Tougher Scrutiny on D-8 Visas in South Korea January 26, 2011—D-8 (Corporate Investment) work visa applications in South Korea are now facing a higher level of scrutiny from immigration authorities. Some applications that previously would have been approved are likely to get questioned by authorities or even denied. Increased scrutiny also applies to D-8 visa renewals. Employers should provide all applicants with assignment letters that explicitly indicate their position level as senior or director, which was not necessary in the past. Employers should also be aware that applicants under the age of 30 or hold junior level positions are less likely to be approved. The D-8 category in South Korea is reserved for high-level senior or director-level officers or highly skilled and educated workers who generally possess a university diploma and specialized supervisory role. These expatriates must be sponsored by an organization’s Korean subsidiary registered under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. Applicants without a university diploma must be able to show considerable international work experience that would make him or her indispensable in their current position. Concerning renewal applications, authorities will base decisions on D-8 visa holder’s current salary. Applicants with salaries significantly lower than the average for their role may lead to further questioning or application denial. |
About AIReS AIReS, which was named to the 2010 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing independently owned businesses in the U.S., is in its 30th year of providing best-in-class relocation management services. With seven ISO registered U.S. offices and other strategically located employees located around the globe, AIReS is a recognized industry leader in delivering high quality relocation and assignment management services to leading corporations. The company boasts some of the industry’s highest annual customer-satisfaction scores and a client-retention rate of over 98%. For more information, please visit the AIReS website at www.aires.com. |
