Korean Job Discussion Forums

shetan · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Location: In front of my PC.

I tried doing searches but it just comes up blank... thanks for any help.

I will finish my job March 31st. I want to start studying at Songang now.

Immigration said I cannot change my visa even afer it expires.

So it seems I have to leave Korea half way through my program and apply for a D4 visa in another country, then (if approved) I can return and continue my studies.

Has anyone had experience with this? Has anyone changed to D4 in Korea?

I know I can leave and return on a holiday visa but then I cant work part time to support myself.

Any info appriciated.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Can you work on a D4? On a D2 you can't work until after the first six months/semester.

Tourist visas can be changed to student visas pretty easily in-country. Or they could in the past.

shetan · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Location: In front of my PC.

Man! Immigration is useless.

Spent 40 mins trying to find out if I can work on the D4 visa (studying Korean visa)

answer went from.. I dont know, to definately not, to pretty sure then to no, but you can work in broadcasting/acting on TV... back to no you cant!!!

WTF!

Also you can change from a holiday visa to a D4, but you cannot change from an E2 to D4!

I guess they dont want anyone learning Korean!!

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

On a D-2, you can work, after 6 months/one semester, in your field of study, 20 hours/week during the semester and 40-unlimited during breaks. With permission, of course.

I don't know if D-4 has similar conditions, but this might give you a starting point for asking more specific questions.

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

I'm not exactly sure about going from E2 to D4, but I tried once to change from a tourist visa to a D4 and I had to leave the country.

I turned in all my documents to the Mokdong immigration office and all was well. They said my visa would be ready in a few days and that I wouldn't have to leave the country (I specifically asked). A couple days later I got a call from immi saying that I would have to leave the country to do it. The lady I talked to seemed somewhat unsure of things and said something about the fact that I was a Canadian and have a 6 months tourist visa therefore I couldn't change it in Korea. It didn't make much sense to me. I had to leave the country anyway, so I didn't really pursue the issue any further.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Among my friends and I, we have changed in-country:
C3->D4
C3->D2
D4->D2

None of us are Canadian.

IlIlNine · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

I changed from a E2 to a D2 in country with no problems... I'm Canadian...

shetan · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Location: In front of my PC.

thanks for the info..

i seriously got angry at Immi yesterday....

they dont seem to know anything... which is fine as long as they can tell me how to get the info I need on line or in some written form.

anyway its strange you can change from tourist visa (c3) - D4
but not E2-D4!

anyway... i think Ill can the whole idea and go to Thailand for a holiday instead.. Maybe start thinking about going to Japan....

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

* bump *

So is it possible to switch from an E-2 to a D-4 back to back? A few weeks after my E-2 expires I'd like to start a Korean language program on a D-4. The websites I've seen say you should apply for the visa a few months in advance. So is it possible to apply for one while I have the other? Is it possible to switch over while in Korea? Is it possible to do it quickly via a visa run without having to wait a couple of months?

If I have to travel all the way back to my home embassy/consulate, that'd be a deal breaker.

edit: I'm from the US.

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

ttompatz answers the question in this thread.