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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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pmccloskey
Joined: 09 Dec 2011
Location: Busan, South Korea
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 Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:07 pm Post subject: E-2 to E-9 visa? |
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I am currently teaching here under an E-2 visa which expires the end of August. I have been working with a friend who has an opportunity where I'd be training back in the corporate environment. It's not foreign language teaching, so E-2 is out. It falls either under non-professional work (not a lawyer/doctor) or as a business partnership.
My head is spinning a bit from this since I don't know where to look for information and options. How would I go about securing an E-9 or the proper visa for this situation? Is it possible to renew my visa for another year now without renewing my school contract, just to buy me some time? It's possible I would start working the new job in mid-July.
I've told my school I'd like to renew, but they understand I may decide to leave before the second year. I have a good relationship with my school, it's just that this new opportunity is much better than anything they could offer.
An F-6 (or is it just an F-2 now?) is actually a possibility at this point. I heard that it can be six months to get one after you have a marriage certificate in hand. If I can get an E-9 now, or something else, that would be ideal to buy me a little more time.
Any options, resources or experiences would be greatly appreciated. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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Korean visas are listed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_Korean_visas.
The Korean Immigration website is here: http://www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html.
A google search for an E9 visa yielded:
http://oneclick.law.go.kr/CSM/OvCnpRetrieveP.laf?csmSeq=501ccfNo=3&cciNo=2&cnpClsNo=1
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Procedure for the initial hiring of foreign workers outside of Korea holding Non-professional Employment (E-9) visas
Registration on the list of foreigners seeking jobs in ROK
- Employers must hire foreign workers who are formally registered on the list of foreign workers seeking jobs that hold a Non-professional Employment (E-9) visa (「Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers」 Article 8.(3)).
- Foreigners intending to be registered on the list of foreign workers must meet the conditions for selection, which includes Korean language proficiency, and work experience, among others (「Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers」 Article 7.(2)).
Request of employer and recommendation by the head of an Employment Support Center
- Foreign workers need the request of an employer and a recommendation letter from the head of an Employment Support Center to be employed in ROK.
- Employers who selected a foreign worker will be issued an employment permit from the head of Employment Support Center. |
Also, here is an interesting article about the "useless" E2 visa requirements (added for fun): http://www.expathell.com/?p=4111. |
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r122925
Joined: 02 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: E-2 to E-9 visa? |
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| pmccloskey wrote: |
I am currently teaching here under an E-2 visa which expires the end of August. I have been working with a friend who has an opportunity where I'd be training back in the corporate environment. It's not foreign language teaching, so E-2 is out. It falls either under non-professional work (not a lawyer/doctor) or as a business partnership.
My head is spinning a bit from this since I don't know where to look for information and options. How would I go about securing an E-9 or the proper visa for this situation? |
You haven't told us any specifics about the job you will be doing, but the E-9 is almost certainly not what you were looking for. The E-9 is issued primarily for manual labor type jobs (factories, construction, farms, etc). Low paying jobs that Westerners typically do not want to do. Last year there were around 240,000 E-9 visa holders in Korea (largest of any visa category). Of those there were zero Americans, zero Brits, zero Canadians, zero Australians, and only two South Africans. There isn't much English information about the application process online, you'll find plenty in Vietnamese or Mongolian though.
The E-7 is typically given for white-collar type work, but whether you qualify or not would depend on many factors. First, the employer must convince immigration that they cannot find a qualified Korean to do the job. Second, you must convince immigration that you are qualified (usually relevant master's degree or work experience in a related field)
| pmccloskey wrote: |
| Is it possible to renew my visa for another year now without renewing my school contract, just to buy me some time? It's possible I would start working the new job in mid-July. |
Not possible, at least not legally, without renewing the contract. Immigration will ask for a copy when you renew. You would also be required to inform immigration of any changes to your employment status within 14 days.
| pmccloskey wrote: |
| An F-6 (or is it just an F-2 now?) is actually a possibility at this point. I heard that it can be six months to get one after you have a marriage certificate in hand. If I can get an E-9 now, or something else, that would be ideal to buy me a little more time. |
So I assume this means you are married to a Korean or will be marrying soon? If so, the F-6 is your best option. Once you've got that you can work anywhere you choose. I can't comment on how long it currently takes, six months certainly seems long though. |
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pmccloskey
Joined: 09 Dec 2011
Location: Busan, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:46 am Post subject: Re: E-2 to E-9 visa? |
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| r122925 wrote: |
| You haven't told us any specifics about the job you will be doing, but the E-9 is almost certainly not what you were looking for... |
That clears things up quite a bit. This is a relatively high-paying position for which I'm definitely qualified (teaching experience, 5+ years working at Samsung in the US, 12+ years professional experience, etc..... I know I'm overqualified for TEFL, but figured it'd be a good break after burning out from the corporate world state-side with the job-market at the time).
Not married or marrying soon... however, I may be proposing to my GF sooner than anticipated. I'd kind of prefer to secure this job first, especially considering we live in Busan and I'd have to move to Seoul for this job..... yeesh. probably won't be getting much sleep the next month or two.  |
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