Korean Job Discussion Forums

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Any help appreciated.

Here's the story:

1. I am finishing with my university in Taegu.

2. My contract with this job AND ALSO MY E2 VISA expires on the same day - July 15th

3. My new job in Seoul begins on August 29th

I don't think the new university will have all the documents ready for the new visa by July 15th - it may take a few weeks before I can get these.

Am I right in assuming that I need to take a trip to Japan on or before July 15th and return on a Tourist visa so that I will legally have time to do the new visa?

As a Brit, I get 3 months on a tourist visa.

My old job was/is E2. The new job wants to put me on E1.

If the assumption about this Visa run is correct, I guess I should take the KTX down to Busan and then take a ferry to Fukuoka.

Perhaps then I when I arrive in Fukuoka, I go straight to the Immigration office and apply for a tourist Visa and then return the next day?

Would I have to surrender my ARC card before getting on the Ferry?

Does this all sound right?

One problem I can see is that I saw this on the Foreign and Commonweath Office website:

"Holders of British Citizen passports can enter South Korea for tourist purposes for up to 90 days without a visa. You must also have an onward or return ticket."

I will not have an onward or return travel ticket so how can they give me a tourist visa?

Also, when I finally get the documents from the new university, would I have to go back to Japan and apply for the new E1 visa from there or just take all my docs to Kimmi in Seoul?

[ttompatz]

Current job finishes.
Leave Korea THAT DAY (since the job and ARC finish the same day and you don't want an overstay - it will ruin your chance at your new job). Hand in your OLD ARC ( to immigration/passport control ) on the way out of Korea (or pay a 100k fine).

Return on the next boat (or a week later if you are so inclined). You do not need to do anything to get your 90-day entry (no visa required). You will get a 90 day entry on arrival (visa waiver) stamp (B1) as you pass through passport control when you return to Korea. They usually don't worry about onward/return passage when you are on the boat.

Get your paperwork in order. Have your new employer file for the new visa confirmation number.

Return to Japan.
Go to the Korean consulate.
Apply for your new visa.
wait overnight
Pickup your visa (in your passport).
return to Korea
start work
apply for a new ARC.

.