Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Keepongoing]

Hey, it is stupid question time. My passport was expiring so I got a new one. Do I need to go to immigration and get a new visa stamp?

[Rand Al Thor]

no, been there done that. Not necessary...

[schwa]

Nope, but if immi wants to look at your passport, you'll need to show both.

[here it is]

you are supposed to file a form with immigration informing them of the new passport number. in my case, about 8 months after i got my new pp, i had some business at immigration. They noticed my pp #s didn't match, so they pulled out the form I never filled out for them and asked me to do it. Maybe had to pay 1,000 won, maybe not. Bottom line, do nothing. But if you have future biz at immigration, when you go in say, "First I need to file a form about my new passport number, then I want to..."

[long-term-player]

Mash,
the answers are totally wrong wrong wrong,,,
Immigration rules in writing state, You shall go to Immigration with the new passport within 21 days or be subject to a fine up to one million won,, they won't fine you, BUT for god's sake, where do these people get off giving such baloney information? any one can read the Immigration site or the other help sites,,, no wonder teachers in Korea have such a bad time with this sort of misinformation,,,

[OiGirl]

I assume you all are just talking about an E-2, right?

[Eunoia]

Also been there, done that. It *IS* necessary, especially if you plan on leaving the country for a holiday and returning later. Fortunately, it's no big deal. When you get the new passport, take both to Immigration, fill out a simple form, pay 10,000, and get all your stamps transferred (including your re-entry visa, if you need/have one). It takes about 15 minutes.

One other thing - when does your contract expire? If your passport expires before the end of your contract, you'd better check your work visa, as it will expire on the date that your original passport expires. If this is the case, then you will also need to have your boss arrange for a visa extension.

[hellofaniceguy]

Common sense tells you or should tell you "yeah, I should get to immigration and update the info." Why create a problem or make it worse than it could be.
21 days is the time limit to inform immigration. You could run afoul of the wrong immigration man if you don't update when it comes time to exit korea. In which case they could fine you just for the hell of it. And it's easy to update at immigration. It's the same for all visas.

[schwa]

So I went to my local immigration with my new passport today. The woman said it was supposed to be done within 14 days -- I was a couple days late but she said it didnt matter. Quick easy form, no charge. Nothing stamped in the new passport.

[kangnamdragon]

[Zark]

someone asked, "So, you still need both passports if you go on vacation?"

Yes, you do.

Go to immigration, fill out the form, they make the changes in the computer and SOMETIMES they transfer the stamps to your new passport. They didn't transfer mine. Out of caution I carried my old passport with me last vacation and sure enough, needed it coming back in. Not sure they couldn't have sorted it all out, but who wants to mess with all that after a long flight and jet lag.

Next time I go to immigration though, I'll ask them to transfer the stamps. Might depend on if you are at a regional versus major office though.

[phaedrus]

For myself I did it about a month late, they said it was fine although they told me about the rule, I didn't get charged, and they transferred all the stamps.

A stamp in an expired passport is as official as one on a gum wrapper.

[schwa]

Respectfully disagree. If everything tallies with your computer profile its smooth sailing.

[the saint]

[OiGirl]

Who wants to carry around two passports when they go on vacation? Ok, I guess I travel light.

With the new, sticker-type visas: can you get it transferred to the new passport if you request at the lucky immigration office?