigrate to Taiwan required to forfeit their citizenships? If this is the case how come only 15 had no prior citizenship? How did this one American immigrate here with a US passport???

Maybe there are some loopholes?

He gave up his US citizenship and passport. The only loophole is for countries that do not allow their citizens to give up their nationality. Japan is an important example.

[Satellite TV]

It is not true that you can live here for 3 years and become an ROC citizen. This only appllies to ethnic chinese who marry ROC nationals.

I'm a white Australia and the rule was that I had to be here for 7 years to become an ROC national.

So Taiwan does have discriminatory policies if you see it like that.

Also if you are a male under 35 you will get drafted for military service. So I waited until I was older.

Regards

[Vannyel]

So Satellite TV you became a citizen. Can you tell me the benefits of this and more about how you did it? I am past 35 so I don't have to worry about the draft issue for sure.

[Satellite TV]

I became an ROC citizen so that I could do what I bloody like and work wherever I wanted without the need to have an ARC.

The PR Visa doesnt solve anything.... I can get bank loans buy my own place ( not in wives name )

And most of all I don't pay any stupod visa fees anymore.... I can come and go as I like whereas with an ARC they expire....

[Vannyel]

Cool...thanks for the reply

[answerer]

To my knowledge only US citizens are double taxed, is this correct?

I believe it is only if you make more than 70,000 dollars (US) a year - I wish - and then only if you report it, and who do you think actually does?

US citizens are legally obligated to file taxes (even if you don't have to pay any) and report any foreign earned income. If you lie, the IRS can chase you down for as long as 10 years after the fact.