Korean Job Discussion Forums

Samuel · Joined: 23 Mar 2004

Hello,

I worked in Korea previously and have since returned in January. I am a Canadian citizen and thus got the 6 month stamp in my passport. I have been doing this, and ahem, that, for the past three months, but I am actually going to be going legal later this month.

Now, a friend just told me that even though I have a six month stamp, within 90 days of entry, I must go down to Immigration at Mok-dong and tell them what I am doing here. He said he knows people who didn't bother, and were fined 100,000 upon trying to get a new visa.

Other people have told me not to worry about it, (although come to think of it they were just doing a bunch of six month stays one after another, so they never had to deal with getting an actual visa).

I would really, really like to avoid going to Immigration and have them ask all sorts of questions I'd rather not answer. Of course I am not too keen on the fine either.

Anyone have direct experience with this and would like to offer some advice.

Cheers,

Sam

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

If you are working in Korea illegally without an E2 visa, it is probably not a good idea to go down to immigration and tell them you are working without a visa.

Your friend is probably confused, remembering that you have 90 days to get a resident card after you get your E2 visa.

Samuel · Joined: 23 Mar 2004

Well no, I wouldn't tell Immigration that.

I've been here, staying with my girlfriend, being a bit lazy, travelling a bit in country and trying to find a job that doesn't involve teaching little kids. Nothing illegal there.

I found such job and have actually started working already, shhh, and the visa is in the works. Something illegal there.

The friend I was referring to is a Korean-Canadian, she was here with a Canadian passport, staying with family, bumming around, doing whatever, and finally got around to signing on with a hagwon about three and a half months into her stay.

I guess she had to pay the fine either in Osaka at the consulate, or when she went to pick up her registration card after getting the visa issued.

I am looking for Canadians who have stayed in Korea for over 90 days (with or without reporting their presence to Immigration), then tried to get a work visa. Somebody on this board must have experience with that.

It just seems very dangerous to me to walk directly into the dragon's lair and tell him where you're hiding. I mean, if Immigration is gonna bombard me with a bunch of questions I can't answer, I'm tempted to just play stupid and swallow the fine when the time comes. Any advice??

Cheers,

Sam

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

Just get a visa within the 6 months. Get a job, get the paperwork, fly to Osaka, then get the visa. That's all you need to do.

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

i heard something about registering at immigration after a certain period.. working or not... go on down and ask or get a friend to call them up

Samuel · Joined: 23 Mar 2004

Turns out Korean-Canadian friend came here on a business visa, then at some point after 90 days, went to change that to an F4, and was fined 100,000 for not reporting her presence to the authorities. A little different from my situation I suppose.

As I understand it, the 90 days thing has to do with an alien registration card. I think Canadians on a tourist visa may be unique, because we are the only country that gets six months as tourists right?

Again, just wondering if someone knows for sure, as I don't really wanna go down to immigration and arouse suspicion if it's not necessary.

Sam

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

get on the bat phone pal...

don't take what anybody says as the gospel

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

That's actually an interesting question and I hope somebody will answer here sooner or later. I'm not Canadian but I wondered if Canadians on a 6 month tourist visa would have to register after 90 days.

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I've gone down to immigration with the B2 and told them I wanted to register before the 3-month mark.

They wanted nothing to do with it and I went on my way. That's not to say that a different person behind the counter would act the same way, but that's my experience.

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

i'm an aussie.... regardless if i was working or not and i stay longer than 3 months i had to register somewhere.. spose it was immi .. seeing as my tourist visa expired every 3 months i didnt think it important...

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

I believe if you are in Korea for more than 90 days, on any visa, you are supposed to register and get an Alien Registration Card.

On my last C-3, I was questioned on departure because I am American and had been in Korea for more than 30 days. I explained that I had a 90-day visa. They demanded that I show my ARC. I explained that I had only been in Korea for 60 days, therefore did not need or have an ARC.

Of course, this was the Air Canada agents and not Immigration.

As am American, it is very hard to get a tourist visa extended past 90 days. I don't know about your 6-month visas from other countries, but it sounds to me like you need to get an ARC.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

OiGirl is right: if you are here for 90 days or longer, regardless of visa type, you are SUPPOSED to register w/ local immigration & get the ARC card. If you later get a different visa(E-2) or whatever, you must report the change to the nearest immig. office. You can ignore this of course-but then be prepared to accept the possible consequences.