Korean Job Discussion Forums

[quercus]

hello, i am about to go to osaka to get my visa. neither i nor my director know exactly what the "blue paper" is though or how to go about getting it. can anyone fill me in?

also, they are going to have me do the whole deal in a day, can anyone give any details about how early i should get there, what train to take to the consulate, etc? any info about the visa run to osaka would be fantastic. thanks, quercus

[Derrek]

The infamous "Blue Paper" is an OK from immigration which your boss MUST obtain before you go to Osaka. Go there without it, and you won't get an E-2 visa. The "Blue Paper" is the entire reason for going. It is basically a paper which is an "OK" to give you a visa. It's got your name, information, school information, etc. It is also stamped by immigration.

Your employer must file paperwork with immigration. If you are in Seoul, I believe he will want to go to the Omokyo office on floor #2 and take a right. The people at those windows will help. He must fill out some forms before you get the "blue paper".

Waiting time to get the "blue paper" is 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on many factors, such as how much "pull" your school has with immigration, how busy they are, etc. There is a phone number machine that your boss can check daily to see if your paper is ready. He might want to ask about that.

You CANNOT work legally until you get the "blue paper", travel to Osaka, and return with an E-2 stamped in your passport. From them on, you have 90 days to apply for your Immigrant Work Card at the Omogkyo office. You can work during those 90 days.

Many people work illegally before they get the visa in Osaka. I wouldn't. I know, because I got busted for exactly that last month. Twas a very expensive and messy situation which almost got me kicked out of Korea.

Better make flight plans accordingly.

[the_beaver]

법무부 -- ministry of justice, the republic of Korea

사증발급인정서 -- certificate of visa issuance