Jan 02 2009
Vaccines & Visas
Acquiring a visa in order to spend an elongated period of time in another county is not unusual, but nuances in the process vary among countries. While most countries offer student visas, Taiwan has two options for American students. A resident visa is issued to students intending on staying for a full academic year (or greater than 180 days). Once you arrive in Taiwan you must also acquire an ARC (Alien Resident Card) as well. If you intend to study for less than 180 days (as I do) you have to request a visitor visa. Once in Taiwan, this visitor visa must be extended if needed beyond 90 days.
On the other hand vaccinations vary significantly depending on what part of the world you plan on entering. Tetanus, MMR, and Hepatitis B are recommended vaccinations for most regions. For Taiwan bound students, also consider getting Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid vaccinations. Visit the center for disease control website for additional health recommendations. Not all vaccines that could be useful will be recommended by the University’s health center. There are health clinics that specialize in recommending vaccines for international vaccines. Remember that health clinics are a business, too. A lot of the nurses at places like Passport Health get paid on commission. I am not discrediting their advice or calling it inaccurate, but do your research so you know what medications are best for you, your likelihood of acquiring a disease, and any potential symptoms.
