The number of students from overseas coming to study in Korea has leapt in recent years.

In 2002, there were just 7,300 taking classes here but seven years later that number has reached 75,000, according to the Korea Immigration Service’s statistics.

One of the great positives to come out of this phenomenon, in addition to people from overseas learning about Korea, local students and the general public have the benefit of experiencing other cultures.

If you are from overseas and you want to study here, you need a visa. To be precise, you need a D-2 (Study Abroad) visa if you are going to enroll in regular courses at a domestic academic research institution or college, or if you want to participate in other specific forms of study.

A D-4 (General Training) visa is given to people who are studying at a university, a national or private institution, or at an elementary, middle or high school.

If you are studying simultaneously at two institutions, you need to get your hands on a D-4-4 (Language Training) visa.

Q.  What responsibilities does a student holding a D-2 visa have?

A.  If students attend classes and stick to their studies, then there is usually no problem. However, if the student has poor attendance or other non-academic issues, they may have their right to stay in Korea revoked.

If an overseas student has an attendance rate of below 60 percent, or has a grade average below “D,” he or she will be subject to a survey of the conditions of their stay in Korea.

If the student passes the survey, he or she will be given a six-month extension in Korea, in addition to a warning. If a student is given a second warning, the student’s professor will be invited to take some sort of disciplinary action.

In the case of a third infraction, a visa extension won’t be permitted, with the exception of infractions due to illness or other personal reasons that prevented the student from attending classes. In such cases, the student must explain the situation in writing. After a review, the student may receive an extension of one more year.

In the case of a break or absence from school, a student is not allowed to remain in Korea. It is the head of the school who must report and ensure the exit of the student from Korea within 30 days of the beginning of the break or absence, and report it to the immigration office.

In the event that a student transfers schools, he or she must present their passport, Alien Registration Card, the appropriate application form, service fee, notice of acceptance at the new university, and proof of tuition payment to the proper immigration office.

Q.  If a foreign student wishes to take a Korean language course before or after graduation, how does he or she go about filing a language course visa application?

A.  Many students who enter Korea holding a D-2 visa enroll in a standard bachelor’s program but lack the sufficient Korean language skills. In addition, they are often unsure whether or not they have to change their status of sojourn for a Korean language course.

In this case, a student who has entered Korea for purposes of study may participate in a Korean language training program without switching to a D-4-4 visa for up to one year.

After the completion of a one-year language training course, the student may return to a standard course with their university. However, after graduation from a university, a visa change to the required D-4 is only allowed after exit and re-entry into the country.

Q. Can a student with a D-2 visa get a part-time job while in school?

A.  In order to assist foreign students with their day-to-day living expenses while in Korea, they are allowed to hold part-time jobs, given the work does not interfere with school attendance or their studies. The student must take the required documentation to the nearest immigration branch office and obtain permission to hold a part time job.

However, students who are taking more than one term of classes are limited to working 20 hours a week. During vacations, students are allowed an unlimited amount of hours and can work at the original workplace as well as one additional branch office.

As a foreign student, one is allowed to work at a registered business, but one cannot work for non-registered personal businesses. As a general rule, people who are in Korea for language training with a (D-4-4) visa are given permission to work part time six months after entrance into the country.

Q. I’m a student finishing up my graduate/master’s program, and am in the middle of preparing my dissertation. Can I have my visa extended?

A.  Foreign students holding a D-2 visa who are in need of a visa extension while they are preparing dissertations, etc., are allowed a maximum extension of two years (one year for those pursuing a master’s degree). The student will be required to submit a letter of recommendation from their head professor, and either a history of living expenses or personal reference.

In the event that the dissertation is not accepted and an additional sojourn extension of more than two years (one year for those pursuing a master’s degree) is required, the student will be allowed an extension given that an exam schedule, and a specific stated reason for such schedule, is provided from the dissertation advisor.

Q. Is it possible to get a job in Korea with a liberal arts degree from a domestic university?

A.  To change from a student visa to a working visa after getting employment in Korea, one must return to their home country and cancel their student visa. They may then contact a Korean consulate office and receive a working visa and re-enter Korea.

Changing from a D-2 to a working visa is possible, but is limited to very specific situations as follows: teaching faculty appointment, researcher appointment, specialized expertise qualification, or marriage to a Korean.

Since last July, domestic liberal arts bachelor’s degree holders have been eligible for employment areas that previously required a minimum of a master’s degree.

However, permitted fields are limited to 12 types of foreign-business work among the total 32 business areas allowed for those qualified for a E-7 visa.

Industry-related graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher will be allowed to prepare for employment within a six-month period.

If after graduation the student wishes to obtain Korean citizenship and enter into a Korean business, it is possible under the condition that the student has never been, nor has any relatives that are currently citizens of the Republic of Korea. The student must also have stayed in Korea under the same visa for more than five consecutive years.

For further questions and details on matters relating to immigration, visit the e-Government for Foreigners Web site at www.hikorea.go.kr, or contact the Center by dialing 1345.

For other general questions and inquires, contact the Seoul Global Center at 1688-0120.

By Ryu Myeong-soo Contributing writer [sooryu@i-net.or.kr]

A version of this article also appeared in the JoongAng Daily

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2910598

Tags: Daily living logistics, Immigration, Law, Visa
Posted in Immigration, Korean Law, Labor, Legal, Living in Seoul, Study in Korea, Visa, Work in Korea