Korean Job Discussion Forums

Jane99 · Joined: 22 Jan 2003

My contract is up soon and I would like to extend my stay in Korea as a tourist. In other words, I want to stay in Korea a few extra weeks to travel (and I am not renewing my contract with my current employer). Has anyone done this? What's the procedure? Do I have to leave the country then come back or do I surrender my card and then get a tourist visa?

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Jane as far as i understand it you have to leave the country once your E2 is up, and leave your aliencard at the airport desk. A tourist visa is a whole different thing- but you will be stamped it on re-entry into Korea. Thats how it happened with me. Make sure you have an onward/ hombound ticket on entry into K, or they'll turn you back on the next flight home.
If you have any enquiries, ring immigration. They have a helpful English- speaking dept.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Try this post..

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=5016&highlight=extension

CLG

igotthisguitar · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 3:30 am Post subject:

Holyjoe · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Location: Away for a cuppa

If you have the E-2 visa in your passport then you've got no problems.

If you're coming in on a tourist visa then I think that's where the problem lies... they're not too keen on non-workers arriving on their doorstep with no definite plan of leaving the country.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: South Korea

All the funny advise. You can go to your local immigration office and tell them you are finishing work on such and such a date and apply for a tourist visa extenion up to one month without having to leave Korea.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

igotthisguitar:

I often see on this board and elsewhere that without a return ticket, you will be rejected at the airport. However, I came here on a one-way last year and had no problem getting through. All I did was carry my contract in and say "I will be teaching English". All clear!

Zyzyfer · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2003 9:20 pm Post subject:

I've come to Korea once without an E-2 or a return ticket, and managed to get through without a scratch. I think a lot also might depend on your history of comings and goings in Korea...

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

I've always been incredibly wary of customs/immigration officials. they can turn your world upside down on a whim. And i've noticed korean ones can be just as exacting as some others. Which is why i always have an outbound ticket on arrival in Korea, no matter the circumstances.
Incidentally, I got hassle leaving bangkok for korea last time, as I was flying to Seoul on a return ticket. They wanted to see a ticket out of thailand and back to the country of my passort, for the future. it can get ridiculous, and does. If they'd wanted proof of finances at that point, I'd have been in real trouble...

vp1 · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

You can walk into any Korean Immigration office, ask one question, and get 15 different answers.

The truth is, there is no exact answer.

The first time I did this, I just went to the office and got an extension on my E2. I found a new job and got a new E2 (of course THEN I had to leave and return).

The second time, I was told that I had to leave. I came back on a tourist visa, found a new job and did the Japan thing again.

It's best if you assume the worst-case scenario.