Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Firearcher]

I need clarification:

Under the new regs the Visa run to Japan, CRC & Health Check are not needed for existing E2 Visa holders after Dec 2007. Once you've done this once its not needed.

Today however I was told that if you have worked less than 8 months under your visa AFTER it was already transferred once that the rules are different.

In that case the teacher is ineligible for the transfer must obtain a CRC and do a Visa run to Japan.

Is this true?

[gteacher]

[Firearcher]

[gteacher]

The teacher I let go needed both, new CRC and Visa run. That was with the Mokdong office. However, like you said you'll get a different answer everytime you phone. Phone again, using a Korean speaker, have them ask and then get the officer name. When you go to immi, if they give you a hassel just refer them to that officer.

good luck

[broken76]

OK the official rule is if you have not held onto an E-2 Visa for a minimum of 9 months (80% of a standard contract) you will need to go back to your home country and do the whole thing again. If you've had your Visa for 9 months or more then you may go to any Korean consulate (Japan) to get your Visa since you'll be exempt from doing the interview.

Now for a Visa transfer there is a bit of leeway. The Supervisor at each immigration office does have the power to authorize a Visa transfer from one school to another. This would mean that no Visa run is necessary at all. If you are leaving on good terms from your current position to your new one there is a chance this will be allowed but I wouldn't bet my money on it.

[Firearcher]

[Letsbehonestaboutit]

I started a contract on March 1, 2008, and resigned just over 6 months later. With a "Letter of Release" from my original employer, I was able to transfer to a new employer using my existing visa, at my local immigration office, without having to go to Japan. I just had to fill out a pink "transference" form and show Immigration copies of my CRC and Medical (which I'd already submitted for my original employer, in March.) Hope this helps!

[Cliffhanger]

I have just gone through this.

If you have completed less than 80%, you have to apply for a new visa. First, after you have finished working, go to the immigration office with your former employer to terminate the contract. They will give you a 30 day exit order. Then give your documents to your new employer. They cannot apply for a visa before you have canceled your visa. I did NOT need to submit a new CRC. Everything else, including a new health check was needed.

You can do a visa run to Japan IF you have not had any problems with immigration or criminal activity.

This is what was explained to me. It was actually a pretty easy process.


If you completed more than 9 months, get a release letter and transfer the visa.

[Letsbehonestaboutit]

[Cliffhanger]

My old employer, my new employer and I all thought we could do it like that, but about a week before we were ready to transfer the visa, my new employer called immigration to make sure. They said we can't transfer with a release letter because I worked there less than 9 months. I had to get a new visa.

My new employer kinda freaked out when they heard that cause they thought it was going to be really easy.

What I said in my last post was exactly what was explained to me and what I did.

I went to the suwon office on october 6th.

I don't know why you were able to transfer the visa. Maybe its a different location or every immigration officer doing something different. I don't know.

I just want to warn that it won't necessarily be that easy.

[Letsbehonestaboutit]

[Tamada]

So far we've heard answers such as....

(1) Yes, you can transfer the visa...regardless of how much of the old contract you have managed to complete.

(2) Yes you can transfer but only if you have completed 80% or more of the old contract

(3) No, you can't transfer the visa but will need to do a border run to a neighboring country in order to secure a new visa.

(5) If you are presently on your first visa and you have completed less than 80% of your contract, then you have to go back to your home country in order to get your second visa (I think and hope this is 100% inaccurate).

(6) Yes, you will need to submit a new crb check.

(7) No, a new crb check will not need to be submitted.


Any chance, somebody could clear up this whole sorry mess once and for all and explain what EXACTLY needs to be done in the following situation.....

A teacher has accepted a new position and finished less than half of the old contract BUT has already received a letter of release from the old employer and is leaving in the near future on very amicable terms.

Thanks all.

[polonius]

I honestly think it depends on which immigration office you go to. I hired a teacher who had done 1.5 years at a school, plus had submitted a CRC. He had to go to Japan, (but that was really because the previous school he worked at had him listed under a different company name, and to rectify it, the school would have to go to immigration voluntarily and would be subject to a fine.)

As for the CRC, he didn't need to submit another one, but as others have said, some immigration offices are requiring it.

[yasmeenxox]

[Letsbehonestaboutit]