Korean Job Discussion Forums

wade_fleming · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

hi,

i entered korea november 3rd last year... does that mean i must leave on november 3rd or do i get a 10 day grace period? i could have sworn i read somewhere that there is a grace period, but now looking at my visa it doesn't actually have a date under "valid until".

help is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

Nemo · Joined: 28 May 2006

30 days.

byrddogs · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: Shanghai

look at the date on your arc card. that is your exit date. there is no grace period beyond that if you don't apply for an extension.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

The only date that matters is the one on your ARC. You must be out by that expiry date or face fines & a permanent blemish on your immigration record. Necessary extensions are readily available at immigration.

Any advice here to the contrary is wrong. There are no grace periods.

[edit: Cross-posted with byrddogs, but it deserves repeating.]

SSA · Joined: 20 Apr 2009

Extensions on your ARC as mentioned are easy. If your contract is over and you are not transferring your contract you can get a stamp in your passport and get it extended by 30 days. You need to take your ARC and passport to immigration and an exit ticket that is within the 30 days. It took about 10 mins to do and they wrote on the back of my ARC. Once the contract of work is over the extension becomes a tourist visa and working is not permitted. I was told this by the officer that did mine.

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

This can't be as everyone is saying. The last day on my ARC is the 26th, the last day of my contract that I will be working. There is no way possible to be out the country by that day. I'm positive that it is 10 working days from the expiration date on the back of your ARC.

In between contracts years ago, I overstayed the grace period by a week (after the 10 days) and got a mark on my record, but the immi officer was kind enough to wave the fine (100,000won). It's not a matter of "contract's over, get out"

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

Okay. I just did some quick research on some sites. Looks like things have changed since my experience with overstaying a visa.
You must leave on the date stamped on the back of your ARC.

mlh · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

actually it is a matter of get out the day of your ARC card. my arc card expires November 14th a Saturday and I just received in the mail a friendly reminder from the Korean government that I must be out of the country by that date.

However, what the letter also said is that I could receive a free 10 day extension after my ARC card expired. They outlined the whole process in the letter and what it says is that you need to go to the immigration office with your ARC card, passport, and your plane ticket/reservation proving that you will be leaving Korea within the 10 day period after your ARC card expiration. They even provide the web address where you can schedule an appointment online to do this (i left the letter at work or i'd post it but i believe it can be found in previous threads on dave's or via a google search).

The letter does point out that without this extension you will be in violation of immigration laws. so you do have a 10 day grace period but you have to get permission for that 10 day grace period. it seems like a pretty simple process so i say why risk not getting the official extension and just make an appointment and get it done right.

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

By the way, how soon before your expiration date can you get the extension? Is is much of a hassle? I'm a little stressed now that I found all of this out.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Within a month of ARC expiry. Show a contract or ticket & explain when you plan to leave by. Passport & ARC. Free & easy.

mlh · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

i think you can get the extension as soon as you have a ticket proving you'll be leaving korea within the ten days after your expiration.

my boss just purchased my ticket today and i plan on going to immigration around the 28th or so (i have to travel to a bigger town to do this so thats just when i have a day off to do it) to get it done. that gives me about 2 weeks before i leave.

i'm pretty sure you can ask for an extension right up until the date of expiration on your ARC.

Its just you need proof of having a plane ticket home so once you have that its just a quick trip to immigration as I understand it.

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

Okay. Now I'm a little lessed stressed. I'm 99% sure my school enrollment info, student visa processing info and my ticket to/from Japan should be enough to get the extenstion.

By the way, anyone know of a nice cheap hotel in Osaka? Due to financial restraints, I think I'll be doing a lot of window shopping, ramyeon eating and drinking beer while watching the hotel TV.

wade_fleming · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

excellent, thanks very much for the quick and helpful responses.