Korean Job Discussion Forums

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

What do you have to do if you want to cancel your current visa and start over with a tourist visa? I read somewhere that you can just walk out of the country, turn in your ARC on the way out and your visa will be automatically cancelled. I also heard that your employer will have to come with you to immigration to cancel your visa and receive an exit order.

Also when you cancel your visa, how do you collect your pension? Do you have to colect it before you cancel your visa?

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

An immigration officer will have to stamp 'cancelled' on your visa. When I did it I had to be at an immigration office with a letter from my employer. I then got a 14-day exit order.

If you leave from an airport without visiting an immigration office they will take your ARC, but you likely won't be able to get a new E2 visa until your current one expires.

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

ok so if you get letter and an exit order you can return and get a new e2 visa? Also what does this letter look like? What should it say?

Also if i find a new position do i have to apply for a new e2 after i return?

This is all very confusing. Especially when trying to from a visa from a public school.

Also, what happens to your pension? Do you collect it before you leave?

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

I called immigration and this is what they told me. If you are working at at any other job besides a hogwan, ie public, private, university etc. you can only transfer your current visa to to the same type of school.

All you need is a letter of release from you employer stating the name of the school, new contract and to pay the visa processing fees 60,000 won to change employers, and 30,000 won to extend you visa.

However, if you want to cancel your visa you will need to go through an entirely different process. There are two options. These only apply if you have not completed 75% of your current contract.

1. You and your employer (principal) must go to the immigration office together and your employer and cancel your visa. Your employer must bring their ID card and a copy of their business registration with them. In return you will get an exit order from immigration stating you must leave Korea within 30 days and your visa will be stamped cancelled and you be declared a tourist.

2. If your employer cannot come with you to immigration office, your employer can send another person, such as a co-worker on their behalf. They will need to grant that person "Power of Attorney" and submit a written document stating that your contract will be terminated with the school. This documents must be signed and dated by the principal and have the employers and schools stamp on the document. Also, the document must state that he is granting "Power of Attorney" to the person coming on his behalf. You must also supply a a copy of the school's business registration document, which is has the schools and principals stamp on it. Once immigration receives these documents immigration will stamp cancelled on your current e2 visa and you will be declared a tourist, and give you an exit order stating you have 30 days to leave the country.

I was told specifically that you cannot go to immigration yourself and cancel your own visa. Nor can you provide all the documents by yourself. A second person is required.

Once you receive your EXIT ORDER you are given 30 days to find another teaching position including private academies. Once you find a new employer, you must submit a copy of the new contract and you are allowed to work for them once approved by immigration. You will need to supply a contract, sealed transcripts, self health check form passport, and ARC. You will not have to submit a second criminal record check unless you have left Korea. Once accepted, you will be issued a visa number within two weeks are required to do visa run to process a new visa. The number on your ARC will not be changed.

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

What happens if your job ends in 30 days can you do this before your final day of teaching. For example can you go in 15 days before you finish and cancel your visa with a letter of release. After that can you teach the final two weeks and then leave and come back for another visa.

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

ihaveseoul2 · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

My question is: can I do this two weeks before I finish or do I have to go to immi at the last minute. I want my visa to be cancelled not transfered.

ihaveseoul2 · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

Scouse Mouse · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Location: Cloud #9

Walk into Immigration and say "Hey, I have this visa, but I just quit my job. Can I stay here and vacation for the next X months?"

I bet my left-nut they stick the cancellation on it and give you your exit order Wink

tenchu77491 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009

I left Korea, handed in ARC. Waited 19 days and applied for a new e-2 and got it. My old e-2 was canceled and was good until july (2 months from now). So my new e-2 and old one have an overlap. You don't need to wait for the old one to expire. You just need to wait until the old one is canceled... it must be canceled within 14 days or so after you leave the country.. your old employer must report you as having left and then the e-2 is canceled.

As long as no legal action is filed against you from a school then you are able to reapply for an e-2 without a problem.