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Merge pull request #43 from taiwangoldcard/application-content-redesign
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Application content redesign
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fifieldt authored Jun 29, 2020
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70 changes: 70 additions & 0 deletions content/application-faq/after-passing-skill-assessment.md
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---
title: "After passing skill assessment"
weight: 5
---
<!--- (c) Tom Fifield, licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. -->
Congratulations! The long and hard part is now over: you've been deemed sufficiently
skilled to hold a Gold Card.

All that's left is Identity Verification and you can collect your card!

## Identity Verification
🕑 1-2 weeks

Congratulations on passing the skill assessment. It's now time to deliver your passport
for identity verification.
1. If you are overseas, you should visit the nearest Taiwanese diplomatic post
1. If you are in Taiwan, you must visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs

You will also need to take a copy of the "Passport Submission Notice", which is found in the
"Download" menu after logging in to the
[portal](https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/golden-card).


### If I apply in Taiwan, where do I go to prove my identity?
You must go to your [local Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA)](https://www.boca.gov.tw/lp-191-2.html).
If you’re getting your passport vetted at Taipei’s BOCA/MOFA office, here’s a quick how-to.
(Don’t worry, the ‘pinball’ method - shuffling between volunteers - works well too).

1. BOCA is open between 08:30 to 17:00, [a few blocks from Shandao Temple Station, Exit 2](https://goo.gl/maps/mFt8PBMCGnD2)
1. Enter the big pink building and go directly up the escalators to level 3
1. On 3F, ignore the ticket machine immediately in front of you and turn right and right again to be at the “Authentication” area
1. In the middle of the area, around counter 30, grab a ticket (if there is a problem, ask for help at the end counter - counter 28)
1. Go to the designated counter when your number is up, surrender your passport and online
application document, provide any details on upcoming travel, and receive your receipt.


### Is there anything special I should do if I applied from overseas?
If you live far from your local Taiwanese diplomatic post, it is recommended to call before going
to give them a heads up. It’s highly likely that you’re the first person ever to go through this
process in a particular office and giving them a day or two head start to let them call back to
Taiwan and work out what to do when you arrive could be useful.

> If your application is stuck on "Under inspection" after you already collected your passport,
contact the NIA - your card may already be printed.

## Card Collection
🕑 1-2 weeks

After your identity is verified, a final review is conducted by the Ministry of Interior and
your Gold Card will be issued. You will get an email at this point telling you your application has
been approved - congratulations.

It's time to collect your card (you selected where during your application)
1. in Taiwan at the National Immigration Agency
1. at your nearest Taiwanese diplomatic post

If you applied from overseas but are collecting your card in Taiwan, you will need to download your
Resident Authorization Letter from the [portal](https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/golden-card)
and print it. Your airline will need to see this as proof of your ability to enter Taiwan, and you'll
show it to the border agent in Taiwan. After arriving, you may visit the
[National Immigration Agency](https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5475/5478/141386/127061/127076/)
to collect your card.

> You don't need to go to Taiwan straight away: some people take months to prepare for their arrival.
> However, see the answer for
> [When does the gold card's validity begin?](/goldcard-holders-faq/validity/) to determine whether that affects you.
When you are ready, head over to the [main page](/) and Join the Gold Card Community, or find out about
[Life in Taiwan](/goldcard-holders-faq).
111 changes: 46 additions & 65 deletions content/application-faq/after-submitting-application.md
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---
<!--- (c) Tom Fifield, licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. -->
Congratulations on getting the application in.

## What happens after you submit your application?
1. Your qualifications will be assessed.
1. First, the Ministry of Labor will attempt to sign off on the work permit. If it can do this itself (eg you apply based on the salary criteria and provide the right documents), your application will be swift (one case took just two days).
1. If the Ministry of Labor can't vet your skills, it will call in the appropriate Ministry (eg "Science and Technology) to assist. That Ministry will then create a custom panel of judges who are skilled in your area of application. This takes some time, and if you are skilled in a niche area expect the application to take longer than 30 days at this stage.
1. Your identity will be verified
1. If you are overseas, you will visit the nearest Taiwanese diplomatic post
1. If you are in Taiwan, you will visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs
1. A final review is conducted by the Ministry of Interior
1. Your Gold Card will be issued.
1. Claim it in Taiwan at the National Immigration Agency
1. Claim it at your nearest diplomatic post

## How long does the application take?
A perfect application takes 30 days, if your supporting documents are accepted the first time around.
If you are asked for tweaks to your supporting documents, expect 50-60 days.

During the pandemic, we have seen 'normal' applications take as long as 80 days. Applicants who
elected to pick their card up overseas are severely affected by the pandemic's impact on the postal
network.

## How do I find out the status of my application?
Predominantly, you will find the status of your application by either logging in to the Gold Card
Application Portal, or receiving email updates from the portal. However, if the status hasn't updated in
a long time here's what you need to know:
* Who to contact changes depending on the status of your application.
* The mostly lengthy status you will see is "Professional Review by Workforce Development Agency".
In this case, first, try the WDA, under the _Ministry of Labor for Employment Gold Card Permits
for Foreign Special Professionals_ on the master contact list. They will probably tell you that
the application is with the relevant ministry for your skill set and provide contact details. If not,
try to contact the appropriate ministry under _Qualification of Foreign Special Professionals_ on the master list
* If your application is stuck on "Under inspection" after you already collected your passport,
contact the NIA - your card may already be printed.


## How do you get your physical card?
Either at the National Immigration Agency service centres (in Taiwan) or at your local Taiwanese
diplomatic post overseas. You selected where during your application.


## What do I do if I'm asked to provide additional documents?
At this point you will receive an email telling you to pay.
If you didn't get it, check your email address was correct.

_You must now go through the payment steps in order for your application to be considered._

Log in to the portal at:
[https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/golden-card](https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/golden-card)

click "Online Payment" and select "Permit Payment", then follow the steps. Fees are non-refundable,
even if your application is unsuccessful. However, you will get chances to revise your application
and provide additional documents if needed.

After completing the payment, you will receive an email telling you to download your receipt.
You will need to print this out to collect your card, so do it now.

Still in the [portal](https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/golden-card),
click "Download" and select "Receipt Download". Enter your application number and today's date.

The next three steps in the process are: Qualification Assessment, Identity Verification and Card Collection.
During these steps, you can check the status if your application by logging in to the portal.

## Qualification Assessment
🕑 2-4 weeks

After a quick sanity check by the National Immigration Agency, your qualifications will be assessed.
If you login to the portal to check your application status, you'll see it go from "Under Review"
to "待二審" (secondary inspection) to "Professional Review by Workforce Development Agency".

Once your application reaches this stage, it will stay on this status for weeks.

What's happening in the background is:
1. First, the Ministry of Labor will attempt to sign off on the work permit. If it can do this itself (eg you apply based on the salary criteria and provide the right documents), your application will be swift (one case took just two days).
1. Most likely, the Ministry of Labor will need call in the appropriate Ministry (eg "Science and Technology) to assist. That Ministry will then create a custom panel of judges who are skilled in your area of application.

This takes some time, and if you are skilled in a niche area expect the application to take longer than 30 days at this stage.


If the status in the portal hasn't updated in a long time first try contacting WDA, under the _Ministry of Labor for Employment Gold Card Permits for Foreign Special Professionals_ on the [master contact list](https://foreigntalentact.ndc.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=D927ED39BDAE7478&s=DA2F7BC919B77E24).
They will probably tell you that the application is with the relevant ministry for your skill set and provide contact details.
If not, try to contact the appropriate ministry under _Qualification of Foreign Special Professionals_ on the master list


### What do I do if I'm asked to provide additional documents?
After a few weeks of tense wait, you may receive an email from [email protected] that says
"After the examination by the department and the enterprise competent authority, the relevant information shall be made up.".

Log in to the portal at:
[https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/golden-card](https://coa.immigration.gov.tw/coa-frontend/four-in-one/entry/golden-card)

Your application will be listed under "Application cases of which data to be supplemented", click View.
Your application will be listed under "Application cases of which data to be supplemented", click "View".

Up the top of the application will be a block of red text in Chinese and English. It will attempt
to explain what additional documents are required. If it doesn't make sense, call the appropriate
ministry contact under Qualification of Foreign Special Professionals on the master list. They'll be
able to look up your application and provide more colour.


Once you know which documents to upload, prepare to upload them as with your previous application.
Additionally, prepare a short statement addressing how you have rectified the "Opinion
on the Application". Select the documents for upload and paste the response in the "Reply Comments"
Expand All @@ -67,7 +70,7 @@ Once you know which documents to upload, prepare to upload them as with your pre
_Important: Sometimes using English in the "Reply Comments" box will cause your application to fail
to be submitted with a cryptic error._

## I applied under a salary provision, but am being asked for additional documents unrelated to this. Why?
### I applied under a salary provision, but am being asked for additional documents unrelated to this. Why?
Don’t stress. This is normal. You’re applying under a financial requirement, but the relevant
ministry still wants to vet your skills. Under some interpretations of the regulations, they
are not supposed to do this, but here we are.
Expand All @@ -78,25 +81,3 @@ Gather up some documents that demonstrate you work in the industry and you’re
product that has your name on it. It’ll depend on what you’ve got or can create - but get into
the mindset of the reviewer and aim to make it as easy as possible to understand why you are a
talent. If you feel the need, write a cover letter for your application explaining your skills.

## If I apply in Taiwan, where do I go to prove my identity?
You must go to your local Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA). If you’re getting your passport
vetted at Taipei’s BOCA/MOFA office, here’s a quick how-to. (Don’t worry, the ‘pinball’
method - shuffling between volunteers - works well too).

1. BOCA is open between 08:30 to 17:00 [here](https://goo.gl/maps/mFt8PBMCGnD2) (a few blocks from Shandao Temple Station, Exit 2)
1. Enter the big pink building and go directly up the escalators to level 3
1. On 3F, ignore the ticket machine immediately in front of you and turn right and right again to be at the “Authentication” area
1. In the middle of the area, around counter 30, grab a ticket (if there is a problem, ask for help at the end counter - counter 28)
1. Go to the designated counter when your number is up, surrender your passport and online
application document, provide any details on upcoming travel, and receive your receipt.


## What is a "Resident Authorization Letter"?
If you applied for your Gold Card from outside Taiwan but elected to collect your card
on arrival, you may use the "Resident Authorization Letter" to enter Taiwan. After arriving,
you may visit the National Immigration Agency to collect your card.

## Do you need to fly to Taiwan immediately after approval?
No. Some people took several months to prepare for their arrival. However, see the answer for
[When does the gold card's validity begin?](/goldcard-holders-faq/validity/) to determine whether that affects you.
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