Korean Job Discussion Forums

Destroyer · Joined: 11 Dec 2005

Through an oversight by my employer at the beginning of my contract period my E-2 VISA ends MAY 7 and my CONTRACT ends MAY 8. I have been told that I have 7 days to leave the country (or make other plans with immigration) but no one can give me a REAL answer on whether it is OK for me to work this one extra day. I think it is not.

An E-2 Work VISA extension costs 30,000 at the immigration office, but I am being told I don��t have to pay anything, just show up with a ticket out of the country and reschedule my departure date. They are telling me that this is a VISA extension, when I understand it to be time outside of the Work VISA, just a kind o f Tourist VISA��

Does anyone know anything that can help me in this matter?

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

It is indeed illegal. You will have to get an extension to your visa. I forget what it cost, maybe 50,000 won or something, but you have to go down to immigration and get it done before your visa expires or you will be in deep do do. Shocked

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

YOU HAVE NO TIME AFTER THE CONTRACT IS OVER. People who say this are very wrong. I personally was told this and fined after my first year. Do not believe the lies. Get the extension.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

I am in the same situation as you. Just go to immigration and get the extension.

Ilovebdt

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

I had the worst experience with an immigration guy in Inchon many years ago. I was over by a week and they were angry. They had like a million Chinese in the same place as me. Trust me..don't tempt the fates. The fine was like nothing..I think I bought them dinner (80,000 won). Anyway it also showed up when I was trying to get my F5..it was in my record and anytime you have an immigration violation they deduct that year from your total years in Korea (seriously). I have been here a long time so it didn't matter, but they were serious.

Destroyer · Joined: 11 Dec 2005

great replies. Problem solved.

Thank you all for responding so promptly!!

TOGirl · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Just to add a comment on this.

I was over by 5 days on my first year and they didn't fine me but when I went to get my Visa at home for the second year they gave me a harsh warning and said if I did it again this year it could be a problem if I wanted to go back again.

Guess I won't be doing it again this year....the Immigration Ajjuma was mean.

BigBuds · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Location: Changwon

This is from the immigration website:

You can apply for a permission to extend your stay in advance, if you are either of the following ;
A registered foreigner who wants to stay more for tourism, etc, after your visa status expires
A foreigner who is likely to be unable to leave Korea since there are no departing flights, etc

�� If your case is not covered by the above, refer to here (This was a link that doesn't seem to work on dave's).

To get the permission, you should make an application to a local or district Immigration office, or an Immigration office at ports of departure with the following documents ;
A valid travel document (Passport)
A confirmed flight ticket
Application forms
Fees (exempt)

If you meet the requirements above, the Immigration officer will check if you have committed Immigration offences and stamp your passport

Hope it helps.