Korean Job Discussion Forums

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Yes, this is sort normal. Your boss is likely doing the leg work and the running around in getting you ARC. He needs to give your passport to immigration to get the card. You should get it back when you get your ARC. Still it is best NOT to give your passport unless you need to. It would have been better if you could have done this yourself and given to the immigration official yourself.

Sometimes the process for getting an ARC card can be a little long.

BUT YOU SHOULD get it back when you get your ARC. For no reason should your boss hold on to your passport or ARC.

Talk your boss/manager and tell him your concerns. I think most case your boss will be understanding. Try not to jump the gun, but do be firm about getting it back.

Make sure you have extra copies of your documents. You might want to consider carrying a color copy of your passport in your wallet.

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Immi doesn't hold onto your passport while you wait for your ARC. They make a photocopy of it and hand it back. You are now required to give fingerprints for your ARC, so there is no way your boss is doing the leg work for you. Some people here will do anything to appease their Korean overlords, making it much harder for grown adults to conduct business here. But whatever excuses make you feel better about it, go ahead. Or admit you were pressured into, which is very reasonable and sounds like what happened, and go demand your passport back immediately.

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Sorry, that last part of my last post sounded really judgmental and harsh (tough day for me). I just mean that there's no excuse for your boss to hold onto your passport and any boss who wants to do this probably also does some other sneaky things. At my first job here I handed over my passport so my boss could do the leg work for my ARC (we didn't need to give fingerprints back then) and it was returned to me at the end of the day. The other FTs there assured me it was all above board and I would have my passport back by the end of business so I did it. I would probably do that again, but I would never hand it over for a whole month, especially if I also didn't have an ARC. You have no recognized ID in Korea (or your home Embassy, for that matter). Even if your boss gives it back at the end of the month, what if something happens between then and now. I know none of us likes to think about it, but what if a family member suddenly falls ill back home or there is a disaster here (natural or otherwise) and you need the help of your Embassy. Will you have time to find your boss, explain the situation and hope he gives it back to you? You just shouldn't have to do any of that. It's absurd, and I bring up my last point that no one would ever hand over their ID to their boss back home so why do they suddenly think it's ok here?

There is no reason for your boss to have your passport longer than a business day, and you were obviously pressured into giving it to him. If you want to be gentle you could make up an excuse to get it back, but frankly if your boss won't give you back your passport just because you want it I'd consider what your year is going to be like.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject:

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

koreatimes · Joined: 07 Jun 2011

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

With all due respect, your point is moot. You need to give fingerprints for your ARC now, so no matter what you have to go into immi on your own and do the work. And I've said if immi holds onto your passport then that's fine (as long as you get some sort of receipt), but he gave it to his boss not immi. Finally, I went through this process (not renewal, not changing jobs, but full on getting a new ARC with a new contract) just last week so I don't see how your experience in 2009 applies. I've done it 10 different ways in 10 different years, but this is how it is now, and it was the same for everyone in my program at both immi offices in Seoul. Unfortunately, this site is full of conflicting information and it would help if people only related relevant facts. I know things can vary in Korea, especially with immigration, but my experience is extremely recent and it was the same for at least 2 dozen others, not to mention official notices in the building on the subject.

I'm not trying to prove I'm right, I'm just trying to tell the OP straight up that his boss shouldn't have his passport for a month. In fact, if he didn't go to immi on his own for the fingerprints and his boss now has his passport then his ARC either isn't being processed or something sinister went on there.