Korean Job Discussion Forums

desultude · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 9:12 pm Post subject: Visa renewal

Does anyone fully understand the process of renewing your work visa? I have been re-signed at my university, and have been told that someone will go to immigration to renew my visa for me. We have been told not to worry, the process is pretty automatic. Meanwhile, a co-worker was stopped by immigration while trying to leave the country the other day for a long weekend. It had to do with her remaining visa being to short- it expires in about a month.

I have also been told that I will be automatically be given a multi-entry visa. This part is really unclear to me, as I had to pay extra to get one last year, and doubt that they are giving them away for free the second time around.

I'm teaching camp right now so it is hard for me to get to immigration. I plan to travel at the end of camp, but my visa will expire while I am away. Should I trust that someone from the school can go on my behalf, or should I insist on going myself? (I don't mind going, but the school minds me missing time at camp.)

rudyflyer · Joined: 26 Feb 2003 Location: pacing the cage

heres what you need to do. Get your school to get all the proper paperwork, new contract, old contract and some other paperwork I'm not sure what its called. You then have to go to to immigration yourself (because you have to sign the form) and apply for 2 things. One is an extension of sojourn form, pretty straightforward, that will cost you 30,000 won; then because the extension is not a muliple entry deal that expires with your "old" visa, you also need to apply for a multiple re-entry permit, that'll cost you 50,000 won.

Takes these forms and the paperwork along with your passport and alien reg card. The guy at immigration should process it while you wait. He will stamp the re-entry permit in your passport and will notate on bottom back of your alien reg card that the visa has been extended and the new expiration date. You WILL NOT recieve a new visa or alien reg card. DON'T GET UPSET that your alien reg card still on the front shows the old expiration date, its in the system and you will have no problems getting out and back into the country

hth for everybody

Seoul Skye · Joined: 28 Feb 2003

You don't have to put in an appearance at the immigration office for the renewal. And if your university is willing to cover the cost of multi-entry status, great let them. However, they (your employer) do need your passort and alien registration card to submit to Immigration along with the other documents that only they can provide. FYI - Renewals are taking 7-10 days to process at Seoul Immigration.

desultude · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:41 pm Post subject:

Okay, now I am officially confused again. I'll talk to more people here on what they have done in the past. I only care that 1) my passport is somehow updated, and, 2)I have a multi-entry visa.

Thank you both for your advice. It really helps a lot. Both of you do negate what I have been told here, which simply involved getting the alien card updated. I had a feeling more was involved than that.

Seoul Skye · Joined: 28 Feb 2003

http://www.moj.go.kr/immi/08_english/01_introduction/immi_f.html

I hear your confusion.

The above link will take you to the Immigration Bureau's "forms" page. I recommend that you download the re-entry permit form and the visa renewal form, fill them out, and sign them. Give the completed forms, along with your passport and alien registration card (ARC), to the university staff who will be handling your visa renewal process. It would be a good idea to remind them of the expiration date on your ARC. I've found that most Korean office staff aren't multi-taskers and need to be gently reminded of important dates from time to time.

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

When my visa was renewed, I signed the form in my office then someone from my office took care of everything. Make sure that not only your visa is extended, but you also get a new multi-entry permit. My visa was extended but I had to make a quick trip to immigration at the airport before I could leave Korea for Christmas vacation.

desultude · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 1:17 am Post subject:

Well, we almost have our visas. We did have to go ourselves to immigration. It cost us over 30,000 for taxis. We now have to go back to pick up our passports, cards and paperwork in three days. It wouldn't be so bad, but it is so damned far away!

I am surprised that it wasn't easier, but at least we are almost there.