Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SasiaYi]

Basically, the main Busan Immigration Office told me that my multiple entry F4 visa allowed me to stay in Korea for 2 years from my re-entry date into Korea. I had already lived 20 months in Korea on this visa, then left the country for a year and returned recently. I went to the immigration office as soon as possible and that's what they told me. I was flabbergasted and thought maybe there was some kind of miscommunication.
It was my understanding that I could enter Korea at any time during the 3 yrs between the date of issue and the date of final entry, and that I could stay for 2 yrs before having to get it renewed.
I thought I could re-enter Korea any time before the final date of entry (because I had only used up 20 months of the 24 months I was given) and that I could therefore stay for 4 months after the date of re-entry before having to renew. It was my belief that I could stay 2 years, period, not stay for 2 years every time I happened to re-enter the country. I never read anything saying your F4 visa would automatically renew and be set back to the 2 year staying period every time you entered the country.
On the other hand, they saw all the dates stamped into my passport showing when I had entered, left and re-entered, and my visa sticker with all the dates on that, so I don't see how they could have misunderstood even if I hadn't said a word, whether in English or Korean.

Furthermore, as I was going through all the inspections at Gimhae Airport, one of the workers wrote into my re-entry stamp that I could stay for 2 years. I didn't say anything to her and she didn't say anything to me, but I saw that she noticed my visa on the opposite page of my passport, and it said it allowed a 2 year stay, so I think she just copied that in without really knowing all the rules behind the "2 yrs" and let me through, no problem. I'm not sure she knew what she was doing, but I didn't really feel like straightening things out right then and there. I figured I could get things officially straightened out at the immigration office. But I think maybe the people at immigration just copied the airport worker's "mistake", if that's really what it is. I also know that it's their job to know all the policies concerning visas, but I can't help but worry if maybe they're not so familiar with the laws as they should be.

Does anybody else have any experience with this?
Thanks. I just want to make sure I'm following all the rules; even though Busan Immigration doesn't have any problem with me being here for the next 2 years, I don't want this to end up causing me unknown trouble in the future.
By the way, I'm female, just in case this is necessary info.

[jvalmer]

OMG, it's simple you're visa is valid until the date noted on your ARC. It's not 2 years spent in the country. And F4 visa holders don't need re-entry permits.

[winterfall]

I don't know when you got your F-4. I got mine last year and it has a 2 year sojourn period written on it. And that's the time frame that's listed on my ARC. I heard they recently changed it to 3 years.

Check your ARC for the expiration date & the F-4 note listed in your passport, it should have all the expiration dates. If your passport & ARC don't match, you need to go to immigration

And yes your 2 year limit covers multiple re-entry. It doesn't reset every time you leave and come back.

Being a woman doesn't matter. If you were a man, you'd be constantly afraid of being drafted.