Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

I recently renewed my contract. I started my second year at the same institute.

Last week, I went to immigration to renew my visa. But, the immigration officers did not stamp my passport. They just added numbers (period of stay) to the back of my alien registration card.

Should they have stamped my passport with a new visa?

How do they know the type of visa you renew for (single or multiple entry)?

How long does a re-entry permit last?

[william beckerson]

Forget about it.

You got your E2. You're in the system. No worries. In the rare instance you do get carded, dont worry because the cops dont want to be bothered speaking English. They'll look at your card and hand it back to you.

Relax.

[Real Reality]

william beckerson,

Thank you for your reply.

What if I renew again next year? I do not have a new visa stamp. What will immigration do?

Again, do you need a NEW visa stamp (or some kind of stamp in your passport) when you get your visa renewed?

Of course, cops do not care. However, immigration may care. When I try to travel abroad for a vacation, immigration will check.

[kimcheeking]

There is no problem without the stamp. You do need to remember that if you take a vacation out of country you need to buy a re-entry VISA. when you do that you will get a stamp. Every time I renew a contract I pay for the re-entry regardless of whether or not I plan to leave the country. You never know when your family back home could have an emergency, car accident, disease, death what have you. It's good to be prepared

[rasta man]

going through the same thing, thanks for the info. What I'm worried about is heading back here from the US next month and showing my passport with an "expired" visa to some airline moron while checking in who will not understand that the visa has been renewed and is valid and wont let me on the plane, can you see showing your reg card thats in Korean to some moron who cant write a sentence in English?

[Real Reality]

kimcheeking,

Thank you for your reply.

Do you know how long a re-entry permit lasts (10 days, 30 days, 60 days)?

[william beckerson]

As I understand it, if you get a multiple entry VISA you can come and go like the wind. If you're willing to make a day of it in the immigration office again...

And as far as I know, only Americans ( or the relatives of US service personel ...I'm not certain on that point) get the multi-entry VISA straight off.

I have many "expired"s on my passport. A few seconds of telling the immigration guy you're here as a tourist is all you really require. They dont really care as long as it all looks okay. So you have an E2 instead of a tourist? Once you're out of his sight, he doesnt care about it.

If you're Canadian, your tourist visa lasts six months. I think US citizens have three. I dont know about Brits, Ausies and Kiwis.

The only people you have to worry about in Korea is your school. They can yank their sponsorship from you at any time. You'll have 14 days to pack.

Hope that helps

[kimcheeking]

[Hotuk]

I have a multiple-entry visa and am going away for a few weeks next month. Do I have to do anything special in advance (forms, etc) or do I just wave my passport at them going out and coming back in?

[william beckerson]

Wave it, say thank you, and go on.

[Crazy Oz]

Last time I had a multi entry visa it cost me 70,000 won, whereas a single entry was 50,000 won. The multiple entry was good up until 2 weeks prior to the expiry of the E2.
So if you plan on making a number of out-of-country trips, the multi visa is a bargain, and lasts almost as long as your working visa.
Happy flying, boating, walking or whatever!

[kumuka]

Please advise, If I start with a new employer for my second year, do I have to go to Japan and get a new Visa or can I just go to the local immigration and get a new renewal stamp?

[BTM]

Re : multiple entry

If your E-2 is single entry, you can get a spiffy multiple-entry at Incheon (the office is clearly marked in English on the same floor as international check-ins) airport on the day of departure if you need to go home. I did this last month when I went home for Xmas. It's (if I recall correctly) 40,000 won, takes 5 minutes.

kumuka : you do not need to leave Korea to re-up with the same employer.

[kangnamdragon]

NEW QUESTION FOR THIS THREAD:
How many times may a teacher renew an E2 while staying in the country with the same school? A teacher told me he can renew only once then has to go to Japan again after the second year. Is this true?

[NearlyKorean]