Korean Job Discussion Forums

[maxwellcooper]

Hello,

Very sorry in advance if this question has been asked before in the long and storied annals of this forum. I was certain that it had, and searched exhaustively, but somehow could not find the precise question (simple and common as it sounds). So please excuse me if it might be repetitive.


My question is basically this:

I have been in Korea for nearly 2 years now on my E2 Visa (or pair of visas, if that is how one describes it).

Basically I have worked at the same school for 2 years. Have signed 2 contracts. Will have been here 24 months when my E2 visa expires this March. Have followed the rules as they are set out.


Now I am applying for new jobs (changing schools).

I have not left Korea, or done anything outside of my current job. And do not intend to leave Korea before starting my new job in March.


My question is: Is it necessary for me to get all those documents (Criminal Record Check, Sealed Transcripts, etc., etc., etc.), again for my new school/job?


Again, since I have not left Korea, the notion that I would for some reason need a "new" RCMP Criminal check (I am from Canada, if that helps), seems rather ludicrous. As it seems it would be hard for me to commit a crime in Canada while living in Korea (though I suppose theoretically an indictment could have been made during those 2 years...?). (I can assure you though that my criminal record remains clean and I have not been engaged in any remote criminal acts in Canada while living in Korea for 2 years.)


Since it is a huge bother and a couple-months process usually to get the RCMP check, not to mention the bother of procuring all the other little documents, I am extremely hopeful that having been in the country for these 2 years and still being on my valid E2 visas will mean I can get another one, and immigration can just "refer to" the documents I turned in 2 years ago.


As I typed this, it occurred to me to be a little optimistic seeing as I did
not have to bring in new documents when I signed my 2nd contract with my same school here, one year ago.



In any case, sorry this post is long, but I am just very eager to be assured: Do I need to go and get a whole bunch of new documents, or can Immigration refer to the same documents I went to the trouble of getting 2 years ago, since I have not left Korea or changed my Visa status at all during this time?



Thank you very much in advance for any reply or feedback at all. Really appreciate it. [/b]

[maxwellcooper]

Tl;dr version:


I have not left Korea since getting my first E2 visa 2 years ago. I have worked at the same school for 2 years, on 2 contracts, with valid E2 visas the whole time.


I am planning on staying in Korea but am applying for new jobs to begin in March. (my contract with my school ends at the end of this February).


Will immigration require me to get all those documents (Criminal background check, transcripts, blah blah), for me to be able to get my new E2 visa this March? Or can they simply "refer" to the documents I sent in to get my current visas, 2 years ago?

(again, I have not left Korea during these 2 years, and do not plan to leave now).


Thanks a lot in advance, - M

[Aine1979]

You will just need to get stamped copies of your original documents from immigration, it's relatively inexpensive, like 1000￦ per document or something like that.

You only need to get new documents if you've been out of the country for more than 90 days.

[maxwellcooper]

Thanks very much for that reply, it helps a lot. Very relieved, what a sensible policy. Cheers, thanks.

[maxwellcooper]

Hi, just a quick follow-up to this:

I am planning to go tomorrow to the immigration office.


Is there some Korean word or phrase (or English word or phrase) I should use to inform them what I want?


Can I just show them my ARC card/Passport, and ask them for the stamped documents?


...Now that I am writing this it occurs to me that someone might actually speak and understand English there (imagine!)


So I assume I can just ask them in English for my relevant E2 documents...?

Thanks