Visiting Overstayed Couple. Lin, Yu-Chang: Hoping the Public Helps to Promote "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program" to Create a Win-win Situation
- Date：
- Source：Northern Taiwan Administration Corps
- Hit：923
- Updated date：2023-02-17
Minister of Interior Lin Yu-Chang, accompanied by Director General of the National Immigration Agency (NIA) Bill Chung, visited one elderly Vietnamese overstayed couple in Taoyuan City on February 6. During the visit, Lin greeted and gave his blessing in Vietnamese to express the care and concern their status from Taiwan Government. Lin stated this program is well-intentioned, not only good for overstayers and migrant workers, but also beneficial to the Taiwan society. He appeals to the public to help promoting the "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program" to create a win-win situation and a friendly society.Lin said either because of COVID-19 pandemic or being busy with their livehoods, lately some foreigners didn’t pay attention to the relevant regulations and overstayed, facing with high amount of fines and years of entry-ban. Therefore, they can only hide in dark corners of the society, causing some social problem.
Lin stated foreigners being in illegal status is followed by humanitarian and human rights issues such as unable to work normally, labor exploitation, used by gangsters, their children born in Taiwan unable to go to school, unable to seek medical treatment when being sick, etc. They are just like outside the social safety net which makes the whole society pays more.
Lin said the administrative measure should not become cold oppression to people; instead, should be a warm helper for people. As the pandemic is gradually easing off and the international flights is resuming. In order to help foreign overstayers who stranded in Taiwan due to pandemic to return home as soon as possible, the NIA encourages overstayers to turn themselves in, and promotes "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program" with the hope to help the overstayers return to their normal lives.
Taoyuan Specialized Operation Brigade of the Northern Taiwan Administration Corps mentioned a recent case which is one elderly Vietnamese couple, owing to miss their daughter who married in Taiwan, came to Taiwan to visit her right after Vietnamese government reopen the border in 2022. Their daughter Mrs. Chen, being reluctant to let her elderly parents go home alone, was busy with her work to raise travel expenses to accompany them home. Due to negligence and lack of knowledge of relevant regulations, she forgot to apply for the extension of stay for her parents which puts them at the risk of being arrested and detained.
Afterwards Mrs. Chen received the information that the NIA is promoting the "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program" which allows not only paying the minimum fine of NT$2,000 but also no entry-ban. Therefore, she immediately took her elderly parents to the Taoyuan Specialized Operation Brigade without hesitation. The elderly couple got exemption from detention, paying minimum fine of only NT$2,000, and no entry-ban, so that they can come to visit Mrs. Chen again in the near future. Mrs. Chen expressed her gratitude to the Taiwan government for allowing their family can finally make their journey back to Vietnam with peace of mind without the worry that her parents could be arrested and detained anymore.
Finally, Lin emphasized this program is a win-win policy, not only helps overstayers going home as soon as possible and returning to their normal lives but also reduces the social problem caused by this situation. Hopefully, this initiative can attract more overstayed foreigners to surrender to local the NIA offices. The program will end on June 30 and people can call the toll-free hotline 0800-024-881 of the NIA for multi-lingual consultation. If you have foreign friends who overstayed, please encourage them to take this opportunity.
Related Picture(s)
Minister Lin visiting the couple’s house , asking why their elderly parents overstayed and greeting them in Vietnamese.
Minister Lin visiting the couple’s house , asking why their elderly parents overstayed and greeting them in Vietnamese
Minister of Interior Lin Yu-chang and Director General of National Immigration Agency (NIA) Bill Chung interviewed by the media.