Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rayray123]

A recruiter was telling me about a job and he said the hakwon wants someone who can do a visa run. He said they want me to go to Korea at the end of the month with my documents, then do a visa run. This seems kind of strange. Is it faster than waiting to get a visa in the US?

I don't think I am interested in the job, I am just wondering if this is common or if anyone else has done it or been asked to do it?

[OHIO]

Far more common in the past when all the background checks didn't exist and all foreigners were more of a commodity. I remember it was only around $20-30 at one time. I have no idea what it is now, but I'm sure it's not cheap!

[koreatimes]

Can't do it for first time E2 visa applicants. They have to do an interview back home.

For people who have had an E2 before, it is possible, but it means they want you to work on a tourist visa (which is illegal). Some people do it in order to secure what they think is a good job in a desired location.

[daejeonsv]

I am at the Fukuoka airport right now, just did a visa run myself. This wasn't my first visa, but everyone that I met at the consulate or hostel was there for their first visa. It can be done and they had no problems with their visas being approved.

The only problems that can come of entering on a tourist visa are as follows:

1) Your employer will decide when to send you to Japan. It could be within a few days or a month like a girl I met. Without your visa in your passport you can't register for your ARC which will REALLY slow down your life because you need it for internet, phone, bank account, etc. If you're willing to wait for those things then don't hesitate.

2) Because you're not registered for basically your first month here your first month of pension will more than likely not make it to the pension office. I'm sure they will deduct it from your pay but because you don't have your ARC you can't be registered for pension. Same goes with medical insurance, the two are linked together.

Unless your salary/location/job description is absolutely fantastic I would pass and just wait for your stuff to process so you can enter legally. It's just a few more weeks so it shouldn't matter too much. If they're willing to have you work illegally for your first month it should make you wonder what else they might try to pull.

[rayray123]

Thanks for the replies.

I wasn't comfortable with the idea of going there without a visa and working illegally. And daejeonsv has pointed out that you can't get an ARC till you get your visa, now it's definitely something I don't want to do. The job didn't even look that good anyway.

[DaHu]

You don't want to pay for your trip to Korea to go on the visa run. If they'd pay for both flights, I'd do it.

[northway]

[jurassic82]

This is dodgy. I agree with the previous posts. If they pay for both plane tickets (To Korea and then to Japan) then I would consider it. I have heard too many horror stories though and would be apprehensive about. Get everything taken care of before hand. Too much of a chance of things going wrong and I have seen it happen many times in my five years here. Best of luck!!!