Red Flag Ex-TPE
 

hi guru, this is my situtation.

My wife works in Taiwan, while I hold the hkid with the taiwanentry permit for up to 3months per stay.

i have been using awards ticket to redeem the hkg-tpe-Hkg (one year). while I buy tpe-hkg-tpe to return to hong Kong and use the last sector as my next trip, I always have a "return" ticket (from my redemption) to fullfil the immigration requirements.

I do weekly or bi-weekly commute, most of the time didn't go through the check in counter. However tonight I just got red flag at gate (it wasnt a very full flight, so it wont be op-up) the agent check my passport again, and they insist to see my local document, while I told them I have the rights to stay in Taiwan and extended as long as I need. They let me go, but then another ground staff came to my seat and asked about the return ticket, I told her I have an return ticket on a seperate itinerary but didn't have a print out with me. The ground staff left and came back to me 5mins later to give me so small talks on deportation and I will be responsible for any extra cost if I get into troubles, I agreed and they close the cabin door.

Well I'm typing this at my home in Taipei, and I want to make sure I'm not doing anything illegal and I do want to travel on Cx again when I go back to Hong Kong sometime in september 2013.

Please share your experiences. Cheers!

My ex-boss was a US-er guy who live in Taipei with his family. While everyone has full residence of ROC as per the wife being a Taiwan-er, he didn't bother with those documentations. There was a chat between us that he always being asked the same question, and somehow there's a waiver / acknowledgement between CX and him saying he will bare all the cost if he is refused to enter / deport and that's done deal since then. He mostly fly EVA so he didn't face the issue anymore.

I always do ex TPE and have been meeting the same issue on-and-on, what I do is I always have my ex-TPE ticket ready before I fly and show the return journey to HK check-in staff.

Hope this isn't off topic, I have the same situation with my tickets from Hong Kong to Dhaka. I am a HK resident and I travel every month to Dhaka, but with a DAC - HKG - DAC ticket (it just worked out easier for administrative purposes). Usually when I leave Hong Kong I don't yet have the next trip booked.

I usually check in on-line and I have never been questioned at the gate. From time to time I check in at the airport and on only two occasions have I been asked why I didn't have a return ticket. Each time I explained the situation and nothing more was said, although once I had to get the supervisor to come and give her OK.

Interesting points, we have several foreigners working in our company and all have recently been t trade shows and have all been reminded about correct documentation and being told they will have to cover any costs incurred on being deported. I have also met 2 foreigners in Taiwan in the last few months who have lived and worked here for years playing the visa run game and both were given 7 weeks notice to leave and dont come back.

I also do the same as you, and buy tickets ex-TPE as it is much cheaper than ex-HKG.. I work in TPE for around 10 days per month, and applied for a residence card... It was much easier afterwards to just show the residence card at check-in to avoid the hassle of explaining where my return ticket was... Also, its great using the e-gates in Taiwan as the lines can be quite long during weekends or holidays... I believe a spouse of someone who has a work visa or residency card can also apply for one as well... would highly recommend getting one yourself..

I thought CX will always ask for either a return ticket (with a valid entry Visa) or a proof of right of residence?

You are supposed to show your return ticket with a tourist visa (those 3 months ones) upon immigration in Taipei, although they do not usually checked, as a condition of the visa. I was asked a few times at the immigration counter upon arrival in TPE from places other than HKG. The CX transfer desk always asked for the HKG/TPE/HKG ticket before giving my boarding cards to me. It is possibly better to carry a printout of all tickets when you travel.