Korean Job Discussion Forums

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

Okay, I've never done the visa extension before until about 2 weeks ago. What I want to know is if someone else has experienced this: The whole thing took about 5 minutes. I filled out a visa extension application and had my passport and the residency card. The guy pulled up my information on the computer and then wrote the extension date on the back of my residency card. Done. That was it. Nothing was stamped in my passport and I didn't pay any fees. Is this the norm? I just don't feel too good about not having that stamp in my passport...but everything appeared to be cool. Has anyone else had this kind of thing(no stamp in the passport and no fees) happen when extending a visa??

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: South Korea

It sounds okay! Some nationalities pay for visa's and some don't like the British for instance. As long as it is marked on the back of your alian card I wouldn't worry.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Yep thats it. Last visa in my passport is dated 1999.

dakdungchim · Joined: 27 Mar 2003

I'm an American. I was sent on a Visa Trip 2 weeks before I started to work, so I needed an extension a year later. I needed a ticket out in my hand, I think a W30,000 fee, and a stamp on my passport. I was on the infamous Daegu subway 6 times that day--my travel agent was near the espresso shop across from Burger King, and I had to subway back and forth to the immigration office a number of times.

Crazy Oz · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Ilsan, Korea

Not the usual procedure, but if you are concerned go back to immigration and confirm that you don't need a stamp in your passport.
Each time I have renewed I have had my passport and alien card stamped and had to pay a fee. I suppose it depends on the immigration office you go to, as they seem to have differing methods for just about everything.

Still crazy, still here.

thinker · Joined: 10 Feb 2003

that's how mine went, at the airport on your way out the guy looks at your passport and see it's past the date, then you hand in your card> > >have a nice flight. . . Wink

Singer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

You have 2 different subjects going here. When you extend your visa, you stay with the same hagwon. In that case, they only update your registration card.

If you change schools, then you are getting a completely new visa and alien registration card. That is not an extension.

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

Maybe I should clarify...I'm not re-signing with the school, I am merely getting an extension on the visa itself. I'm not too worried because they did do something with the computer and they did write on the back of my alien card. I mean, if they can't do things the right way...that's their bad. If there is a problem in the future, I'll simply explain the situation.........

Zyzyfer · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2003 4:20 am Post subject:

Crazy Oz · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Ilsan, Korea

Singer,
They do in fact put a visa extension stamp in your passport. It is called "Permission For Extension of Sojourn Period", and it is applied at the immigration office when you renew your contract. Same hogwan, same owners, similar contract. They also stamp the back of the Alien Card. So without them I would be concerned that all is not sweet.

Still crazy, still here.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Beg to differ here, & from firsthand experience. I have changed employers, I have never left the country on a visa run, & I've never had my original E2 updated in my passport. I've been in & out of the country on numerous occasions, never a hassle. (You have to keep up with re-entry permits though.) Yes, some immigration offices interpret the rules differently, but if all parties are willing, it's completely legit to change jobs & continue working here with nothing more than a handwritten notation on your alien card (& whatever they enter on their computers).

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: South Korea

When you leave Korea Immigration will bring your file up on their computer at the airport if anything looks wrong. If it's on computer then you are okay if not then headacke.

BTM · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Back in the saddle.

No issue here - never had a new stamp in my passport when renewing and staying with same employer.

I also got a new passport recently, and needed the extension as a result (they only gave me my latest visa up to the end of my passport validity last time). No new stamp at all (just a scribble on my foreigner card), which means I still have a totally unmarked passport.

My wife asked, deliberately, if this was cool as we left, and she was assured it's SOP.