Basic information of H-2 visa

- In relation to inviting relatives to work on-site, relatives or relatives within the second cousin are overseas diplomatic missions.

-Application for relatives within the 3rd to 8th cousins or relatives within the 3rd to 4th cousins at the Immigration/Foreigner Office (office, branch office) under the jurisdiction of the invitee.

- Duration of stay: 3 years

1. Check your health condition

- A person who intends to enter the country as a foreign national in the capacity of visiting employment pursuant to the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act;

2. Confirmation documents

- When applying for a visa for an overseas official residence, submit a health status confirmation written by the applicant. 

- In the confirmation letter, facts related to infection such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, syphilis, etc., experience of taking drugs, and treatment experience due to mental illness are stated.

- Korean language proficiency documentation

- Certificate of overseas criminal record

Required conditions

1. Foreign registration 

- A compatriot who entered the country with a visiting employment visa shall report the alien registration to the Immigration/Foreigner Office (office, branch office) under his/her jurisdiction within 90 days from the date of entry.

 → Passport, 1 photo (photographed within 6 months), alien registration application, fee, early adaptation program training certificate.

 →  In the case of parents of international students: In addition to the above documents, a copy of the certificate of enrollment and alien registration certificate of the holder of the qualification to study abroad (excluding submission of an application for accompanying an international student)

2. Check your health condition 

- Submit a health certificate issued by a hospital designated by the Ministry of Justice when registered as a foreigner by a person qualified for visiting employment.

* Employment education

[Purpose of employment education]

- If a foreigner (foreign Korean, H-2) wants to get a job in a business or workplace that corresponds to a permitted industry, such as a service industry, the employment education institution (Korea Industrial Human Resources Development Corporation) must provide employment training before applying for a job.

[How to apply] 

- Go to the site 

외국국적동포(H-2) 취업교육 홈페이지 (hrdkorea.or.kr)

Scope of employment activity 

[Employment Procedures]

- Entry with a visiting employment visa  Employment training and job application, and get a job by finding a job by compatriots themselves.

- Job applications are collectively accepted at the Korea Industrial Human Resources Development Corporation for job training.

[Target to report starting employment] 

- A person with a visiting employment (H-2) qualification who first started employment in an industry that allows visiting employment

- A person with a visiting employment (H-2) qualification who changed his/her workplace after the first employment began

[H-2 Visa Employment Procedure - Employer]

- If an employer fails to hire human resources even after making efforts to recruit Koreans (15 days), he/she applies to the Employment Support Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor for the issuance of a "Special Employment Confirmation Letter". 

- Employers are employed within the scope of the permitted number of persons listed in the "Special Employment Confirmation Letter" from among those listed in the "Foreign Job Search" of the Employment Support Center.

[Time to report]

-First start of employment --> Within 15 days from the start of employment

Change of place of work --> Within 15 days from the date of change of workplace

Conditions to change its purpose

[Conditions for H-2 visa change]

-A person who has not exceeded 4 years and 10 months from the date of initial entry (change) among those who have stayed as a visiting employment but have changed their status to other (G-1) due to humanitarian reasons such as industrial accidents or diseases.

-A person who has the status of visiting and living together (F-1) 3 months after applying for nationality

*However, those who have applied for nationality for the purpose of staying in Korea, such as those who are scheduled to expire on-site employment (H-2), who have filed a lawsuit related to applying for nationality, and those who have been disconnected from marriage, are excluded.

-04.4.1 A person who legally entered the country and stayed illegally before April 1, but changed to other (G-1) qualifications after receiving an application for nationality.

-Residents aged 18 or older (F-1-9, F-1-11) who are staying in the capacity of visiting cohabitation -Foreign Koreans

-Those with a pre-evaluation score of 41 or more for social integration programs 사회Upgraded from 21 to 41 points for social integration programs

-Other persons who have contributed to the national interest as foreign nationals legally residing in Korea and who the Commissioner deems that humanitarian stay is inevitable.

[Submission documents]

- Application form

- Passport

- Foreign nationality certificate documents and explanatory data for the subject matter 

-If you want to stay for more than 3 years, "Confirmation of extension of employment activity for those whose employment period has expired" (issued by the Ministry of Employment and Labor)

- proof of residence (rental contract)

- Fee

Extension of H-2 visa

[Extension conditions]

(Employment Purpose) Permission within 4 years and 10 months from the date of entry (or permission to change the status of stay) if the Ministry of Employment and Labor receives a confirmation of "extension of the employment period for those who have expired".

(If you extend your stay ex officio due to the spread of infectious diseases or natural disasters, you can extend it within 6 years)

(For purposes other than employment) Visitors who wish to stay in Korea due to low employment can continue to obtain permission to extend their stay in Korea.

(Based on health condition) If you have been diagnosed with tuberculosis (including suspected tuberculosis), but apply for permission to extend your stay after registering as a foreigner, treat it in accordance with "Guidelines for Issuing Visa and Stay Management for Foreign Tuberculosis Patients".

(When registering a foreigner) When entering the country for the first time with a visiting employment visa and applying for alien registration, the period of stay is granted up to 3 years.

*Only if a document proving Korean proficiency is submitted, a stay period of 3 years is granted, and if a document proving Korean proficiency is not submitted, a stay period of 1 year is granted.

Extension approval

[Duration of stay permit]

- The head of the agency, etc. permits the applicant to extend the period of stay within a year and 10 months only once.

* Provided, That the Commissioner, etc. may flexibly grant permission period within the statutory period (1 year) in consideration of the scheduled period for performance of litigation, etc. and other humanitarian reasons, etc.

[Submission documents]

①  Application form (Form 34)

②  Passport and alien registration card 

③  a proof of one's domicile

* Lease contracts, confirmation of accommodation, notification of expiration of the period of stay, public utility bill payment receipt, dormitory fee receipt, etc.

④ Fees (equivalent to those of ordinary foreigners staying)

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