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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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seaottertail
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:37 am Post subject: Visa question - American |
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Hey all, I have a question. I've heard such conflicting info, I'm not sure what the deal is. Some info says get out before the date, others say don't worry about it....
My E-2 visa expires July 27th. My employer is letting me go a week early on July 19th. I don't want to leave Korea until after July 27th - basically within a week from that time (by August 2nd).
My question is, if I stayed a week past the deadline, will I run into any problems leaving Seoul? I'm going to Taipei on a Taiwan vistor's visa from here.
I'm not worried about when/if I come back, only as I'm leaving....
Any help or sources are appreciated. Thanks! |
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Ut videam

Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:42 am Post subject: |
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If you stay a week past July 27th, you WILL run into problems leaving Seoul.
You will be delayed at the immigration checkpoint at the airport. At minimum you will be hassled. You will likely be fined 100,000 won. And you will receive a black mark on your immigration file that could complicate your visa acquisition in the future.
If you've already booked a ticket to Taipei, go to Immigration and get a travel/tourism extension. It's free�the ticket is the primary piece of documentation you need. It can also be done online at the HiKorea website, http://www.hikorea.go.kr
It's not worth overstaying, especially with the free extension available. |
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seaottertail
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:56 am Post subject: |
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Wow, thanks for responding so soon....I was looking on the website you gave me and was checking it out.
Someone told me that Americans can come in without a vistor's visa.
I thought - if that is true, and I leave before my E-2 visa expires, and go to say, Japan, for a week or something, come back after my E-2 expires, would I be able to get in if I say I'm visiting?
Another question I have is, if my employer lets me go on July 19th but my visa card says the expiry is July 27th, will I run into trouble if I get out before July 27th (but after the 19th)? In other words, are you supposed to leave within a set number of days of leaving your job?
I will try to find information on the website and see what I can find, but if someone readily knows the answers to these questions, I'd sure like to hear your experience  |
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Ut videam

Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:11 am Post subject: |
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| seaottertail wrote: |
Someone told me that Americans can come in without a vistor's visa.
I thought - if that is true, and I leave before my E-2 visa expires, and go to say, Japan, for a week or something, come back after my E-2 expires, would I be able to get in if I say I'm visiting? |
Yes, you can do this. In order to do so, you'll need to make it clear to the immigration officer when you're leaving that you've finished your job. Make sure you hand in your ARC and have the E-2 visa in your passport marked "Cancelled" or "Used." That way, when you come back, you'll be stamped in on a tourist visa.
Of course, it's illegal to work on a tourist visa. But you doubtless already knew that.
| Quote: |
| Another question I have is, if my employer lets me go on July 19th but my visa card says the expiry is July 27th, will I run into trouble if I get out before July 27th (but after the 19th)? In other words, are you supposed to leave within a set number of days of leaving your job? |
This all depends on your employer. If your employer immediately reports the end of your employment, you'll be issued an exit order. But given that it's so close to the end of your permitted stay anyway, I suspect they won't bother.
In general:- If you quit/are fired significantly before the end of your contract/status of stay expiry, you will be issued an exit order. Several recent posts have indicated that Immi is giving people 30 days to leave under these orders; previously, it was 14 days.
- If you work 'til the end of your contract/status of stay expiry, you must depart by midnight on the expiry date indicated on your ARC. There is NO grace period. If you need to stay longer for any reason, you MUST secure an extension from Immi in advance.
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seaottertail
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Thanks again everyone for your help.... just trying to ponder my situation carefully.
Basically I'm trying to work it to stay about a week or two after my E-2 visa expires and visit some friends before I leave Korea (don't know if I'm coming back and I'll be working major 12 hour days for the next 2 months).
I thought of just hopping over to Japan for a week or so and have a little vacation, then take a boat back and visit some friends for a couple days to a week before heading out to Taiwan.
I haven't bought my ticket because I'm trying to figure out when to set the date to go.
So I guess I gotta think about this.
If anyone has any other ideas, I'm open....
thanks again everyone, you're great  |
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