If you’re reading this column right now, you’re learning about the E71 change of duty station. The bottom line is that it’s not easy for foreign nationals on E7 visas to change jobs. There is a limited period of time after the change of employment, so you need to work quickly with a professional administrator to avoid problems.
Many companies that I manage for other visas often ask me to change their workplace, There is a limited period of time for change of workplace, so we have to keep a tight schedule. In a recent case, the client was changing his job to a different code than his existing E71 visa, so I checked the documents he needed to prepare, such as a letter of employment, and provided them.
As the process progressed, I realized that my E71 visa was about to expire, so I decided to extend it. Dongajul checked all the parts of the visa extension and proceeded to the agency without reservation.
The Ministry of Justice imposes a number of restrictions to protect bona fide employers and maintain order in the country. If they can get an E7 visa, they must be specialized workers. It’s not uncommon for these professionals to get scouted and move on.
If you think about how often the situation of stealing and losing specialized workers is happening in Korea right now, you will understand. So, if an E7 visa foreign national changes jobs, the new employer will need to evaluate their E7 eligibility.
Even if the foreign national was previously granted an E7-1 visa, he or she will need to be evaluated for E7 eligibility at the new location. the level of documentation you need to prepare will vary depending on whether your visa code is a declaration or authorization.
- Transfer agreement from the original employer
- Foreign national’s visa issues
- Employment eligibility checks at the new workplace, etc.
There’s a lot to take care of, and it can be tricky. It’s difficult to solve these problems on your own, and it’s better to get professional help. In this column, we’ll summarize what you need to know before you hire a professional. If you have any questions after reading this column, feel free to contact me through the channels below.
dongajul is here to help you solve your problems.
E7-1 Change of Employment? It’s Really Hard
As mentioned in the introduction to this column, foreign nationals on E7 visas are not allowed to change jobs at will. Unless your employer is closing down or going out of business, you are very restricted from changing jobs.
First of all, there must be no fault of the foreigner.
- Eligibility requirements for foreigners to change workplacesEmployer criteria
- Number of employees per company, etc.
- We will review based on the criteria for issuing visas.
For foreigners, you will need to prepare the following documents again.
- A copy of your visa
- One color photo of your business cardEmployment contract
- Proof of qualifications (diplomas, work history, certifications, etc.)Documents issued outside the country must be translated into Korean or English, and consular notarization or apostille confirmation for key documents
- Transfer consent letter from the head of the original workplace
- The following documents must be prepared by the company where the foreigner is changing work location.
Documents related to the establishment of an employment organization A copy of the business license
Documents that prove the necessity of hiring a foreigner (invitation letter, employment recommendation letter, etc.)Tax payment certificate (National Tax Payment Certificate), local tax payment certificate
Even if you meet all of the above qualifications, you may not be eligible for the
If you have been dismissed or quit due to your own fault and do not have the original employer’s consent to transfer, you cannot apply for an E71 change of workplace in the first place.
As a foreigner, it is difficult to understand these issues, and there are many differences between foreign workplace culture and Korean workplace culture.
You should be aware of these points.
E7-1 Change of Employment? It’s Really Hard
E7-1 change of employment? Varies by occupation. There are a total of 67 occupations that qualify for E7-1 visas. Each job may require additional documentation to obtain an E7 visa.
For example, a bond is a typical example, and there are exceptions to the National Labor Relations Board’s criteria for those who may abuse the invitation, such as mechanical engineers and international salespeople. Also, it is very difficult to change jobs from the original E7-1 visa to a different job.
This is because you will be subject to a change of status and will need to obtain an E7 visa again. Also, if you change companies, you need to make sure that the combination is suitable for the job, The new company may have different requirements for each job.
This is why E7-1 change of employment should never be taken lightly. In fact, it is very common to be underqualified for the new company or overqualified for the job. You never know what variables will come up, and it’s almost impossible for you to resolve these issues on your own.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you seek the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney who has handled many E7 visa issues.
Closing thoughts
In this article, we’ve summarized the basics of E7-1 change of station. I feel like I’ve been talking about how difficult it is. I emphasize it because it is actually difficult in practice.
If you try to figure it out and solve it on your own, it’s very likely to be a waste of time/money. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek the help of a professional administrator to resolve visa issues and workplace change issues for foreigners.
If you have any questions after reading this column, you can contact Dongjul through the following channels. I will provide you with more information about the documents and instructions that you and the foreigner need to prepare.
Thank you.