Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mr-Dokdo]

Perhaps thsi sort of thing will encourage Koreans to be nicer to foreigners living in Korea

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/11/117_34831.html

[Mr-Dokdo]

Dark Sides of Visa Waiver Program

Trips to Give Birth to Babies, Illegal Migrants Expected to Increase

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

The U.S.' visa waiver program is expected to facilitate Korean travelers' trips to the country, but is also likely to cause problems and a change in visa-related business.

The program is forecast to increase not only the number of tourists to the U.S. but also that of Korean women wanting to give birth to babies there for U.S. citizenship as well as illegal migrants.

Foreign Childbirth

Since the 1990s, some pregnant Korean women have visited the U.S. or U.S. overseas territories such as Guam and Saipan and given birth to babies there ― an attempt to have their children get U.S. citizenship, which guarantees them favorable treatment in study, stay and employment in the country. For boys, it is also a measure to dodge military service, as military service is obligatory for all Korean men.

Pregnant women used to enter the U.S. on a tourist visa roughly one month before their due date. But without the need to obtain a visa, the number of such trips is likely to rise.

A staff member of Dasom House, a Dallas-based postpartum care center, said the increase is not imminent due to the weak won against the U.S. dollar, but more and more people are interested in ``away childbirth.''

``Would-be parents hesitated to come as the won got weak, but we have a growing number of phone calls for consulting. We expect more people to come when the won gets strong again,'' he said.

When a mother stays at such a center for about two months around her childbirth, it costs between $10,000 and $12,000. Some centers now offer a 30-35 percent discount considering the exchange rate.

Another postpartum center in Guam, named ``American Baby,'' holds a session in Seoul in December for those planning childbirth in the U.S. territory ― an indication of high interest from would-be parents.


Seats remain unoccupied in front of the U.S. Embassy in central Seoul on Nov. 14, three days ahead of the introduction of the visa waiver program.

/ Korea Times Photo by Won You-hon

Illegal Migrants, Prostitution

As Koreans can now enter the U.S. more easily, it is feared that the number of people staying there for more than the limited period of 90 days and becoming illegal migrants may increase.

About 235,000 Koreans were illegally staying in the U.S. as of January 2007 ― one in every 5.4 Koreans in the country ― according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

It is also worried that prostitutes in Korea may move their ``workplace'' to Korean communities in the U.S.

In 2006, Los Angeles police estimated the number of Korean women who came to the U.S. for prostitution since 2004 at 8,000, according to Korea's intelligence agency. The year 2004 was when Korea adopted a special anti-prostitution law.

Korean residents in the U.S. worry that Korean police's recent massive crackdown on red-light districts in Seoul may cause another mass migration of prostitutes to the U.S., with young females now entering the country without a visa.

Foreign affairs department spokesman Moon Tae-young earlier asked people not to use the visa waiver program for ill purposes such as illegal stays, saying such actions could make the U.S. exclude Korea from its program.

Fall of Visa Agency Business

The long queue of people waiting for visa interviews in front of the U.S. Embassy in central Seoul is no longer there, as most travelers do not need a visa now ― 80 percent of 450,000 visas issued last year were for travel or short-term business.

It is good news for travelers, but bad news for agencies that used to prepare interview documents as proxy.

There were dozens of agencies near the embassy that prepared documents for visa-seekers and translated them into English. Those agencies charged about 40,000 won per client, and their earnings are already nose-diving.

It is said a growing number of the agencies have laid off workers and are now turned to translating other types of documents.

[email protected]

[travelingfool]

I was going to post a big rant about this and how Koreans are such hypocrites, but what's the point? I hate Korea and Koreans. I need anger management and therapy.

What they need to do is exclude ajosshis from the visa waiver, because after all, they are the ones who basically ruin Korea and give it a bad reputation.

You see, I wouldn't hate them so much if they didn't export such a large percentage of their population. They colonize countries around the globe, setting up businesses, establish Korean enclaves, etc. However, god forbid a dirty foreigner step foot in their sacred home land.

[doggyji]

[doggyji]

Sorry, dp.

[doggyji]

dp.

[princess]

I can't figure out why Koreans think the US is still the land of milk and honey. Things are pretty darn bad over there right now. They will find this out when they get themselves over there. I also can't understand who is hiring these Koreans? Are US businesses like restaurants and bars really dying to hire Koreans instead of local Americans? Makes no sense. Us Americans struggle to get jobs, even crap jobs over there, and a Korean can waltz in right off the plane and go to a bar in Vegas and sling drinks??? I heard about one Korean guy making $3000 a month part-time bartending in Vegas. I find that hard to believe and amazing. I'm in the wrong line of work. Just like some foreigners come here and expect to be given rock star status, a lot of Koreans go over to the states or Canada thinking the red carpet will be rolled out for them. But they can get bank accounts and cell phones there quicker than we can here. But, I think it's good for them to see what it's like to be a foreigner in the west, with the average whitey wondering why they can't speak English. It comes home to them. I have known a few bartenders to go over there and they complain in no time. I think they've been watching Tom Cruise in Cocktail too much. They are NOT going to be superstars over there like they think. There is a very famous white guy, Christian Delpeche bartending in Vegas. i think these Korean bartenders all think they will be like him. hahahar. I also think going from Seoul to Vegas will be a shock, too. I have heard so many bartenders here say they dream of getting to Vegas...

[samd]

[okokok]

[itaewonguy]

much easier now for the korean whores to get over to the USA to work in the room salons..

[wylies99]

The article is PROOF that Koreans KNOW who REALLY wanted the Visa waiver program and WHY they wanted it.

[Mr-Dokdo]

Bad News and Good News

Bad News: There will be fewer Korean women giving it away at Helios and Gecko's Terrace, in the hopes of finding someone who will take them back.

Good News: In the USA, the average price of that thing will go down, which will be helpful to those who return home but have got the yellow fever.

[sojusucks]

Korean women here tend to talk a lot about having babies in the US. Yet simultaneously, "Korea is the best" at least until the person is alone with you. Then the truth comes out.

However, the visa extension may also keep the illegal teachers here longer.

[Louie]

Brazil was a member of the VWP, but they were pulled from it as fast as they were put on the list due to the large number of women coming to the US to partake in prostitution.
The question is; if the things mentioned in the article become true- how long will it be before Korea is pulled from the VWP?

[Teelo]

Boo fucking hoo. They have been doing that to New Zealand for decades.

Cry more.





At least it means fewer of them will come here now, as the grass is always greener