Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SAbabe]

I need advise. I have heard so many different stories about this subject. My husband and I want to apply for our E2 Visas. When he was a student, about 13 years ago, he was arrested for driving under the influence.

Will this affect his application. Some recruitment agents say that he must try to have it remove? I have never heard of removing a criminal record?

Others say, NO PROBLEM. You just send a letter with you application explaining the situation.

I sent an email to Joyce from Korvia, and she said that they do not issue E2 Visas if you have any kind of criminal record. This seems a bit harsh.

I have also read on this forums that it depends on what the severity of the crime is.

Please help.

[IlIlNine]

[Milwaukiedave]

It seems like different answers have been given on this topic here on Dave's, but I do remember hearing someone say they were able to get an E-2 visa dispite a drunk driving offense. Then again, I could be wrong.

The only think I can think of to suggest is to see if your husband can contact the courts and have the offense removed from his criminal record. It was quite a long time ago and I'm guessing he learned from that. I'm not sure what the laws are in SA, but it's worth a try.

It would be a shame is something like that prevented him from teaching here. Certainly it has nothing to do with whether or not he should be a teacher.

[Milwaukiedave]

OP,

Here are some threads I dug up. I don't have time to read them, but I'll paste them here for you and you can take a look.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=125157&highlight=drunk+driving

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=105118&highlight=drunk+driving

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=115734&highlight=drunk+driving

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=113898&highlight=drunk+driving

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=113959&highlight=drunk+driving

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=103138&highlight=drunk+driving

[UberJRI]

The big thing is this: did he actually get convicted of a DUI, or did he just get arrested for it? If he only got arrested for it but it got dropped down to a lesser charge, I wouldn't worry about it. Arrests don't show up on criminal history checks, at least that's what the police told me.

[livinseoul]

What country are you from?

[newteacher]

I was able to renew with a criminal offense. However, as I said it was a renewal. It wasn't DUI it was theft. It happened 15 years ago. And I had my boss here in Korea write a letter to immigration telling them I was a good person and in fact, not a criminal.

I realize that's not much help, but at least I can verify that it is possible to get an E2 (or renew) with a criminal record.

[livinseoul]

[dtown]

What about an MIP? Is this criminal background check just for the visa or do the schools look at them too? EPIK already sent my application to Korea but I haven't sent the background check yet because I don't want them to be able to use it against me.

[rayjoy]

I spent a lot of time searching for answers to whether you can get an E-2 with a DUI offense.

The answer is yes. My boyfriend has a DUI. And he just got an E-2 visa. Showed up with his CBC and everything.

The speculation is over!