Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

I am still on an E-2 visa for 8 more weeks, but wish to take a job offer that starts in late February. Can I process my E-2 visa right now or does it have to wait until my current E-2 expires? I am ready to get the ball rolling since public school jobs are up for grabs right now and I wish to travel during January and February once I am finished with this job in early January.

[MikeNelson]

You can not apply for the paperwork with immigration until your current visa is finished. You will then have to make a visa run to another country, perhaps your home country, depends on the new rules and how immigration officials feel.
You can explain your situation to your future employer and start getting all you required paperwork in order.
It is not a good time for E2 visas, as nobody really knows what to expect because of the changes. Also, do not talk to your current employer about you future job plans, they tend to be resentful that you are not staying with them. It's best to let them think you are returning home.

[sojourner1]

Thanks for the tip on not talking to my current employer about future plans. That makes sense.

It's too bad Korean immigration doesn't let you line another job up during the last part of your current job since anyone in the right mind needs to have their ducks in order as to avoid unemployment for too long. I can see there were already serious flaws, before the new regs are to come full circle. It's fine that they don't allow a new E-2 application while still on an E-2 as long as you know you can get it set up in 1 month, the 1 month your on vacation in SE Asia or at home. Now though, we are unsure how long a new visa will take or if it will present serious problems that cause us to not get one despite having a clean criminal record, legitmate degree, and doing everything legal.

So I will have to wait until January to do anything, but have to wait until February for that apostille of documents and consulate interview stuff that we have to do at home since I will be going to SE Asia for 3 or 4 weeks on January 1st. This I had planned since last January when I came to Korea which exotic travel is a lifelong endeavor for me.

The big question everyone has is: How long will it take to get an E-2 visa under the new regs? This is especially so since you can't set a new job up while you have a job.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Quite obviously current, approved applications would not have to consider any of these new rules. Go ahead, apply, and forget about it (if you're not already on an E2 sojourn, or course).