Taiwan's Manila office temporarily caps daily migrant worker visa filings
Taiwan has briefly slowed down migrant worker visa processing in the Philippines, a headache for tech companies scrambling to staff up for a rush of AI orders.
- Taiwan's office in Manila cut the number of visa applications it takes each day from about 350 to 250, starting mid-August.
- The backup came from rain-related closures, an office move, and Philippine brokers dumping applications all at once.
- Taiwan's foreign ministry says the cap is temporary and unlimited filing will return.
- Tech firms racing to fill factory jobs on the back of sudden AI demand are the ones feeling the squeeze.
- Brokers will be asked to spread filings evenly across days so the office is not swamped again.
Outlook: The daily limit should be lifted soon, but staffing delays could linger while the backlog clears.