Q & A December 26, 2004
Q & A 1.
Q&A 1.
Taiwan alien who is over 16 and holds U.S. passport can travel
to Taiwan for less than 4 months
Reader from Massachusetts asks:
I have read your article regarding “U.S. citizen is not supposed
to enlist in the military of other countries” and I have a
similar questions.
My son came to U.S. for college education when he reached 19 years
old before serving military in Taiwan. He has recently obtained
U.S. citizenship. If he uses US passport and entering Taiwan, will
he be detained and required for military service by Taiwan’s
government? Per Taiwan’s Department of Defense regulation,
my son seems not able to change status as an alien. How should I
resolve this situation?
Dear reader:
I do not pretend to know the law of other countries regarding their
military obligations. I can only relate our communications with
the Taiwan Affairs overseas office in New York from which we received
the following information:
If the male is under the age of 15, he can use a U.S. passport to
travel. From January 1st of the year that he turns 16, he can renew
his Taiwan passport and obtain an overseas status stamp of Taiwan
after proving that he has been overseas for four years and has a
U.S. passport. He can then travel to Taiwan for less than four months.
Upon our asking what the circumstances would be if a U.S. citizen
used his U.S. passport to travel to Taiwan, a representative said
that if he held registration in Taiwan, he would be kept in Taiwan
unless he had fulfilled his military service. Readers wishing to
verify this information can call the Taiwan Affairs overseas office
at (212)486-0088.
Please further note that service in the armed forces of a foreign
state is cause for taking away U.S. citizenship if such person serves
as a commissioned or noncommissioned officer.
|
