Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Aussiekimchi]

Enjoy!.
Sorry they took some time to translate..as you can see it is quite lengthy.
General feeling: I think we outstayed our welcome!

If you have any questions, email me at ESL PLANET.


New E2 Visa Reforms
The reason for changing the visa laws for E-2 visas
The number of ESL teachers who break the social laws in Korea are getting more severe.
- 2007.9.5 KBS 2TV program exhibited an expose on native (English) teachers; drugs, fake degrees.
- Due to the recent pedophile search by Interpol and that teacher having taught English in Korea, there is much concern about native English teachers.
- The issuance of E2 visas with regard to the qualifications of teachers and their social conduct in Korea has become an issue.
- A system of protection must be implemented so that sexual criminals, unqualified teachers, and drug addicts do not come into contact with students.
Ⅱ. Changes to the System
- When applying for an E2 visa, a criminal background check and medical health report must be submitted.
- After arrival in Korea, applicants must get a medical health report from an approved government hospital, public health clinic, or general hospital.
- After an applicant has filed for an E2 visa at an embassy/ consulate, the applicant must have a personal interview.
- Applicants who have been issued an E2 visa in the past or have been verified to have certified documentation will be issued an E2 visa faster.
Changes to the Application Process
1. Criminal Background Check
To prevent applicants with convictions for drug offences or sexual offences from entering the country, a criminal background check must be submitted.
Issuers of Criminal Background Check and Expiration Date
- Only local, provincial/ state, or federal government law enforcement agency issued checks will be accepted.
- The criminal background check must have an apostille*.
※ The countries that do not have an apostille agreement with Korea, (like Canada and China), will have to submit the criminal background check for verification at the applicants closest consulate/ embassy.
Applicants in Korea must receive the criminal background check from the applicants� embassy in Korea. The notarization or seal becomes unnecessary.
- The criminal background check is only valid within 90 days/ 3 months of the E2 visa application.
- Standards for the screening for E2 visa
- Any applicant who has any kind of criminal record will not be issued an E2 visa.

What is an Apostille?
An Apostille or postil is a seal applied by the Department of State to authenticate a document in a foreign country in order to assess the authenticity of an official signature. The Apostille is recognized as form of an international notary seal. An Apostille can be used if both countries (the country issuing the document and the country in which the document will be used) are part of the international "The Hague Apostille Convention".
2. Medical Health Report
A medical health report is necessary for an E2 visa to protect Korean citizens from applicants who test positive for narcotic drugs, communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS physical and/or mental ilnesses.
After entering Korea, applicants must submit themselves to a medical check at an approved govt. hospital public health clinic or general hospital.

Medical Health Report Process
Process When submitting an E2 visa application. ⇒ When registering for alien registration card.
Needed Documents Self Medical Report Korean Health Medical Report
Applicant Teacher Issued by an approved government hospital, public health clinic, or general hospital
Self Medical Report
- After an applicant submits the self medical report to the school, the report must then be submitted with all other documents by the school when applying for the E2 visa.
Korean Health Medical Report
- After receiving the E2 visa the applicant must go to an approved government hospital, public health clinic, or general hospital and submit the report to the immigration office.
※ After an applicant receives their alien registration card, the applicant must submit the Korean Health Medical Report within 3 months/ 90 days.
- Korean Medical Report Contents
A narcotic drug test, TBPE test, 카니비노이드(I have no idea what this is, nor could I find out) test, AIDS/ HIV test
- The applicant must be notified of the following:
� After arrival in Korea and receiving an alien registration card, the applicant must submit themselves to a physical health test at the above mentioned approved places and submit the report to immigration.
� If the health report is not submitted within the 3 months/ 90 day period, test positive for drugs, alcoholism, or communicable diseases, the E2 visa will be cancelled and the applicant will be deported to their home country.
- If the self medical report is positive for any history of narcotic drug use, HIV/ AIDS, or communicable diseases, then an E2 visa will not be issued.
- If the health report is not submitted within the 3 months/ 90 day period, test positive for drugs, alcoholism, or communicable diseases, the E2 visa will be cancelled and the applicant will be deported to their home country.
3. University Degree and Documents
To verify a document above an undergraduate degree, at least one of the following methods will be used:
- the original degree (after a copy of the original has been verified, stamped and filed, the original will be returned)
- the copy degree (must be verified by the Korean consulate in the applicants home country or through the Korean University Education Union/ Community)
- documented proof from the issuing university (by Apostille or by Korean educational verification methods)
- (the following is strange, it is the same as a letter of achievement issued by the university; documented proof with verification methods the same as above)
-- once an applicant goes though this verification method to get an E2 visa, this process does not have to be repeated in the future
- The sealed transcripts sent by the university to immigration will remain the same.
If the document is verified through the Korean educational verification method, the process will be as follows:
* The applicant�s school must submit the documents to the Korean University Education Union/ Community to be verified.
* If it is verified, the information will be inputted into the Korean Immigration Database.
* Therefore the applicant�s information will be in the database and easy to retrieve.
Changes to the Visa Process in Korean Embassy Abroad
1. C4 English Camp Visa
All C4 visa applicants must submit a Criminal Check
Applicants with a degree higher than an undergraduate degree must include at least one the following:
- the original degree (after a copy of the original has been verified, stamped and filed, the original will be returned)
- the copy degree (must be verified by the Korean consulate in the applicants home country or through the Korean University Education Union/ Community)
- documented proof from the issuing university (by Apostille or by Korean educational verification methods)
- (the following is strange, it is the same as a letter of achievement issued by the university; documented proof with verification methods the same as above)
-- once an applicant goes though this verification method to get an E2 visa, this process does not have to be repeated in the future
- The sealed transcripts sent by the university to immigration will remain the same.
If the document is verified through the Korean educational verification method, the process will be as follows:
* The applicant�s school must submit the documents to the Korean University Education Union/ Community to be verified.
* If it is verified, the information will be inputted into the Korean Immigration Database.
* Therefore the applicant�s information will be in the database and easy to retrieve.
Criminal Background Check
- Process for submitting a criminal background check for a C4 visa will remain the same as an E4 visa with details in P-2.
2. E2 Visa Process and Application
All new applicants must have an interview at a consulate
In general, all applicants must submit the E2 visa application to the Korean embassy/ consulate in their home country.
Any applicants who qualify within any of the conditions below can apply for an E2 visa at Korean embassy/ consulate of a third party country.
- applicants with a past history of an E1 visa (university professor), E2 visa (English instructor), E3 visa (academic research/ student visa), with no history of breaking Korean law
- a member of the Korean University Education Union/ Community that verifies academic qualifications
Consulate interview
Your E2 visa will only be issued after a successful interview.
Applicants Requiring a Personal Interview
- In general, all applicants for an E2 visa require a personal interview.
Applicants that qualify to submit an E2 visa application in a third party country may/ may not be required to have a personal interview.
※Any applicants who qualify within any of the conditions below can apply for an E2 visa at Korean embassy/ consulate of a third party country.
- applicants with a past history of an E1 visa (university professor), E2 visa (English instructor), E3 visa (academic research/ student visa), with no history of breaking Korean law
- a member of the Korean University Education Union/ Community that verifies academic qualifications
Interview Questions and Process
- personal interviews will be conducted using the interview questions listed below (Consul�s Checklist for E2 Applicant)
- if the Korean embassy/ consulate deems that the applicant lives an unreasonable distance to be physically present for a personal interview, a web cam interview via the internet will be substituted
If the interviewer at the Korean embassy/ consulate deems the applicant is not suited for an E2 visa, the issuance of a new E2 visa will be denied regardless of the applicants past history.
Ⅲ. Minimizing the Impact of the New E2 Visa System
Applicants who currently have verified qualifications will experience a faster and easier processing of their visa in the future.
- it is possible that applicants can submit an application from a third party country Korean consulate/ embassy and even forgo the interview process
- teacher in possession of an E2 visa (E1,E3) now or in the past will no longer need to submit documents for verification
To compensate for the deficit of human resources in Korea due to the new regulations, the existing qualified foreigners will be given more flexibility within the system.
- Korean immigration laws will become more flexible by allowing more than one workplace and type of work (immigration law 20, 21).
Reduce the inconvenience of having to return to their home country to receive a new E2 visa.
- To avoid the inconvenience of having to return to an applicant�s home country to receive an apostille for a criminal background check, a criminal check issued by the applicant�s embassy/ consulate in Korea will be accepted.
- Instead of receiving an apostille for an applicant�s degree, a document of verification from the Korean University Education Union/ Community will be accepted.
Ⅳ. Government Sponsored Native Teachers� Visa Changes
The basic rules for attaining an E2 visa apply, except that an applicant can apply for a visa from a third party country. Personal interviews will be at the discretion of the embassy/ consulate.
Teachers who were issued an E2 visa before the changes, working in an elementary, middle, and high school are no longer required to submit a criminal background check or health report (but must submit an HIV/ AIDS, drug, TBPE, and 카니비노이드검사 test), when renewing, extending, or transferring their visa.
In the situation where teachers were in the process of being hired by a school principal shall follow the same protocols prior to when the new visa changes came into effect.
Ⅳ. Outcome for Applicants Who Were Being Processed During the Changes
All applicants that were being processed for an E2 visa before the time of change shall follow protocols prior to the changes.
Teachers that qualify in the list below who are currently in Korea that wish to extend, transfer, or renew their visa will be required to submit a criminal background check and Korean health medical report.
- teachers currently working in Korea with an E2 visa prior to the new visa changes
- applicants currently in Korea changing to an E2 visa after the new visa changes
Ⅴ. Punishment for Violators
A constant check will be put upon teachers to ensure no one violates the immigration laws. Illegal teaching, sexual offenders, and drug abusers will be deported and barred from entry into Korea for a time period.
Private schools that hire illegal teachers shall receive more sever penalties. Private schools that hire illegal teachers shall be reported to the board of education and private school licensing board which will make running the business difficult.
Sexual offenders, drug addicts, and alcoholic teachers that cause social problems in Korea will be blacklisted. This list of offenders will be posted by the Ministry of Justice and sent out to the educational centers and Korean hogwan union. These offenders will be barred from entry into Korea.
If you have any questions regarding the new E2 visa changes or visa application call the phone number at the Minsity of Justice, Immigration Division or your local Immigration Office.
02 500 9116/8

[Masta_Don]

They have a test for alcoholism now? And I thought alcoholism translated as 'strong drinker' in Korean.

[anyangoldboy]

Basically a pain in the arse and a lot of teacher might not want to come back or come here. Eventually they'll ease everything

[mehamrick]

카니비노이드... I think this is pot.. THC. cannabis. besides that did that just confuse the hell out of everyone?

[blurgalurgalurga]

"A narcotic drug test, TBPE test, 카니비노이드(I have no idea what this is, nor could I find out) test, AIDS/ HIV test "

This must be 'cannibinoid,' the psychoactive compounds in THC. I read this to mean 'check for pot-headedness.'

[hogwonguy1979]

I love these:

[winterwawa]

America should start requiring AIDS/HIV testing for Koreans who want to go to the USA. All these rules are f*u*c*king rediculas. I'm glad I'm on an F-2-1.

Korea should also aks for HIV tests from all Koreans who have lived in any English speaking country for more than 90 days, especially those where prostitution is legal, like Australia, Canada, England and the Philipines.

Morons

[normalcyispasse]

*laughs*

Well, unless something crazy happens (like a stroke of common sense alights upon the heads of the politicians) it looks like it's Korea Goodbye at the end of this contract!

[Octavius Hite]

Taipei here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




ASA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Korea, Sparkling!

[freethought]

So other than these things being blatantly racist, and the national lawmakers as a whole essentially announcing their bigotry to the world, I do have a question.

I'm beginning the process for an E1 visa and I'm not in the country. I've taught their before, so I know the ins and outs and what this is all about. Will these rules apply to E1 holders/applicants? When will they take effect?

[traxxe]

Okay, so it says:

"To prevent applicants with convictions for drug offences or sexual offences from entering the country, a criminal background check must be submitted. "

They want to do the background check to stop sex offenders and drug addicts.

Then later it says:

"Any applicant who has any kind of criminal record will not be issued an E2 visa."

So which is it? I guess my misdermeanors that aren't sexual or drug related mean I cannot get a new visa here. They aren't keeping sexual offenders and drug abusers out of the country. They are keeping everyone out regardless of how stupid or irrelevent their crime is.

[thebomb]

First it states:

1. Criminal Background Check
To prevent applicants with convictions for drug offences or sexual offences from entering the country, a criminal background check must be submitted.


and then:


Any applicant who has any kind of criminal record will not be issued an E2 visa.

Well I had a DUI years back, still ashamed, so it looks like I couldn't become a tecaher in a school or Hagwon even if I wanted to.

[normalcyispasse]

I have this picture of a bunch of lawmakers with their fingers in their ears yelling, "LA LA LA WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

The idea that Korea is a magical wonderland and that everyone wants to come here is blatantly false. The inflated and nationalistic sense of Mighty Korea has contributed to these sweeping, draconian requirements. There's just NO WAY that Korea will be able to fill its need for teachers with these regulations (well, not unless they're prepared to increase salaries by about 50%!).

If this keeps up, in two years Korea may very possibly resemble Korea thirty years ago.

Go, go Incheon: A World Best Air Hub and Korea Sparkling. Good luck with all that.

[mcgeezer]

This is all a bunch of reactionary bull-roar!!

Korea will soon quickly realize what a mistake this is when now teachers can make almost the same amount of money, work less hours, teach all the privates they can handle, live in a glorious spacious apartment, and not have the racist tag applied to them while working in China....

See ya korea, man you politicians are stupid!!

[normalcyispasse]