I'm approaching the maximum 8-year limit on my D-2 visa in Korea?

The D-2 visa has a maximum total stay of 8 years across all study levels (bachelor's, master's, PhD), and immigration is strict about this. Once you hit the limit, you cannot extend or get a new D-2 even at a different school, so plan your transition early. The good news is there are several paths forward depending on your situation.

The most common transitions are D-10 (job seeker visa) for 6 to 24 months while looking for work, then E-7 (specialty occupation) once you secure employment with a degree-matching salary. If you've been studying in fields like science, engineering, or research, the F-2-7 points-based residence visa (성적우수 외국인 유학생) is excellent. Reach 80 points through Korean language ability (TOPIK 4+ gives 20 points), age, education, income from internships, and Korean employment, and you get a 3-year residence visa with full work rights. For PhD graduates, the F-2-71 visa is even easier with separate criteria. Marrying a Korean opens F-6, with 5+ years residence later qualifying for F-5 permanent residency. Starting a business with 100 million won investment opens D-8-2 startup visa (with reduced thresholds for graduates of Korean universities). The Hi Korea immigration website has the official transition rules, and the 1345 helpline (24/7, 20 languages) is excellent for case-specific advice. Don't wait until the last 6 months to start the transition since some visa changes take 2 to 3 months to process. The Korea Immigration Service Foundation also offers free consultations at major centers.