Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lukychrm42]

So my passport expires next summer, which means I need to get it renewed before I can get a new contract going (I'm planning to stay in Korea and have my visa extended/transferred to new employer, which I'm told is legit).

I was all set to send in my stuff to the embassy, and I sent an e-mail just to make sure that my visa would be transferred to my new passport. They responded that it was up to Korean authorities, and the link to the Korean Immi homepage didn't provide me with the info I need. I don't know if I'm just not entering the right search terms or am missing the info... the other searches I've conducted only refer to renewing the visa, which isn't me (yet).

I have my ARC so surely that proves I have the visa, but I don't want to be stuck with a new passport without my visa. Any advice is welcome, thanks!

[billietea]

Bring your old passport, new passport and contract (just as an added backup) to the office where you applied for and received your ARC...they will update your visa in your new passport. I did this about 7 months ago without any problem.

[Lukychrm42]

I hadn't foreseen a problem until that response from the embassy. Today they told me that I just had to make a note that they shouldn't punch through the page with my visa, and then I'll take the old and new passports to the immigration office.

Thanks for your answer!

[billietea]

They punched all the way through my entire old passport - they must do this to invalidate the passport. I had no problem even with a hole punched through the page with the Korean visa in it. (The holes are at the edge of the passport and don't go near any writing on the visa).

Good luck, but I'm sure you don't need it...smooth procedure although I understand the concern...nothing here seems to go smoothly! You will be happily surprised, I think.

[nobbyken]

They snipped the corner of my old passport before returning it with the new one.
You can register your new passport number by telephone or through the www.hikorea.go.kr site.
In most cases you will need to visit an immigration office to get a new multi entry visa stamp in your new passport.