Korean Job Discussion Forums

[furtakk]

So I found a new position and both the school and I prefer to do a visa transfer as it is cheaper and easier for the both of us. Anyhow, the problem is I have a month between when my old contract ends and when my new one starts. Apparently in order to be eligible for a visa transfer you have to start working at your new company within 15 days. In order to get around this, the contract just says I am starting earlier than I actually am and I will have to get an extension next year.

Anyhow, the only thing that is worrisome to me is that I have to transfer my visa before my current contract is up. I trust my boss and I don't think they will rip me off from severance or anything, but would I be teaching illegally if my visa transfer goes through and I am still teaching at my current school?

For other people who have transfered visas between contracts, did you wait until the end of your first contract to begin the process or is this situation pretty normal?

[GoldenPennies]

wait until the end

[lifeinkorea]

Don't wait, if something goes wrong you won't have enough time. Do the necessary changes now.

For example, I did this early last year, and then the next school and I had a disagreement. So, I picked a third school. I was able to walk into immigration and walk out with my passport because I got the extension and everything with the second school already. All they had to do was change location of workplace and update my ARC card.

It's better to extend later on if needed. What I would do is have the contract period immediately after your first ends, and then agree to work beyond it in exchange for severance and flight home money.

[ontheway]

[furtakk]

BUMP

Thanks for the responses, they have been really helpful. I've decided to wait until my last day. My recruiter told me a visa transfer would take up to 10 days, but I thought that was odd as I've read here and have also had friends that said it only takes a day.

I called immigration in Daegu yesterday, they also said it should only take a day.

Emailed my recruiter, she still reiterates that it can take up to 10 days. She said different immi branches might be quicker??... I'm going to be working in Seoul during my next contract, but I think I can do the transfer in Daegu. Either way I'm going to call Seoul immi today and see if it is the same.

My current director wants to book my flight this week and I'm kind of worried that it might actually take longer than a day. If it does, I'll miss my flight and would be pretty ****ed.

I also need to change my address on my ARC and was told that I must do this at the immi closest to my new place. Is this true (I forgot to ask yesterday)? Either way, I've been told that that can be done the same day as well.

[furtakk]

BUMP2

So I called both offices today. Daegu office says I must do it in Seoul where I'll be starting my new contract. Seoul office says I must do it in Daegu where my old contract is concluding. Umm wtf?

Seoul office also said it can take up to a week...

I also may need to get a new CBC from my home country even though I have never been there since I got my first CBC...

[gava01]

When I extended last year they gave me a contract for 1 year and 2 days. 9/1 to 9/2. I did talk to them about it but thought I would extend again. Well now I'm gonna change schools and asked to get the release letter on the 1st. Can they screw me even though I taught 365 days???

[furtakk]

BUMP3

So nearly everything is sorted out (got really confusing when I heard about immi changes). I have to go to Seoul immigration and it does indeed take more than one day. They said about a week, which I really really hope means no longer than a week as my flight home is 9 days after my immigration appointment...

One question for anyone who has done a transfer, do they mail you your passport/arc or do you need to pick it up? If it's the former is there an option to pick it up instead (I don't want to risk it taking too long to mail)?