Korean Job Discussion Forums

gajackson1

Hello & sorry we have been out of touch (we are rather stuck in the reverse 'fair-weather-friends' schtick; since things haven't been so good for us, we haven't been around).

So, the Reader's Digest Condensed Version is like this:

Our school has closed unofficially, but it is - by the end of the month - about to be very official indeed (the govt. offices will be notified, and our boss/owner is filing bankruptcy). Christina & self are NOT concerned about getting new jobs; we ARE concerned about the status of our visas/immigration and being rushed/pressured on the job hunt.

Our proposed solution is to get out for a few days, come back with 90-day tourist visas, pick up the pieces/weigh our options & pull things back together. We are down almost 20 mill cashwise, but got our apartment lease & key money deposit and a lot of supplies/office stuff out of it. Our boss is a decent guy; he even has signed promissary notes saying he will try to repay us the remaining due amount.

(This isn't silly on our parts; I knew the guy before we went to work for him, and he is our next-door neighbor. For those who know us & want to know all the gory details, just contact us & we will fill you in).

So, for those who have direct exp./current info/stories to share:

We want to get 90-day tourist visas. We realize we will have to make a run out of here to get them (Osaka, Fukuoka, China, etc.), as they are issued only out-of-country.

#1 - What documents are actually required/expected? We have been all over the web, but their seem to be conflicts . . . the picture, application, valid passport are constant, but we have also heard proof of funds, itinerary, letter of invite/character reference(s), onward ticket being required. Can anyone confirm/deny/comment on this?

#2 - Any recs for immigration offices/branches/people to visit or talk to(or avoid like the avian plagues!)? I have dealt with the small office here in Seoul, as well as Fukuoka (albeit 5 years ago) and Osaka. Helpful people/offices or horror stories welcomed here!!!

#2 - does anyone know what - and how quickly - someone (i.e.- us!) has to do to notify govt. offices, and which ones need to know? What happens when we go to immigration here (office or airport) and we don't have a school/job, but still have valid visas stickered in our passports? (i.e. - how long will they give us to get outta dodge?)

For those who don't know us (new user types), we have/had been at this job for almost 6 months. We have nothing against our boss/owner per se for the situation; we have another 1 1/2 years on this lease for our cozy apartment, and a lot of stuff after a combined 8 years here. (So jetting off & mulling things over on a beach is NOT an option; we want to get new jobs in our same area).

Can we/should we try to explain our actual situation to immigration, or should we just play 'tourists' while we do the job hunt???

Please, any info would be appreciated, either here or via PM.

Regards,

Glen & Christina

BTW/FYI ~ yep, we have done keyword searches here and on the net in general. And there is a lot more to our situation than this, but this is the core of it. If you have flack, or smart-alecky comments, please keep them to yourself.

Tompatz · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Suwon

Forgive me if I missed it, but I didn't see your country of origin listed. It makes a difference.

For anyone who can get an E2 visa for English then you are from a country that does not require a visa to enter korea as a tourist.

The following quote was taken from the immigration website:
http://www.moj.go.kr/english/function/function06_04.php

"Most foreigners who want to visit Korea just for a short-term tour or transit are permitted to enter Korea with no visa according to the principles of reciprocity or priority of national interests with a tourist/transit visa status (B-2, 30 days). Special status is awarded to Canadians(6 months) and Australian(90days)."

"A visa waiver agreement means that a foreigner whose country has a reciprocal visa exemption agreement with the Republic of Korea is admitted to enter Korea with no visa.

Countries, objects and period, etc. of a visa waiver agreement are as follows and a foreigner from those countries will be granted a Visa Waiver (B-1) status stipulated by the agreement."

I hope that helps some.

Gwangjuboy · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Location: England

Just leave the country and come back. You need not have letters of invitation etc for a tourist visa. When asked your reasons for visiting Korea, just say that you are a tourist. If you get a job within the 90 day period, you must leave again of course to aquire the E-2 Visa.

gajackson1 · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:21 pm Post subject:

Tompatz - sorry - most of the regulars here know C & I are both States-side types. So, it used to be just 2 weeks for us on arrival, but it is now (almost standard) 1 month. While that would be good for a visit, we want the security of the 90-day. While we think we want to stay in Seoul, we have standing & tentative offers in other parts of the country, and want to weigh our options carefully.

We have looked at the immigration sites, as well as several other websites, but there seem to be conflicts about what is required, and what is suggested/recommended.

When we did the regular visa run to Osaka for this last job, we wrote up a very detailed report here on how to do it as an overnight, as well as a 3-day visa/party run. We were hoping to hear from other 90-day types.

GB - good to see you, & thanx for the tip. Our concern is that we are both leaving jobs 1/2 way in, and doing a turnaround run to come back here. Won't that flag/look suspicious? Somehow, I think ' but we have a house, a car, a motorcycle, and a dog!' won't cut it so well for 'tourists.'

Or, are we making mountains from molehills?

Regards,

G & C

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 7:43 pm Post subject:

So that's what happened to you two...sorry to hear.

I really think you should just head on into an immigration office and be honest about what's going on. Since your employer isn't breaking any laws, and you're not breaking any laws, there's nothing to hide. I know you want to be prepared before you go into the office, but it's a good place to start, I'd reckon. Dullard advice, I know...but I've really never thought much about applying for a tourist visa.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Just regular tourist visas can be had by any Korean embassy.

They are good for coming in and out of Korea once every 90 days.. and they cost around $50 for American citizens. The visa is good for 5 years, although you must leave every 90 days on that visa.

All you need is 3 passport size photos and to fill out the application as well as your actual passport.

Funds, itinerary, letter of invite, or even an onward ticket to and out of Korea isn't needed for the tourist visa.

I'm not totally sure how long you have to get out of dodge. If your employer doesn't call and cancel your visa, you will have until the visa expires - kind of risky. I worked a summer camp and found I could legally be here for one year on that same visa - the danger is if somehow cancelled, you have a lot of explaining to do.

If you don't have a job but have a valid visa when you go to leave at the airport, then officially you are still legal. As long as the visa is valid - immigration will acknowledge it.

Probably your most important question I can't answer. I'm not sure the answer of how long you can stay in the process. I would think an immigration officer would give a pretty fair answer as I'm sure the situation has come up before by others. Let us know.. I'm curious as to what the procedure is in that situation.

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

It seems like a lot of schools are closing lately... Sad

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

Is a C3 really valid for multiple sojourns of up to 90 days each? Because then I wouldn't need to get another one for sixty months. Except that my pasport is about to expire...

weened · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 8:31 am Post subject:

GJ,

I'm about to go through the same process as you and have found that Tiger is correct about the procedure. I know a handful of people who have the 90 day and only one was asked, "what for?" This person replied, "I'm loaded and am looking to travel." They didn't ask any more questions. Again this was one person out of four so you shouldn't have any problems. Good luck.

W.

weened · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 8:43 am Post subject:

Also,

Does anyone know about the airline ticket catch-22? I've heard on this forum (and like Glen, did the search but to no avail so, shhhh) that you need a round-trip ticket ot enter the country on a tourist visa. I want to come, look at schools, sign a contract, go to osaka, come back and teach. Most of the online travel agencies like Orbitz and Expedia will only let you change the flight within a year of purchase. This means that if I go in February I would have to leave the following February or lose the ticket. Of course, I won't start teaching until March and well, you see the problem. If I go the one-way route I'll save a good $400 but I've heard I need the round-trip. Anyone know?

I know this sounds like a hijack but I think GJ will be faced with the same dillemma if this is true. Thanks,

W.

ffl007 · Joined: 01 Nov 2003

PM me if you have issues.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

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