Korean Job Discussion Forums

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

I had arranged a cool new job in Indonesia and I was flying to Singapore this Saturday to pick up my Indonesia work visa on Monday. I was told all was cool for two months now with the new job and visa. Anyhow they email me last night and say all is cancelled as their company can't supply enough tax evidence for the visa.

He was even nice enough to say he found out Monday morning but was to busy to contact me until Thursday night. Shocked

I know this is off topic but I need some quick advice. Five minutes after that I got a email from an old job in China and if I come there I have a job but I need to come on a tourist visa. My arc expires Sunday and I guess I will need some time to get my Chinese tourist visa.

Can I get a tourist visa on a one- way ticket, where and how is a quick way to get a chinese tourist visa?

Anyhow now I know what it like to trust an employer and buy a ticket to their country and get a last minute call cancelling with not even a hint of an apology. I guess thats the risk we take.

Quick advice would be nice.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I don't know what to tell you about the flight you'd paid for(I'd be mightily p***** if I were you)but I can offer this bit of SOLID GOLD advice: if your ROK visa expires on Sunday(!), then get the hell out of the peninsula no later than then!!!

As for China, where I had a 10 month "teach for food" experience, I entered the PRC on a tourist visa. Within a month, the employer arranged a change to a work visa.

Depending on where you enter China, there are often mafia-like little outfits at the airport/seaport that can process an "on the spot" tourist visa within a few hours. Have PRC cash & mugshot photos on hand.

Sounds like you're in bit of a pickle. Let us know how it all unfolds.

PS: As far as I know, the "mafia" outfits don't care if you have an outward-bound ticket.

If this thread was in "Travel", you might get more informed responses...maybe....

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

apply for an extension on your korean visa so you don't have to rush into anything

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Sounds like the OP's rather late in the game to get a visa extension...it's Fri. in Korea, no?

Good luck, in any event....

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

You could (in theory) leave Korea and come back on a tourist visa, stay in a goshiwon or someplace cheap until you can get some alternatives.

Won't help you with your flight money though.

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

missty · Joined: 19 Feb 2008

This happened to me a long time ago (about 4 years) so I don't know if it still can be done or not. But, I went to China to work, and got a tourist visa at the Hong Kong border. I had to pay the money for it, have some photos with me and fill out forms etc... but it was fine. This was on a one way ticket, and they didn't check my flight because I wasn't at the airport, (I was at the Lo-Wu border from HK to China).

Obviously this is for flying into HK though, which I doubt you're doing. But the officials didn't seem to bothered about my flight, or anything other than giving me the visa. Even if you do get the visa another way, I doubt they will be bothered about your return ticket information, they weren't with me.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Assuming blackjack is being a smarta**: I'm in N. America. I'm just trying to help the OP by pointing out the urgency of the situation. Without a visa extension, the OP is, at 0001 Mon.(local time), an illegal alien if he/she's still in the ROK.

missty: four yrs. is a "long time ago"? I may as well jump onto the next passing ice floe...you ARE under 30, aren't you?

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

missty · Joined: 19 Feb 2008

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I you do the Japan run and return to Busan and need some assistance, I'd be more than happy to do what I can.

Not saying I can do a lot, but if I will do what I can if you need it.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Well, cheers, blackjack & missty...honestly....

I think the advice is solid, re.: getting a visa extension. But, ye gods, this is late in the game! If one can't get an extension, DO NOT rely on some dream /fantasy of kindness/compassion from ROK immi officials. Get outta Dodge!

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Well, it's 10:40 am on Friday. Why couldn't he apply for an extension right now? I was able to get a transfer done on the spot at Incheon immigration. They handed me back my passport and visa after a short wait.

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

Got it all worked out for 20,000 won. I guess life is giving me a break. The airlines charged 20000 to refund the ticket to Indonesia. I called Cathay Pacific and they scored me an incredible deal of 972,000 return ticket to Vancouver with a stopover in Hk. So I can do the chinese visa in Hk. My school even offered to pay the ticket to Canada even though it was more than the ticket to Indonesia. Thanks for all the advice so quickly.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Go to your local immigration office, & ask for a 2 week extension. Don't forget to take your ARC card & passport. The application forms are generally in the middle of the office. It was about 13,000 won in Masan. Quick & painless. Also got a 2 week extension in Uiejongbu in 2007.

Ask your Indo 'Friends' to email proof of job cancellation & print it out, too, to satisfy airlines / immigration. The local immig office phone number used to be on the front of the ARC, although it doesn't appear to be on this year's version?