Korean Job Discussion Forums

[StephPoet]

I'm a bit confused about visa runs. My soon-to-be boss is arranging my "blue paper" and said she'll take care of everything with my signed contract, passport copy, degree, and sealed transcripts.

Does this mean I don't really have a visa and am going to have to travel to some other nation once I get there? Do the schools pay for it, or do I need to try to negotiate a visa run allowance in my contract? The idea of shelling out hundreds to work for their school is a bit disconcerting...or is the visa going to be already taken care of?

Steph

[peppermint]

The blue paper means that you're guaranteed a visa- you've just got to go to a Korean consulate to get it (can't be done in Korea) You enter the countryon a tourist visa, grab the blue paper and then catch a plane for Japan for the day. When you get back, you'll have the visa.

The school should pay for the ticket, but ask for details on it- some want you to pay, and then reimburse you.

The other thing is to make sure that you'll be going as soon as possible after arriving. If you're in the country on a tourist visa, it's illegal to work. This rule is often bent, but right now it might not be a good idea.

[Grotto]

You can either do your visa run in your home country before you come here OR you will have to go to Japan for the 'visa run'


Talk to your boss to be about the visa run. Where will you go? does the school pay for it?

But absolutely there is no way you should pay for the visa run!

The fact you have to do a visa run is just an indication of typical Korean stupidity and poor planning.

Just make sure your school is clear that you will not work until you have done your visa run.

[bignate]

[denverdeath]

Correct if I'm wrong and if things have changed drastically. The "blue" paper is a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance. Your workplace has done most of the paperwork for you here. You're in Canada or America or wherever, right? When they send you the cert, you send it to your nearest Korean Embassy/Consulate or take it there if there's one in your city with a fee, your passport, and a few other things. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO DO A VISA-RUN WHEN YOU GET HERE. You just have to go to immigration and have your Alien Registration Card processed WHEN YOU GET HERE. Check out the Toronto website for example. Check the requirements of your nearest place.

http://www.koreanconsulate.on.ca/en/mnu.php?sn=144

From above site:

7. Individuals with the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance

Sponsors of visa applicants may submit relevant visa documents to the Ministry of Justice in Korea on behalf of their prospective employees to simplify and reduce the duration of the visa issuance process. After the submitted documents have been reviewed and approved by the Ministry, the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance is issued to the applicant. Once the applicant obtains this Certificate, he/she may bring the following documents to the nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate to get the visa issued:

1) Completed visa application form
2) Original copy of the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance
3) Passport with remaining validity of at least 6 months
4) One recent passport-type colour photograph.
5) Cdn$65.00 visa fee

They stamp the visa thingy in your passport when you're in America or wherever and you're ready to get on the plane. No visa-run necessary for you, at least during your first year. If you re-sign with the same place, you also won't have to do a run for your second year, just an extension. If you stay for a second year and it's with a different place, then you'll have to do a run to Japan or wherever.

[denverdeath]

Sorry, in re-reading your post I'm not really sure what your boss is doing or what your boss' plan is. If you are getting the "blue" paper here in Korea, Peppermint's advice is good. If they are sending it to you along with an airline ticket(which happened to me twice), my advice is good.