Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mkpopcorn]

Has anyone ever done a visa run to Japan? How does it work. I am supposed to leave in 11 days to go to Korea and then my school is going to send me to Japan to do the visa, but I don't know what to expect. Any insight?
Thanks!

[vw08]

Check out the travel forum- there is a whole sticky topic on visa runs to Japan, Fukuoda in particular. That topic should be able to answer all of your questions.

[mkpopcorn]

Thanks!

[litebear]

Is this your first visa? Unless I'm mistaken you have to be in your own country the first time you get an E2

[mkpopcorn]

Yes, this is my first visa, my recruiter said it would be fine to get it in Japan. But, I will ask to make sure, thanks for the heads up!

[ttompatz]

[mkpopcorn]

Wait so you definitely can't get in Japan or Hong Kong? Also what problems does coming to Korea without a visa pose?

[litebear]

[iggyb]

I agree with other comment. Don't take this job and get a new recruiter.

1st timers should not come to Korea without a job lined up and a visa.

A good recruiter shouldn't be trying to get you to do this in the first place.

In the 2nd, if the school is that desperate to fill a job spot, it probably has problems. If the school had someone do the midnight run, it probably isn't a place worth working for. Possibly, it just had a loser teacher leave all of a sudden, but why take the chance? As a first timer, you should NOT take that kind of chance without a visa.

You don't want a shady recruiter putting you in a bad place and then getting stuck and ending up having problems with immigration.

On having to have a return ticket in hand to qualify for the US-SK non-visa waiver - I don't know if that is correct.

I came here about 2 years ago without a visa and without a return ticket. -- I did, however, have a mother-in-law I was visiting for an extended period after her husband died, which was why I came to get a job for a year (or 2). I had no trouble either changing the visa once I found a new job - however it was not my first E-2 visa.

[kimdeal54]

I'm going to chip in and agree with the two posters above... the situation sounds dodgy, and your recruiter has obviously given you some wrong information. Everyone else is right. Your first visa must be obtained in your home country.

Contact this guy, decline the position, and don't feel guilty about it.

Regarding entering Korea without a visa; I've done this once (back in 2007), and I didn't have a return ticket. However, when I tried again in 2009, the airline wouldn't allow me to check in (even with a proof of employment letter from SMOE), and I had to buy another ticket at the airport. It seems to be hit and miss.

[mkpopcorn]

Thanks guys for all of your help!!

[iggyb]

On the return ticket - I came in Aug 2009 without a return ticket and had no problem.

As I remember it, the guy at Korean customs gave me a pause and stare when he asked how long I planned to stay in Korea and I told him 6 months...

I think he checked my stuff again to see where I had listed as my residence in Korea, and I told him I was visiting my Korean mother-in-law.

From reading a few other people's no-visa stories, I think much depends on how you respond to questions - either at immigration at the airport in Korea or I guess at the airline baggage check in station...

[Hotpants]

Travel agents generally claim that airlines will refuse to let you travel on a one-way ticket. I've always thought this is just a money-making trick instigated by the travel agents. I've come in once on a one way and no E2 visa, and no one checked my ticket or asked any questions.

I also think cheap, but having a return ticket is a good safety net if things don't work out here. Negotiating a job through a recruiter from the other side of the planet when you've never been to Korea before is always a big risk unless you can get direct referral from a friend. Return tickets often don't cost much more than a one-way, and in some cases are cheaper than one-ways. You can also find tickets that can give you some refund on your unused portion as well. As long as though you always come here with a means to go home, then you're sorted.

First time E2 applicants are not supposed to be able to get visas in 3rd party countries these days. (Although Tpatz does cite Guam, which is correct). Your recruiter is not up to date on the rules.

[mkpopcorn]

Thanks guys,
I declined that job and recruiter am looking at some others now.