I've been studying Chinese the past 5 months and I recently applied to have it changed so I can continue to study. I was told my visa had the remark "P" so I can not continue to study. I must leave and apply for a visa with the remark "FR". Has anyone had this happen to them? All my paperwork is in order but the woman at MOFA insists I leave and apply again.

This is one of the most retarded rules that Taiwan has for Visa.. You are correct, you cannot convert a tourist visa into a study one, or even a study one into a work one.

It will require a visa run. I recommend the philipines because it was always my cheapest option.

you can convert a tourist visa into a work visa, and then work the minimum hours teaching and study part time as an option.

You can also extend your tourist visa ( I believe for up to 6 months)as long as you have a taiwanese friend that will go with you to say that you are here for visiting friends if you are.

How odd... I spent my first year here (2005) on a tourist visa with "P" in the remarks, extending on the basis of 10hrs/week of Chinese classes at an approved school. After that time, I changed my tourist visa to a resident visa (using a work permit) without having to leave the country.

I thought it was SOP for those studying in a Uni to do the first several months on a tourist visa before the school would sponsor them for a resident visa. Did they have to still make a visa run in those cases?

Things always change, though......