Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chachee99]

My passport expires January 2008 and my new contract ends March 1, 2008. Immigration refuses to process it until I get a new passport. It takes about 30 days to get a new one because it has to be mailed back to Canada. They also refused to grant an extention on my ARC. My current e2 visa expires March 2nd. However, they said I am perfectly legal to stay and work in Korea because an immigration officer signed my application form and stamped it with today's date. She even left her contact number at the top of the application. I was told to carry a copy of this form with me if any problems arise.

I am a little worried because it just sounds too skeptical. What do you think?

[the_beaver]

[chachee99]

I just worried because they never stamped any of the documents with an official stamp. Just a cheap 99 cent date stamp anyone can buy at the e-mart

[poet13]

FYI, doesn't take 30 days. Unless there's something special about yours, it's issued in Seoul. Got mine last August 4th.

I don't know what to say about their conflicting statements.

I think I would send the package off quick smart, and if anybody hassled me about it, I would say it's in the works.

I had a similar issue the year before I renewed my passport. I couldn't get a one year extension because my passport expired before the end of that period. But I was allowed a six month extension.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Homer]

That makes sense....you need a valid passeport to travel and to work....just get it done man.

[yingwenlaoshi]

I'm pretty sure it's ok to begin a contract with at least six months left before your passport expires.

[jazblanc77]

[chachee99]

I already have my passport renewal form filled out. I contacted the Canadian embassy in Korea and they told me my new passport would take up to a month to process because it has to get mailed back to Canada . After it arrives in Canada, it will take up to 14 days to process a new visa, then it will be mailed back to Korea.

If you got it back in in less than two weeks that's great news. The sooner the better if you ask me.
I am not upset at immigration request either. I'm just worried about being caught with an expired e2 visa. Remember, according to my ARC, I have to leave Korea by March 2nd. That's why I asked for a one month extention and I was completely baffled when my request was denied by immigration.

[andrew]

.....

[chachee99]

[hogwonguy1979]

[chachee99]

Bottom line is this. My visa expires tomorrow and immigration refused to extend it or process my e2 visa up to the expiry date of my current passport. I will send my passport to the Canadian Embassy tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll get it back in two weeks.

I just hope immigration doesn't pull any garbage with me when I resubmit my documents for processing the e2. No fine, penalties, no exit order, and no visa run. That's what the lady at immigration promissed me. She also said it is perfectly legal for me to teach. I'm just a little worried because after tomorrow it will look like my visa has expired and I am overstaying in Korea.

[Homer]

Unless they extended your visa....if you teach after it expired it cannot be legal....I think she gave you bad information. Unless of course she extended your visa (which you can do for a few weeks).

[chachee99]