Korean Job Discussion Forums

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

What if:

I am on a tourist visa, then get a C4 (I think it's C4 for less than 90 days contract, right?) for a summer camp till mid Aug, then get an E2 for a full-time post from Sept (ie, around a 2-week break between jobs).

Is the C4-E2 transition easy, or do I need to go through getting all my docs all over again?

I've had an E2 in the past (ages ago).

Any one see any probs here?

Thanks.

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Bump.

Does anyone know?

I know about E2-E2 transition rules, but what about C4-E2? Do you know if you need to have all your docs again, or if you also have to leave the country and do a separate visa run for each visa? If I have to do 2 runs, I'm going to abandon the summer camp plan.

I will go to immi on Monday to ask, but as that can't be until Monday, any one who has an answer in the meantime - thank you.

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

I would ask multiple recruiters. Just pretend you already have a C4 and tell them you are looking for an E2 position through them for the fall.

As a side note, the CRC is supposed to be valid for 6 months (that's what I have heard). If you order up 2 copies or try to use the same one (so long as you don't leave Korea), maybe they will be able to use the same CRC.

There might be gray area here, like you might need to transfer to an E2 job within the same area (Seoul to Seoul or Gyeonggido to Gyeonggido) since they would be the only ones who had your CRC on record.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Thanks, lifeinkorea.

I had thought about asking recruiters, but I think that some of them won't actually know the answer. (Although I also fear that Immi themselves might not give the correct answer, as replies to queries can often vary depending on who you are dealing with). I fathom the recruiters that are more likely to know are the ones that post on this board! Also, I was hoping ttompatz might know, but he's been quiet on this one... Wink

There may be a point about transferring visas within the same district. I also feel that there may be an issue that you can't apply for simultaneous visa applications. This is maybe why I've noticed a recent shift of summer camp employers having preference over F2 holders or even those that already have an E2. Much easier for those already in the visa system.

Oh well, seems like I will have to venture to Immi tomorrow. Will report back my findings.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

so what part was unclear that you cannot transfer between a c-4 and and e-2 ?

Rolling Eyes

I guess if you had to ask the question then maybe it is beyond your comprehension Shocked

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

I guess I should add something to what moose said. They are different visas, and I am in China. They are doing the same thing. I have to go to Korea to get a different visa. China doesn't have as many restrictions as Korea, but this visa thing is one of them. So, that should tell you something about Korea.

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Moosehead is right.

The official word also from Immi is that yes, you have to re-submit ALL docs, do 2 medicals and do 2 visa runs if you are getting a C4 followed by an E2. This is in contrary to an E2 - E2 switch which, if done within 3 weeks of each other, does not require the medical or CRC again.

You could therefore do this if you do get multiple docs; however, the issue might be more of the fact that you cannot apply for an E2 until you are past halfway through your C4 contract.

That means that if your summer camp end date runs close to the E2 job start time, most (organized) employers are not going to want to wait until that late in the day to start a visa process. You really risk loosing out on the E2 job, which isn't really worth forfeiting for a bit of short-term C4 cash.

It seems that either you need to plan on a decent gap between your C4 and E2 job (although as Moosehead says, you cannot stay in the country for long when your C4 job has finished), or if you already have an E2, then going for the C4 is more feasible, although for most E2-ers, you're not going to get a long enough vacation to fit in a camp as well. In any case, jumping through the visa hoops once is one thing, doing it twice within a month or two is too much for me - although I'm sure there are plenty out there who would do it!

F2-ers also win again on this.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007