Visa Issuance Representation Services
Immigration service agency for foreign professionals, investors, residents, and marriage immigrants
Kangnam Certified Administrative Agent Office, affiliated with KangNam Labor Law Firm, provides systematic support tailored to each client's circumstances for foreign hiring, operation of foreign-invested companies, changes of status of stay for professional personnel, residence/permanent residence, and marriage immigration visa matters. We manage the entire process, from eligibility review to preparation of required documents, filing, response to supplementation requests, and result guidance, not merely document submission.
I. Services Provided | Scope of Services
Visa work requires accurate advance confirmation of requirements and consistency between the facts and supporting documents. Gangnam Certified Administrative Agent Office first diagnoses each client's situation and then proceeds according to the following process.
1. Major Visa Types
2. Scope of Agency Services
ㆍPreparation, organization, and filing of documents submitted to the Immigration Office
ㆍEligibility review by visa type and provision of required-document checklists
ㆍSupport for related procedures, including fact-confirmation notarization, transcript notarization, and translation notarization
ㆍPreparation and filing of documents for international marriages
ㆍProvision of the F-2-7 points-based automatic calculation program and support for score calculation
ㆍPreparation of supplementary documents and response support when the Immigration Office requests supplementation
II. Service Delivery | Process
Visa work requires accurate advance confirmation of requirements and consistency between the facts and supporting documents. Gangnam Certified Administrative Agent Office first diagnoses each client's situation and then proceeds according to the following process.
1. Common Process
2. Basic Documents for Foreign Visa Applications
3. Detailed Support by Visa Type
(1) Professional Visa: E-7
ㆍPreliminary review of whether the hiring position falls under an E-7 occupational code
ㆍReview of relevance between education, career, qualifications, and assigned duties
ㆍOrganization of application grounds, including employment contract, company status, and manpower needs
ㆍPreparation of application documents, filing with the Immigration Office, and response to supplementary document requests
ㆍPossible linked review of HR and labor documents for companies hiring foreign nationals
(2) Investment Visa: D-8
ㆍGuidance on foreign-invested company establishment and investment reporting procedures
ㆍOrganization of documents related to bank account opening, investment remittance, corporation establishment, and business registration
ㆍOrganization of materials on the investor's or executive's purpose of stay and business plan
ㆍPreparation and filing of visa applications and invitation/employment-related documents
ㆍGuidance on follow-up stay management required in operating a foreign-invested company
(3) Residence, Permanent Residence, and Marriage Immigration Visas: F-2, F-5, F-6
(4) Response to Supplementation Requests and Follow-up Management
ㆍWhen the Immigration Office requests supplementation, we analyze the purpose of the request and promptly organize the necessary materials.
ㆍAfter approval, we guide reporting and management matters such as period of stay, extension timing, workplace change, and address change.
ㆍWe provide checklists and schedule management materials so clients do not need to repeat the same procedures.
III. Client Benefits | Value for Clients
Visa work may result in supplementation requests or processing delays even when only one document is missing or the facts are inconsistent. By entrusting the work to Gangnam Certified Administrative Agent Office, clients can focus on their core business while reducing procedural risks and preparing required documents systematically.
Why Choose Gangnam Certified Administrative Agent Office
ㆍWe provide practical services tailored to each client's situation based on experience with foreign-invested companies, professional personnel, and foreign workers.
ㆍWe consider not only visa applications but also follow-up issues in business operations, such as foreign hiring, employment contracts, workplace changes, and stay management.
ㆍWe support step-by-step preparation of complex international marriage, residence, and permanent residence visas based on checklists.
ㆍWe do not guarantee approval; instead, we explain the requirements and risks of each individual case in advance to provide reliable consultation.
상담 시 안내사항
Whether a visa is approved and what documents must be submitted may vary depending on the applicant's nationality, current status of stay, education and career, income, employment relationship, investment relationship, family relationship, and immigration screening standards. For accurate processing, the facts and supporting documents must first be confirmed through preliminary consultation.
FAQ
Q10
What should you do if a visa application is rejected?
If a visa application is rejected, the first step is to identify the reason for rejection. Major reasons may include incomplete documents, unclear purpose of stay, insufficient financial capacity, lack of employment necessity, failure to meet education or experience requirements, or past immigration violations.After rejection, it is advisable not to immediately reapply with the same content, but to supplement missing documents and clearly organize the purpose of stay and supporting evidence before reconsidering reapplication. In employment visa cases in particular, it is important to systematically explain job details, company necessity, applicant’s expertise, salary level, and education and experience requirements.Ultimately, the most important point in visa issuance is that the purpose of stay must match the actual activities. At the application stage, the correct status of residence must be selected, and after entry, activities must remain within the scope of that status.
Q9
Do you need to obtain a new visa if you change your employer?
In the case of employment visas, workplace and employer are important factors in screening. Therefore, when changing companies or workplaces, prior approval or reporting may be required depending on the status of residence.If a foreigner changes jobs or performs work different from the permitted job without authorization, it may constitute a violation of status of residence. From the company’s perspective, hiring a foreigner without confirming their status of residence, permitted scope of work, and procedures for workplace change may also result in illegal employment issues.
Q8
Can status of residence be changed after obtaining a visa?
If certain requirements are met, it is possible to apply for a change of status of residence within Korea. For example, changes from study to employment, from short-term stay to long-term stay, changes due to marriage, or employment-related changes may be applicable.However, domestic change is not allowed in all cases. For some statuses of residence, a new visa must be obtained at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad, and domestic change may be restricted. Therefore, it is necessary to check in advance based on the current status, the intended status, the expiration date, and the reason for application.
Q7
Is foreigner registration mandatory after entering Korea?
Foreigners who intend to stay for 91 days or more must in principle register as a foreigner within 90 days from the date of entry. In certain cases such as overseas Koreans, domestic residence reporting may apply instead of foreigner registration.Failure to register may cause problems in residence management and create difficulties in banking, telecommunications, health insurance, leasing, and various administrative procedures. Therefore, long-term residents should proceed with appointment and registration at the competent immigration office as soon as possible after entry.
Q6
How long does visa issuance take?
The processing time varies depending on the type of visa, the country of application, workload at the diplomatic mission, completeness of documents, and whether additional review is required. Simple short-term visas may be processed relatively quickly, but employment visas, investment visas, and marriage visas may take longer due to document review and requests for supplementation.In particular, employment visas require review of company documents, job suitability, education and experience requirements, salary level, and necessity of employment, so it is advisable to prepare with sufficient time. Plans should consider the intended entry date, employment start date, and foreigner registration schedule.
Q5
What is a Certificate for Visa Issuance Confirmation?
A Certificate for Visa Issuance Confirmation is a document issued through a procedure in which a Korean immigration authority pre-reviews visa requirements before a foreigner applies for a visa at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad, based on an invitation or sponsorship by a person or employer in Korea.For certain employment or long-term stay visas, the process proceeds by first obtaining this certificate, after which the foreigner applies for a visa at a Korean embassy or consulate abroad. This system can be understood as a preliminary review by domestic immigration authorities of the purpose of invitation, employment relationship, and eligibility for status of residence before the embassy visa screening.
Q4
What documents are generally required for visa issuance?
It varies depending on the type of visa, but generally a passport, visa application form, photographs, invitation letter, employment contract, business registration certificate, company-related documents, academic certificates, employment certificates, financial proof documents, and family relation documents may be required.For employment visas, employment contracts, job descriptions, education and experience requirements, company necessity, salary level, and workplace conditions are particularly important. For marriage, study, investment, overseas Korean, and intra-company transfer visas, documents proving marital status, admission, investment funds, Korean ancestry, or employment relationship may be required respectively.
Q3
Can you work in Korea on a tourist visa or short-term visit visa?
In principle, it is difficult. Visas for purposes such as tourism, visits, attendance at meetings, or market research generally do not allow domestic employment activities.If a foreigner who entered Korea under short-term visit status provides labor under the direction and supervision of a Korean company, receives wages in Korea, or performs continuous or repetitive work, issues of illegal employment may arise. Simple activities such as attending meetings, contract negotiations, or participating in exhibitions may be allowed, but whether it constitutes actual labor must be determined based on the specific content of the activity.
Q2
What visa is required to work in Korea?
In order to engage in employment activities in Korea, one must in principle hold a status of residence that permits employment. Representative examples include professional employment, specific activity, non-professional employment, seasonal work, intra-company transfer, corporate investment, professor, research, and technical instruction, and the permitted scope of work varies depending on the status of residence.
The important point is that merely obtaining a visa does not mean that all employment activities are permitted. The permitted scope of work, workplace, employer, and job duties under that status of residence must all match. If one works beyond the permitted scope, issues of illegal employment or violation of status of residence may arise.
The important point is that merely obtaining a visa does not mean that all employment activities are permitted. The permitted scope of work, workplace, employer, and job duties under that status of residence must all match. If one works beyond the permitted scope, issues of illegal employment or violation of status of residence may arise.
Q1
Are visa and status of residence the same meaning?
Strictly speaking, they are different. A visa is an entry permit issued by a Korean diplomatic mission abroad for the purpose of entering the Republic of Korea. In contrast, a status of residence defines the legal status that determines what activities a foreigner may engage in and for what purpose after entering Korea.For example, study, employment, investment, marriage, overseas Korean status, and short-term stay each have different purposes, and therefore require different visas and statuses of residence. Accordingly, when reviewing visa issuance, it is necessary to consider not only whether entry into Korea is possible, but also what activities will be permitted after entry.
Key Representative Cases
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