In general, a holder of an E-9 visa is not eligible to get a D-8 visa. However, it is possible to apply for a change of sojourn status to obtain a D-8 visa. But due to the illegal residence of the foreigner, he will be subject to strict investigation.In this case, the foreigner has to prove that he won the first prize in the lottery as well as that his business will help the Korean economy and increase the employment rate, as this is better than just living only on the interest from the lottery prize.

According to relevant regulations, a foreign investor in the skin or footcare and sports massage sector who wants to operate a massage center on his own or act as a massager is not allowed a certificate for recognition of visa issuance.Furthermore, employment of foot massagers, skincare and spa specialists is not permitted.

The two Chinese nationals can be regarded neither as dispatched employees nor as individual investors, but as employees directly employed by the foreign-invested company in Korea. Therefore, they must apply for the E-7 visa (other particular occupations) and not the D-8 visa.

The day of entry is not included in the sojourn period, so that the period of sojourn is counted from the following day until the expiration day. If the day of expiration is a national holiday, then the next day is the expiration day. So in this case, the expiration day would be Aug.15, 2004. But since it is a national Korean holiday (Liberation Day), the expiration day would be on Aug.16.

First, the birth of the child needs to be reported to the respective national embassy in Korea. After obtaining a valid passport, a visa application for the child must be submitted to the immigration official at Invest KOREA or any other immigration office within 30 days of birth.When applying for the visa, an application form, birth certificate, and passport, along with employment certificate of the father or parent as well as a copy of his/her alien registration card must be submitted. In case it is difficult to obtain a passport within 30 days from birth, it is possible to first apply for the visa and submit the passport at a later time. The visa (F-3 visa with a sojourn period equal to that of the parents) will If the period of sojourn in Korea is expected to exceed 90 days from the day of obtaining the visa, then it is also obligatory to apply for alien registration at the immigration office. If the departure date from Korea is expected to be within 30 days after the birth of the child, then only a passport is needed without having to apply for a visa.then be issued after submitting the passport.

Family of a foreigner working for the foreign-invested company is the spouse and unmarried children under 20 years of age.When the foreigner and the family apply together for the visa or approval, the documents needed are passport, application form and documents verifying the relationship (birth certificate or marriage certificate).When the application is filed separately, additional documents to the ones listed above are the certificate of employment of the foreigner and a copy of the alien registration ID.The visa issued to the family is that of dependent families (F-3) and the length of stay is equivalent to that of the spouse or parent.

A foreign national staying in Korea for more than 91 days has to go to the immigration office within 90 days of entry and complete the alien registration process. If a citizen from a country, with which Korea has a free re-entry permit agreement leave Korea without having completed the alien registration, the visa is not valid for multiple entry and thus the free re-entry permit is invalid.

Foreigners in possession of a multiple long-term visa:

– If the sojourn period in the multiple long-term visa and the alien registration ID are the
same, free entry to and departure from Korea is possible without a re-entry permit
until the date of expiration of the visa and alien registration ID.
– If the date on the ID and visa are different, the valid expiration date is that on the alien
registration ID.

Foreigners with a simple visa and approval for change of status:

– A simple or multiple re-entry permit must be obtained at the immigration office or
Invest KOREA for free entry and departure.
– It is also possible to receive a re-entry permit on the day of departure at the airport
immigration office.

Exempt from re-entry permit requirements are citizens of the following countries:

– France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium,
Netherlands, Luxembourg, Surinam, Granada.
– Citizens of the above countries may re-enter freely during the period of sojourn.
– However, citizens of these countries still need to register for the alien registration ID,
if they plan to stay in Korea longer than 91 days in order to be exempt from re-entry
permit.

Re-entry permits are granted on the basis of the expiration date of the passport, period of sojourn, and extension period (simple visa 1 year, multiple visa 2 years).The period of sojourn is within the expiration date of the passport, and the re-entry permit is within the period of sojourn in Korea.

An extension of the visa has to be applied for 30 days prior to the expiration date. However, in exceptional cases (such as unavoidable business trips etc.) the extension of the visa can be applied for prior to the 30 days if documentary proof is submitted. Generally, there are no limitations to the number of times for extension of stay. However, the maximum period for a D-8 visa extension for one time is 2 years. If the foreigner has continued his business without any illegal activities or an essential professional manpower dispatched from the overseas parent company continues to work, then the period of sojourn in Korea may be extended continuously without a limitation of its frequency.
The documents needed for extension of the visa are:

– Passport
– Alien registration
– Application form
– Certificate of employment
– Certificate of tax payment
– Certificate of having no default of tax payment
– Certificate of export report
– Processing fee KRW30,000
– Power of attorney (if proxy completes the application)
The approval for visa extension will depend on the tax payments and business results of the foreign-invested company.

A foreign national staying in Korea for more than 91 days, has to go to the immigration office within 90 days of entry and complete the alien registration processThe alien registration ID is equivalent to the Korean resident registration ID and has the objective to get a clear picture about the resident and social status of the foreigner and to allow fair treatment of foreign nationals in Korea.When is it necessary to complete the alien registration? – Staying in Korea for longer than 90 days from the date of entering Korea;

– Having changed the nationality from Korean to a foreign nationality or a foreigner born
in Korea and staying longer than 90 days in the country;
– A foreigner staying in Korea longer than 90 days with an approval to change the status.Foreigners with a A-1 (diplomacy), A-2 (official duty), and A-3 (agreement) visa are excluded from the requirement of alien registration.A foreigner who has entered Korea with a D-8 visa has to go to the immigration office and apply for an alien registration ID within 90 days of entry. A foreigner with a short-term visa or no visa with approval to change the status must go to the immigration office immediately after entry to get the alien registration ID.If this procedure is not complied with, the foreigner will be penalized.
The documents required are:
– Passport
– Application form for alien registration
– Three color photographs (passport photo size)
– Processing fee of KRW10,000
The application has to be completed personally (for those under 17, a proxy may complete the registration process).