Korean Job Discussion Forums

woods · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Location: Seoul 2009-2011 / (Ireland)

I'm currently in the process of booking flights home for when my contract ends.
The cheapest deal i could find leaves 1 day after my year long alien registration card / visa expires.
Will this be a problem?? Should i book a more expensive flight for afew days earlier???
Really puzzled by this so thanks for any help.
I don't think it should be a problem but maybe someone knows?

WendyRose · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Location: hanam-si, seoul

You are going to love me! Smile

I just went through this experience and it's a super easy thing to take care of. You definitely should do this to avoid any hold ups at immigration the day you leave Korea. Here's what you do.

Note that you have to use Internet Explorer, not Firefox, Opera or Safari.

1. Go to http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/main_en.pt
2. Sign up/join (or log in if you already have an account). All you need is your ARC # and then you make a user name/password.
3. Click "e-application" and then "file an application."
4. Click on "Temporary Extension of Stay for Departure of Registered Foreigners."
5. Check "I agree" and "apply (principal)."
6. Fill out the rest, including phone number, how long you want it to be extended (I gave myself and extra 2 days just in case), reasoning and then attach a photo of your e-ticket itinerary.
7. Hit submit and wait for the application to be processed.

** There is NO fee.

I finished doing this and my application was granted within 24 hours, though they say it takes up to three days. If you have questions call 1345 which is the foreigner hotline.

Good luck, and it's totally a breeze.

warren pease · Joined: 12 May 2008

That was, by far, the most pertinent and useful reply I have ever seen on here.

Way to raise the bar, Wendy Rose!

PaulPizzazz · Joined: 15 Mar 2006

Hello,

I'm in the same situation as the OP. I plan on leaving the day after my visa expires.

I'm not worried about immigration giving me a hard time about leaving 1 day after my visa ends... but I am concerned that "IF" I ever come back to Korea, immigration might not want to let me do a short visa run to say, Japan, to get a new E-2 visa.

A friend of mine left Korea last year on a Monday, while his visa had expired 3 days earlier, on the Friday. Of course he just wanted to enjoy his last weekend in Korea before heading out to travel. Nothing was mentioned about this until much later when he came back to Korea and his new employer tried to help him secure his new working visa. Immigration told him that he would have to go home and do the interview at the Korean embassy in his own country (Canada) so that a visa could be issued to him. He had no choice but to waste 1 1/2 months and lots of cash for flights and whatnot to finally get his new E-2 visa.

Am I under the wrong impression to think that I would be ok to leave one day after the end of my contract?
Has anyone left Korea the day after and returned later to get a new visa withouth the hassle of going back to their home country. All this within the last year and a bit?

Maybe I should just do what Wendyrose has suggested and apply for an extension...

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

WendyRose · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Location: hanam-si, seoul

DC in Suwon · Joined: 14 Dec 2008

OK, help me out with all this:

My contract ends end of February 2010. If I extend the visa (30 day ext) before I leave, I can have about 30 days off before coming back (without having to do all the paperwork)??

Is this true if I find another job, or only if I renew at the same job?

Could somebody lay it all out for an idiot like myself? Smile

woods · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Location: Seoul 2009-2011 / (Ireland)

Thanks Wendy Rose...
i shall follow your step by step guide.
Your a star:)

valkerie · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Busan

katepult · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that info. I did the extension in person before. Online seems really convenient.

I'm fairly certain that the extension can't be used between contracts like you've suggested, DC in Suwon. It would be amazingly convenient, though. If that actually is a loophole, please let me know. I like loopholes.

I am in the process of transferring a visa from one employer to another at the end of a contract. According to what the nice lady at Suwon Immigration told me on the phone, to avoid most of the paperwork (CRC, transcripts, etc.), you must either renew or have a contract that starts DIRECTLY after your old contract finishes. Your contracts can't have any extra days between the ending date of one and the starting date of the next. The transfer must also be completed before the last day of your current visa.

I thought that you didn't need an interview if you have already had a work visa in Korea, as long as you haven't overstayed a visa in the past.

There's more information about it on the same website that Wendy posted. The immigration information phone number is 1345.

I hope the transfer works out like the nice lady said it should.