Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PeteJB]

I know this has probably been asked a dozen times, but I doubt many on a D4 have asked. My visa expires soon, and I don't plan to extend it yet. If I leave before it expires, say to Japan, and return a few days later, will I be accepted or will I get stopped at immigration? Also, what happens to your ID? Does it stay in 'stasis' and providing I create a new D4 visa later, will I be able to reuse the same ID?

[orosee]

My own, personal experience:

I was working on an E-7 visa, left the company end of last year. Got a call a few days later from immigration, the employer had informed them of the end of my employment (as required) and if I would like to stay in Korea, have found a new job, or what other plans I have. If I wouldn't mind coming over to the immigration office to discuss matters. Quite friendly.

Anyway, I said I was leaving Korea for two weeks to celebrate Christmas/New year in Thailand, and no, no new job yet, so what to do with my ARC? Simple answer, just drop it off at the airport immigration counter when you leave. Did that and the office at the desk was careful to make sure that I knew what I was doing, explained the situation and left.

Came back 2009 on a 90 day entry stamp, left before it expired for Shanghai, then Hong Kong, returned still without a job, work permit, ARC. All no problem, the only thing was that since I was "in the system" with a previous one year visa, the desk officer always checked with me before giving me the 90 day stamp.

I even got my credit card (yes, a real world one) extended for another year at the bank, they knew me and did that without photocopying my ARC (which at that time was long gone).

End of story, I got a new job in May, still in the system so I got my exact ARC number back (very, very convenient! The number on my VISA card had changed and that meant so much more work), the whole process took only 4 days although they had lost/destroyed my old paper records so I had to resubmit and retranslate uni degree and grades (!) - quite silly since almost 20 years have passed since then and the graded subject have absolutely no relation to what I'm doing now. Translation was into English, not Korean by the way.

It might still be best to make an appointment at the foreigner centre or immigration to check if this is all still valid or if some things have changed. If only to let them know to hold on to your records and data.