Visas

=Renewing your E-2 Visa:=

If you are renewing, you must apply for an extension of your E-2 visa before your visa expires. Please check your visa expiration date before you go on your vacation to avoid any complications when re-entering the country.

- Passport - New Contract (original and copy) - PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ONLY ORIGINAL WITH THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE! - Alien Registration Card - Registration Application (available at the immigration office) - Your school's business registration (사업자등록증 - obtainable at your school's administrative offiice). While technically this document is only needed if transferring schools, it is highly recommended you take a copy even if you are staying at the same school. - Processing Fee (approximately 60,000 Won, increase effective as on October 2013 due to a [|policy change] by Immigration Services) - Address and proof of residency. [|This requirement is new as of October 2013]. You will have to submit your home address and proof of residency by submitting one of the following:
 * Where to apply:** Daegu Immigration Office
 * When:** Before the expiration date noted on your visa (or before you leave for vacation). Also, it is not recommended you go earlier than 1 month before your expiration date, as you may be turned away (for coming too early).
 * Required Documents:**
 * 1) Copy of rental contract between you and your landlord (if applicable, ie - if you are receiving housing allowance). In the rare case of shared housing where all of the rental contracts and utility bills are registered to one person only, we have been told that the other residents may submit a copy of the rental contract along with a copy of your cell phone bill with the same address. Or, you may submit any communications from the National Health Insurance or Pension Office. We suggest, if you are part of this small group of affected people, to be sure to call the Immigration Hotline to confirm what documents they will accept (dial 1345, English speakers available).
 * 2) Signed document with proof of provided residency (거주/숙소제공 확인서, provided by your school), filled out and signed by the principal of your school.
 * 3) Copy of rental contract between your school and your landlord.

Your renewed visa will be processed immediately and will be noted on the back of your ARC card. There will be no need to leave your passport or ARC behind.

We **highly recommend** making a reservation before heading over to the Immigration Office. You may do so at the Immigration Office website, [|hikorea.go.kr]. Follow the "Reserve Visit" link on the top bar. You will have to create an ID and password in order to use this function. The website is entirely in English.

=Temporary Extension of Stay for your E-2 Visa (NON-RENEWING NET's):=

Most E-2 visas will have an end-date that is about 3-4 weeks after the last date of your contract. If you would like to stay on longer to tie up loose ends, you may apply for a temporary extension of stay. Note that you are not permitted to work on a temporary extension, it is only offered for you to stay longer for personal reasons.

- Passport - Alien Registration Card - Registration Application (available at the immigration office) - Flight Ticket (departure date must be indicated).
 * Where to apply:** Daegu Immigration Office
 * When:** Before the expiration date on your visa.
 * Required Documents:**

Your temporary extension will be processed immediately and will be noted on the back of your ARC card. There will be no need to leave your passport or ARC behind.

Please follow this [|link]for the application form and for more information.

=E-2 Visa Does Not Cover Full Time on Contract=

We have had some issues in the past with NET's saying their E-2 visas did not cover the full time that is listed on their contracts (for example, the visa had an expiration date of February 17 when the contract didn't end until February 25). Originally, an E-2 visa was automatically eligible for a 12 month stay in the country, which if done correctly, should have been just enough time to cover the contract in entirety. A few years back, Immigration started allowing 13 months as a courtesy to our NET's, understanding that most people needed the extra time to tie up loose ends or do some traveling before leaving the country. However, even after this alleged change, we were still getting a few NET's that still had visas that ended too early. After looking into this issue, with the help of EPIK, it came to light that some embassies were still issuing E-2 visas with only 12 months, starting from the day that the actual visa was issued (not starting on the first day of the contract). Immigration can only follow what was initially issued by the embassy in your home country when making your ARC. Unfortunately, if you find yourself in this situation, there is nothing to be done once your visa has been issued. EPIK has been so kind as to send official documents to all of the embassies (departments in charge of English education), asking them to issue 13 months visas for E-2 EPIK visa holders. Hopefully, if everyone complies, we should not see this problem anymore in the future.