Korean Job Discussion Forums

hedonizm · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: seoul

Hey everyone.......Happy New Year!

So, I have been in Seoul for a month and have decided to go back to Tokyo in March.....my question is this.....

I know that you have to get your ARC within 3 months. When I leave in March I will have been here for about 3 months and 15 days.
What will happen if I do not bother getting my card?
I really don't want to deal with all of the fuss with getting my medical and going to get the card if I don't have to.

Thanks for any thoughts!

hedonizm · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: seoul

anyone???
and why is it saying this thread does not exist??

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

First off, not everyone sits on here 24/7 and waits for threads, so you might need to wait for more than 45 minutes for a response.

As to your question, why not just go and get the ARC? It's simple, cheap, and it's THE FREAKIN' LAW THAT YOU GET ONE!!!!! Don't be a lazy bum and get to immi for your card.

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

If you don't get the ARC card and leave the country, you will effectively void your visa. You must get it before.

Also, you are technically paying for health insurance from the moment you came into the country with your visa, but you cannot get your insurance card without your ARC.

Just go get it, the line up may be long, but you can have them deliver it back to you so you don't need to make the second trip.

hedonizm · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: seoul

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

hedonizm · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: seoul

again....not the point!
and i really don't think koreans are lazy......

lawyertood · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:32 am Post subject:

Since you did not get (will not have gotten) your ARC within the required time period you might be required to pay a fine--100,000 won(ten years ago)--as you are required to surrender the card upon leaving Korea for good. Your best bet might be to ask at immigration to make sure, though.

CPT · Joined: 25 Mar 2007

I don't know the answer to your question for sure, but I wanted to let you know that I understand your post, lol.

He or she doesn't want to do the medical check, which is required to get the ARC, because he or she is leaving after 3 months and 15 days. Makes sense to me. The medical exam costs money, and can be a hassle. The trip to the local immigration office is another thing that wouldn't be at the top of my list of things to do if I didn't have to.

To make an educated guess, I'd say nothing will happen until you go to leave the country and they ask for your ARC and you don't have it. Then there may be a fine and/or a black mark on your immigration file. I'm thinking if you never want to come back to Korea, it won't be a problem. If you think you might, then you might want to consider just getting the card.

One possibility could be to say that you got the card but it hasn't been issued yet, or that you are just going on vacation....something like that. I'm not sure if it will work.

hedonizm · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: seoul

thank you.

i thought the same. i think i'll just say i applied but don't have it yet. i'm not planning on coming back so....?

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

Lie to the people who can detain and fine you...really smart idea there.

Here's a plan for you. If using a pen on some paper and making a short trip to immi (book ahead of time so you don't have to wait), how about getting your butt on a flight to Japan before the 90 days expires and come right back? That would cancel your VISA, give you a tourist stamp, and you wouldn't need to get an ARC! It solves everything!

Or, you could just get your lazy butt to immigration with your boss (what kind of VISA do you have if it's such a short job?) and get your ARC.

Tiger_in_Kenya · Joined: 30 Oct 2008

I'm not an expert on immigration law, but there are a couple of financial things you should consider:

1. If you haven't applied for your ARC, Immigration can fine you 100K when you leave the country. They can also blacklist you for any future visas. I'm not sure about the details, but it'll probably depend on the Customs officer who signs you out. Don't bother lying about having applied for your ARC - they take your passport from you when you do it.

2. While you've been working here, your employer should have been taking money out of your salary as well as making their own contributions to your national pension (as bound by law). People of most nationalities are eligible for a refund when they leave the country. However, they will require your ARC number when you apply for it.

Your company should be paying for the Medical Check anyway, so it shouldn't be a financial burden on you. Just get it done. The check takes about an hour, immigration takes 10 minutes. You could be a couple hundred dollars out of pocket otherwise.

hedonizm · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Location: seoul