Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pizzathehut]

If anyone can give me some solid information on this, please respond.

Here is the problem: My boss extended my e2 visa for 2 months. My visa was multiple entry, so naturally I thought my extended visa was too. (It wasn't) So, I left the country for a short vacation and when I returned, immigration took my ARC. Thus, my visa was cancelled....(to my understanding).

Here is what my boss told me: He took my original diploma and sealed transcripts to immigration and applied for a new one-year visa. (so he said). He told me that everything is OK and that I do not have to leave the country for a visa run. He also promised to give me a Release letter in two months so I can apply for another visa with a new employer.

What I am worried about: 1. Did he really apply for the visa and 2. Would it really be valid if I did not leave the country to get a new stamp in the passport and 3. Would the release letter be adequate for both the new employer and immigration, especially since, supposedly, I just applied for a one-year e2.

Supposedly immigration is aware of my situation and my boss if following their recommendations.

So, that is all I know, which is only what I've been told..Still, something does not seem quite right. What should I do? I am afraid I am trapped into staying here until my two months are up. Then what? Will I not be able to work in Korea again....who knows.....

[gosia]

The same thing happened to me last year. I assumed that the multiple entry status exteneded along with my visa, but it did not. When I came back to Korea after my vacation, they took my ARC card and gave me a 30 visitor visa. My hogwan reapplied for a new visa for me, but I did have to go to Japan for two days to get that. If you are working in a public school, then you won't have to leave-as that is considered a gov't job. If you are working for a hogwon, you have to go on a visa run....
Hope that helps

[buymybook]

"so naturally I thought my extended visa was too."

"I thought my _______ "?

To extend, he needs your passport. You should have gone to Immigration either alone(with proper documents or with him. He cannot do it alone or without your permission/passport. Did you give him your passport?

Why would he need sealed transcripts to extend? You need to go to Immigration ASAP and ask them what your situation is.

Why would he have extended it for 1 year when he only needs you for 2 months. You shouldn't trust him! Ask him for the letter of release now, have him post date it and stamp it. Make sure it is what you need. Learn what the title of the document really is/means.

About re-entry..."so naturally I thought" Stop doing that! If you are American it is automatically. If you are from Canada you need to purchase re-entries through Immigration.

You don't have to go on a visa run if your same employer wants to extend up to one year. After two years with any same employer you do have to make a visa run.

[Pizzathehut]

When my boss extended my visa for 2 months, he took my ARC card and Passport to immigration, that's all. Immigration stamped a new date on the back of the ARC card. That is all they did.

After I left the country and lost that visa, my boss asked me for my diploma and transcripts so he could apply for another visa. Immigration told him that they would not do a new visa for less than one year. So he had to apply for a one-year visa.

I feel a bit better now, thanks to your information. If I don't have to leave the country for a visa run when the same company extends my visa for one year, then I can believe what he is telling me.

In that case I should be fine. I think I can trust him to sign a release letter since I helped him out by staying the extra two months, even though I did cause him a pain in the a-- with this visa mishap.

[icicle]

[hubba bubba]

wait, so if you want to get out of your contract, all you have to do is go to Japan for the weekend on a single entry? Bam, visa/contract gone?

Doesn't sound right to me.

[ttompatz]

[Pizzathehut]

Yes, when you leave on a single entry visa, immigration revokes it once you reenter. That is what I meant by losing the visa.
Once again, leaving Korea while on a single entry visa renders it null and void upon reentry. Therefore I "lost" my visa. It is illegal to work in Korea on a tourist visa. I was issued a 30 day tourist visa.
My boss still wants me to finish working the extra two months that we previously agreed that I would work. (getting my visa extended for those extra two months is what started this whole problem...that is after I subsequently had it revoked upon my reentry to Korea).

If the previous posters are correct in that I do not have to leave the country for a visa run when I am resigning with my current employer...then I should be OK. My boss would not have any money worries, so I believe that he would have actually applied for the visa.

If anyone else knows any information, I would welcome it.

[ttompatz]

[pdxsteve]

[insam]

[wylies99]

[kigolo1881]

A 2 month extension would have required: YOU going to immi with your passport, ARC and an amendment to your contract, a filled out form with the box checked that said "Extension of Sojourn" and 30K Won stamps.

Your ARC would have and a new expiry date on the back within a few mins of waiting at immi.

The visa, including the RE-ENTRY would still be only valid for the original term indicated on the Visa sticker, hence you weren't allowed back into the country after the visa expired, but given a tourist status.


Your boss is a genius a spin doctor to get you to work 2 extra months for free (maybe) and then having to leave the country with little fear for re-course from you.

[Tokki1]

OMG...nothing surprises me anymore