Expatriate Forums in South Korea

South Korea immigration · Guest Home Country: countryx

VISA TO SOUTH KOREA / SOUTH KOREA IMMIGRATION

Any foreign visitors wishing to enter the Republic of Korea must have a valid passport and obtain a Korean visa before coming. But people of 99 countries who want to visit Korea temporarily are permitted to enter without a visa according to visa-exemption agreements(Table 1), or in accordance with principles reciprocity or national interest(Table 2).

Countries under Visa Exemption Agreements

Country/Period(days)

Europe

Austria / 90
Belgium / 90
Bulgaria / 90
Czech Republic / 90
Denmark / 90
Estonia / 90
Finland / 90
France / 90
Greece / 90
Germany / 90
Hungary / 90
Iceland / 90
Ireland / 90
Italy / 60
Liechtenstein / 90
Luxembourg / 90
Malta / 90
Netherlands / 90
Norway / 90
Portugal / 60
Poland / 90
Romania / 90
Spain / 90
Slovak Republic / 90
Sweden / 90
Switzerland / 90
United Kingdom / 90

Asia and Oceania

Bangladesh / 90
Israel / 90
Malaysia / 90
New Zealand / 90
Pakistan / 90
Singapore / 90
Thailand / 90
Turkey / 90

Americas

Antigua and Barbuda / 90
Bahamas / 90
Barbados / 90
Brazil / 90
Colombia / 90
Costa Rica / 90
Common wealth of Dominica / 90
Dominican Republic / 90
El Salvador / 90
Grenada / 90
Haiti / 90
Jamaica / 90
Mexico / 90
Nicaragua / 90
Panama / 90
Peru / 90
St. Lucia / 90
St. Kitts and Nevis / 90
St. Vincent & the Grenadines / 90
Surinam / 90
Trinidad and Tobago / 90

Africa

Lesotho / 60
Liberia / 90
Morocco / 90
Tunisia / 30

Countries or Regions under principles of reciprocity and national interest

Country/Period(days)

Asia

Brunei / 30
Hong Kong / 90
Japan / 30
Kuwait / 30
Macao / 30
Oman / 30
Qatar / 30
Saudi Arabia / 30
Taiwan / 30
United Arab emirates / 30
Yemen / 30

North America

Canada / 180
United States / 30

South America

Argentina / 30
Chile / 30
Guatemala / 30
Honduras / 30
Paraguay / 30
Uruguay / 30
Venezuela / 30

Europe

Albania / 30
Croatia / 30
Cyprus / 30
Latvia / 30
Lithuania / 30
Monaco / 30
Slovenia / 90
Vatican / 30

Oceania

Australia / 90
Fiji / 30
Guam / 30
Kiribati / 30
Marshall Islands/ 30
Palau / 30
Naura / 90
New Caledonia / 30

Africa

Republic of South Africa / 30
Swaziland / 30

Visa Type

Tourist & Business Visas

Visitors from countries not under Visa Exemption Agreements must apply for a visa extension if planning to stay for more than 30 days. Depending on the situation of the consulate, the visa extension will be issued 1 to 3 days from the day of application. Applicants require a completed application form, a recent passport-size colour photo and application fee. Visitors do not require the outbound flight ticket. Visa extensions are usually for 90 days.

All visas including long-term visas are for a single visit. Therefore anyone who wishes to leave the country and re-enter later on during the allowed period of stay should obtain the Re-entry Permit from the Ministry of Justice prior to departure. For business visas, the intention of activities must be clearly stated on the visa application form.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Homepage: http://www.mofat.go.kr/mission/missions_map_en.mof

Work Visas

Visitors may obtain work visas in their home country with the endorsement of the employer in Korea. If the visitor is already in Korea, he/she must obtain the work visa from an embassy or consulate in a country outside Korea. Work visas are usually valid for 1 year from the date of issue and take about 2-4 weeks to process. Work visa extensions are possible if visitor remains with the same employer. Visitors with work visas must obtain a residence permit from the Immigration Office. Visitors engaging in remunerative activities without a work visa can be subject to fines and deportation.

Application for Visas

- Visa application should be made at Korean Embassies or consulates abroad.
- It is required for the visa applicants to submit passport, application forms, a recent
passport-style color photograph, and such other documents as determined by the
status of stay.
- Visa fees are as follows:
a. Single entry visa for a stay of no more than 90 days : USD30
b. Single entry visa for a stay of more than 90 days : USD50
c. Multiple entry visa : USD80
d. Prolongation of Re-entry Permit : USD20

*For Citizens of United States of America, multiple entry visa fee is USD45 on the basis of
reciprocity since the mutual agreement in 1994.

Visa Extension

Extensions for tourist visas are possible in special cases such as accidents, health problems, flight cancellation, etc. Applications for visa extensions can be made at a local immigration office at least one day before the day of expiration.

kossi odro odzeyi · Guest Home Country: countryx

Poor Man · Guest Home Country: countryx

I was an English Teacher in South Korea. I still live here and Immigration will not allow me a Teaching Visa because I have filed a counter-lawsuit against my past Hagwon Director(owners) who fired me illegally, assaulted me, kicked me out of my house before they paid me my last salary money for hours worked and according to the contract, drove away from my house possibally illegally since he was arrested for drunk driving 5 months prior(depending on if and how long he lost his driving privaleges, stole my picket/demonstration sign during their assault, lied to Immigration placing me on a "blacklist," and caught on camcorder was them spitting/spatting on me etc...Immigration tried to negotiate on behalf of my former employer(Hagwon), telling me that if I cancel or drop my counter-lawsuit against my past employer they would allow me an E-2 Visa. I asked them to put that "deal" in writting and they wouldn't. I told Immigration I tried to negotiate with my past employer but they renigged. I do not trust any Korean including Immigration or any other Korean "Official."

I do not have an attorney! I do not have much money and I was fired illegally on 08/26/2004. I tried to find a new job but Immigration denied my E-2 Visa. They told my hopeful new employer that I am on the "blacklist" because my past employer called them on 08/31/2004 and told them that I "ran away or quit my job." This is a total fabrication of the truth because I have evidence from the Bangi-dong Labor Ministry that I was "fired illegally." My past employer illegally broke my contract after I worked for them 11 months. I think the reason I was fired illegally is because I was suppose to receive a bonus and airplane ticket home at the end of my 1 year contract. My past employer didn't want to pay, so they illegally broke my contract when they fired me illegally. According to me and the Bangi-dong Labor Ministry they even still owe me salary money for hours that I worked. They tried to tell the Bangi-dong Labor Ministry that they fired me legally and 3 weeks before that they told Immigration I "ran away or quit my job."

I picketed/demonstrated and then my past employer filed a lawsuit against me. I've been in a Seoul District Civil Court 7 times 2 of which the original plantiffs were absent. I went to Criminal Court 2 weeks ago for the 3rd time/attempt(the first time they said..."sorry, it's tomorrow"). That was last month. I went again at another scheduled time according to my "interpreter" but that was incorrect. I was supposedly 1 hour late so they rescheduled for 5 weeks later. I think the Seoul Criminal Court is playing the attrition game!

The Civil Court Judge said he will not make a decision until Criminal Court is finished and that I should "hurry up." How the hell can I "hurry the Criminal Court/Judge up?" The Criminal Court claims against me are frivolous. I do not even understand why I am in Criminal Court. I thought it was for picketing/demonstrating(which I confess, I did picket), but the police permitted me to picket. Two different police stations said it is not against the law to have a "1 man demonstration." The police took me to the police station the first day I was picketing because my past employer called them. The police came to the English school or location where I was picketing and took me to the police station with my past employer. At the police station I called my friend and the police told my friend(who then told me) that I can go back and continue my picketing. The police knew I was picketing and returned to the location where I was picketing and never arrested me, they allowed me to picket. Why am I in Criminal Court? I am not a Criminal!

I have labor ministry proof/evidence that my Wonjang "fired me illegally" and still owes me salary money for hours that I worked. They claim I "kicked their name" on the Internet and filed a lawsuit against me and my Korean friend for 9.990,000 Won. The police investigated the Internet claim against me and dropped the case because there was not any proof that I did it. I did not do it! I went to the police station 2 times to answer their questions about the Internet message my past employer said I wrote. That was last September 2004. Now, the Criminal Court Judge is asking me about the Internet. I thought the Internet claim against me was finished. I am not a criminal! Why am I in Criminal Court? This should be a civil matter even though I also have police report evidence that by past employer assaulted me and had to pay a 300,000 Won fine. He also illegally kicked me out of my house when he had the locksmith change the locks on my door. I have camcorder evidence of this terrible act. I also have camcorder eviedence of him spitting/spatting on me and singing "f***** U.S.A." Why is this man allowed to sponsor Americans to work in South Korea? He then states "Yankee go home, America kills our people and doesn't help my country." I began working for my past employer in September 2003 and in that year the woman owner was arrested for drunk driving and paid a fine of 2.000,000 Won. The man owner was arrested for drunk driving on 04/09/2004 and also paid a fine of 2.000,000 Won. On 09/06/2004 he changed the lock on my door and illegally kicked me out of my house and drove away. I have camcorder evidence of him driving away which was 5 months after he was arrested for drunk driving. I think he may have been driving illegally if his drivers license was suspended for 6 months.

Last time in Civil Court the Judge told my Korean friend he does not have to return. So, I am alone! The reason my Korean friend is not part of was allowed to My past employer initially included my Korean in their lawsuit because he translated picket signs for me(English to Korean). The reason my Korean friend is not part of the lawsuit against me anymore is because the same person(Korean woman) who was writing his and my "answer papers"/documents/explanations to/for the Judge stated that I force my Korean friend to translate the picket signs. What a crock of crap!!! I wonder how I forced him to do it. I don't really remember, maybe I asked him 2, 3, or 4 times but that does not mean I forced anyone to do anything. This is a perfect example of the Korean menatality, to blame the Foreigner. In Civil Court my past employer has not shown how they were damaged. I do not know why or how they came to the figure/amount of 9.990,000 Won. The Judge has asked them at least 2 times to provide evidence or to show how they calculated 9.990,000 Won but they have not shown the Judge or me anything. I think they pulled that amount/figure "out from thin air."

They claim I damaged them by picketing/demonstrating and leaving an Internet message on a particular web site. While I was picketing my past employer posted the Internet message they say I wrote on the building wall(outside along the sidewalk) of their English school for possible students/parents/neighbors to see and read. If the Internet message is so terrible then why did they post the Internet message on their building. How would anyone(Judge) know if they were damaged from the message on the Internet(which I'm sure no student or parent read unless they called them to tell them to read it) or by themselves when they posted a copy of the Internet message outside of their English School?

Their internet message that they say I posted was already investigated by the "big" police station and they dropped the charge on 09/17/2004 while seemingly not caring. The police gave me permission to picket. The police took me to the police station but then gave me permission to return since supposedly "1 man demonstrations" are legal?

I finally filed a counter-lawsuit(12.000,000 Won +). My damages are all according to my contract and specified. When Immigration dened my E-2 Teaching Visa the first time I went there with my Korean friend to try and learn about the real reason I was denied. Immigration has told me different stories each time I have gone there in the past but am now just learning the truth. Immigration asked my Korean friend "why are you helping the Foreigner." I need to be able to work! I was wrongly placed on the Immigration "blacklist," and the man at Immigration told my Korean friend that I am a "complicated man." I wonder how complicated he would be if he was fired illegally and wrongly put on a "blacklist."

"Article 39 (Prohibition of Interference with Employment)
Anyone shall not prepare and use secret signs or lists, or
have communications for the purpose of interfering with employment
of a worker.

According to this, employers who contact Immigration requesting that certain employees not be granted a new visa permitting the employee to work in Korea is in violation of this provision of the Labor Standards Act and therefore subject to the following:

Article 110 (Penal Provisions)
A person who has violated the provisions of Article 6, 7, 8,
30(1) and (2), or 39 shall be punished by imprisonment for less
than five years or by a fine not exceeding thirty million won."

Why would Immigration believe that I "ran away or quit my job" when they should know I was fired illegally. I showed Immigration the Labor Ministry documents?

How can I get Immigration to grant my E-2? I am now including more damages(the maximum amount in Civil Court 20.000,000 Won) in my counter-lawsuit beyond my contract date because my past employer lied to Immigration. Also, for no reason other than complete and total RACISM, Immigration accused me of having a Korean girlfriend!!!

Anky · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:15 pm Post subject: Koreans racist

I have lived in Korean neighbourhoods it really puzzles me a country so advanced compared to other asian countries find it odd. Majority of korean speaking have poor information about differnt races. Iam an Indian by birth and they have lot of racial ignorance. They accept who is white/ European with open arms especially the newer generation. I guess they still hold on to colonial hang ups. Their visas are open only to European decent with British/ canadian/ American accent. Others who speak english don't sound english in their heads. Any one from the developing countries are lower to their standards which i think they have know idea about developing nations. Most of these problems arise because of language, korean only spoken by majority of them. Trying hard to speak English to get a status oh no even marrying an whitey.

The good things i have observed they keep it clean, they can't stand filth. They aspire to be with the white man's world.