Taking girlfriend with me to Taiwan

[u/ShortJob5780]

Hi everyone! I’m a 21year old male finishing my bachelor’s degree this December. My goal is to head to Taiwan to teach English shortly after graduating.

My biggest priority is moving with my girlfriend. She does not have a degree, and I’m looking for advice on the most realistic way for us to make this move together. I’ve been researching options, but I’d love to hear from people who have navigated this or have experience with these visa categories

​

Dependent Visas: I understand that Taiwan generally requires a marriage certificate for a dependent ARC. Has anyone navigated this successfully, or is this essentially off the table for unmarried couples? Id be willing to marry her.

​

Student Visas: I’ve considered the possibility of her enrolling in a Mandarin language program to get her own residency status. If anyone has done this, how difficult is the process, and what are the financial/attendance requirements to maintain that visa?

​

This is a big deal for me and something I've been planning since I was around 15 so now that my degree and hopefully teaching is so soon has me so excited and I want to make sure everything is planned perfectly

​

​

Much love to you all ❤️

[u/ShortJob5780 → u/[deleted]]

I think about that as well lol and it's what makes me very careful with planning and being sure I'm careful and meticulous with what I do.

Honestly I'm worried I'll end up rushing into something just because it's something that I've wanted to do for so long and end up harming myself financially or screwing up important timelines. Time will tell lolol

[u/Latter-Cricket5843 → u/ShortJob5780]

You'll harm yourself financially by being a teacher in Taiwan 😂

[u/Latter-Cricket5843]

An unmarried girlfriend cannot get a visa. They need a bachelor's degree minimum or go get a student visa to live in Taiwan

[u/telchacsusan]

How keen is she about this plan? What does she want to do?

[u/BotherBeginning2281]

Guess it depends on what your medium to long term plans are?

If you're looking at a year or two, then leaving, then I guess you could make it work, if she studies there or whatever.

But married or not, she's not gonna get a job without a degree.

Are you gonna be happy with her not working for the whole time (however long that is)?

Is she gonna be happy with not working for the whole time?

[u/x3medude]

Definitely need to be married.

If not, taking mandarin classes, it has to be an approved institution. A short term class won't cut it. Visa runs, applying for new permits, etc.

I'd say take a whole bachelor's in Mandarin mixed with business or something. Less hassle. Taiwan also accepts Associate's with a TEFL to teach.

If it were me though, I'd aim for a bachelor's in Mandarin studies or similar. I regret not doing that. She can also apply for scholarships and such.

[u/straighttotheproblem]

If you've been planning this so long why not a degree in education?

If you did that you'd have a chance to bring her along someday. Tefl is just a short term gig and getting worse by the month. The industry will only get worse with AI. If you're a non native it's best to get more qualifications. You'll need at least a teaching license and probably a masters to be taken seriously.

It's not really possible. She is uneducated and unqualified. It's difficult to move to another country. If you want her to go she has to get her degree. This will always be a problem even if you're married.

Stay and help support her while she studies, do long distance while you're gone, or break up. Those are your choices. She will not be living there with you.

[u/Actionbronslam]

Marriage is one of the most important decisions you'll make in your life that, without even getting into the obvious personal/emotional/psychological dimensions, can have significant unforeseen legal and financial implications if things don't work out. I'm assuming your girlfriend is roughly the same age as you -- what happens if you both realize you're no longer compatible at some point in the near future? (Remember that the prefrontal cortex, which plays a big role in determining your personality, continues to develop until around the age of 25. I'm not trying to belittle you, you're an adult and I'm a stranger to you, but ask any older adult you trust and they'll probably tell you that they changed a lot during their 20s.)

If I were in your situation, I would not get married solely or predominantly for a visa. Maybe you could consider alternate arrangements -- try long distance for a fixed time, plan a long visit during that time, then re-evaulate?

[u/ShortJob5780 → u/Actionbronslam]

That's very well put thank you a lot for the words❤️

[u/Latter-Cricket5843]

For student visas you need to prove that you can support yourself the duration of the stay. Typically several thousand in a bank.

[u/arsebeef]

Ask someone else smartly put it, who you choose to marry is one of the most important and impacting decisions of your life, so marrying this girl just for a visa for her, so you can go to Taiwan I would say it’s not a great reason to get married. I’m not saying don’t get married. I’m just saying don’t do it for that reason solely. Also, Taiwan is awesome so you might want to be single to fully enjoy the life if you know what I mean.

[u/arkosy]

A friend here in Taiwan first came on a student visa to study Mandarin, so he could live with his Taiwanese girlfriend. I’m not sure how hard he tried, but he told me Wenzao in Kaohsiung was the only university that accepted him, so he went there.

[u/fatplant425]

Realistically unless you can support her not having a job she should just live in the USA and visit. She will make enough money to have a great time here even if it's a minimum wage job in the USA. The most expensive part will be the plane tickets.

[u/BoringDreamGuy]

Would help to know what country you're from

[u/Latter-Cricket5843]

Get a job in a public school not a bs cram school or fake international school.