Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TonyAu]

For what it's worth, here has been my experience getting an E2 visa under the new regulations.

Criminal Background Check - easy to get from the Australian Federal Police. (http://afp.gov.au/business/national_police_checks) Easy to get an apostille at a DFAT office, which can also be done by mail. (http://www.victoria.dfat.gov.au/legal.html)

Interviews - done over the phone, but if they are not satisfied, you'll need to go to Canberra or Sydney for an in-person interview. The guy at the embassy said it will be based on the "Consul's Checklist", which needs to be sent with your application. Those, like me, who have had an E2 before, don't need to have the interview.

Consul's Checklist - This asks questions about your personal data (name, etc), immigration data (been to Korea before? done anything bad there?), employment data (where are you going to be working?), academic career (where/what did you study?), criminal record (got one?), medical record (same as self-declaration), consul's additional questions (empty).

Very important - this checklist needs to be witnessed by a JP. I'm taking mine to the police station.

Visa application - Needs to be sent/taken to the embassy or consulate, with one photo, the witnessed checklist, your passport, the visa issuance number and $75. The processing time is 4-5 working days. If time is short, you can do what I'm doing, and send everything before you get the visa issuance number, then call or email it as soon as you have it.

So that's the long and the short of it. If I've forgotten anything, feel free to add it.

[kickittome]

Did you send your stuff do the embassy or consulate?

Did you have to send them a flight ticket?

[TonyAu]

I'm about to send my stuff to the embassy in Canberra. I'm Victorian, so that is the place for me. If you're from New South Wales, the Northern Territory, or Queensland, you should go through the consulate in Sydney.

No need for a flight ticket.

[kickittome]

I live in NSW so it's the Sydney consulate for me. They are making me get a plane ticket before they process the visa.

[diablo3]

Did you do your check with or without fingerprints?

[TonyAu]

Without

[simpleminds]

Lemme get this straight. If you're on and E 2 already, you don't need the interview. Do you still need the Consul's thingy? What about apostilles?

It's likely I won't change jobs when I have go through this in 2009.

[TonyAu]

I had an E2 nearly 8 years ago. I also got one late last year, but the job fell through (more on that later - I'm waiting until I get my new visa before I spill the beans on the mob that cancelled my contract).

The man from the visa office in Canberra didn't seem to mind how long ago my previous E2 was, and said that the interview wasn't necessary. However, I did need to get my police check apostilled (if you're in Korea, do this by mail - the Australian embassy can't help you), and I did need to complete the Consul's checklist and get it witnessed by a JP (the embassy might be able to help - ask them, if need be). Having said that, the JP's main task is to witness a signature, but on the Consul's checklist, there is no place for me to sign... I had a well confused JP at the cop shop this afternoon.

Anyway, my passport and application are on their way to Canberra, and when I get my visa issuance number on Friday or Monday, I'll give them a bell. I'll write back here if anything else pops up.

[Burndog]

Sorry if this is a stupid question...but you just walked into a police station and asked for a J.P? Or an any old Policeman down at the station do this? Sorry...but thought that I was kinda on top of things (having arranged the CBC, Passport and apostilles...I am starting to hate Level 13 Casselden Place!!!), so to find another hurdle is like death!

Thanks for your help, and happy trails!

Burndog.

[TonyAu]

Don't worry. Any police station should have a JP there at most times. There's no natural link between a copper and a JP, but there's a big overlap. Call your local station if you're not sure. Other professions with high percentages of JPs include magistrates, solicitors, etc.

Not a huge hurdle, but another one is definitely frustrating - I feel your pain.

Good luck.

[aussieb]

In Queensland, you can locate a Justice of the Peace by going to this website. http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/994.htm
I would think other States would provide a similar service.

[Burndog]

[kickittome]

[simpleminds]

Where do you get a JP in Korea? The embassy? I don't fancy going all the way home for the consul's thing (I'm extending my visa). I take it you can get that at the embassy?

A JP has to witness your signiture, right? Or is it the bloke who signs your AFP criminal recod check?

I'm dazed and confused....

[icicle]

I don't think that the need for a JP to sign the counsel checklist is always a requirement.

I went through the whole process in late April and definitely did not get the checklist signed by a JP nor was it requested that this happen. And I had no problems at all in going through the whole process.

I was in NSW at the time and got my National Criminal record check from the NSW police (in Australia the state check does check national records). This is equally accepted as the AFP check but for me was easier and quicker to do.