Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dharma bum]

I'm thinking of taking the ferry to Fukuoka to cancel my visa and then coming back in on a tourist visa, but I have a few questions about how this would work. First, would it be theoretically possible to take the morning ferry to Fukuoka (turning in my ARC and telling the immigration agent that I want to cancel my visa), pass through Japanese immigration, wait in the ferry terminal, and head back to Korea that afternoon on a tourist visa? Second, how likely is it that I will be able to get a new visa with a new company after doing this? After coming back, I believe I can get a LOR if necessary, but the time limit for leaving the country after resigning from my job isn't helping me out in terms of doing a proper job search, which is why I'm thinking of cancelling my visa in this way. I'd really appreciate any help that people could give.

[polonius]

Give your boss 30 days notice. Then look for work during that time. You will have 44 days to find new work, and a better chance of getting the LOR. Don't make him angry by pulling a runner, as he can make it difficult for you to get another E2 visa, if you angered him enough.

[dharma bum]

[polonius]

Then, if you are not worried about getting your LOR, and have a clear path with your boss or ex-boss, yes, you can simply board a boat to Fukuoka, get your passport stamped, and come back into the country on a visitors visa. However, sometimes it has proven difficult for some to enter to Korea on a visitors visa without an exit ticket. I don't know how things are down in Fukuoka, but in Canada, you can't get on a plane without an exit ticket if you are entering on a visitors visa.

[Jack_Sarang]

The exit/return ticket thing is an airline issue not a Korean immigration issue.

I've flown into Korea on a one-way ticket or without an exit ticket over 6 times now from destinations within Asia. I've never been bothered by immigration once. They never even ask any questions. They just look over your passport and entrance card then stamp you through.

Its the idiotic airlines that won't let you board their planes with a one-way ticket or without a residency/work visa.

[dharma bum]

I'm hoping the one-way ticket thing won't be a problem. Does anyone foresee any issues arising with me cancelling my visa and reentering on the same day?

[twg]

At my job previous to this, they were on the verge of going under. Since they needed to save some cash, they asked me if I would be willing to end my contract two months early.

When we went down to Daejeon to cancel my E2, they told me I needed a ticket to show I was leaving Korea. They didn't care to where or if it was one way or return, they just wanted me to leave and come back on a tourist before starting a new job.

My boss was like, "The hell?"

Previous years, I've had the luck of Jack_Sarang and have rushed through Korean immigration on a one way ticket. Other times I got the ninth degree from them. Japanese immigration seems a bit more serious.

So, here's the truth: It depends upon the immigration officer.

But~ wearing a suit, smiling, and being polite-yet-clueless will help

Telling them, "I'm gonna bum around until I land in a hagwon somewhere" wont.