Government suspends consular visa processing in Wuhan, issues policy for quarantined foreign nationals in South Korea because of coronavirus

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The government has suspended all visa-related processes at the consulate in Wuhan in the Hubei Province and has issued measures to address foreign nationals overstaying their visa or missing the ARC extension deadline because of quarantine for coronavirus.

What does the change mean? Chinese residents of Wuhan and Hubei Province cannot obtain visas from the South Korean Consulate in Wuhan.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: All visas processed by the South Korean Consulate in Wuhan.
• Who is affected: Chinese residents of Wuhan and Hubei Province applying for South Korean visas.
• Impact on processing: Processing of all visas is suspended for the South Korean Consulate in Wuhan.
• Business impact: Companies employing foreign workers from Hubei Province may face reduced staff.
• Next steps: Employers should be aware of the visa processing suspension when applying for visas for employees who are residents of Hubei Province. Foreign nationals quarantined in South Korea for coronavirus should be sure to obtain documentation of their quarantine if they have overstayed their visa or are applying for an ARC extension.

Background: Since the coronavirus was first detected in December, countries have begun issuing travel bans and warnings to prevent the further spread of the virus. On Jan. 25, the government of South Korea announced that it was suspending all visa processing at its consulate in Wuhan where the coronavirus is believed to have originated, and that it would send a chartered flight to the city to bring its citizens home.

Analysis & Comments: Employers should be aware of the suspension of visas for foreign workers from Hubei Province when filing visa applications. On Jan. 28, the government of South Korea implemented measures to address overstay of visas and missing ARC extension deadlines, saying that short-term visitors would not be penalized for overstaying their visa owing to quarantine. Long-term foreign national residents who miss their ARC extension deadline because of quarantine or treatment will receive a medical document to submit with their extension application. Deloitte will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they become available.

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