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Adam Volle
Joined: 25 May 2007
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:28 am Post subject: Visa Run Costs - Who pays? |
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Heya, Folks-
I'm bludgeoning my way through negotiations to begin my first teaching job in South Korea. They're a fun bunch, these people.
Anyway, I gotta query, and after doing some searching on the site I still can't find a good, solid answer:
If I get my E-2 Visa in the States, the school naturally pays for a round-trip ticket. But that requires -what, a month?- and the job's starting time is sooner than that.
This means I have to make a visa run, right (one recruiter specifically mentioned spending two days in Japan)? And that being the case, is it not the standard that the employer should pay for incurred visa run costs (airfare and hotel stay, at the least)? At least one recruiter is saying this is unreasonable.
AV |
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garykasparov
Joined: 27 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:05 am Post subject: |
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EDIT
Last edited by garykasparov on Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:01 am Post subject: Re: Visa Run Costs - Who pays? |
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| Adam Volle wrote: |
Heya, Folks-
I'm bludgeoning my way through negotiations to begin my first teaching job in South Korea. They're a fun bunch, these people.
Anyway, I gotta query, and after doing some searching on the site I still can't find a good, solid answer:
If I get my E-2 Visa in the States, the school naturally pays for a round-trip ticket. But that requires -what, a month?- and the job's starting time is sooner than that.
This means I have to make a visa run, right (one recruiter specifically mentioned spending two days in Japan)? And that being the case, is it not the standard that the employer should pay for incurred visa run costs (airfare and hotel stay, at the least)? At least one recruiter is saying this is unreasonable.
AV |
If you are hired from within Korea then it is the employers responsibility to pay for the visa run.
Having said that, many only pay for the air ticket and leave you stuck with the hotel and visa costs.
Also I would like to add that if you come here and work until your visa run you will be working illegally and if your boss decides for any reason that he doesn't like you he can leave you up the creek without a paddle.
It typically takes 12-21 days to process a visa from start to finish including transit time for the documents.
Your recruiter wants you on the plane ASAP so he can get paid ASAP. He also wants to make sure you don't take a better offer (there is a shortage of about 6000 teachers right now). It is not his butt on the line if things go to crap. It is you who face the fines and deportation.
There is no panic on your part to rush over. Take the time to do it right.
The job won't go away and doing things the legal way is always in your best interest. |
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willneverteachagain
Joined: 17 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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If you are hired from within Korea then it is the employers responsibility to pay for the visa run.
Having said that, many only pay for the air ticket and leave you stuck with the hotel and visa costs |
it's the employers responsibility for all the visa costs inside or outside korea. Keep all receipts for mailing costs and everything to do with getting the visa into ur passport. If the school wants u to work legally, the visa costs are their cost of doing business.
If u have to go to japan, the school should be paying all the costs including food and the bus ride to the airport |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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There are typically 2 different deals:
1) The boss pays everything. Some could have you pay the extra fee to get the visa processed quickly. That way, everything can be done in the same day and they'll save a few extra bucks on the hotel. I've met one guy who was doing that the only time I went to Japan for a visa. He didn't have much time to spare.
2) They'll give you a set amount of money and you pay the difference or keep whatever is left. It's generally more than enough to cover all the costs even if you decide to stay there a couple of days (usually about 600 thousand won). |
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venus
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Near Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Visa Run Costs - Who pays? |
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| Adam Volle wrote: |
Heya, Folks-
I'm bludgeoning my way through negotiations to begin my first teaching job in South Korea. They're a fun bunch, these people.
Anyway, I gotta query, and after doing some searching on the site I still can't find a good, solid answer:
If I get my E-2 Visa in the States, the school naturally pays for a round-trip ticket. But that requires -what, a month?- and the job's starting time is sooner than that.
This means I have to make a visa run, right (one recruiter specifically mentioned spending two days in Japan)? And that being the case, is it not the standard that the employer should pay for incurred visa run costs (airfare and hotel stay, at the least)? At least one recruiter is saying this is unreasonable.
AV |
It all depends on the school. When I've been recruited from out-country I've always obtained the visa from the Korea Embassy in my own country.
Now when I've been hired in-country, I've always flown to Japan and my employer has always fronted the costs.
I do think it is unusual however for the school to be willing to pay your round trip airfare and the visa run to Japan. why should they, when you could get your visa from your country...?
In my case, I have three years experience here and am coming to the end of my contract. I'll be starting a new public school job in Sept and doing summer camp work in summer, so cannot get my E2 when I'm in the UK as you can;t apply for E2 until the temp visa has finished. I asked if my new school would pa for my trip to Japan from Korea after my summer camp with an unrelated employer and they will not pay it. They expect that if I'm going home, I should get the E2 there.
They explained that if they were hiring me from Korea they would pay for the visa run, but as I'm retunring home for a visit, they'll pay either my retunr trip to the uk or the visa costs.
I think that's fair enough to be honest.
Although I've heard of people being flown here and having vsia trips paid for. It's usually when the school needs them asap, so it;s the school's fault that the teacher can't apply for E2 in their home country, thus the school shoulders the responsibility.
I guess there is no set rule and it will depend on the company you're negotiating with.
I agree with this though in your case, especially if it says in the contract that the employer will pay for visa costs -
| Quote: |
| Your recruiter wants you on the plane ASAP so he can get paid ASAP. He also wants to make sure you don't take a better offer (there is a shortage of about 6000 teachers right now). It is not his butt on the line if things go to crap. It is you who face the fines and deportation. |
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Adam Volle
Joined: 25 May 2007
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:12 am Post subject: |
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T'anks.
One recruiter (Gone2Korea) has offered visa run costs without my even asking. One other (I Love ESL) thinks I'm insane to ask.
Go fig'. |
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kigolo1881
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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It's in your best interest to get a VISA before heading over to Korea.
The recruiter's just trying to urge you to come asap though if you already got a position at your job, then they will be able to wait 2 weeks or so especially if its a pub school. |
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Poemer
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Mullae
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:26 am Post subject: |
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The only reason someone coming to Korea from abroad would have to do a visa run is because the school neglected to/couldn't get a teacher far enough in advance for all the paperwork to clear. The school doesn't have its act together. There is no way I would ever pay a penny for a visa run if I was coming over for my first job. The school is in a bind, they need a teacher now, so they have to pay the price. At the very least they should cover your airline ticket and hotel costs--GET IT IN YOUR CONTRACT BEFORE YOU COME OVER!
Or, better yet, if you have any doubts at all about the job this is a good final warning that you should keep looking. |
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Adam Volle
Joined: 25 May 2007
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| Appreciate the advice, Ladies and Gentlemen. |
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