Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/12/17
By: Wang Cheng-chung and Flor Wang

CNA file photo

Taipei, Dec. 17 (CNA) Nearly 2,000 people from countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Oceania who entered Taiwan visa free between Aug. 1, 2016 and March 31 this year cannot be accounted for, the Legislature’s Budget Center said Monday.

As of March 31, there were 1,946 people from those countries who had overstayed their visas and remained unaccounted for, the center said, citing data from the National Audit Office.

In a report, the center said there are no exit records for 1,946 visitors from the 18 countries listed in the government’s New Southbound Policy and their whereabouts are not known to Taiwan authorities.

In addition, 1,441 visitors from the 10 Southeast Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand, India and other South Asian countries were found to have used the documents of another person to remain in Taiwan, while 606 were found to be working illegally, according to the report.    [FULL  STORY]