Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Circus Monkey]

Lost Seoul was kind enough to pass along this information. Hopefully this should answer some questions. CM

Here are the laws regarding E2 visa issuance please read them carefully.
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E-2 Status (Teaching Foreign Languages)
A. The Object of Visa Issuance
The E-2 visa is available to individuals who have the qualifications specified by the Minister of justice and desire to instruct foreign languages at foreign language institutions, educational institutions of elementary school and higher levels or their attached language research institutions, or language training institutions attached to public/private companies or broadcasting stations, or other institutions/organizations corresponding to such institutions as described above.
In principle, a foreign language instructor shall be a native speaker of the teaching language.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTITUTIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS:
- Educational institutions of elementary school and higher levels or their annex language research institutions
- Foreign language institutions registered according to the Act on establishment of institute.
- Language training institutions attached to public/private companies or organizations.
B. Application and Required Documents
A foreigner shall make an application for a visa to a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad and required documents are as follows:
Passport
Application form
Required documents
- employment contract
- copy of diploma
- substantiating documents for a foundation of institution or organization
- reference
If necessary, the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad may ask an applicant to submit more documents than required.
As you need to make an application for your visa to a Korean embassy or consulate abroad if you go out to Korea to find a job and obtain employment whilst inside the Republic of Korea you will then have to do what is known as a 'visa run.' In which you fly out of Korea to where there is a foreign Korean embassy or consulate and apply for your visa. The usual destination is Osaka (Japan) but your employer will tell you what to do and where to go, they should also pay for your flight and accommodation to wherever they send you to obtain a visa, if not I would steer clear of that institute.
When the application is approved, the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad shall affix a visa stamp in the passport of the applicant. On a visa stamp, there are the status of sojourn(E-2), period of stay(less than 1 year) and validity of a visa.

[gajackson1]

Osaka is the usual destination for a Seoul-based Visa run; in the south, F u k u o k a is more common.

If you plan on doing ANY sort of vacationing/travel outside of Korea while you are working here (say, a holiday over in SEAM area), you will want to apply for a Multiple Re-Entry Visa/Permit; otherwise, you might be in for a nasty surprise when you have bags and tickets in hand, but Immigration/Passport control won't let you on your plane. You can usually do this at the same time as your initial Visa issuance (let your boss know), but some do it ipso facto.

Regards,

Glen

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

And, in regards to Osaka, it is usually done within one day (go there, get visa, and get back to Korea).

[kylehawkins2000]

If you are heading to F u k u o k a for a visa run you may want to check out the excellent info provided on www.pusanweb.com. They have step by step instructions with photos!

Just go to the webpage and look under the 'guides' section.

Good luck all!

[blah]

I would like to also add to your list of requirements that your diploma � even if it is the original � will need to be authenticated in the jurisdiction where it was earned. In my case, the embassy in Manila made me send mine, along with a copy of my driver�s license, to a family member in Vancouver (where I earned it), who then had to take it to the local embassy for authentication. Then my family member had to send it back to me in the Philippines.

Consular offices are rarely consistent in their interpretation of policy, so it�s always a good idea to phone ahead and find out the details before making a potentially long and costly trip for nothing.

[em]

Here in Toronto the Korean Consulate wants you to have the copies of your diploma notarized (I used a lawyer) before they will authenticate them - which adds yet another step to the paper trail leading to Korea. I would be sure to call your local Consulate/Embassy before you visit to find out whether or not this is the case for you - it clearly varies from one institution to another.

[blah]

I have complied with the requirements mentioned in my previous post (above). I sent my diploma back to Vancouver to be authenticated at the Korean Consulate nearest where it was earned. I forwarded my stamped copy from said embassy to Korea for processing. And guess what?

I have been informed that they now require a transcript as well.

So all of out there should be prepared to include a transcript. Just to be safe, I would recommend getting two copies: an Official Copy (sealed in an envelope at its point of origin), and an unofficial copy (that can be photocopies as many times as you might need it). Better to have too much documentation than to be bogged down acquiring more.

[K-in-C]

Hi there,

If an employer and employee agree to break a contract will the former employee have problems getting another job? By this I mean will the Korean Immigration officials give the person a hard time?

Just wondering,

K-in-C

[The Bobster]

[K-in-C]

[quote="The Bobster"][quote]
Gonna quibble with terms, but you'll like the result.

When people agree, a contract is not "broken," it is more precisely "dissolved." You can break the contract, or your employer can, but if the two of you get together and agree on the thing, it's not broken.


No worries. Quibble away, cutie. Thanks!

Until next time,

K-in-C

[Bendrix]

I'm still in the U.S. and I've received my Certificate for Confirmation of
Visa Issuance.

What do I do now? Do I just mail my certificate and passport to the nearest Korean Consulate? Is there a special form I should fill out first? I need to get a multi-entry visa too.

THanks in advance.

[lush72]

[mb2086]

Maybe I'm being a bit thick but let me get this right. If I come over on a visitor visa and get a job I will then have to go on a visa run for the E2 Visa. That bit I understand. What I don't understand is why my original Degree certificate (not a notarised copy) will not be sufficient - does that have to be notarised in my country in some way or not?

I would like to make another point also. In 2001 the Lonely Planet guide to Korea said that the Korean governmant were considering allowing the work visa to be issued wholly in Korea, but three years later nothing seems to have changed. This visa run thing is utter nonsense it seems to me - a complete waste of time and money for all concerned. Why do they still insist on it? If I go to Taiwan on a visitors visa I can get a work visa without leaving the country.

[just because]

[oneiros]