Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Daniel1981]

I am scheduled to fly back to Korea with my girlfriend in early October, but I have a good job offer that I want to take that starts the last week of November.

Does anyone know if it's possible for me to prepare the visa in advance, so that I can land as an E2 in early October, stay at some friends places, etc until I start teaching late November?

What I mean is, do immigration and visa constraints support this?

Has anyone been known to do this?

I want to avoid landing as a visitor and then having to re-enter the country only 5 weeks later. I might even have to fly to my home-country under that scenario correct?

[waynehead]

I don't think there'd be any issue doing that, except once you get near the end of your contract you're going to have to extend your visa. But that's not difficult to do.

Though I've never known anyone who arrived quite that early, I did fly in two weeks early before I started my current contract. So it's not that big of a deal.

[ttompatz]

If you can do the paperwork for your visa that far in advance it is do-able.

You will need to get an extension to your status of sojourn to cover the end of your contract.

The other option is to arrive on a tourist stamp and then do a visa run to obtain your visa (assuming this is not your 1st E2).

.

[kingasiatic88]

[the ireland]

I think quite a lot of places will require 1st timers (mostly) to extend their contract by a few weeks or so.

Most 1st timers coming over will land a week or 2 early to get familiarised with the place, have a small bit of training etc but they won't start work then.

The employer can just extend your visa later in the year, close to when your contract is expiring. They can extend for anything up to a year (maybe more, i don't know)

I'm not sure if all emplyers will do it for you or if they will get you to sort it out, but mine always takes care of anything to do with korean officials....saves me the hassle.

[ttompatz]

[isisaredead]

OP: don't stress too much. i just landed, with nearly four weeks before i start my contract. i was fully aware before i landed that a visa extension was on the cards in approx. eleven months time (ttompatz was actually the one who told me).

i went for my health exam today, and i expect to get my ARC process some time early next week.

as long as you remember you have under 90 days from the the time of landing to get registered, there won't be a problem.

in fact, don't hesitate to come early - october is probably the best month out of the year to get here and do things of a leisurely nature.