Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Coffeecup]

Please be specific if you have had the experience.

Question probably more for the Americans since that's the particular situation. While being in Korea do you sometimes find having a book of personal checks for your bank account back home in the US to be very handy if not downright necessary? I know quite well that you can't just write up checks when you are overseas, however are there times when you've had to make some kind of payment to some business back home (i.e. in the States) and a personal check came in very useful (if not the only way)? Even in this era of credit cards/debit cards and how online purchases can be made with cc's, there still may be a few times when you just have to send a check somewhere in the regular mail? How about when you opened up a new bank account in the US or other region while still overseas? You would then need to send a personal check to the new bank(?).

Or, have you gone a very long time (i.e. at least a year) without even coming close to needing personal checks to your main bank back home? Even though it surely might be possible, there might? be a few occasions in which credit cards aren't accepted (i.e. perhaps at a US Embassy or other things official?)? Anyways on the one hand I am debating ordering some new checks, on the otherhand it might seem like it's not necessary.

[matthews_world]

If you are a teacher, your E-2 will allow you to set up a bank account in Korea. Here, you can easily wire money to a home account. Many home banks have electronic bill payment. I transfer money to my home account without difficulty every month.

So before you leave, make sure your current bank has bill pay capabilities. If not, then don't leave your country without a bank account that does!

Another thing, it is helpful to give someone you trust, i.e. family member, a power of attorney. Then they can legally gain information about your business dealings when you are away.

[Coffeecup]

Thanks, but... Wow, so you mean people cannot set up a normal bank account until they have an E-2 visa? Also, does the wiring process cost much money and/or a % commission fee? And, people not on an E-2 visa cannot wire money?

This "bill pay" option you mentioned, I don't know of any special types of plans, but my bank account does allow me to use my debit card as a normal VISA credit card, meaning I pay for most things that way even though it's really only direct access to my checking acct. Is that basically what you mean? I don't know of more special plans beyond that and don't really know if you were describing something else.

Question, is it ever particularly helpful to have more than one back acct back home, even if the both of them are standard. Also, when you make your monthly pay, surely you deposit it into your bank there in Korea. But every once in awhile, do you send large amounts of money back home? If so, how (by wiring?). And do they get 'suspicious' if you send larger than normal amounts back?

[justagirl]

Hi Coffeecup,
I've been here for 2 years, 4 months and have never used my personal checks from home.

I do have my account open at home, but my dad is the one who manages my money. He puts money in, he writes the checks I ask him to, etc.

You need your alien ID card to open a bank account, and you probably won't get that until a few weeks after you are here.

Hope that helps!
justagirl

[Coffeecup]

Actually I am planning on staying in Korea for perhaps a month, maybe two months, and looking around first before deciding on a school. Want to check out at least a few cities as well as look through a number of schools/locations, not to mention just feel things out and figuring if I really want to get myself into a 1 or more year situation. During that period of time (before E-2 process) will I be eligible to get an alien identification card and/or do the other normal things, such as open a bank account? I assume during that one or perhaps 2 months I will be on a "tourist" visa (I guess the 3 month kind) and so can I get an id card in that situation? Or as only a "tourist" (such a low way of putting it ) am I not able to do any of those things?

[matthews_world]

[jvalmer]

I think you don't need a E-2 to open a bank account. When I went, all I had was the standard tourist visa that customs stamps into your passport. But, I went with a Korean to open the account, maybe that helped. Also, I know a couple kyopos with terrible Korean speaking skills, who opened bank accounts on their tourist visa. But, maybe they got preferential treatment. Not sure, try going to a bank and opening an account. Try going to a branch in Seoul if possible. Usually their is someone who speaks okay english in most banks with FX services.

[OiGirl]

You don't have to give someone Power of Attorney. I have a friend who is listed as my "Personal Agent" on all my bank accounts in the US. We arranged this at the bank branch.

On a six-week group trip to Mexico, the group coordinator suggested we open checking accounts with cash cards which were completely unconnected to any other accounts we had. (i.e., open an account at a new bank.) I think she was overly paranoid (even after having lived in Mexico for many years,) and this scheme completely backfired on me, as my new checking account was with a bank that charged US$15 on foreign withdrawals, while my own bank charged nothing.

If you are in Korea for 90 days, even if it's on a tourist visa, you need to register and get your Alien ID card. I know most tourist visas are for a maximum of 90 days, but I was challenged at the airport while leaving on a 90-day visa for not having my Alien card, however, I had only been there for 60 days and therefore didn't need to regisster.

[Coffeecup]

OiGirl said:

[OiGirl]

It seems that 90 days is both the maximum number of days you can stay on a tourist visa and also the number of days when you need to register with Immigration.

It is possible to extend a tourist visa "in special cases such as accidents, health problems, flight cancellation, etc."

"A Korean embassy or consulate can issue two types of visa: a short-term visa for the visitor who wants to stay up to 90 days and a special long-term visa for periods longer than 90 days. A visitor with a special long-term visa is required to apply for alien registration at a local immigration office within 90 days of arrival. "

(What if you are "living," legitimately, without working, in Korea on a tourist visa and are making a visa run every 90 days? Do you have to register? Has anyone done this?)

When I was leaving Korea, the Air Canada agent (not Immigration!) was quite upset that I had "overstayed" the usual USA 30-days-on-entry tourist visa. When I pointed out that I had a 90-day tourist visa, she demanded to see my Alien registration card. When I pointed out that I had only been in Korea for 60 days, she gave up and gave me a boarding pass.

More information here:
http://english.tour2korea.com/coming/essential/entry.asp
http://travel.state.gov/skorea.html
http://www.koreaembassyusa.org/visiting/eng_entryformality.cfm