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Permalink Reply by Erik Cornelius on October 11, 2012 at 1:16pm

If you aren't ethnically Korean (or married to an ethnic Korean) and don't meet the qualifications for an investment visa, your options are limited. I've heard that some schools will provide a visa for minimal working hours, but it would still mean another job for you. You're probably stuck doing visa runs.

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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on October 11, 2012 at 8:55pm

James - Yes, if you're not working or studying or have capital for your own business, then the visa runs are your answer unfortunately. It's possible, though unlikely, you could get a Korean company to sponsor you. But if you're not actually working for them full time, sponsorship comes with all kinds of added legal and tax obligations and risks for them.

I'd be interested to hear what you learn at the Seoul Global Business Center too.

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by James Duffy on October 17, 2012 at 6:44am

Thanks for the feedback. The Global Business Center confirmed what I already knew -- outside of meeting the investment visa capital requirement, getting married, or trying to qualify for the points system, doing visa runs is my only option. I've already looked into the points system and it doesn't help me, because based on feedback from others it would probably take me a year to a year and a half to finish the culture course.

What I think I'm going to do is switch to a D10 "looking for work" visa at the end of my contract, which will at least give me six more months before I have to do my first visa run. It's not ideal, but it seems like my best option, unless I can find someone willing to sponsor an E7 for part-time web / online marketing consulting.

On a side note, I just read an interesting article in the Economist about the Chilean government offering a year's visa and $40,000 funding to attract foreign entrepreneurs: The Lure of Chilecon Valley. Now if only Korea had that mindset ;)

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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on October 17, 2012 at 2:06pm

Thanks for getting back to us with an update on your results at the GBC. 

I had understood that a D10 visa is only available for people currently on a student visa. Am I wrong about that? 

Yes, I saw that article in the Economist too... A pretty cool idea... 

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Permalink Reply by James Duffy on October 17, 2012 at 2:33pm

From what I understand, it's also possible to get a D10 visa if you're between jobs (for instance, one contract is ending and you don't have another job lined up yet). You just need to be able to prove that you have enough money to live for six months without employment, and show them a plan for finding employment. (I'm not sure there's an official document for that, or if it's just a typed letter.)

Of course, as with everything else visa related in Korea, there doesn't seem to be a clear answer -- most of my information comes from reading about other people's experience on online message boards.

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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on October 17, 2012 at 2:37pm

That's really interesting, James; I didn't know that. I would love to hear the results of your efforts to get the D10. Could you post an update later? (Good luck, too!)

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Permalink Reply by James Duffy on October 17, 2012 at 2:49pm

Sure, but my contract doesn't end until March. I'll post an update then with my experiences.

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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on October 17, 2012 at 3:07pm

Oh! You're planning ahead.... Sure, I look forward to hearing from you on your progress...

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