Korean Job Discussion Forums

[valium kilmer]

[ttompatz]

You cannot change your status from a visa waiver stamp (entry on arrival) to an E2 while IN KOREA.
A visa run to a Korean embassy/consulate in another country (usually Japan) IS necessary.

Anyone who says otherwise is either mistaken, confused or lying.

.

[valium kilmer]

I've just found out my documents have arrived (4 days late and subsequently uninsured - really glad I paid for that premium package!)

If I get a visa issuance number, do you happen to know if it will be valid to use in Japan - i.e. regardless of which embassy issues the actual visa?

[ttompatz]

[valium kilmer]

Useful information, thanks!

[Smudger]

[ttompatz]

[Benjamino]

[viciousdinosaur]

[Benjamino]

Why would I lie about it?

It's fairly straight forward to see on their website that it's possible.

Below is a copy and paste job off there

Required documents when applying for change of status to Foreign Language Instructor by invitation by the Minister of Education & Human Resources Development (city or provincial superintendent of education)
※ Items subject to change depending on individual circumstances.
Common documents
- Passport
- Alien registration card (if you have)
- Application form
- Fee (revenue stamp 50,000won, but who entered without visa or who aren't registered yet should pay 10,000won additionally)
Documents by status of sojourn
- When you apply change of status into Foreign Language Instructor (E-2) with Invitation by Minister of Education, Science and Technology
� Photo (size: 3.5Cm * 4.5Cm)
� Notice of success as an English instructor by Minister of Education, Science and Technology (original and a copy)
� Contract of employment (original and a copy)
� Copy of business registration
� Result of HIV and TBPE test by general hospital, hospital, clinic under Article 3 of the Medical Law or public health center under Article 7 of the Regional Health Law or medical center under Article 8.(The result of HIV and TBPE test issued within 3 months from the application date.)

[viciousdinosaur]

Did you really do this or are you just reading something off the website and thinking you know what it is saying?

[YTMND]

[viciousdinosaur]

Oh you know what, I think I finally figured out what this numb-nut is confused about. Of course, when processing an E2 visa, you don't actually have the visa until you visit immigration when you get here and fill out the form that he just listed above. But! To get the visa confirmation number you need to apply from outside the country!! Now I guess, theoretically, if you had a twin who looked exactly like you, you could get an E2 from within in the country without leaving. Your twin takes your duplicate passport to the Korean consulate in your home country, gets the confirmation number put in, mails it to you, and then you go to immigration.

Everything that guy listed is what happens when you visit immigration, BUT, it won't happen without the confirmation number. Maybe this guy is just confused about the process. He forgot about the visa sticker in his passport or something.

[Benjamino]

I see people on this thread telling me what I did or didn't do. Would one of you like to tell me what I had for breakfast, seems as you're so well versed on my life.


I'll break it down into bullet points for you all and then you can take it up with immigration on how I seem to have slipped through the net.

* I sent my docs off to Korea so as to receive a visa assurance number

* Time ticked on rapidly with nothing coming back my way so and I was advised to enter Korea on a tourist visa. At this point I fully expected a 'visa run' to Japan.

* I entered Korea and got a Tourist stamp in my passport (no sticker in my passport at all, viciousdinosaur take note)

* I was taken to immigration by the recruiter with all my docs, offer letter (I assume this is the Notice of success as an English instructor by Minister of Education), contract and visa application form

* They processed everything, didn't ask too many questions and told me to come back in 12 days for my ARC

* Low and behold I got my ARC

At no point did I visit a Korean consulate or embassy or leave the country.

I thought this forum was about giving advice and answering questions. I didn't expect to get a torrent or abuse and be called a liar for telling how I got my E2 status 'in country'

To the posters above I suggest instead of replying and telling me how I didn't get my visa or calling me a liar. Why don't you contact immigration and tell them there's an illegal in their country seems as you're so certain what I'm saying is a falsehood.

[viciousdinosaur]

You still don't get it. This isn't about you or what you did. Nobody cares about you. What interests me is whether or not what you did is consistent with immigration policy or just a fluke. If what you did is consistent with immigration policy it changes the game for a lot of people out there, and it's a big break with the past. It would mean the end of visa runs altogether. Can't you appreciate how that might be a big deal to people other than yourself?

Ttompatz weigh in here. Have you heard anything about a policy change at immigration?