Korean Job Discussion Forums

[penguin]

I'm changing jobs - I have an E2 visa, no problems with letters of release or anything. I've heard you don't need to do the visa stuff in another country anymore - is this true? (From what I understand, this has only been true for the last few months.) If so, can you do it at the new immigration office in Anguk-dong? How long does it take?

Also, do you have to get a new ARC every time you change jobs? (I can't remember...)

[sock]

Depends.

If you are able to get a new job AND complete all the necessary paperwork BEFORE your current job ends, and the dates of your contracts are consecutive, you don't have to take a visa run.

I just dealt with this personally, so at least someone can learn from my hours of wasted time during the four trips to immigration that it took to get everything straightened out.

Here's what you need: You will need your passport, ARC, either your current contract or a letter from your school stating the date that your contract will end (and that it will not be renewed), the new contract with the new school, and the standard K-immigration form that you always have to fill out. Oh, and a huge wad of cash. I also took my diploma, transcripts, and some other stuff. They didn't need everything but I don't remember what was unnecessary, sorry.

Make sure that there is not much of a time gap between the dates of the two contracts. If there is more than a week or so, they MAY make you do the visa run. I had to go back to my new school and ask them to change the dates of my new contract--instead of March 2007-2008, we had to use Dec. 30, 2006-Dec. 30, 2007. If my new school had not agreed to the adjustment in dates, I would have HAD to do a visa run.

Basically, you're adding a workplace, changing a workplace, possibly changing your address, and applying for a multiple/single entry stamp all at the same time, and they charge you for all of the above. It's expensive, but less money than a trip to Japan. The office in Mok-dong needed a week to process everything, then I could pick up my passport & ARC or choose to have it mailed to me.

Sorry, I don't know the specifics about any other office than Mokdong. But hopefully you'll be able to get everything sorted out as quickly & efficiently as possible.

[penguin]

Thanks!!