The addition of a new batch of multilingual officers to the National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior will help improve border controls while safeguarding the rights of foreign residents in Taiwan.
“Nearly 17 percent of the current intake of 147 is fluent in at least one foreign language, such as Filipino, Portuguese, Russian or Vietnamese,” an NIA official said Sept. 11. “All officers successfully completed a 12-month training program and will soon be assigned nationwide.”
Competition is always fierce to join the ranks of the agency, with more than 3,700 candidates taking the entrance exam this year. “Given the rising number of foreign arrivals in Taiwan, many see the NIA as offering a worthwhile career in which they can make a real difference,” the official said.
Lu Yun-ting is one such NIA officer. Having spent years in mainland China and Vietnam, Lu said he has a firsthand experience of the ins and outs of immigration policies. “I met my wife in Vietnam and worked hard to learn the language. This skill helped me gain NIA selection and is certain to make me a more effective officer.”
Lei Ting-ting, who speaks Thai and is married to a Myanmar national, said she was inspired to join the NIA following her experiences in bringing her husband to Taiwan. “Spouses need as much support as they can get during these trying times. I want to play my part in making the process less challenging for those in the same boat.”
Lei’s remarks were echoed by Liang Shi-jun, an Indonesian speaker who said her language skills came in handy during training at the Hsinchu Detention Center in northern Taiwan. “Everything goes smoother with clear communication. Many of the biggest problems can be nipped in the bud with a few kind words and a little empathy.” (SFC-JSM)
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