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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on February 25, 2010 at 9:14am

Regarding #1 and #2, I’m not sure exactly anymore since it’s been a long time since I got one. I think it generally takes about a month and you have to be outside the country during the process but my information could be old.

On #3, I'm quite sure the paperwork simply can't be processed inside the country so the reality is that you'll have to leave for a month.

#4: Based on my experience, the standard work visa is one year and it can be renewed annual in-country.

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Permalink Reply by Navid Firouz on February 25, 2010 at 12:02pm

As far as I remember you have to apply and "start" the process while you're outside Korea.
If your application is ok with all supporting documents (e.g. company invitation) then you'll get a temporary sticker in your passport (usually within a week) which lasts for three months only, it enables you to come to Korea and start working and remain in the country until your visa is finalised with your visit in the local immigration office. In Korea it takes around one week to complete as well.
It then normally lasts for one year, and if the company extends it for you then you can remain in the country as the company usually takes care of things.

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Permalink Reply by Dom LaVigne on February 25, 2010 at 12:04pm

That's cool -- very progressive (with the sticker) compared to what I've seen in most other Asian markets, where you are really unofficial until you get the proper stamp in your passport and corresponding IC (identity card).

Navid/Steven - thank you both for you feedback and insights on this. If anyone else has additional comments, I'd welcome the feedback as appropriate.

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Permalink Reply by Navid Firouz on February 25, 2010 at 12:06pm

My pleasure, let us know when you found something suitable and moved here. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Dom LaVigne on February 25, 2010 at 12:14pm

As soon as I get my first paycheck, we'll have to do a big KBC dinner (but pls don't wait for me to get there if group members would like to connect separately, which I think would be fantastic for ppl to meet up face-to-face for a nice evening out.)

I am really so excited about having the opp to meet everyone in person, and to interacting on a more regular basis (i.e., not just from the Midnight corner of my computer in the States).

Will caveat that with saying I likely won't be able to pick up the check for 220+ pax! :-)

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Permalink Reply by Marissa Bonnici on February 25, 2010 at 1:38pm

Yes, KBC dinner sounds like an awesome idea! Hope to be there when I return to Korea too!

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Permalink Reply by Steffen Nissen on February 25, 2010 at 3:54pm

I agree, good idea.

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Permalink Reply by Karim on March 6, 2010 at 5:21pm

Hi,

I just applied for a visa for one of my employee, so I can give you very accurate and up to date information !
The visa is E7.

It tooks us about 4 weeks to get the visa issuance number. Now he has got 2 month to go to a korean embassy abroad to get the visa issued.
The person was in korea during the process. With a H1 (working holiday visa), but I guess it's not a problem to be here with with a tourist visa as well. Since he had a H1, he was working for us, but with a tourist visa, I don't think he could have been working for us.

We applied for a 2 years visa and got 1 year, I think the immigration usually gives a 1 year visa.
For the renewal, I am not 100% sure but several friends renewed their visa just by going to immigration, without going out of the county.

I think we have been lucky, because we got the visa very easily, but I have several friend who never got it for some of their employees, or it took 3 month or more...

I believe that the most important is to explain very well to the immigration why you need to hire this foreign guy and not a korean.

Cheers

Karim

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Permalink Reply by Dom LaVigne on March 7, 2010 at 1:40am

Hi Karim,

Thank you for this; extremely helpful.

---Dom

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Permalink Reply by Karim on March 7, 2010 at 3:21pm

Your welcome !

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Permalink Reply by Oliver Rosee on March 8, 2010 at 3:21pm

Just adding my own experience. In my case this worked twice with a German-owned and a Korean company. This will not be the case for all nationalities or visa types (I am on an E-7).

In each case I entered Korea on a regular entry stamp (no visa) for 90 days. There was only minimal paperwork involved (copies and originals of passport, diploma, some photos and application forms) and the entire process took about 2-3 weeks each time. Both companies had never done this before so I guess an experienced HR department could shave off a day or two and keep it under 2 weeks.

No need to leave and re-enter the country. I got a one-year visa/work permit in the first case and 6 months in the second (since the contract ran only for a half year); the extension to another 6 months took under a week.

It may help if the initial entry form that you hand over to immigration has "business" ticked as purpose of visit rather than "tourism" or any alternative.

A friend of mine in similar circumstances had to fight a while with the bureaucrats because they insisted on him leaving Korea and apply for the visa from outside. He managed to convince them eventually that this was not necessary in his case (as in mine) and things proceeded more or less smoothly from there. Which means that your results or effort spent may vary depending on the office where you file your application (knowledge, experience and willingness to work seem to vary from official to official).

Compared to Thailand it felt like no effort at all.

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Permalink Reply by Dom LaVigne on March 8, 2010 at 4:39pm

Oliver,

Thank you for this - it was very helpful.

---Dom

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