Changes in Korea Immigration Law for International Students

Information from the Ministry of Justice inform changes in the immigration policy regarding international student's and their sojourn in Korea.

The changes, which are already in effect (from June 1, 2011) relate to the extension of status after graduation. They are as follows:

Undergraduate and below

- 1 year extension (automatic)
- Cumulative GPA must be over 3.0
- If GPA is <3.0, a strong recommendation from preferably the applicant's professor is needed for an extension

Graduate (Masters and Ph.D.)

- 2 year extension(automatic)
- No GPA check required

Graduate (Ph.D.)

- A separate change made for this category will enable doctorate graduates have an indefinite permanent stay.
- The law has been passed but will take effect only from the last quarter of this year.

Note: These changes are intended to help students make more informed decisions about their next moves after graduation such as studying Korean language or finding suitable jobs here in Korea. Currently, the current law requires you to secure a job before getting any long term extension.

The extensions in all categories are made every 6 months renewable - meaning you get 4 extensions in all covering the 2 years of this additional period. If within these 2 years the applicant can't secure a job here, she/he will be kicked out of Korea for lack of ability hehehe meaning you're not good enough for the Korean society, else you must have been hired within the 2 years! Remember Korea intends to make use of talents in the most promising students, which of course is not only understandable but impressive in all.

Visit your local immigration office and ask for this change whenever you have to. You might consider taking with your some written reference from the Ministry of Justice (all in Korean) on this information, as some local immigrations officer sometimes appear lost on issues decided by their own laws. Meet me for this reference if you need it.

Upon approval of your application, your D-2 status would be changed to another (not sure what it is now) but it'll indicate you're a "Job Seeker." It's left to be known what a holder of this new status would or would not be able to do but you can figure that out!

Take with you:

- a copy of your graduation certificate
- copy of academic transcript
- Brief Two-Year Plan (what you'll be doing or what you intend doing within the 2-years of extension
- Recommendation (for undergrads with a <3.0 GPA
- Passport
- Current Alien Card
- Filled out application (obtainable at your local immigration post)
- Application fee (not so sure now but possibly 60,000W, which to me is high is one is going to make, say 4 extensions during an assumed unemployed period!