Korean Job Discussion Forums

[earthbound14]

I'm posting this in Gdiscussion because I think it will be seen more.

So the other day I go into immigration to ask for a proof of residency certificate so i can buy a car and I'm told my visa has expired.......and I will have to pay 500,000 won. Now I'm not livid or anything, this won't kill me and I'm glad they didn't freak out and deport me, but I don't want to pay 500,00 won when I wasn't told my visa would expire sooner than my contract.

Before you jump on me for being an idiot....I felt like one for not noticing. This is the story. About a year and 3 months ago I started working for a Hogwan with a six month contract with the intent of studying Korean during the day. The plan from the start was to work only for six months and the employer was well aware of my intentions. You can't get a 6 month visa, only a 1 year. I changed jobs to a University at the end of my six months and brought my old employer in to immigration to find out exactly how to cancel my old visa so I can make my visa run to Japan for my new visa. Immigration informs me that they can switch my place of employment. I inform them that I have a 1 year contract, not a 6 month contract. They say no problem, we can extent it. Great, I don't have to go to Japan. So I inform my new employer of exactly the paper work I need. They promise to come with me to immigration to make sure everything goes smoothly. I show up to meet them there and a head teacher informs me they can't make it, so I'll have to do it myself. OK, I speak some Korean and immigration speaks some English. I figure this shouldn't be a problem, so I hand in my paper work (including a 1 year contract). I get my card back with some marker written on the back. It looks pretty un-official, so I ask them if this is good enough. They say yes, this is all you need. I check a few friends cards after and see they also have marker written on there card. I think nothing of it, and assume I have a full year on my visa. Now I'm three months past the date on the front of my card, but I'm thinking the chicken scratching on the back of my card is all cool. Immigration informs me that I'm missing the number in the bottom left hadn corner on the back. I tell them I didn't know I needed that and its pretty harsh to charge me 500,000 won for poor communication at immigration that didn't make me aware I only had six months when I asked for 1 year. Clearly there was a miscommunication. They are being really strict, "The number is not here, you have to pay!!!" "I didn't know I needed a number!" "Sorry, too bad, you need it and now you owe us 500,000!"

so what to do now?

[atomic42]

Seriously think anyone's gonna take the time to read that mess?

[eddie1983man]

[schwa]

I read it & its clear enough.

Afraid youre on the hook for this one. Without a valid update in the "period of stay" box on the back of your card, the expiry date on the front was still operative. You overstayed.

Immigration wasnt wrong -- that was all you needed at the time. I dont think your new employer was remiss either. They probably would have also confirmed youre good to go. You made a wrong assumption about the length of your extension. It would have been a simple matter to extend it again before it expired.

Stated simply, your ARC must show an unexpired "period of stay" date & the onus is on you to make sure its there.

However, I am surprised someone at immigration didnt try to contact you a month or so before expiry. Do they have your current contact info? I get a postcard each year to my home mailbox as well as a text message on my phone reminding me.

[The_Eyeball_Kid]

[inkoreaforgood]

You're SOL, pay up the money. Really, for what they could charge you, 500,000 won is nothing.

[adeline]

something like this has happened to me although totally different situation. Made a mistake that was totally my fault but the fine was ridiculous. You just have to suck it up an pay, there really isn't any recourse.

[mrsquirrel]

just write the number on yourself and tell them they missed it.

[Ilsanman]

That's what you get for assuming immigration are competent and know how to do their job.

[Craven Moorehead]

[Yaya]

I've paid fines to immigration twice, the first in 1995 for not having my alien registration card upon leaving -- I'd lost it a day before leaving Korea for China. The fine was 100,000 won. The second time was when I overstayed my tourist visa by one or two days (100,000 won). In the latter case, I forgot that 90 days is often a bit shorter than three months.

Suck it up and pay, just like many others. I've heard of Korean adoptees, however, who got the fine waived after failing to extend their F-4 visas.

[whatever]

[regicide]

[MarionG]

I read it.

[earthbound14]