Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thomas pars]

I would like to return to Korea before my new job starts. I want
to travel around and visit friends. My question is: Would a school
issue a visa a month or two before the job actually starts?

I guess I could come on a tourist visa and a one way ticket...sounds
really dicey. (Would buy the round trip but man is it expensive)

Basically I am looking for a way to travel/backpack around Korea
before my actual job starts.

Too much to ask for?

[litebear]

You could buy a one ticket US-Korea and a return ticket on the ferry from Busan-Japan. Enter from the US as a tourist, bum around for a month, hit japan for a few days then re-enter on your visa. Not 100% sure, mind you.

[Hotpants]

So you've already secured a new job? Assuming your employer is so well organized and gets all your paperwork done in advance (a rareity!), you could get the E2 visa up to 3 months in advance (since you have a 3 month entry period from the date of E2 issue) and enter Korea.

The only things I think you would have to consider: It might leave you and your employer an awkward gap on your visa vs. contract expiry at the end. Your employer might not be happy about this. You'd also have to apply for the ARC within 30 days of your arrival, which means you would have to show the school business licence and contract to immi. I'm not sure how immi would respond to the fact that someone might not be commencing work for potentially another couple of months - although as the E2 has been issued, I can't see how they could revoke it.

You'd be safe to come over for a few weeks before your job actually starts. But whether your employer would agree to this is another matter.