Korean Job Discussion Forums

Oliver · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

Hi all,

My Visa documents were sent for processing on 5th September to Yeosu immigration office in south korea. Sadly, my recruiter has advised that I will not have my issuance number until the 26th September. The public school want me for the week beginning 6th October at the latest.

I understand that there was a national holiday in Korea which may have caused a delay. However, as I am mailing my passport to the Korean embassy in london I think that it is physically impossible to get it done in time, or at the very least I am hedging my bets on me getting my passport back the day before I go.

I tried to tell my recruiter this but they said it will be a problem if I cannot arrive in korea that week.

Has anyone got any advice? If I dont get the issuance number anytime soon I will have no choice but to ask them to change my departure date to the week after.

I am all ready to go, I have had all my vaccinnations, they have my degree there and I can't stand the thought of going through another visa process (CRB check etc) for another school.

Thanks, Oliver

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

There is a huge problem... for the recruiter..... the recruiter sat on the documents too long and now is not going to get paid until after his rent is due...

Boo-hoo....

You get your number on the 26th... you have 2 choices...

plan a trip to London on the 29th or be late arriving in Korea.

pick one.

the job won't disappear if you are a day or 2 late because of a SNAFU getting the visa in your passport.

.

jadarite · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:04 am Post subject:

Last year, the first school I considered working with in Korea pressured me too. There wasn't even a criminal check needed, but they wanted me to arrive first thing in September. I was very naive last year and didn't know how Korean hagwons operate. So, I rushed to get what was needed and when I got to the flight stage, the travel agent supposedly sent both of us an email requesting a credit card number before making a reservation.

This was the beginning of the ending with the school. I refused to pay, the school owner refused to talk to me, and the recruiter stopped contacting me. There wasn't even mention of me being reimbursed.

You can always get another copy of your degree, so I would reconsider this job offer if they are pressuring you.

Oliver · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

Hi, no nobody is pressuring me as such and I will not be paying for the flight, my recruiter is.

But yeah, I am not going to be forced. I think it will be ok. Shall keep y'all up to date for when I actually arrive in Korea.

Oliver

jadarite · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:

"I will not be paying for the flight, my recruiter is. "

You mean school?

Oliver · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

as far as I am aware the recruiter. Although whethar they are charging the school I do not know.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject:

ttompatz is right!

If you get your visa in time all is well... if you don't, all is still well.

For a similar reason, I was a week 'late' when I first came to K-land. The recruiter was trying to pressure me with all sorts of impossible demands... until I 'shot back' with "It's not my problem if Koreans can't get their shit together."

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Just to note, immigration takes 10-14 days to get a visa number ready after they receive documents. Some people have reported getting it in as little as 6 days.

jellobean · Joined: 14 Mar 2006

Of course if it is physically possible to fly to London and have it done, make that offer to the recruiter (with them picking up the tab of course).... Otherwise it's not your problem.... Either having you there is important and they will get you to London, or it's not and they can wait...

Oliver · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

hi cheers for the reply guys. I think it's going to be OK. To be honest it is not really the recruiters problem; as soon as they recieved my documents they sent them for processing in Yeosu immigration office. That's where the hold up is. They are very helpful though. They are trying to chase up the issuance number. Plus they are paying for my flights from Aberdeen, to London, to London to Incheon, to Incheon to Yeosu.

Best,

Oliver