The Kaohsiung Branch Office communicates U.S. policy views and demonstrates AIT's commitment to maintain and strengthen ties between the American people and the people of southern Taiwan.

AIT/K provides services to the residents of nine local jurisdictions in southern Taiwan: Chiayi City and County, Tainan City and County, Kaohsiung City and County, Pingtung County, Taitung County, and Penghu County. This area, roughly one third of the island, has a population of over six million people, including approximately 6,000 American citizens. Kaohsiung Harbor is the world's fourth largest container port. Most of Taiwan's steel and petrochemical industries are located in or near Kaohsiung, as is Taiwan's deep sea fishing industry. In addition to these traditional industries, semiconductor, optical electronics, biotechnology and other high technology industries are under development in the Tainan Science-Based Industrial Park. U.S.-affiliated organizations in the district include the Kaohsiung American Chamber of Commerce, the Kaohsiung American School (pre-K through grade 12) and the Kaohsiung Morrison Academy, which is a Christian church-affiliated school. National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung has an America Center established in cooperation with AIT. U.S. companies with substantial investments in southern Taiwan include PPG, Lilly Industries, Corning Glass and the Interpoint Corporation.

CHIEF: Chris Castro (Click here for High-Resolution Picture)

COMMERCIAL SECTION Chief: N/A ECONOMIC SECTION and CONSULAR SECTION Chief: Mason Yu AIT/KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE 5th Floor, No.2, Chung Cheng 3rd Road, Kaohsiung TEL:(07)238-7744 FAX:(07)238-5237

To better serve you, beginning June 2008, the AIT/K Consular Services Section will adopt an appointment system for all non-emergency services, to include notarials, passport services, consular reports of birth abroad (CRBA), immigrant visa petitions, and non-Immigrant visa services.  We will also provide emergency services on an as needed basis.  Appointments must be made online.  We are unable to assist you with booking appointments by phone. 

Please click on the following link to make an appointment: https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=KAO&appcode=1

As we transition to the new appointment system, we will continue to accept walk-ins until Friday, June 27, 2008.  During the month of June, we will give priority to those who made appointments online.  Thank you for your cooperation as we work to provide you with the best possible service.

1. Notarizations
2. Applications for U.S. passports
3. U.S. citizen registration
4. Reports of birth and death abroad for U.S. citizens
5. U.S. Immigrant Visa Petitions
6. U.S. Non-immigrant Visa Petitions

and provides emergency services.

The Commercial Service (CS) Kaohsiung is a constituent post of CS Taiwan. Kaohsiung is southern Taiwan's largest city and the heart of the economy of the southern region from Jiayi to Pingtung. Kaohsiung has provincial-level administrative status, as does Taipei. The city of Kaohsiung, with a population of more than 1.5 million, is located on the southwestern coast of the island and is approximately 350 kilometers south of Taipei.

CS Kaohsiung is staffed by one American Foreign Commercial Service Officer and two Foreign Service national trade specialists to promote U.S. non-agricultural exports to southern Taiwan. CS Kaohsiung features a variety of programs and services, including business counseling and "matchmaking" services.

For U.S. exporters, CS Kaohsiung can assist in promoting their goods and services in the southern Taiwan market by:

• Helping them find a sales agent or distributor
• Arranging appointments before the interested American companies arrive
• Connecting these exporters via internet to agents, distributors and buyers in the southern part of Taiwan
• Offering reports on the southern Taiwan market

CS Kaohsiung can offer the following services to American companies satisfying a 51% U.S. content requirement on a free, or nominal cost basis, to help these American companies do business in southern Taiwan.

• BuyUSA.gov (http://www.buyusa.gov/taiwan) - An international electronic marketplace of the U.S. Commercial Service
• Gold Key Service (GKS) - Meet key players in the southern Taiwan market
• International Partner Search (IPS) - Helps American companies find qualified representatives in southern Taiwan
• International Company Profile (ICP) - Provides reports on potential business partners to help reduce risk
• Platinum Key Service (PKS) - Identifies and achieves the American company's long-term exporting goals with ongoing (typically six months to one year) assistance
• Flexible Market Research - Customized market research designed to fit individual company's special needs
• Videoconferencing Facilities - Meet face-to-face with a Taiwan expert or client without the long flight
• Commercial News USA - Online publication listing U.S. companies that are seeking distribution for their products throughout the world
• International Buyers Program (IBP) - Promotes major U.S. trade exhibitions to Taiwan buyers..

CS Kaohsiung also provides interested American companies with reports such as

• Taiwan Commercial Guides (TCG) - information on Taiwan market conditions, best export prospects, financing, finding distributors, and legal and cultural issues
• Industry Sector Analyses (ISA) - offers market information on specific industries that can help determine market potential, market size and competitors for the U.S. products and services (See newest ISA summaries: http://www.buyusa.gov/taiwan/en/isa.html)
• International Market Insights (IMI) - identifies upcoming opportunities in specific markets (See newest IMI summaries: http://www.buyusa.gov/taiwan/en/imi.html)

In addition, CS Kaohsiung manages a commercial library and information service to help local businesses establish contact with U.S. firms and organizes trade shows to promote U.S. products, and maintains contact with key companies and organizations in southern Taiwan to provide U.S. businesses with information on major projects in the region.

In a region where American business has no other voice, CS Kaohsiung has been a very effective advocate for US commercial interests. Over the past 16 months, CS Kaohsiung provided support to companies such as DMJM Engineering, Cubic Transportation Systems, Tatung Otis Elevators, Airis Holdings, Honeywell, the SECO-Warwick Corporation, AVS Bus Systems, Motorola, DAE Technologies, American Science and Engineering and Clear Channel in the face of stiff competition from Japan, the UK and Austria for projects worth over USD$850 million in Southern Taiwan.

CS Kaohsiung annually works with local department stores to host an America Week around July 4th to promote U.S. consumer goods. CS Kaohsiung also actively participates in events hosted by Kaohsiung AmCham, Importers/Exporters Associations and CETRA (CS Taiwan's counterpart).