Dear Chainsaw:

I’ve recently lost my job at my hak-won, for no good reason.  I may have another job at another hak-won, but can’t get hired without the proper visa.  My new hak-won director doesn’t know what to do in order to resolve this question, and I’m afraid to go to immigration without knowing what they’ll do first. 

Signed – What should I do?
 

Dear What Should I Do?

This is certainly a question that is very common, and one that causes much undo confusion and consternation, but one that has a relatively simple and straightforward answer.  Of course, the implementation is quite another matter.

 First, relax!  Don’t worry about being deported at this point.  You officially have seventeen days to get your new visa whether it is an E-2 work visa, or a tourist visa.

Second, contact your first hak-won director and see if he or she will officially release you from your contract.  This must be done on the correct immigration form, called A Letter of Permission, and has to happen before you can receive a second E-2 visa.  Your hak-won director, not an assistant, must accompany you during this process.  This visit will result in the cancellation of your old E-2 visa.
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Third, you need to apply for your new status.  Go to immigration with your new boss.  You’ll need to bring your passport, new contract, and four color passport pictures.  Fill out the forms, and generally do what they tell you to do.  You’ll need your original diploma and probably official transcripts, too.  It’ll take about a week to get your passport and E-2 approval documents back from immigration.

Fourth, you have to take the right forms to a country other than Korea, most people go to Japan.  Be sure the city you go to has a Korean Consulate or Embassy. Be sure to give yourself enough time for the visa application to be processed, at least an overnight stay, if you arrive at the Consulate before 2:00pm.  That means bring enough money to stay however long it may take, and in Japan $100.00 (US) is pocket change.  Remember you can not return to Korea without the new visa, or a multiple entry visa, if your old E-2 is still valid.

Trade your won to yen BEFORE you go, they DO NOT trade won over there!  They will, however, trade dollars (US).

Try to get your new boss to help you pay for the trip, due to the expense involved.  Don’t make your travel plans until you have all of your documents back from immigration.  When you’re at immigration, be nice and friendly, you always catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

How to get there.  You can go by plane or ferry.  KAL will cost you W160,000 round-trip.  There are two ferries, one takes 12 hours, and the hydrofoil (the "beetle") takes three hours.  The beetle will cost you W130,000 round-trip.  From the airport, the subway will take you to within 10 or 15 minutes by foot from the Korean Consulate.  The stop’s name is Tojin-machi.  There’s a sign in English telling you the direction to the Consulate.  From the ferry terminal take the bus into town to the subway.  Ask someone what bus to take at the ferry terminal, it’s probably the only place you’ll find someone with enough English to give clear directions.  You can get a tourist map at the airport terminal that’ll help you find your way around.

The capsule-style hotels are the cheapest hotels.  Unfortunately for women, not too many capsule style hotels exist.  These are small spaces slightly larger than a bed, literally built into a wall.  They typically come with a small television, so you can sit up kind of.  They are connected to a bathhouse.  The cost is about 2,900 yen (W30,000).  For more information about Fukuoka get on the Internet and visit Error! Bookmark not defined. and www. Kyushu.com/fukuoka.