Korean Job Discussion Forums

[esetters21]

[Kwangjuchicken]

[Zaria32]

Many people teaching at univesities are on E-2...Korean professors often object to E-1 visas...

Also, OP you say they offer him the job and then he reports them and Immigration moves in? Nonsense...no violation of law is made with such an offer. Only if he actually starts teaching is there there a violation... Until he teaches without the permission of Immigration no law has been violated.

[Ut videam]

For what it's worth...

My understanding is that the E-1 is only granted to university instructors who have been hired to teach specialized classes (i.e., requirements for a major). So, someone hired to teach English lit to English majors would be given an E-1.

Instructors hired to teach English conversation as a general educational requirement (core curriculum) are not eligible for E-1s. These instructors must comply with the E-2 visa requirements.

I know there are exceptions to this, as there are exceptions to every rule (especially in Korea!). But I believe this is the basic framework for determining who's eligible for an E-1 and who's not.

[beast]

everyone wants to not believe that. Last year, the reverse happened. On another popular website, a job was offered for a few hours in the evening at a high school in bundang. All people that showed up for the interview were asked if it was okay to pay them in cash and not report to immigration that they have a second job location. Two of my friends went and were busted. They had the whole thing on camera. They were deported and fined. You don't hear about it a lot, but it does happen just so often. You have to freakin do your homework and be careful.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[skdragon]

[genezorm]

tell your friend to stop snitchin, where i'm from, you could get a bounty on your head for ratting out to the cops

tell him to man up and pay his fine or do his time

[tob55]

I have read and re-read through this post and I must tell you that it is an interesting discussion. For myself, it is of no consequence since I am on an F5-9 visa and have no concerns with regard to employment, but for those who are taking the risk, it does mean something. While I understand fully the sides to the argument, I simply have to ask people who would risk deportation, fines, and being blacklisted here if it is really worth sacrificing everything you have done here for a little gain?

I know you may be able to leave Korea and never look back, but some where inside there is a matter of conscience that should be making some kind of connection, or not I suppose. I think breaking the law is breaking the law no matter if it is a little thing or a big thing. I know in Korea, there is a jaded or slanted view of what is acceptable for Koreans versus what is acceptable for foreigners, but all in all, I hope that people who are lured into the false sense of security come to the realization that things don't always catch up to you in the short term, but they eventually catch up to you.

Forgive the soapbox sentiment, and I am not trying to anger those on either side of the argument. I just think that your professional worth flies out the window each time you stoop to the level of deception and cheating just for the sake of financial gain.

[WoBW]

[justin moffatt]

Granted, there is an uneasy quality that comes with someone who "snitches" on others from the same group (some of you watch too much Sopranos or OZ). However, after 20 years of being in Korea, my friend has witnessed hundreds upon hundreds of English teachers come and go. I would submit that his loyality to this group of individuals is somewhat limited. Although, I can see how this moral dilemma is affecting him. Over the past 20 years, he had repeatedly engaged in employment without the proper visa conditions. Hence why he has not been able to get permanent residence. Now many of you might say he is getting what he deserves, however, how can you even begin to imagine what it must be like to be forced to leave a country that has been your home for 20 years. Therefore, the issue of paying the money is not of contention, but rather the permanent deportation. Regardless, I have strongly urged him to let go, and find employment in another country, which I believe at the end of his contract, he will do.

On the other hand, for those of you who choose to work without the right visa conditions, you accept that risk of fine and deportation. To be honest, in the past, I also took that risk and faced the consequences. Thankfully, I met a wonderful Korean woman and I no longer have to face that choice.

Furthermore, many individuals without the proper visa conditions are saturating the market by accepting extremely lower fees for work. For example, some part time positions have dropped from 50-60,000won an hour to 15,000 to 35,0000won an hour. In other words, those who do have the proper visa conditions (and may have to support a family) are being undersold due to those individuals who agree to work for less money (because of their visa conditions).

Last of all, the main objective for the authorities is not to just deport foreigners engaging in illegal behaviors (although President Lee feels this is crucial), but to close/fine those agencies that are perpetuating this illegal behavior in order to make more money (illegally). Of course, the authorities want a cut of this illegal money (hence the corruption).

[tob55]

Your points are noted justin moffatt and as someone who made the decision to stay as a permanent resident of Korea, I understand fully the concerns. This is why I mentioned my POV. I know many will not look kindly to talk of people being caught, but does it ever occur to those individuals that they are not actually the solution to the problems of English education in the country?

Korea preys on these types of individuals to illustrate their jaded view of foreign workers. If you haven't caught on to the fact that non-Koreans are viewed as low class people regardless of their qualifications and experience. I wish there was something to be done that would change this perception of the foreigner, but it is a tough battle to be waged at every turn. Those of the foreign pool of workers do our best to provide quality results in what we do. Sure, some people come to Korea for fun and games, but those people have fun and games in mind any where they go.

However, there is a difference between wanting to have a good time, and breaking the law. This is why, whether you agree with it or not, immigration is going to do whatever it can, including rewarding "bounty hunters" to do their job. If there is an offer of money to turn someone in, there will always be a Judas ready to step up and claim the prize, whatever the personal sacrifice to them is. I choose to live my life free of questionable business and employment dealings for this reason. I am no saint, but I do understand where the lines of demarcation are drawn. I make no attempts to interfere in the business of others. They are men and women who make up their own minds so me "telling on them" makes little sense. I just do my part to keep my dealings above board in every way. At the end of the day I am responsible for me and my family, no one else. It is much better to live that way than to face the consequences as this post is trying to point out.

[DrunkenMaster]

http://www.hikorea.go.kr/

Here's the immigration link for anyone who wants to check out what you need for an E1 visa.

Go to the English section, click on the "Information" link in the main upper part of the screen, select "immigation guide", click on "Visa", then "Visa Issuance Guide: status of stay." Scroll down to the E1 description.

This website is a great resource for making online reservations too. Never have to wait in line again.

I know of an entire department that just got switched to E1 visas.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[tob55]

Sadly, Young FRANKenstein you are right in this regard. It is a tough situation to be placed in and I do share my sympathies with those who are in it, but unfortunately, their decisions are what ultimately led to their current circumstances. Nonetheless, everyone take the advice of those posting on this post as with others here. Don't risk your freedoms by doing something that is not legal in Korea. It isn't worth it.