Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adventurer01]

Hi! I, like many people here, arrived in Korea a few days before the start of my contract. That is when the school flew me over, they wanted me to observe the outgoing teacher for a couple of days.

Unfortunately, now I am getting near the end of my contract and my ARC card date is a few days earlier before the end of my contract date.

My boss is saying that it will be very difficult to get it extended for those extra days (less than a week) at the immigration office. I have said that I have no problem paying the fee, and providing my documents. But my boss seems hesitant to agree to this, and I am not sure why. Just for the record, so far my boss has been on the up and up, but I do get nervous because of the stories I hear.

I want to be working legally and I want to complete my contract. I am a little worried that my boss may not want to pay me my severence and airfare if I end a few days early, and I know that the Labor Board says you must work the 1 year... not 1 or 2 days less.

How hard is it to extend the ARC card? What would my boss need to provide? Is the paperwork difficult?

What do I need, for less than a 1-week extension? On the immigration site it says I would need another CRC and Health Check... but do I actually need those for a very short extension?

Has anyone gone through this with a boss? Has anyone extended for a short time in Busan without CRC and Health Check?

I know that this topic has been discussed a few times, but people seem to get different service at different immigration offices... so I thought I would ask for anyone who has done this in Busan.

Please, help me to figure this out. Thank you!

[cruisemonkey]

The length of extension is irrelevant (one day or one year, it makes no difference). You will need:
Passport
ARC
Medical exam
Contract
Proof of Employment
Business Registration Number
Application
W30,000

[adventurer01]

Thanks for the quick response.

If I need to get another CRC and Medical Check for a few days extension... can I keep the originals and use them again for a new contract starting after I travel for a month or so... or will I need to do yet another CRC and Medical Check for the new job.

Just curious, since it seems like overkill to have to do a Medical Check and CRC 3 times in less than 1 1/2 years, for 2 contracts when I haven't even left the country yet (and it's been almost a year).

[valkerie]

I was in the same situation (one day extension needed) last August (so maybe the new rules were not in then? Can't recall).

I didn't need the med or crim check tho. DID need outgoing airline ticket.

[chris_J2]

It's very easy to get a 2 week extension on your ARC. Don't know where your employer got the idea it's hard? I've done it twice, at Uiejongbu in 2007, & Masan in September 2008. Take all your docs & outgoing airline ticket to Immigration. 'Cruisemonkey' has nailed the procedure.

[cruisemonkey]

valkirie,

In that case you extended you period of sojourn for non-work purposes. If you worked during the extension, you were doing so illegally.


adventurer01,

You should not (in theory) need another CRC in order to extend your period of sojourn for the purpose of work.

[polonius]

I had people extend a couple weeks ago. They didn't need the medical, but did need all the other things that the Monkey mentioned.

That said, each immi office might be slightly different.

[cruisemonkey]

[cruisemonkey]

[adventurer01]

Hi! Thank you all for the great responses. I guess I am still a little confused.

On the immigration website here http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt?categoryId=2&parentId=391&catSeq=429&showMenuId=376&visaId=E2 I noticed that it says for an extension of stay I need a CRC and Medical Check in addition to the other documents for an extension of stay.

To extend my current contract people have mentioned that I should not need a CRC, but I should need a Medical Check. I just want to make sure I have the right documents. Right now I do have a CRC, but I am planning on using it for a new contract after I have had time to travel. Do I need to order another CRC? Unfortunately, CRC's are a pain in the ass to get, timewise, and not particularly cheap. Just as the medical check is expensive to get again, although it is easier timewise.

Is there another website somewhere that explains the process better? Or is there an easy way for me to get answers from immigration?

Thanks for the help.

[cruisemonkey]

[gregoriomills]

Is there any chance your school would just rather send you home 2 days early? If you work PS, maybe you can save 2 official "vacation days" for the end and leave that way? I have the same problem as you and I'm gonna ask my CT about it Monday.

[adventurer01]

Again, thanks for the responses.

cruisemonkey...My CRC will be fine for a new job IF I don't have to use it for an extension on my current ARC for those few days. The date I want to start my new job will be under the 6-month period.

gregoriomills... Unfortunately, I am not working with a public school, and all of my vacation time has already been used during my contract. I am a little concerned about being sent home a few days early because of that, I don't have vacation time left, so they would be terminating my contract early if my ARC does not get extended. I don't know if that will have any implications for my Severence and Plane Ticket.

Thanks for the responses. I am still trying to understand it all. Immigration seems so confusing, for no good reason.

[CentralCali]

The Immigration Office got it right. Your employment began upon arrival in Korea when your employer flew you into the country. It's not their fault--nor yours--that the employer didn't put you in front of classes immediately. Your contract ends one year after the beginning of employment; for example, contract runs from 27 July 2008 to 26 July 2009.

[valkerie]