How can a 21 year old from Taiwan live in South Africa for a year?

December 26, 2006 9:08 AM

A friend of mine from Taiwan (and living in Taiwan) wants to move to South Africa. She has no idea how to do it, though, and so I thought I'd ask the crew here for ideas! Read on for more info...

Ok, I guess I should give a rundown about her.

She's 21, has lived in Taiwan her whole life, is really attractive (I think she modeled for a while), has been teaching English for over a year (and is utterly fluent), and is smart, but doesn't have a college degree (but spent some time in college before teaching English).

She's a big traveler and wants to try South Africa for a year, but doesn't have any stellar ideas about how to survive there (she's visited before, so I think she knows what she's getting in to...). Not sure what else I could write, but if there's some weird bit of info that could help, let me know!

posted by phaedrus441 to work & money (3 comments total)

Assuming she is Taiwanese by birth and over 5' 10 with a running stat of 34 - 24 - 34 or thereabout I would connect with a few of the big agencies in Cape Town such as IMM. Just sending an email initially attaching her compcard. If she is still signed to an agency in Taiwan she could mention her travel plans and see if they have a sister agency in S.A they could link her with.

Aside from the modeling route, she can always connect with a charity/religious groups planning an expedition to S.A. She would have to commit about 3-6months but would get lots of time off to explore the country in her own time.

Either of this would aid in securing a working visa which I guess is what she is wanting. If I think of any more avenues I will be sure to pop in.

p.s S.A is getting more and more stable but for a lone young foreign female travelling there she needs to be on guard.
posted by mycapaciousbottega at 9:38 AM on December 26, 2006

I lived in South Africa for a while (about seven months), and the home office is quite difficult to deal with - huge lineups and full of newly hired people who don't know what they are doing (do not brush this off, I really mean this - many of them seem to have no grasp of their job). I suggest if she wants to do this, she will probably have better luck dealing with the South African embassy abroad.

An immigration lawyer is probably a great idea, they will have the contacts and as far as I know are less expensive than those services might be in most other countries.

Keep in mind she is going to a country undergoing economic reforms with about 25% unemployment and if she is doing a job a South African can do there is virtually no chance she will be alllowed in the country. Factor in refugees from the Congo and Zimbabwe and the problem is even bigger.

With no University degree (does she have technical school even?) I don't like her chances of getting on with a volunteer agency either. English is the language of most business in South Africa and that experience won't have much value. There are a few international development agenices that operate there - mostly in the areas of AIDS relief, or dealing with orphans. There are some that deal with housing, etc too but under most circumstances they would be unpaid volunteer posts. Stipend volunteer posts are available in some places but this is kind of a trendy thing for wealthy, elite Americans so they come armed with credentials and their own money. The other advantage of a stipend volunteer post is they will normally handle the immigration side of things. If she keeps trying she might shake loose an opportunity

Under no circumstances do I recommend trying to work the underground in South Africa. Working off the books will probably not be enough to live off - this is usually done by very poor people with little money and that market is saturated. The people are friendly and I suspect she could find some sympathetic folk, but if you wind up in the wrong place and the wrong time in South Africa you are in a very very dangerous spot. I know people who do this in Asia, and having lived in Asia - its a different world. Please, Please make sure she does not go there without a job, contacts, purpose etc
posted by Deep Dish at 9:42 AM on December 26, 2006

Great, great comments... I really appreciate it!
posted by phaedrus441 at 11:38 AM on December 26, 2006