Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NYC_Gal]

I'm being renewed, and my home leave is supposed to be in just a tad over 2 weeks, but many of the documents haven't arrived. I've been told they'd get here next week. To make matters worse, my principal won't "okay" my home leave until he gets the documents. For all I know, he may tell me that I need to take it during the summer, like some previous poster, so I can't book tickets until I get his approval. It's getting well expensive, and the layovers are getting longer and longer every day when I check. Eesh!

My question is this:
I'm going to have to go to immigration to get my visa renewed and ARC extended. What do I have to bring, and if they take my passport and ARC, for how long will they keep it/them? Is it a one hour deal or will they have it for a week? Clearly I need my passport to fly home.

This last-minute BS is one of the worst things about Korea. I'm not hating on Korea (there are many aspects that I truly enjoy), but time's running out.

[daveweave2]

[quote="NYC_Gal"]I'm being renewed, and my home leave is supposed to be in just a tad over 2 weeks, but many of the documents haven't arrived. I've been told they'd get here next week. To make matters worse, my principal won't "okay" my home leave until he gets the documents. For all I know, he may tell me that I need to take it during the summer, like some previous poster, so I can't book tickets until I get his approval. It's getting well expensive, and the layovers are getting longer and longer every day when I check. Eesh!

My question is this:
I'm going to have to go to immigration to get my visa renewed and ARC extended. What do I have to bring, and if they take my passport and ARC, for how long will they keep it/them? Is it a one hour deal or will they have it for a week? Clearly I need my passport to fly home.

This last-minute BS is one of the worst things about Korea. I'm not hating on Korea (there are many aspects that I truly enjoy), but time's running out.[/quote]

Unless its changed from last year you need, a signed contract, a copy of your contract your ARC card and your passport, and go to immigration. It cost 80000 for a visa that lets you enter and leave the country multiple times. Last year I did not need an additional background check because I was only in the states for a week. I went and they renewed my visa on the spot, 15 minutes. If you want to make sure it hasn't changed since I went go the immigration website and look up their phone number for English speakers and they will give you the correct information.

[lifeinkorea]

[ttompatz]

[NYC_Gal]

@daveweave2:
I need to get it done before I go on home leave, so I won't need any new criminal check, as I've been in country all year. Thanks for the info on what I'll need. It's a PS job, so I just want to make sure it's just my passport, ARC, and 2 signed and stamped contracts.

@lifeinkorea:
I've no idea. I was presented a contract, I signed it, then I went for a medical. Now my coteacher is filling out dozens of forms, and has told me that the "official" contract hasn't arrived yet. My recruiter (who is amazing and has helped me throughout the entire year) told me today that the education office was sending an official letter to the school today, and once they had it, my contract could be stamped by the superintendent, then sent to me. Time is running short.

[NYC_Gal]

You need:

Your ARC
Check
Your Passport
Check
Your new contract
Ugh. Still waiting on that.
certificate of employment (to show you are working)
I'm not sure what this is. I've never seen the one from last year. I'll have my KT check on it.
copy of the school's registration certificate
I'll tell my KT.
guarantor form signed by the school
KT shall be informed.
Application form (at the immigration counter)
Okay this one I remember from last year.
30k won for the renewal
Easy enough.
30k won if you want a re-entry permit (50 for a multi re-entry permit). Your multi-entry privileges on your original visa DO NOT carry over into the extended period. If you are planning to travel home MAKE SURE you get a re-entry permit put into your passport - DON'T leave the counter until you have checked.
Yeah it's worth every penny. I did the same last year. I think it's 60k for Americans, unless I remember incorrectly.

It is USUALLY done over the counter while you wait.
Oh boy I sure HOPE so!

.[/quote]

[lifeinkorea]

[NYC_Gal]

[lifeinkorea]

Isn't the school paying for this flight home instead of flying you home as if you ended the contract? Why does it matter the cost of the flight?

When is this for then? September? I was under the impression there was a time crunch. If you are just waiting to get a September contract, then of course there might be a wait, but the school should pay for this.

[NYC_Gal]

No my contract ends at the beginning of June.

The POE pays for my renewal bonus, which is the extra 2mil that we get for renewing. This is the money that is supposed to be used for flying home and back. This is not the same 2mil that we get as our 13th month's pay (contract completion bonus). Unfortunately, I get the 4mil after I return.

There's a time crunch because I'm supposed to take my home leave 2 weeks before my contract ends, and that's very soon. I also need to have my visa renewed before I go, so need this document yesterday.

The cost of the flight matters because I have to pay upfront, and I am not going to book tickets without a contract in my hands and visa renewal. Things don't always work out, and if things go sour, I lose a lot of money on non-refundable tickets. The refundable ones cost an arm and a leg, and the non-refundable ones are getting more expensive by the day. I've always been accustomed to purchasing plane tickets months in advance. I'm not used to having to spend this much to travel. It looks like I'm going to have to spend more than the 2mil if I don't want a 12 hour layover in China, Tokyo, or Michigan. Ugh....

[lifeinkorea]

Why is it 2 million? I never saw such a thing in my Incheon contract. It has the following:

"Article 11(Airfare and Resignation)

c. For the return airfare, Employee will present a receipt for their air-ticket within 10 days of completion of their contract, and Employer will pay for their return airfare."

There is no mention of a 2 million cap. Did you sign a contract with a 2 million cap?

You need to look into this because if there is a 2 million won cap, and you decide to break the next contract, they will want some of that money back. Not only are they underpaying your flight, but they can take some of that 2 million back. They need to pay the full amount or give up the right to take back some of the money in case you decide to break the next contract.

[NYC_Gal]

It's a renwal bonus. We don't do receipts anymore. There's 1.3mil given for entrance and exit, but if we renew, there's a 2mil "renewal bonus" that you can do what you want with. Most of us use it for our home leave flight money. It's not specifically for flights. If I didn't have to visit my family, I'd spend it in the PI or the like, relaxing and sipping coconut milk whilst getting 3-hour massages.
If we break the contract before 6 months, yes, some has to be repaid. I have no intention of that, though. If it happens, it happens. I just wasn't expecting to have to book my tickets this late in the game, and they are getting quite costly. Fortunately, my mom's going to book them on her card and I'll just wire it to her once I return to Korea to my paycheck (which is 3 days after I go home). It's just frustrating because
a) I could have spent the extra money on buying amazing gifts for my family. I've sent some great stuff home to them, but I love bringing them cool things whenever I travel and
b) I am going to have to rush with this visa renewal process at immigration. I hate how hectic it's going to be. I plan in advance. Heck. My lessons are done through September already!

[lifeinkorea]

[NYC_Gal]

It's standard for Public Schools. I'm not sure about everywhere, but in Incheon this is the case. They instituted this policy because many were booking nonstop flights that cost a lot more than the economy flights. They decided that we'd get 1.3 to get here and 1.3 to leave, but renewal is when we use the 2mil renewal bonus. All of my friends working for Incheon PS have the same deal.

[ttompatz]