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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 9:48 am Post subject: Activist doctor has to make a visa run |
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Should there be another option? Should there be a long term visa without necessarily being employed by a Korean? What does he have to do marry a Korean or donate money (about US$500,000)?
Activist doctor has to make a visa run
A German medical doctor who has been a vocal activist for North Koreans' human rights has been ordered to leave the country by the end of May because he has been here longer than the 90 days allowed for German citizens without visas.
A Justice Ministry official said Dr. Norbert Vollertsen's 90-day limit expired April 14. Extensions can be given if the applicant is ill or needs to stay for business reasons, but ministry spokesman Han Myong-kwan said Dr. Vollertson did not meet the criteria. "He had already overstayed his limit," Mr. Han said. "Unless he was seriously ill or had his entire family here, he wouldn't have received the extension."
An Immigration Bureau official confirmed that the doctor will be able to stay for another 90 days upon his return. Douglas Shin, Dr. Vollertsen's personal aide, said he will fly to Japan and return to Korea immediately.
A former aid worker in North Korea, Dr. Vollertsen was deported from the North in December 2000 for his criticism of the regime. Since then, he has been a highly visible activist in the South for the cause of North Korean refugees, and has often criticized Seoul's policies toward the North. This is the first time he has overstayed his 90-day limit.
An Immigration Bureau official said there were no political motives behind the decision to expel the doctor. "We asked him to leave the country only because he stayed longer than 90 days," the official said. "We didn't bring any political issues to this."
by Yoo Jee-ho and Moon Byung-joo, JoongAng Daily (May 26, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200505/25/200505252258235839900090409041.html |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Activist doctor has to make a visa run |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
An Immigration Bureau official said there were no political motives behind the decision to expel the doctor. "We asked him to leave the country only because he stayed longer than 90 days," the official said. "We didn't bring any political issues to this."
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Yeah, right. Asking him to leave may not have been politically motivated, but the decision to uphold the request definetly is. This guy should be given honorary citizenship instead of being treated like a common tourist. |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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What does he have to do marry a Korean or donate money (about US$500,000)?
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What's this 50,000 USD donation?
How does that work? |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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why should this guy be given special treatment in the visa stakes?
The 90 day rule holds for all people on the same visa as him, the only difference as far as I can see is that he's been granted an extension. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Swiss James wrote: |
why should this guy be given special treatment in the visa stakes?
The 90 day rule holds for all people on the same visa as him, the only difference as far as I can see is that he's been granted an extension. |
Well, you're missing the point. Considering the importance of his work, he should be given a residency visa. It's sad that the Korean government considers him as a common tourist despite his work helping North Koreans escape to South Korea. |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:20 am Post subject: |
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| Hollywoodaction wrote: |
| Swiss James wrote: |
why should this guy be given special treatment in the visa stakes?
The 90 day rule holds for all people on the same visa as him, the only difference as far as I can see is that he's been granted an extension. |
Well, you're missing the point. Considering the importance of his work, he should be given a residency visa. It's sad that the Korean government considers him as a common tourist despite his work helping North Koreans escape to South Korea. |
what work? I thought he was "a highly visible activist in the South for the cause of North Korean refugees"?
Can I get an extension to my visa if I write a few letters to the Herald about animal cruelty do you think? Or get a petition going on the rights of battered women?
Which activity should give me a longer extension?
Some Doctor has to take a one day trip to Japan? I don't see the big deal- in fact if he was granted the extension, I think there'd be fair grounds to criticise the double standards of immigration. |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:46 am Post subject: |
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Well said SJ.
And there is the option of obtaining a multi-entry business visit visa which permits stays of up to 180 days and is valid for up to 10 years. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 1:50 am Post subject: |
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| Wangja wrote: |
| Quote: |
What does he have to do marry a Korean or donate money (about US$500,000)?
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What's this 50,000 USD donation?
How does that work? |
South Korea's Justice Ministry announced on March 16, 2003, that it is planning to ease the eligibility requirements for foreigners applying for permanent residency or citizenship in Korea. Previously, only foreigners who have invested over $500,000 and lived in Korea for eight years would be eligible for permanent residency status.
The new rules would allow foreigners who work for foreign companies investing over $500,000 to be eligible for permanent residency status as long as they have lived in Korea for eight years. Foreigners, who themselves have directly invest over $500,000 in Korea, would be eligible for citizenship after residing in Korea for eight years. Other foreigners would be eligible for permanent residency if they have resided in South Korea for twelve years. An official from the Ministry of Justice commented, "We are planning to draw up the measures within the first half of this year, after consulting corporate investor bodies."
Pacific Bridge, Inc. - Asian HR Newsletter
Volume 3, Number 5 (June 2, 2003)
http://www.pacificbridge.com/newsletter/html/newsletter_v3n5.htm |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 2:44 am Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
| Wangja wrote: |
| Quote: |
What does he have to do marry a Korean or donate money (about US$500,000)?
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What's this 50,000 USD donation?
How does that work? |
South Korea's Justice Ministry announced on March 16, 2003, that it is planning to ease the eligibility requirements for foreigners applying for permanent residency or citizenship in Korea. Previously, only foreigners who have invested over $500,000 and lived in Korea for eight years would be eligible for permanent residency status.
The new rules would allow foreigners who work for foreign companies investing over $500,000 to be eligible for permanent residency status as long as they have lived in Korea for eight years. Foreigners, who themselves have directly invest over $500,000 in Korea, would be eligible for citizenship after residing in Korea for eight years. Other foreigners would be eligible for permanent residency if they have resided in South Korea for twelve years. An official from the Ministry of Justice commented, "We are planning to draw up the measures within the first half of this year, after consulting corporate investor bodies."
Pacific Bridge, Inc. - Asian HR Newsletter
Volume 3, Number 5 (June 2, 2003)
http://www.pacificbridge.com/newsletter/html/newsletter_v3n5.htm |
I misread the 500,000 as 50,000 USD, but the principle is the same.
This is an investment in a business under your control.
It is not a donation. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 3:40 am Post subject: |
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| Wangja wrote: |
I misread the 500,000 as 50,000 USD, but the principle is the same. This is an investment in a business under your control.
It is not a donation. |
Yes, the principle is the same.
Foreigners can easily invest $500,000 and eight years in Korea. All those members of this board that have $500,000 to invest and have lived in Korea eight years, please post "I qualify." |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 4:01 am Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
| Wangja wrote: |
I misread the 500,000 as 50,000 USD, but the principle is the same. This is an investment in a business under your control.
It is not a donation. |
Yes, the principle is the same.
Foreigners can easily invest $500,000 and eight years in Korea. All those members of this board that have $500,000 to invest and have lived in Korea eight years, please post "I qualify." |
I know several who qualify, but that is not the issue.
This fellow overstayed. No extension.
Would USA give him permanent residency? I think not, and there is no reason why Korea should. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| Should there be another option? Should there be a long term visa without necessarily being employed by a Korean? |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 4:05 am Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
| Should there be another option? Should there be a long term visa without necessarily being employed by a Korean? |
Why?
And there is: and it only demands 50,000 USD investment to get a D8. |
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Cedar
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: In front of my computer, again.
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 6:05 am Post subject: |
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| I saw this guy at a rally about a month ago... he's way way extreme. |
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