Korean Job Discussion Forums

[seoulhiker]

Hello,

Here's my situation:

I worked for the same Korean company for nearly five years yet have never done a visa run because I had always arranged the paperwork in advance. I have been gone for six months, but will return to work for the same company in about a week, and will enter on a tourist visa, probably this next Monday. The company will process my papers soon, and I should be able to do a visa run within a week, and thus be nice and legal before I resume work.

My questions are:

1- Will I encounter any difficulties entering on a tourist visa? My passport contains my previous documentation.

2- If it turns out that I need to work for one week on a tourist visa, is this a minor issue or not? I remember several years ago this was the norm, but how are things currently?

Thanks in Advance.

[J.B. Clamence]

1 - There shouldn't be a problem.

2 - In all probability, you won't get caught, but if by chance you do, then yes, it will be a big deal. Why take the risk? Just wait until after your visa run. Relax for a week. Meet up with old friends.

[polonius]

Obviously the safer bet is NOT to work on a tourist visa. Immigration could randomly show up in a neighbourhood and do spot checks, or a competing hagwon could tell them that there are some illegal workers at the school (even if there aren't, hagwon owners play just as dirty amongst themselves as they do with their teachers)

So to answer
#1 You will have no difficulties at immigration if you state that you are visiting, or looking for work. (But then you should technically have a return ticket out of Korea)

#2 Don't really know if it is the norm or not. But from my experience, I know more people who come over with E2 visas, then those that don't.

You could get deported, you could be fined, both, or none. It's hard to say, because you never know which immigration officer you are going to get, and who is greasing his palms.