Korean Job Discussion Forums

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

Does anyone know what the specifics are for renewing an E-2 visa?

If I sign a second contract with my same academy, do I need to sign a contract that begins the day after the previous one ended? If not, how long of a gap can exist between the two contracts.

I'd like to re-sign with the same academy, but I plan to take 2-6 weeks of un paid holiday. In addition I'd like to avoid any more hassles related to providing documents and travelling out of the country to obtain a new visa.

Can anybody offer some insight into this?

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

I think you should talk to immigration about this and see what they say. Get the person's name, so when you go back you can say "____ told me to bring these documents". Give yourself a chance go back a third time if and when they say you need additional documents.

AgentM · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: British Columbia, Canada

To my knowledge you have to do the "visa run" out of the country to renew your Korean visa. The usual method is to go to Japan to do this, then come back.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

I don't think you have to leave the country if you are staying with the same school. However, this person is trying to have 6 weeks in between contract dates. Immigration might allow a week or two, but I think 4 weeks at least will have to be arranged with the school.

One idea would be to get a 6 week extension on your current visa and extend your current contract. Then, you could have the new contract and visa start after those 6 weeks.

This is why I stay up until 3:30 am, to think up this stuff Laughing

cruisemonkey · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:01 am Post subject:

Simply extend the period of sojourn for your current visa for one year. This means your contracts must run consecutively i.e. your next contract starts the day after your current one ends.

Officially, you will need:
Passport
ARC
Contract
*CRC
*Medical exam
Proof of Employment
Business Registration Number
Application
W30,000 (W60,000 with single re-entry, W80,000 with multiple re-entry)
* These may not be required by certain Immi offices/officers.

When and for how long, you take an unpaid vacation is a matter between you and your employer. It has nothing to do with Immigration.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

If you do cruisemonkey's method, you will have 6 weeks to deal with when the second contract ends. This might have some impact on things like severance and payment for your flight home since at that point you will NOT have finished that year with the school.

I don't know how they handle severance when someone has worked a second year with a school, so I would talk with the school and either make it a 13.5 month contract to include the 6 months or have it understood you will extend after 12 months.

If anyone knows more accurate info on this, please chime in.

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

cruisemonkey · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject:

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

ekul · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: [Mod Edit]

*bumping*

I'm renewing for a second year and have been told I need to go to the hospital to get another medical exam and fork out the 30grand for the visa renewal. Did any of you guys get the school to pay for this? Personally I managed to get them to pay for the medical last time, I think it shows good will on the schools part if they pay for these ridiculous demands.

Infact I'm looking on the immigration website and all it says I need is my new contract. I'm looking at "Extension of foreign worker recruitment permit" fourth one up from the bottom, is that the correct one?

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

Well I'm taking four weeks off and I'm expecting to have to get a new visa. However, I will contact immi soon to get their opinion.

Instead of paying 30,000 for an extension, I'll have to spend another 25$ on a new CRC + 10$ for a new transcript. I think a new arc is 0,000 Won and a new visa is about 50 dollars. Add another medical check and I'm out almost 200,000 won. Won't be the end of the world. At least I know what to expect.

ekul · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: [Mod Edit]

Well a little update for anyone British wanting to renew soon. The immigration website says you need a new aids/tpbe test and another criminal check with another apostle(200pounds and a trip to England). However this is out of date and totally wrong information.

All you need is the application form, your signed contract, your schools business registration number, a letter from the principle stating you're staying, passport and alien card. You don't even need to buy the 30,000w tax stamps because the British are exempt, also be sure to tick multiple re-entry because that is also free.

I'd rather pay the immigration fees and get our pension back though. Very Happy

neil537 · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Location: Incheon, South Korea

My director just went to immigration and renewed my contract for another year on monday.

I gave him my passport and ARC, he came back a few hours later and all that had changed was on the back of my ARC they've written a new date.....a year on from now. I asked him "is that it?" and he said yes. So I didn't have to get another medical or anything. I presume all the details are stored on their computers. Still, I'm surprised how easy it was.

Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for a new re-entry stamp in my passport so I'll have to go to immigration to get that myself Sad

BTW I'm from the UK

sugarkane59 · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Seoul

It's good to know that Brits don't have to go through getting all their documents again to renew the visa, but what if you want to go home between contracts?

I think I'd try to get the visa renewed as a multiple entry first (which is free anyway apparently) and then go home for 2 weeks and then back again - possible?

Sugar