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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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 Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:04 am Post subject: 1st E-2 Visa Issued - Bangkok!!! |
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Well, it has been a long process. In response to my other post when I looked up these regulations, I thought I would post my success.
I sent my original degree to Korea for verification by KCUE. The verification took about a week. After it was verified, my employer had my other documents (contract, CBC, etc.). It took immigration about a week to issue my number.
At the Korean Embassy in Bangkok, they had a couple of issues. First, they wanted to call my employer, but I didn't have her phone number on hand. I asked them what the problem was. They said that they couldn't tell if my degree had been verified and my photo was not scanned into their system. I assured them that my degree had been verified and that I had no idea what the deal is with the photo. I left on Thursday with an uneasy feeling.
My employer called the embassy this morning. I went at 10:30 and the passport was there with a fresh visa in it. The visa is a multiple-entry. The cost was 1530 Thai baht.
So that was that...the flights are booked and we are on our way! I guess it is time to start packing! |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:54 am Post subject: Congrats |
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| Nice job. Now get up here and start making some real money for a change. |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 5:55 am Post subject: Re: Congrats |
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| Tobias wrote: |
| Nice job. Now get up here and start making some real money for a change. |
Haha - I'll be there next week! |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:03 am Post subject: God, I remember those days |
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I remember my Thailand days well. I like warm weather, but 18 months straight of 75 degree days gets old. Low pay, disrepect, and 10-hour bus rides one-way to Nong Khai and Vientienne just to get that damn non-immigrant B. I don't miss it. If I'm going to endure all that one must to teach in Thailand, I want it to be in a place like North Korea. At least it's cool there half the year. And teaching in Thailand is suddenly even worse with that new cultural class teachers have to take.
Never again. |
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Lostone7
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Location: SE Asia
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: God, I remember those days |
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| Tobias wrote: |
Never again. |
NEVER SAY NEVER  Have you worked in korea before? |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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| The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject: Not always |
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[quote="Konglishman"]The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.[/quote]
Not always. I'm standing here on the Korean side and I'm looking across the fence at the Thailand side. Culture class that's a year long and almost 2 grand, plus opportunity costs. Low pay. Disrespect from powers that be. Being taken for granted. Visa runs to Panang or Vientienne. The Thai side sure ain't that green. |
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Juke John
Joined: 20 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I thought under the new regulations one had to go to one's home country for the first visa. Is there an exception if one is in Asia already? |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Not always |
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| Tobias wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. |
Not always. I'm standing here on the Korean side and I'm looking across the fence at the Thailand side. Culture class that's a year long and almost 2 grand, plus opportunity costs. Low pay. Disrespect from powers that be. Being taken for granted. Visa runs to Panang or Vientienne. The Thai side sure ain't that green. |
It ultimately depends on what sort of job you get and what you value most.
Of course, if you get a job at an international school in Thailand, then most likely, you will be doing well both in terms of money and overall social life satisfaction.
Personally, I would rather live in Malaysia. |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Juke John wrote: |
| I thought under the new regulations one had to go to one's home country for the first visa. Is there an exception if one is in Asia already? |
You can have your visa issued anywhere. If it is your first E-2, you must have your degree verified in Korea first. |
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Lostone7
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Location: SE Asia
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Juke John wrote: |
| I thought under the new regulations one had to go to one's home country for the first visa. Is there an exception if one is in Asia already? |
No it's just Korea ....that's the rule but well we all know how rules flip flop day to day =) depends on how connected your school is (I Mean how much brides they pay out) or the social status of your boss or if immigrations people have had a good day etc.
Oh, Tobias
�Culture class that's a year long and almost 2 grand" That�s people without a B.Ed. or cert. right? Yea, for those without yea this does totally blow!.....LOL
It�s a good way to make some cash for the immigrations office right lol
plus opportunity costs. Low pay. Disrespect from powers that be. Being taken for granted. Visa runs . drug screens and random drug tests if seen in certain party areas, REAL medical tests, apostolate CBC, verification of your documents more than twice a year (sometimes )This is the Korean side too = ) RANDOM contract amendments, vacation reductions, non-payment of salary, deportations, angry Korean men yelling at your girl And UNLIKE Thai students Korean students DO not Automatically respect you as a teacher!!! Most disrespect you. However, you can earn and get their respect just takes a LOT of time and energy but, once you have it then they are amazing wonderful kids�..however, sadly many never get to see this side of their kids and leave thinking they are all devils.
Don�t get me wrong lots of money to be made or lost in Korea, Lots of good with the bad.
However, I made as much money in Thailand as I do here the difference is it was all legal and if I break the law here then I can make a killing but you need to know the right people and not get deported.
Therefore, IMHO it takes much much much longer to get set up here and make the REAL connections, friends and relationships that make everything worth it. Can be done I have it and no regrets for being here!! But it did take a long time before I had the REAL (easy to make superficial englishee friends) connections and a real life!
Making REAL Korean friends and relationship is not very easy here. In Thai everyone has rudimentary English skills �..Here well not so much. Seoul is a little better but just a little. For me it took 3years to set myself up completely and it took me 1 in Thai to do the same thing. However, many are not really interested in becoming apart of the society they live in so setting up can be easier depending on your needs.
Basically, he is right the grass is greener! Lol I look back on my fun travels, backpack teaching and MY friends in Thai and most of SE Asia and I do have an idealistic view of it all lol
I guess why I said something is this����If your leaving one place because the problems are to much for you then you are headed for trouble. You will just be trading one set of headaches for a different set. If you�re coming for a change and something different then no worries give me a call I buy you a beer. |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Lostone7 wrote: |
| Juke John wrote: |
| I thought under the new regulations one had to go to one's home country for the first visa. Is there an exception if one is in Asia already? |
No it's just Korea ....that's the rule but well we all know how rules flip flop day to day =) depends on how connected your school is (I Mean how much brides they pay out) or the social status of your boss or if immigrations people have had a good day etc. |
This is dead wrong. I outlined the actual law here:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=129668&highlight= |
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Juke John
Joined: 20 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| losing_touch wrote: |
| Juke John wrote: |
| I thought under the new regulations one had to go to one's home country for the first visa. Is there an exception if one is in Asia already? |
You can have your visa issued anywhere. If it is your first E-2, you must have your degree verified in Korea first. |
But I thought one had to go to one's home country for a consular interview. Has that been scrapped? |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Juke John wrote: |
| But I thought one had to go to one's home country for a consular interview. Has that been scrapped? |
Read the link above. |
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