Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eta795]

My visa expired Septemeber 24th, during Chuseok. Boss told me nothing about needing extension, said I had a few weeks grace following its expiry. I read a few posts on here, got scared and rang immigration. First rang my local office in Masan. Got an "I'm sorry, no one here speaks English, ring back later", so rang Busan. They told me to take care of it Sep 27th, the Thur following. I tried to extend it to the one month tourist status online beforehand, but I didn't have my onward ticket from Korea; I'm taking the trans siberian home, so its been a long process of procuring different tickets. I did however have a flight ticket from Moscow on Nov 19th. Told my boss this, she said she spoke to immigration, faxed them the ticket and that everything was alright. New teacher has arrived, I'm helping her settle in. My boss went to immigration with her, I had by that stage got my onward ticket from Korea, and gave both it and my card to her to make sure my extension was ok. She then rang me fretfully from there, asking me was I sure had I extended my visa. Told her I had attempted to do so online and she had told me it was fine and what the hell was she talking about. She came back, I asked her what the story was and she said she had to LIE for ME in the office and she got a real grilling from them etc. Told her I had not lied, and that she had informed me it was all ok. I asked her the outcome and she told me it will be ok if I go to the immigration offical in INcheon Ferry Port when I leave Oct 19th to China. So, basically, I'm going to have overstayed my visa by 3 and a bit weeks when I go through immigration having attempted to extend it but without evidence to that effect. What am I looking at here? I've tried to do the right thing, get it extended etc, but shouldn't have trusted my boss. My feeling is that isn't going to cut the mustard with immigration when I get to the counter. Should I try some more avenues, go to the office myself beforehand, to show I tried, or just go on the day. What is likely to happen? Has anyone had similar experiences? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[garykasparov]

Your boss is aware of the law but she royally screwed you over. You will eventually have to face the brass at the immigration checkpoint inside the ferry terminal when you leave Korea and re-enter to obtain a Tourist Visa. It probably wouldn't hurt to get it cleared up as the forum member below said. Arrive at 8:45 a.m. in the morning at the your local immigration office.

[cruisemonkey]

You're 'screwed' and will have to pay a fine. The amount of money you have to pay increases the longer you overstay your visa. Don't wait until the 19th when you try to leave the country (you'll probably end up missing your ferry). Take today off work, go to Immigration immediately and get it cleared up.

[kat2]

And be very nice to the immigration official, no matter how rude or mean they seem.
And where your best "I'm a dumb, but well-meaning foreigner" look
And beg....hard
They oculd stick you with a very large fine, but like all laws in Korea, it' srelaly up to hte official. So be nice and apologetic!

[eta795]

Crap. I can go Monday. What are we talking about finewise...I've heard 100000won. Shoudl I play the "my boss said this" card? I'm pretty sure if I go to the Masan office they'll be aware of the situation, but that they'll have heard my bosses side of the story first.

[jinju]

The bos doesnt matter. Ultimately YOU are a university graduate, hopefully, and that means you are an adult. Things like taking care of YOUR visa are your responsibilities. How could you let something like that pass without taking care of it ASAP?

[kat2]

Well what I heard was 100,000/DAY! So, I hope you've been saving money during your year. Like all rules in Korea, they are used at the official's discretion, which is why you have to be really, really, really nice to them

[eta795]

Thanks for the helpful response Jinju.

[shifter2009]

[cruisemonkey]

To the OP,

Please let us know what happened.

[Young FRANKenstein]