Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gazpacho]

I had a single entrance visa but I quit my job and went home. Does this now mean I can't return until the end of the visa? if not and I sought to return, would I have to re-apply for a whole new visa? or, could something be done to my current visa, like a reactivation but with a new sponsor?

Thanks

[PatrickGHBusan]

Your old visa needs to be canceled and you would need to apply for a new one including gathering all your documents again.

If your old visa was not cancelled by your former employer (someone correct me if I am wrong here) you have to wait until it expires to apply for a new one, meaning a year from when you were issued the previous visa.

[plato's republic]

OP,

You posted a thread here about a week or so ago, mentioning that you were contemplating a midnight run after a month or so in a new job. You also stated that the reason you were running was because your first year in Korea was a novelty, but you regretted staying on for a second and that things just didn't feel quite right. You stressed that the job wasn't a problem. Now you're thinking of returning once more? Something doesn't quite add up...

[tanklor1]

Ahhh...the painful pang of regret.

[Troglodyte]

Something does seem fishy here.

Assuming that everything you've said is true (and there's nothing else to the story), in theory you can get a new visa. The old one is gone (one way or another it became useless to you when you left the country). BUT.... since you left after only 1 month, there's a good chance that immigration will deny you another E2 visa for a while (e.g. another 5-8 months).

[Sector7G]

[soviet_man]

My experience of doing a runner in 2005 was:

* The overseas consulate had no problem issuing a new second visa, before expiration of the first.

* But on re-entering at Incheon your profile will be "flagged" on the computer and you will be pulled aside into the little questioning room for some hours - until they sort it out. And it is not at all a pleasant experience.

* Every time I subsequently left Korea that year (eg. for a short holiday) on re-entering, exactly the same problem would occurred each time, until the currency of the first visa expired.

* I think this person would be wise to follow the process and get it cancelled, get a letter of release etc, then re-apply.

* Not doing so is a game a chance and in my opinion there is a better than moderate possibility you could be denied entry, as things are certainly tighter now than they were 5 years ago.

[Gazpacho]

Plato's republic: no need for detective work, I was just clarifying what my options may be.

No regrets about leaving. On reflection the visa process in Korea is bs, to have your visa in the name of your employer seems in effect to be putting yourself at the mercy of your employer. Screw that. Doubt I'll return to Korea for a long long time. Not sure how similar the rest of Asia is to ROK, but, I think Europe would be the only place I'd do this lark again.

[hogwonguy1979]

i've been a runner for close to 2 years now and have never had a problem with immigration heck sometimes when they find out i'm a runner they ask whats my best time in the 10

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Gazpacho]

[PatrickGHBusan]

Actually definition in this case is critical. You should really look it up: sponsored visa.

Then check out how various countries issue out work visas to foreigners.

Key work again: sponsored.

Europe is a good place to check for those wonderful foreign worker visas. Again that persky term sponsored will pop up. How odd it is that it keeps appearing like that....

[Boodleheimer]

so will you give us more details on the job you left, Gaz?

[Gazpacho]

[nathanrutledge]