Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CaliUSA]

Hello all,

I will need to change my E2 visa to an E1 in the near future. I�m pretty clear about the paperwork involved, but not so clear about the �visa run.� My understanding is that I need to leave Korea for Osaka or another city with a Korean Consulate: I will submit the documents at the Consulate, and then the waiting begins.

Is this model of the "visa run" basically correct? How long does the wait in Japan last, with the new regulations that South Korea has introduced? How do I handle the round-trip ticket from Incheon to Japan, if I don't actually know when I'll be coming back?

In fact, since the visa run is potentially lengthier than it used to be, and since I�m probably going to pay for this out of my own pocket, it�s occurred to me that I might �kill two birds with one stone� and take a much-needed vacation to, say, Taiwan or Thailand, and apply for the E1 at the Korean Consulate in Taipei or Bangkok. It seems like these places would work just as well.

So far my searches on Google and Dave�s have been unsuccessful�there�s a load of information on E2�s but not much on the E1. Any info, or link to a relevant thread, would be highly appreciated. Thank you!