This morning, at the Suwon Immigration Office Pyeongtaek Branch, an E7 visa extension that was previously applied for was approved. The date on the back of the foreigner registration card was changed, and an extension application was also made for another D8 visa (dispatched employee).
※ The period of extension for the E7 visa cannot exceed the period specified in the employment contract, and it is usually granted for 1 to 3 years, depending on the applicant's qualifications (salary, experience, employment situation, etc.).
※ For the D8 visa (dispatched employee), the allowable extension period cannot exceed the dispatch period stated in the dispatch order. If there is any reason for the dispatch period to change, a revised dispatch order must be attached when applying for an extension, and if the employment contract has also changed, the revised contract must also be attached.
Today, based on the cases I am currently handling, I will discuss points to note when inviting foreign employees on an E7 visa, as well as the targets and requirements for technical salespersons.
First, the applicant was from the Philippines, graduated in Business Management from a university in France, and had about 2 years of related experience.
The inviting company was one that imports steel products to manufacture finished products (pipes, plumbing equipment, machinery) for export, and wanted to hire the applicant as a salesperson in their overseas business department.
I carefully reviewed the company's introduction, organizational chart, and the applicant's resume. Among the 86 occupations for the E7 visa, the most advantageous occupation for the current combination of applicant and company was narrowed down to three (advertising and PR specialist, overseas salesperson, technical salesperson), and I ultimately decided to apply as a technical salesperson.
The most problematic part when inviting foreign employees on an E7 visa (visa issuance recognition application) is often the proof of experience.
※ In most cases where foreign employees are invited on an E7 visa, they have graduated from a university abroad. Therefore, if they have a bachelor's degree, they must have at least 1 year of related experience, which must be proven with documents (proof of experience).
Many companies do not issue proof of experience if the employment has already ended, and even if such proof is obtained with difficulty, if the immigration office wants to verify specific details not mentioned in the proof of experience, it can be grounds for denial. Therefore, the proof of experience must include logical details such as the company where the experience was gained, its address (location), phone number, and the specific duties and position held, including the exact duration of employment.
※ The proof of experience must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the local country and then receive an apostille or consular verification.
in China, for example, to get authentication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a copy of the business registration certificate (business license) of the company where the person worked is required. However, many Chinese companies are reluctant to issue a copy of this document.
In the case of the applicant, they had 1 year of related experience in the Philippines and another year in China. There were difficulties in obtaining the proof of experience, and even the documents that were obtained were lacking in many aspects upon my review, so I requested them to be reissued twice. Finally, after getting the confirmed proof of experience apostilled, I requested all necessary documents for the E7 visa application from the applicant and the inviting company, prepared a letter of employment reason, and applied for the E7 visa issuance recognition.
Now, let's look at the targets and requirements for an E7 visa technical salesperson.
E7 Visa Technical Salesperson
❍ (Job Description)
A person who uses specialized knowledge about the technology of industrial equipment, information and communication equipment, and other parts or products, facilities, etc., to sell machines, equipment, facilities, etc., and provide technical guidance to customers.
❍ (Examples of Applicable Occupations)
Salespersons for pharmaceuticals, network/computer hard disks/multimedia systems/computer software/telecommunication devices/computer equipment/semiconductor equipment/web development/measuring equipment/mobile solutions/telecommunication parts/data recovery/electronic parts/security solutions/PCB/internet solutions/CCTV systems/ERP programs/GPS/IT solutions/ITS/KMS/switches/ultrasound machines/network equipment/MRI/imaging equipment/oxygen respirators/mobile phone parts/electrocardiographs/SMPS/medical equipment/agricultural tractors/imported medical equipment/engines/pumps/auto parts/machine tools/automation equipment/motors/hydraulic machinery/machine parts/environmental facilities/automation devices/cutting tools/food packaging machines/shipbuilding materials/plant equipment/mold machines/steel materials/industrial boilers/industrial pumps/construction equipment technical salespersons. ❍ (Issuance of Employment Recommendation Letter)
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (KOTRA), Minister of SMEs and Startups (Small and Medium Business Administration): Limited to small and medium-sized enterprises.
❍ (Qualifications, Visa Issuance, and Residence Management)
General criteria apply.