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winnie
Joined: 08 May 2005
Location: the forest
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 Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:38 am Post subject: ARC rule changed? can't stay 10 days after expiry |
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When I first got here the rule was that you could stay here 10 days past your ARC expiry....now apparently(well according to my local office of education and immigration here), you can't stay even one day past, without applying for an extension.
I went to get this extension today, b/c I fly out 2 days after my ARC expires. Waited an hour, got the back of my ARC signed, and a stamp in the passport. Then told her I would be leaving Korea for vacation in the meantime, and she said she had to cancel my extension then, since it would confuse immigration at the airport...I have a re-entry permit till Aug 15th. So she put this stamp in my passport, did my ARC all for nothing....says I have to come back now after my vacation and apply for the 2 day extension again! So mad....grrr.. I said what happens if I don't come back for this extension, she just said she didn't know, maybe I couldn't come back to Korea.
Anyone know anything different? I really don't wanna go back there to get a stamp for 2 days. |
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Richard Krainium
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:11 am Post subject: Re: ARC rule changed? can't stay 10 days after expiry |
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| winnie wrote: |
When I first got here the rule was that you could stay here 10 days past your ARC expiry....now apparently(well according to my local office of education and immigration here), you can't stay even one day past, without applying for an extension.
I went to get this extension today, b/c I fly out 2 days after my ARC expires. Waited an hour, got the back of my ARC signed, and a stamp in the passport. Then told her I would be leaving Korea for vacation in the meantime, and she said she had to cancel my extension then, since it would confuse immigration at the airport...I have a re-entry permit till Aug 15th. So she put this stamp in my passport, did my ARC all for nothing....says I have to come back now after my vacation and apply for the 2 day extension again! So mad....grrr.. I said what happens if I don't come back for this extension, she just said she didn't know, maybe I couldn't come back to Korea.
Anyone know anything different? I really don't wanna go back there to get a stamp for 2 days. |
I believe you're mistaken about any rule changes. You've always had to leave by the expiry date of your ARC. At least since 2001.
It sounds to me like you wasted your time going to immigration. All you needed to do was cancel your E-2 at the airport when you leave Korea on vacation. When you return you would be issued a tourist visa.
If you don't want to go back to your local immigration office, I'd try to sort that out at the airport immigration office. From my experience with airport immigration, they're pretty good at doing what makes sense, believe it or not! |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:18 am Post subject: |
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Winnie,
I am aware of the ten day rule you mentioned in your post. However, I would not be surprised if the rule was changed. Sometimes, it seems to depend on the opinion of the immigration official that helps you.
Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
An official in the International Cooperation Division of Seoul City admitted, "The same complaints regarding visas, transportation, education, and environment are raised every year without being solved, due to the lack of cooperation from government agencies involved and their passive attitudes."
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448
What was that about the "Hub of Asia?" |
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Richard Krainium
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| Real Reality wrote: |
Winnie,
I am aware of the ten day rule you mentioned in your post. |
Where's the link?  |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:32 am Post subject: |
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| Richard Krainium wrote: |
| Real Reality wrote: |
Winnie,
I am aware of the ten day rule you mentioned in your post. |
Where's the link? :roll: |
No problem. Here you are.
http://www.immigrationofficialopiniontoday.go.kr |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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Richard Krainium
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:56 am Post subject: |
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Did you even look at them yourself, RR?
This is what I found:
...If you meet the requirements above, the Immigration officer will check if you have committed Immigration offences and stamp your passport For example, if you have overstayed in korea, you are subject to Immigration punishment, e.g. fine
If you are ,under unavoidable circumstances, unable to leave Korea within the period of stay given, make sure to extend your stay in advance...
i.e., no "10 Day Rule" |
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Edith Metcalfe
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:53 am Post subject: |
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I've overstayed my Visa twice in the last two years, and from what the immigration officials told me at the airport, there's not a '10-day rule' but more of a '10-day understanding'. The way that Mr.Immigration Man explained it to me is that it's not really worth their time to chase down everyone who overstays their visa by a day or two so they give you a grace period of a few days.
They definately don't have to give it to you, and you might want to get the extension just incase Immigration Dude is having a bad day, but for the most part, they probably won't bat an eye... |
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bellum99
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Lies. There is no grace period. I was one day late and was fined. Do not believe this crap...it is clear that there is no grace period. If you catch the wrong guy at the airport (like I did) then there is hell to pay. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| bellum99 wrote: |
| Lies. There is no grace period. I was one day late and was fined. Do not believe this crap...it is clear that there is no grace period. If you catch the wrong guy at the airport (like I did) then there is hell to pay. |
Exactly.
And, if you catch the "right" guy, there is a ten day grace period.
However, it is better safe than sorry. You should be prepared to "catch the wrong guy." So, it may be better to think there is no ten day grace period. |
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canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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Just *do whatever has to be done* to stay on the right side of Korean immigration law. It's just not worth potentially having your file flagged by immigration, the delays at the airport, and the fine. It needs to be taken seriously.
I also think people with flagged files for overstays can get more inquisition crap when they re-enter Korea.
Plenty of posts here from people getting the *beep* from immigration because they were trying to cut corners. |
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