Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pikachun1]

Hey guys, I am so confused right now. I got a F-4 Visa before coming to Korea and it's good for 2 years. I have been working at a hakwon for almost 3 months, but have been in Korea for over 3 months. The hakwon says I need a residency card which will give me my social security number.

So here are the questions if anyone can help!

1. Am I allowed to stay in Korea for over 90 days with JUST my visa which is attached to my passport?

2. Do I need a residency card? Why?

3. I read that I needed to apply for the residency card within 90 days of coming to Korea. There is a fine, I heard. How much is this fine?

Overall, I am just befuddled by the difference between the Visa in my passport and the residency card and if I need the card. If I don't get the card, what can happen?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[treehouse]

Hey guys, I am so confused right now. I got a F-4 Visa before coming to Korea and it's good for 2 years. I have been working at a hakwon for almost 3 months, but have been in Korea for over 3 months. The hakwon says I need a residency card which will give me my social security number.

So here are the questions if anyone can help!

1. Am I allowed to stay in Korea for over 90 days with JUST my visa which is attached to my passport?

2. Do I need a residency card? Why?

3. I read that I needed to apply for the residency card within 90 days of coming to Korea. There is a fine, I heard. How much is this fine?

Overall, I am just befuddled by the difference between the Visa in my passport and the residency card and if I need the card. If I don't get the card, what can happen?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hello. I also came here on an F-4 and I yes I had to get my ARC. I can't tell you exactly why, but I'm guessing that any foreigner with any kind of visa has to get some kind of alien registration done.
I'm not sure if you allowed to stay in Korea past the 90 days without it, but when I was on a student visa here the answer was no. Although we enjoy many nice benefits with the F-series visas, I don't think we get a "pass" on Alien registration.

I'm not sure about the fine, but I think I remember reading somehwere that it is around 150,000 to 200,000 won.

Hope this helps a little. I'm sure my answers sound a little sketchy and that may be the case, but IMO - just get your ARC. It doesn't expire for two years as well. Where are you located? It's a relatively painless process if you have all your paperwork with you.

[ttompatz]

ALL foreigners who stay in Korea (with the exception of Canadians on a B2) for 90 days or longer ARE REQUIRED BY LAW to be registered at their local immigration office.

When you register you will get your ARC (alien registration card).

This is the card they are referring to.

IF you have been in Korea for longer than 90 days and have not yet registered at your local immigration office you are in violation of immigration law and subject to a fine (usually 100k won) not exceeding 5 million won.

.

[treehouse]

what he/she said ^^