🎓 Must check before leave of absence, return, or transfer! 3 international student visa checkpoints

When studying in Korea, there are times when you think about taking a leave of absence, returning to school, or transferring.

But for international students, these changes in academic status may not end with just school matters.

This is because they can also affect your visa and stay.

You don't need to memorize all the complicated rules.

If your school schedule changes, check your visa too.

Just remember this, and it gets much easier 😊

✈️ 1. Can I keep my visa if I take a leave of absence?

The first thing to check when taking a leave of absence is whether you can keep your current visa.

Since student visas are usually based on actual continued study, it may be difficult to keep your stay if you take a leave.

Depending on the school, you may be instructed to leave the country or check additional requirements, and the guidance can vary by school.

So, before a leave of absence, check these 3 things first.

• If you can continue to keep your current visa

• If you need to leave the country

• If there are any separate guidelines from your school's international office

A leave of absence isn't just about taking a semester off; think of it as also reviewing your stay plan.

📄 2. What should I prepare when returning to school?

Returning to school isn't finished by just applying for reinstatement at school.

Depending on the situation, you may need to prepare your visa documents again.

Usually, these are the documents to check.

• Certificate of Admission

• Passport copy

• Photo

• Academic documents

• Financial support documents

Required documents may differ by school, so once reinstatement is decided, the first thing to do is check the international office's notice.

Returning to school is easy if you think like this.

Prepare to return to school + Prepare your visa

You may need to take care of both together.

🏠 3. If you move or your school changes, check immediately

Moving, transferring, or getting a new passport may not just be a lifestyle change.

In these cases, you must first check if you need to report it.

Especially, check if your personal information changes as below.

• When your address changes

• When your school changes

• When your passport information changes

In these situations, you usually need to check if you need to report within 15 days.

So when you move or transfer schools is confirmed, it's important to make it a habit to check both the school guidance and the stay-related rules.

✅ Just remember this

Academic status changes for international students are not just school matters but can also be connected to your visa and stay.

So just remember the three points below.

• Before a leave: Check if you can keep your current visa

• Before returning: Prepare school and visa documents together

• After moving, transferring, or getting a new passport: Check immediately if reporting is required

From now on, think of it this way.

If your school schedule changes, check your visa too!

💡 VIVISA will help you.

VIVISA organizes the following information in an easy-to-understand way.

• Foreign and international student visa information

• Part-time job & work regulations

• Essential administrative guide for living in Korea

Your student life and part-time job in Korea—don’t worry anymore and start comfortably with VIVISA! ✨