(D-2 Visa Part 2)_Can international students work to make a living? (Part-time j

Q1. I am a foreigner living in Korea with an E-9 visa. If I enroll in college while working, will my visa be converted to a D-2 visa?

A1. First of all, to sum it up, no!

However, for E-9, E-10, and G-1-5 visas, study abroad is possible without a separate permit, and for other visas, it is possible if you receive permission to engage in activities outside of your residence status.

In addition, if your visa has expired but there are still class days or semesters remaining, you can obtain a D-2 visa and enter the country after leaving the country.

Q2. Can international students also engage in income-generating activities such as part-time jobs?

A2. Yes, you can! Please refer to the table below!

There are exceptions!

- The average grade for the previous semester as of the application date is below C (2.0)

- If you do not meet the required credits in the regular curriculum (e.g., you did not obtain a bachelor's degree within 4 years), you may obtain a residence permit and register for additional semesters.

- Those who have not received a temporary work permit, those who have violated the conditions of the permit, those who have entered incorrect information (location, working hours, etc.)

- E-1~E-7 specialized fields, E-9, E-10 non-specialized fields are not allowed

- Part-time employment activities at foreign language education facilities for minor students* (English Kids Cafe, English Camp, Foreign Language Conversation Academy, etc.)

- Courier, delivery agency, rider, proxy driver, insurance planner, study guide teacher, door-to-door salesperson, etc.

- Employment activities based on dispatch, subcontracting, and agency relationships

- Remote work more than 1 hour away from residence or university location

(A distance of up to 90 minutes in the metropolitan area and up to 60 minutes in the provinces is considered an appropriate distance. During the semester, the distance is based on the location of the university, and during vacation, the distance is based on the location of the university or place of residence.)

In this case, you cannot work part-time.

The places where you can work are limited to a maximum of 1 year within your period of stay, and 2 places where you can work at the same time within the time allowed for part-time work permit!

In the case of those who have completed a master's/doctoral program, part-time work is allowed even for those preparing a thesis after completing the regular course. However! Even in the case permitted as above, it is limited to 30 hours per week, and the regulation allowing unlimited part-time work on days off, holidays, and vacation periods does not apply. In particular, if you intentionally delay graduation due to dishonest acts such as failing to meet the grade point average or attendance rate, you will be excluded from the part-time work allowance.