Korean Job Discussion Forums

jinks · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Location: Formerly: Lower North Island

I renewed my E-2 visa at the Daejeon immigration office before I left Korea at the end of January. My new visa has been issued as an F-2; is this a mistake or does an E-2 automatically become F-2 after 5 years of continuous residency in Korea?

Forward Observer · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: FOB Gloria

I heard something along those lines on the F visa website. Good news for you! No more visa runs eh? Razz

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:21 pm Post subject:

Becomes F-5 not F-2, and that only if you've been a good boy for 5 years.
F-2 is marrying a Korean, CONGRATULATIONS! May I kiss the bride? Smile

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Just an FYI:

If there is ever any chance to do so, the immigration office may, one day, hold this against you just to save face. Let me provide a few examples of mistakes they've made in the past, and how they saved face over their errors:

1. About 6 years ago, there was a post on here about an American who went through immigration at the airport, but the officer made a mistake and stamped him with a 6-month tourist visa (like Canadians get). It was his first time in Korea, and thinking that he had 6 months, he stayed much of it. When he went to leave after several months (less than 6 months), he was pulled aside and FINED. He said, "But you stamped my passport with a 6-month visa!" The immigration officers told him, "But you're American, and it's your responsibility to know you only get 2 weeks!"

2. A guy from NZ, who used to be very popular on here, overstayed his visa. It just so happened that there was an amnesty period offered to foreigners in Korea who had overstayed their visas, but felt they couldn't leave due to heavy fines. He left during this period, and returned some time later on a new tourist visa (en-route to getting a new E-2). After he arrived, he was later nabbed for his previous overstay, despite being let go on that amnesty period.

My point it is this: You may have gotten a hilarious gift that will be of great benefit, but don't expect it to protect you if trouble comes. I was caught working illegally once (school threatened to oust me from my home if I didn't -- they hadn't completed paperwork yet), and the immigration guys had scanners to scan your ARC with to make sure it wasn't a fake, or if you were a previous offender, whatever. If you are caught teaching on your new F-2, they might get conflicting information, haul you in, and end up busting you like you were an E-2. Worse, you might get deported for not owning-up to their F-2 mistake.

hsaeoa · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Daegu

Your new visa has been issued as a F-2. The stamped visa in your passport or did they change it on your ARC? If it is the one stamped in your passport, I would think they just used the wrong stamp. I'd bet the immigration computer still has you as a E-2.

tokkibunni8 · Joined: 13 Nov 2009

That happened to me the first time I renewed. I didnt realize that it was an f-2 sticker they had put into my passport until when I left the country and entered again.

It took about 2 hrs before I was let through immigration. So, u r probably better off going in and getting it fixed!

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

The Cosmic Hum · Joined: 09 May 2003 Location: Sonic Space

jinks · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Location: Formerly: Lower North Island

I still have the same ARC with E-2 stamped on it, but a friend of mine kept his E-2 ARC after he married and his passport visa was changed to F-2. I don't plan on taking any part-time work on the strength of the F-2 stamp in my passport - definitely not worth the risk. I'll see if anything happens at immigration when I come back to Korea at the end of the month.
ETA -I've been at the same school for 3 years and I've just re-signed for a fourth, so visa runs aren't an issue (not for a while, anyway).

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

bluelake, it's amazing I haven't heard of this one before.

I wonder if that has anything to do with why foreigners sometimes get the boot after 3 years at a school? I know that isn't the reason often cited, but hmmm....

The Cosmic Hum · Joined: 09 May 2003 Location: Sonic Space

bluelake wrote:

The_Source · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

OP, here's a thought: Why don't you just ASK IMMIGRATION? The worst thing that could happen is that they realize their mistake and change it back to E-2. But since you weren't planning on finding part-time work on the strength of your F-2, there's no harm done, is there?