Korean Job Discussion Forums

[email protected] · Joined: 25 Feb 2008

O.K im newly arrived in Korea (3 weeks ago). I thought I had all my ducks in a row with regards visa/immigration issues, but yesterday my director asked me to bring in my passport with two photo's to get it rubber stamped by the immigration officials in Daejeon or some such, he was a bit vauge about it. Is this actually part of the new visa regulations or is it a thinly veiled attempt at confiscasting my passport so I cant go to another employer/leave my contract early?

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

You already have your ARC (Alien Registration Card) aka E-2 Card?

If so, I don't think immigration needs to see your passport. Otherwise, go down with him to immigration. The only people that should have your passport for any period of time is you or some immigration offical.

DO NOT GIVE YOUR PASSPORT TO YOUR DIRECTOR

[email protected] · Joined: 25 Feb 2008

no I dont have the ARC, just the visa stamp thing on my passport. I have no Intention of giving him my passport for keepsies!

perhaps he wants to get this ARC card for me? I will question him further tommorow

Im very wary of him taking my passport as a ransom note

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

No ARC, then you go with him to immigration with your passport. Then you give immigration your passport and you should get it back, with your new ARC card, within 7 days.

[email protected] · Joined: 25 Feb 2008

thanks for the info, his English isnt the hottest so I didnt exactly get what he was trying to relate to me. I also didnt want to get burned so soon into my contract!

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

Plus if you're really worried, you can have immi mail the ARC and passport back to your home address for an additional fee. Either that or make another trip to immi to pick it up.

KPRROK

jbpatlanta · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Location: Daejeon

I think your director just wants needs it to give to immigration. They will keep it until they process your ARC card and then they will return it. If your director tries to keep it, call the US embassy and tell them your director will not give your passport to you. My friend did this. The embassy called the boss and my friend go this passport back almost immediately.

[email protected] · Joined: 25 Feb 2008

how long typically do the immigration office need the passport for the ARC? They cant hand it back to someone other than myself right? im just being cautious, ive seen nightmare stories on this bored!

Atavistic · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:34 am Post subject:

jbpatlanta · Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Location: Daejeon

Yes immigration will give the passport to anyone who works at yoru school. Your best advice is to pay 3 or 4.000 won for the courier service and get it couriered to you or go back yourself and pick it up. They shoudl also give you a receipt that says they have your passport. When I was on a E2 visa I always picked it up myself or had it couriered to my house.

Good luck

[email protected] · Joined: 25 Feb 2008

smurf that, I thought Passports shouldn't be in the possession of someone other than the person they were issued to or consular/immigration authorities. I think I'll be picking it up in person

Zaria32 · Joined: 04 Dec 2007

Getting your passport back from a director who thinks he gets to hold it is usually (not always) difficult. You do it like this:

Step 1: I'm worried that you've kept my passport because it's illegal for me to let you do that. I called the US Embassy (English, Australian, whatever) and they told me to report it stolen to the police. I don't want to do that. Hold your hand out...

Step 2: I still don't have my passport back. Will you give it to me now? I'm going to have to go to the police (tomorrow morning, whenever) I don't want to do that. Hold you hand out and keep it out.

Step 3: Follow through on your threat...Go to the police, call your embassy...most embassies (in one of the FEW services they do provide) will call your director and put the fear of god in him. [/i]

ontheway · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:19 am Post subject:

Before you make trouble for yourself with your director, just think: do you trust him or her? After all, you made a deal and just got here. You do have to get the ARC (Alien Registration Card) and if you have someone who will actually do all the running around for you, congratulations. My first director just told new teachers to go to Immi and get one. No help. No info. Just stay cool and don't start any cultural problems. You might have one of the good ones. It's a long shot to win the lotto on the first try, but it happens.

[email protected] · Joined: 25 Feb 2008

yeah sound advice from on the way there, I'll play it by ear, but I'll know what to do if things go south!

rhinocharge64 · Joined: 20 Sep 2006

Go with him to get it processed and go back with him to pick it up or get it couried. Don't let him get his grubby little hands on it. It belongs to your embassy not a penny pinching small time crook.