Korean Job Discussion Forums

shagski · Joined: 07 Sep 2011

Hello Everyone,

I miraculously got offered a job in an architecture firm in Korea and now need to get an E-7 visa and cancel my E-2.

I am already assuming I cannot apply for the E-7 while having a valid E-2.

So in order to cancel the E-2 do I have to go to immigration with my employer? or can i leave Korea on a one way and return on an E-7.

Can I apply for the E-7 while in Korea with my new employers sponsorship, or would i need to go to Japan and apply from scratch. How long would I need to be outside of Korea? Thanks[/b]

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

shagski · Joined: 07 Sep 2011

My arc is still being processed. Probably won't get it for another couple of weeks. Can I call immigration and cancel its processing?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

shagski · Joined: 07 Sep 2011

So even if it is still being processed and I leave it will cancel my visa?

How do you know if your visa is multi-entry?

shagski · Joined: 07 Sep 2011

my visa is from Canada

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

shagski · Joined: 07 Sep 2011

Alright thanks for your help!

One last question: Can I come back on a tourist visa before the E2 has expired. (It will have been cancelled because I left but will that restrict me from coming in on a tourist visa the day after I leave?) My new job starts as soon as I can get back into Korea.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

big_fella1 · Joined: 08 Dec 2005

Excellent advice from ttompatz but can I add, make sure that you have cash to survive. An E7 visa can take a while to process. When I applied (admittedly 4 years ago) it took about a month to get the reference from the government ministry, then about 3 weeks for immigration, plus other messing around. You could be without income for up to 3 months.

It may have improved, I had my permanent residency approved in 12 days, but it pays to be sure.

Good luck.

shagski · Joined: 07 Sep 2011

Hey big fella!

Did you have 5 years work experience in your field?

I have been reading the requirements online and am having trouble figuring it out:

It says:

> Masters Degree
> Bachelor's Degree + 1 year experience
> 5 year related experience

Do i just need to satisfy one of those conditions? I have a bachelor and one year experience in Architecture. Thanks!

big_fella1 · Joined: 08 Dec 2005

I had a Master degree and 10 years in a similar field although at that time it wasn't as strict.

The test is that a Korean couldn't do the job hence the need for a reference from a related government organization.

I wish you the best of luck, ttomplatz may be able to tell you if you could use a working holiday visa if your E7 was unsuccessful.

If you are registered as an architect in your home country an E5 visa may be a possibility but I don't know about that.

Just be careful taking a job with too low a salary as the second year renewal will take into account how much tax you have paid.

Once again good luck.

tehdee · Joined: 01 Apr 2008

ttompatz is bang on (as usual)

i had a similar situation in that i was working under an e2 and offered a great job on an e7 starting extremely soon.

even with an LOR from my e2 employer and all of the documents for the e7 (letter stating a korean couldnt do it, offer of employment, etc...) immigration still would not budge on simply transferring the visa.

i had to apply for a brand new visa. lateral e2-e7 is strictly reserved for transferring to international schools. and though people may have managed to squeeze through with extenuating circumstances (and lord knows i tried), this is becoming more and more rigidly enforced both at the jongno and mokdong immi offices.

what ttompatz didnt mention and what i was suprised by, is that i had submitted my e7 documents WITHOUT first cancelling my e2. moreover the immi officers were aware of that fact. my e7 was processed in 8 days (including a weekend) and i only left korea 5 days into that processing time. i got the impression that i didnt really need to leave the country to have the e7 issuance number processed/issued. because of the time crunch i was on though, and not wanting to risk screwing things up i took the 380,000 won hit on the round trip ticket, left to cancel [doing a same day almost exactly as ttompatz described], came back to korea for three days to finish out my e2 job (albeit illegally, my employer was none the wiser), move apartments, etc... and then was right back on an overnight trip to fukuoka to get the e7 put in my passport.