Korean Job Discussion Forums

[atyourcommand]

I'm a Canadian looking to teach in S Korea, apparently under new Visa regulations. After reading quite a few of these posts and doing research on exactly what these new regulations mean, I'm still confused about a couple of things:

1. Do you have to finish these things, ie. criminal record check, health check and face-to-face interview with the Korean Consulate, when applying for jobs or do you have to have a job offer before doing them, especially the interview?

2. Because of the time-line of these requirements, when would be a good time to start looking if I wanted to be in country for early summer?

I just don't want to spend all of the necessary money and time for the above if I have to do complete them before even getting a job offer. Because I'm from Atlantic Canada, the closest Korean Consulate is in Montreal, meaning I have to spend at least $400-500 in taking the train there and back (more if I want to fly and more if I have to stay the night), plus all of the necessary Visa costs. Any advice or correcting my possibly wrong info would be appreciated.

[bacasper]

No one knows for sure the answer to your questions because the regulations are too new yet. I can tell you you are risking wasting all that time and money when they may just say no.

You are better off looking in Taiwan, Japan, or even China.

[Bibbitybop]

Read through the E-2 guidelines sticky, it will answer a lot of your questions.

Many people are getting new visa right now, it's not "too early." You need the background check, medical check including AIDS and drug test and have those notarized. As far as I know, you don't have to do an interview unless you are a "suspicious" person.

Don't book a trip to the consulate, though, until you get orders to do so. Why don't you contact a reputable recruiter, ask them what you need to do first?