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jamesandjessica
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: Vermont, US
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 Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject: Visa Run? Does everyone do this? |
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| My husband and I are planning to teach in Korea next year. Does everyone do a visa run to Japan? When does this occur? Is there a way to have this taken care of prior to arrival? |
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RachaelRoo
Joined: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Anywhere but Ulsan!
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| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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If you accept a job from outside of Korea, wait for the processing, and then go to a Korean consulate for the final stamp, then you do not need to do a visa run.
However, if you accept a job while in Korea, or if you are needed ASAP, you will have to do a visa run because a work visa cannot be processed within the country issuing the visa.
The visa run occurs before you are legally able to work. If you accept a job from within Korea, it takes a few days to a week for immigration to prepare the paperwork and then you are ready to go on your run.
It's a one or two night trip and is usually a great mini-vacation and a quick way to see Japan, paid for by your employer. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 7:40 pm Post subject: Re: Visa Run? Does everyone do this? |
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| jamesandjessica wrote: |
| My husband and I are planning to teach in Korea next year. Does everyone do a visa run to Japan? When does this occur? Is there a way to have this taken care of prior to arrival? |
Not all people do a visa run to Japan. It usually happens when you change your employer at the end of your first contract and before your 2nd one begins. It ocassionally happens if you change employers before your contract expires.
A well run hakwon will complete the paperwork while you are in your home country.Then they will have you go to the Korean consulate or embassy in your home country to obtain your visa. Then you will come to Korea and begin your position in the proper and legal fashion after obtaining the proper visa.
Many hakwans who are POOR at planning (and you can read other things into this as well) and cannot find a teacher when needed (for numerous reasons) will often get you on a plane as fast as they can to get you in their clutches. They will probably insist that you work illegally until they can process your paperwork, then send you to Japan before your tourist visa expires.
Many will lie to you and tell you that this is OK. It is not. This is illegal and if you are caught you are up the creek without a paddle. If you do this, then it's a crapshoot. "You pays your money and takes your chances."
Don't take my word for it though. I am a newbie here with only 5 years experience in Korea under my belt. Ask someone who has real experience (maybe 2 or 3 months worth) to tell you all the rosy stuff.
You could also take the time to check the truth with the consulate? They might have some small idea about the proper and legal way to do things. |
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Homer
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| Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| Only happens if you come here without a job and work visa in hand. |
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ella
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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What do you say to them when they tell you to start working before you've gone on the visa run?
Also, is there anything you should be expected to pay for on the run, or should they cover everything? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| ella wrote: |
What do you say to them when they tell you to start working before you've gone on the visa run?
Also, is there anything you should be expected to pay for on the run, or should they cover everything? |
Tell them what you want. Legally, it is wrong. Morally it is up to you. I have always stood the high ground and refused to work until my visa in in-hand. I was also (causality inferred) never asked to do anything else that I shouldn't have (but that was just MY experience). Others' mileage may have varied.
When I have made my annual visa run, it has also been my experience that the school has paid for almost everything: airfare, hotel, train, photos, visa cost and reasonable meal costs.
The EXCPETION to this was the public school system when it is policy to ONLY cover the airfare. My school was unable to reimburse the other expenses but did manage to squeeze a couple of extra paid days off for things like my trip to immi for my ARC.
Again for visa run expenses, this was MY experience. Others' experiences may have varied. |
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