Korean Job Discussion Forums

[superacidjax]

This might be somewhere else on Daves, but I couldn't find it, so I thought I post the up-to-the-minute requirements for the E-2. There have been some recent changes (November I think) so the following is what's needed.

This stuff will be sent to the school in Korea:

- original degree (or notarized copy)

- photocopy of the information pages of your passport (do NOT send the actual passport)

- 3 sets of university transcripts, sealed and stamped across the fold - you will need to send 2 sets to Korea and keep one for the Korean consulate. (sometimes the consulate asks for them, sometimes not.)

- criminal background check with appropriate apostillation (for non-apostille- signatories (i.e. canada, the notarized background form will need to be authenticated at a local consulate.)

- one copy of the health statement - (make two copies as some consulates request to see a copy) (here's a link for the form: http://morganrecruiters.com/images/uploads/form60.pdf)

- 2 passport sized photos, in color and date stamped on the back (must be taken within the last six months) - two is suggested, 4 is better and you can use the extra picture(s) when you arrive in Korea (for example when you make your Registration Card)

- a signed copy of your contract - this just needs to be printed out and signed wherever it indicates.

- a copy of your resume, signed and containing your current contact information - again, just a copy of your resume, printed out and signed at the bottom.

After this stuff is sent to the school, they apply at local (in Korea) Immigration for your Visa Issuance Number. This Number will usually be emailed to you by the school and takes around a week (+- 3 days or so.)

When you have this Visa Issuance Number, you'll then go to your local Korean Consulate with your passport, 1 copy of your transcript and the visa fee. You'll drop off the passport and docs, and they'll either mail you back your passport or in many cases, (especially the Houston consulate) they'll have the passport (with new visa) ready for you the next day to pick up in person.

If you don't live near a consulate, consult the Korean Embassy website for your country and find out what consulate handles your particular region of your country. That consulate will have a web site and there will be detailed instructions for doing the process by mail.

First time E-2 applicants will need to have a personal interview at a consulate. I don't know if or what the procedure is for that personal interview if you do not live close to a consulate. I recently replaced my passport, so I have an entirely new passport number, so while it's my first E-2 on this new passport, I still do not have to do the interview, because apparently, they have a name record. So if you have a new passport number, you shouldn't have to worry about the interview (if you've previously held an E-2.)

Any decent recruiter should walk you through this process, but I know many recruiters don't seem to be as fluent with E-2 processes as they ought to be.

There will obviously be some anecdotal variations on the above requirements, but with the above requirements met, you'll have no (or minimal headaches.)

I am getting ready to return to Korea in May, so I have just jumped through the above hoops with no problems.

A note on the criminal background check: I did a simple "Name-based" search with my local Sheriff's department, got it notarized at the Sheriff's office. I then took that notarized, name-based background check to the Missouri Secretary of State's branch office in Kansas City for the Apostille stamp. The form must be notarized at the law-enforcement place where ever you get it in order for the SecState to be able to put their Apostille stamp on it. The fingerprint-based search is more comprehensive as it is based on FBI records, but in my case, the name search worked fine. If you want better peace of mind, get the fingerprint-based one, but in MY case, Korean Immigration didn't seem to care what type of search was done, just so long as it had all of the pretty authentication stamps and showed that I wasn't a sex-offender or a murderer.

I realize that this might seem like basic information to many of you guys, but I thought I'd post my recent knowledge with the hope of helping someone navigate this administrivia.

[chris_J2]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=152621&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

I'd also bring enough medications to last until your health care card & ARC are received. Could be a month, but usually quicker.
Public Schools get paid on the 25th, each month, so if you arrive on the 26th, it's a long wait.

Edit: The new contract stipulates the 17th day of each month, for pay.

And an ATM card, or enough cash to cover the 65,000-75,000 won cost of the medical exam, when you arrive. The 300,000 won will go quick enough for incidentals, when you arrive.

[cmr]

[wesharris]

What about renewing your visa for a new location, what is required to get this done ?
Thanks,
Wesley

[chris_J2]

CMR: You're right.

I've been paid on the 25th each month for the past 2 years, but when I looked at this years contract, I found this:

[hamlet712]

Does Anybody care that this is completely and Totally in the wrong Forum?

This thread is about working in Korea...............

[superacidjax]

[hamlet712]

Ok whatever

I was with you until your comment at the end using "retarded"

Sure, this has to do with Travelling to Korea, but you are stating VISA requirements, the people who come here are pretty much the ones that are IN korea making VACATION plans.

You need a visa to WORK in Korea, so guess where this thread belongs?

Its kind of like when someone asks something about Korean culture, but it happened AT WORK, they stick it in the Living in Korea section, not in the work related section.

[cmr]

[chris_J2]

CMR wrote:

[cmr]

Hey chris_J2,

I think I might be guilty of a slight misunderstanding... that medical test of mine was for my contract, not for my visa. I think that might explain why I didn't need to have a full medical exam.

[Blueberry]

[asc422]

... ...

[hamlet712]

yes lets get rid of ALL distinctions then shall we.

Lets stick Advanced Kids in Beginners classes, lets stick the beginners in the advanced classes, lets stick grade 6 kids in with the grade 1 kids. Let's let anybody just walk onto the American military base, including Kim JOng Ill

after all IT DOESNT MATTER WHERE THEY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Break down all distinctions.

This thread has NOTHING to do with travel, it has to do with VISA requirements, clearly a WORKING in KOrea topic.

I only really mentioned it because it MAY have been more useful to people in the ACTUAL section where it belongs, since many people like me, do not come to the TRAVEL section unless they are you know, about to travel.

And when i moved here from Canada I didnt look at the travel section, i looked at the working section, as I was pretty certain that the travel section had more to do with vacations .

Just look at where you made YOUR last post about wishing you had know E2 stuff earlier, you stuck it in the JOBS section didnt you, yes you did.

HMMMMMMMMM


I am sorry I was actually trying to be HELPFUL by pointing this out.

if you come here for HELPFUL advice, an organised discussion forum with threads in the appropriate places would be beneficial to you, n'est pas?

Or do you like wading through an plethura of useless crap attempting to find a post that has something to do with what you are lookng for because organisation should be optional






I'd also ask you to take note of the description of the thread.

"For Travel IN, AROUND and OUT of KOrea"

I don't know about you, but i don't see the word "TO" in there.


Id love to talk about this, but Im going to have massive sale this weekend, so Im gong to stick the ad for that in the CURRENT EVENTS section, and of course some of my sale items are electronics, so Id better but a special ad for their sale in the TECHNOLOGY section.

I'm sure the right people will find my SALE items in those sections right?

[asc422]

Nice trolling. If only you could channel that passion into something that actually mattered in life.