Korean Job Discussion Forums

peachgaru · Joined: 12 Apr 2007

Two questions...

1) Who has experience with acquiring a D-2 Visa? I wanted to apply for Yonsei GSIS, but they told met hat I wasn't able to apply without a bank statement proving that I had at least 10,000 dollars. Let's be honest here, I don't have that, and thus I couldn't hand in a complete application. How is everyone getting around this requirement? Is there something I don't know? I mean there's a reason why we're students...

2) Instead I opted to go to Korea solely to enroll in language school. I've decided to go to Sogang as it seems to be the general consensus that it's the best of the language programs. Speak up if this is not the case.

I've desperately wanted to learn Korean full-time for years now. It's the reason I taught ESL here in the first place, but due to a SHellP schedule, I found it impossible to receive formal instruction.

I have enough money to pay for the program and a few months of rent at a gosiwon. Does anyone have experience attending these programs? How did you make a living on the side? I found many part-time jobs, but they all require an F-2, F-4, or D-2 visa. I believe that the only type of visa I can receive while attending eohakdang is D-4 or C-3, which won't allow me to receive a part-time job.

Advice please! PMs accepted!

Thanks in advance. ^^

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

You can only work on an E-2 or Resident/Business Visa - You can't work on the student visas, unless you are studying for a degree in Korea. The D2 is a long term study visa that doesn't apply to language schools. You can only obtain the D4/C3.

peachgaru · Joined: 12 Apr 2007

Css · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Location: South of the river

I think you might be able to get round the 10k thing by having an invitation/letter of guarantee from a korean.

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

If you have that money, get a friend to help you open a bank account in Korea and put all that cash in there. Register for the course, take that and your bank statement to immigration and THEN pay for the semester fee afterward. If you don't have that money, then you need a recommendation letter from a native Korean who is currently working in Korea.

The thing is, the D2 is usually on a longer term so you need that proof to show immigration that you have funding to support yourself. The reason the C3 and D4 visas only require evidence of 3,000,000 Won is because they are usually short term courses.

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

danby_ll · Joined: 06 Dec 2006

I was on a D-2 last year. Getting my visa was a pain because of the bank statement thing. Luckily my home university gave me a huge scholarship, but it didn't come in until the last minute, before I applied for my visa. My Korean university had told me I wouldn't need a bank statement because on the acceptance letter or something, they were acting as a gurantor for a certain amount of money. The consulate didn't accept that and wanted a statement from my bank.

So after my scholarship came in, my bank wrote a letter saying I had "at least X amount of dollars" in my account. The consulate still wasn't happy. They wanted to know the exact amount. After arguing with them on the phone for awhile, they finally just issued my visa. I got my passport back from them the day before I flew out.

The only way I can see getting around it is to ask some friends/family to lend you some money, deposit it into the bank, get a bank statement, and then immediately give the money back to everyone. That's what a lot of international students I know in Canada do when they are renewing their visas.

You can work on a D-2 after a certain amount of time, I think. Do some research on the exact rules. You could always teach some private lessons, although I don't recommend it unless you wanna risk getting caught and deported.

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

danby_ll · Joined: 06 Dec 2006

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

I wonder if they'd give out the D2 visa to a person studying in the language institutes? If that person showed proof of 10,000 USD, that is...

danby_ll · Joined: 06 Dec 2006

Giant_midget · Joined: 11 Feb 2008

Hey Peachgaru,

I am just finishing my masters studies here, so I initially received and then had to extend a D2 visa.

I am happy to talk about it with you, just so you dont have to go through some of the bs that I did.

Unfortunately, Im not much of a poster here (under 25 posts), so I cant PM you, is there any other way to get in contact with you?

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

Can anyone link me to a website detailing the visa system here in South Korea?

I'm thinking about taking a break from teaching and studying from December to February.

For those who have done this, what type of visa do you need? Or can I just study on a tourist visa? (I'm Canadian)

How about medical insurance? How did you take care of that?

NilesQ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

I have attended Korean courses on my E2 and tourists. These programs are like hagwans, they dont care what visa you have as long as you pay your bill. If you are in the country they will let you attend. I have never heard of immigration raiding a class checking visas. If you are Canadian, you are better off keeping a tourist visa because the student visa for those courses is only 3 month renewable while a tourist visa is 6 months. If you plan a trip between levels sometime you can do a year on tourist visas.