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Go to the following AIT link and keep it open in your tab.

https://www.ait.org.tw/ds-82/

Start with viewing the checklist. Maybe also keep it open in a tab or print it out. Either way, you'll need to print it out eventually and turn it in with all of the other items in your package that will be mailed to AIT.

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Fill out the DS-82 form available at the link above in step 1.

You'll need the basics:

• your social security number

• current passport number (called passport book number in form)

• your phone number

• your address (romanized for Taiwanese address)

• a permanent address (mine was in the US)

• an emergency contact (used my dad in the US)

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After filling out the digital form, you'll be prompted to print it out and you'll need to attach a 2 inch by 2 inch photo (staple at the edges where the form indicates).

I got mine taken at one of the many "instant" photo booths you see all around Taipei.

In Chinese they are called

證件快照 (zhèng jiàn kuài zhào).

You can copy/paste that Chinese into Google Maps to find one near you. When in the booth, make sure to choose the 2*2 inch photo! The machine should list these different measurements. You'll only get two and it costs 150ntd.

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Pay the fee via the website (see the QR code or link on the checklist). You can use PayPal, Venmo, or debit/credit card. I used my Taiwan Costco credit card through Fubon Bank for which I have to pay small currency exchange fees. Gonna have to make a separate guide about how to do that!

Anyways, I then received payment confirmation via email which I then printed out and bundled with all of the other items in the checklist.

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Check everything off on the printed out checklist, including social security number and courier fee. Unless of course you don't plan on paying the 220ntd upon the arrival of your new passport. I'll let you figure out what happens if you don't do that.

For social security number I think they are checking here to make sure you have one and you can just check it, but I wrote mine again next to that line on the checklist.

At the bottom, you need to write an address for it to be shipped to and leave a phone number you can be reached at. I chose my school address for this and chose my preferred time of delivery (they have 9:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00, and 17:00-19:00).

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Take everything that should be in the package including your current passport to your preferred post office and mail it to either the Taipei AIT office or the Kaohsiung AIT office (whichever one makes more sense to you, maybe the friendly people at the post office can help you figure that out too).

Yes, you have to mail your one and only passport. Yes, I know it's concerning, but they will give you a tracking number and you can go back to the post office to complain if they lose it. They shouldn't, they're pretty good about this stuff.

The lady at my post office wanted to use my checklist as the mailing address and she just circled the Taipei office address at the bottom. I told her I thought that it may need to be submitted within the package, so she made a copy of it. Maybe make one in advance to make that easier? It was dirt cheap to mail, less than 100ntd I think?

Follow Up Actions

After only 4 or 5 days, I received an email from AIT which said they had received my application package and had begun reviewing it. They said it would take 4-6 weeks to process it (I chose routine service in the application). Only a day later they sent another email which said the passport had been mailed. Crazy right? Only a day.

They said to allow two weeks for it to arrive, but it only took 6 days for the new and old passport to make it to my school (which happened today). I don't know how normal this is, but I wouldn't expect it to always be this speedy. Maybe it's because it was shipped in Taipei City where AIT is located? They said the supporting documents would arrive separately but made no mention of fees for that. They still haven't arrived. They left an application locator number (not a package tracking number) and said if more than two weeks passed to call the toll free number in the email for the National Passport Information Center. But I didn't need to.

Follow Up Actions

My next step is to go to the National Immigration Agency to update my ARC card. New passport means new passport number. Every time any information on your ARC changes (address, legal name, passport number, etc) you must update your ARC card within 30 days. Otherwise you pay a fine of 20 thousand NTD (so I've heard). Best not try your luck and just get it taken care of. You can go there without an appointment. Bring your old passport and new one and maybe the packaging with evidence of when you recieved the package (because the 30 days should start from there?). They said allow for a certain period of time and then you could go and grab it or they can mail it to you. I opted to go in person and pick it up and it was ready when they said it would be.

Follow Up Actions

Maybe look out for any other places you need to update your passport number info with? Bank accounts, employers, etc.

Fluff Content (YOU DON'T NEED TO READ THIS!!!)

Enjoy life with your new passport. Take it to bed with you, give it nice protective cover, and definitely take it abroad with you (because you'll probably need it). Most of all, rest at ease knowing that you won't have to do this for another 10 years! Unless, you travel all the time and fill up them pages with stamps...