Korean Job Discussion Forums

[deniserita]

I came over on as a tourist and am staying as a teacher....so I went with an employee at my school to get my work Visa. I didn't get the stamp in my passport that shows I am now working here. So in my passport it says that I am leaving in November. I do have my ARC card and was told that was more important, but the other teachers all have the visa in their passport....just wondering if anyone else doesn't have the stamp??

Thanks
Denise

[ttompatz]

The ONLY thing that matters is a valid ARC (permission to stay in the country).

The visa or change of status is only good for the 1st entry or determination of status prior to getting your ARC (although I am surprised that they didn't put a change of status into your passport it really isn't required).

.

[deniserita]

Great Thanks!

[Ksamsoon]

Deniserita - I'm in the interviewing process with a company. They were originally looking for someone who is already in Korea, but asked me if I was willing to come by the end of the month on a tourist visa.

It makes me a little nervous to do this (is it legal?) and I was hoping you could tell me about the process. What did you have to do, how hard/difficult was it to switch from tourist to E-7 visa? Did you have to leave the country?

Thanks!

[deniserita]

Hi There!
Yes it is illegal. My school actually bought me a pretend return ticket just in case they asked me and I had to prove that I was leaving. And you aren't suppose to work on tourist visa. BUT it seems like a lot of people do this. There were a handful of us that did this at my school. We did not have to do a Japan run, which I've heard of people doing and actually know someone who had to do this. He wasn't a teacher though.
I am not really sure what the steps were to get my visa changed over because my school handled it all for me. I work at an International school so I felt ok with depending on them. It didn't seem that hard to do though.

I would just make sure your school will handle changing the visa over for you and you will be fine.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help..maybe some one else knows more about this.

Denise