Please visit the Judicial Assistance in Taiwan section on the Department of State’s website for details.
The page linked here provides information on:
- Authorities of the American Institute in Taiwan
- Service of Process
- Travel of U.S. Local, State or Federal Government Officials
- Authentication of AIT Seal
- Letters Rogatory
- Depositions
Depositions in Taiwan
The procedure for taking a deposition in Taiwan is quite different from the normal process in the United States. In Taiwan, as courts have no stenographer or court reporter, visiting foreign visitors have the option of bringing their own stenographer or recording the deposition via their own audio visual equipment. You must also obtain your own post-hoc Chinese translation if required.
To conduct a deposition of a willing witness in front of a Consular Officer, contact AIT directly to make arrangements. We have a full schedule of service appointments every day and may not be able to schedule a deposition on short notice. Please plan accordingly.
Fees for the taking of depositions are set forth in the Federal Register. They include the following:
| Items | Fees |
| Non-Refundable Deposition Scheduling Fee (If rescheduled, another $1,283 fee is collected). |
US$1,283.00 |
| Hourly Rate for the Time During Actual Deposition (If the officer is called back, a second fee will apply). |
US$309.00 |
| Affidavit of witness/stenographer/interpreter/videographer (per affidavit) |
US$415.00 |
| Hourly Rate for the amount of travel time involved, plus transportation expenses | US$135.00 |
The fee should be paid in the form of a certified bank check or international money order payable to the American Institute in Taiwan. This deposit is not refundable if the deposition is canceled or rescheduled.
In order to schedule AIT services please contact our office via email TaipeiACS@state.gov. AIT will need to know the date and duration required for the deposition.
To download a list of attorneys in Northern Taiwan (PDF 259KB)
To download a list of attorneys in Southern Taiwan (PDF 625KB)
To download a list of Translation Firms (PDF, 186KB)
To download a list of Video Services (PDF 201KB)
To download a list of Interpreters (PDF 194KB)
To download a list of stenographers/court reporters (PDF 191KB)
To download a list of Translation and Interpreting Service Resources in Southern Taiwan (PDF 314KB)
AIT Authority
Authority – 22 U.S.C. 3306(b) provides acts performed by officers of the American Institute on Taiwan under 22 U.S.C. 3306 are valid, as if performed by any other person authorized under the laws of the United States to perform such acts (consular officers). The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the District of Columbia, 22 U.S.C. 3305, 3306(a)(3). The judicial assistance acts of AIT personnel parallel the acts performed by U.S. consular officers under 28 U.S.C. 1781 (a)(2). See Sec. 1-201(h) of Executive Order No. 12143, 44 Fed. Reg. 37191 (June 23, 1979). Pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), 22 U.S.C. 3309(a), the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative’s Office (“TECRO”) is the instrumentality established by the people of Taiwan having the necessary authority under the laws of Taiwan to take actions on behalf of Taiwan in accordance with the Act.
Additional Information
Please visit the judicial assistance (worldwide) section on the Department of State’s website for more information on judicial assistance worldwide.
