Korean Job Discussion Forums

[safeblad]

Is it possible to enter Korea about a week before you commence employment?

How long do you have?

I am and will continue to be a public school employee if that makes any difference.

[kat2]

Do you already have your E2 in your passport (or will you when you enter Korea)? If so, yes of course you can enter Korea on your E2 a few days before you start working. If you want to leave and come back during the validity period of your visa, then you need to obtain a multiple entry permit at immigration (look at you visa, if there's an M you already ahev a mulientry visa. If there's an S, you've got to get the multi entry permit)

If you dont' haev your E2, then you will enter on a tourist waiver stamp (just show your passport to the guy at the immi desk in Korae like usual). Then you will have to go on a visa run to visit a korean consulate outside of korea to get you E2

[safeblad]

a few days? is that really all they give you?

when i did epik orientation, i arrived 2 weeks before the contract actually started. Aug 21st for orientation. The contract started on Sept 1st

just a thought

[kprrok]

you can enter as soon as you have your VISA. The guys at the airport don't care when your contract starts.

The only thing you have to watch is that towards the end of your contract, your ARC will expire before the contract finishes because you arrived a few days or weeks early. You'll have to extend your ARC to match the end of your contract. You can do that during the last 2 months of your VISA.

KPRROK

[kat2]

Yeah, you can enter as far ahead as you want, as long as your visa is in your passport. doesn't matter. Sorry to confuse you. But keep an eye on that ARC. The fines get really steep if you let that expire.