Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ashwri]

I went to Korea in last August. The school that hired me told me to enter Korea on a tourist visa and then they would send me to Japan to get my E2. I trusted that they knew what they were doing... so that's what I did.

I was actually issued a visa number from the Uijeongbu Immigration office but when I got to Japan they explained that I MUST return to the States to get this type of visa. However, there was another American there also applying to get an E2 for the first time.... but they accepted him. I went back to the desk and asked, "How are we different?" The lady said that my papers weren't in the system and I had to return to the States. This situation was so confusing... because I still don't understand how that guy was excepted and I was denied. Some office in Seoul apologized to my headmaster for the mix up....

I returned to Korea and my school kept saying they were going to try to work something out... but every solution they offered to get me a visa was false information. Then on top of this the school had problems paying all of their employees... and they owed me about 3 million won, but said they couldn't pay me that back until Dec. I told my school that I did not want to work illegally... but they would not pay for my ticket home.... so i stayed until Dec... so I would have the money to buy my ticket.

I recently applied to go back to Korea to work at good school... but I was denied an E2 visa because I previously worked illegally. But what was I suppose to do when they school would not buy my ticket home since I was breaking their "contract"??? I had no plans of working illegally when I entered Korea... my school gave me false information... and I was naive enough to trust them.

I have tried calling Korean Immigration.... but no one really seems to have the power to help me. I really want to return to Korea, because it is a country that I love.... does anyone have any advice or information to offer me??? I would greatly appreciate it!

[NQP]

Go through a Korean recruiter. If their getting paid depends on getting you cleared, they will do their best to get it done. Also, put your passport through the washer so that it is "damaged". A new passport with a new # will be issued. Voila, you are a new person. I did a midnight run and got a new passport and nothing was ever mentioned about it. Good luck.

[lifeinkorea]

Well, what is the full damage? Did they give you a time frame? If you can't work for a year or 2, you could just teach in another country. Have you asked them about coming on a tourist visa, or did they say you can't enter the country under any circumstances?

What if you get short student program, would they allow you to enter the country? This would be an attempt, in the worst circumstances, to show your genuine interest in Korea. This might get some official to bend the rules a bit later on.

I don't suggest the legal avenue because I think you will just waste time and money trying to sue them. You came on a tourist visa, so the hagwon really had no ties to you. You are sure to get screwed.

If you want feel free to tell us how they found out you were teaching. Did you just try to leave the country and overstay your tourist visa?

[ashwri]

They somehow found out when I was leaving the country last time.

I can enter Korea on a tourist visa... but who has that kind of extra money to travel from the States to Korea?

One visa officer I talked to made it sound like it would be very hard for me to ever work in Korea again, because they look at EVERYTHING before they issue a visa....

The thing is... I really don't want to teach in another country right now. I want Korea.... and I'd like to fix this.... as crazy as it may be.

But going to Korea as a student.... is a good idea... if only I had extra money to something like that.

Thanks so much for the advice!!!

[NQP]

The new visa stuff is a pain. I really think your best bet is to get a new passport and never mention your previous trip to Korea to anybody. Maybe even go through a different consulate. I noticed that you are American. I'm Canadian, but when my passport was damaged( I really left it in my pants by accident and it went through the wash) I got a replacement that said "This passport replaces a valid damaged passport" on the first page, but had a new # and different name(my first didnt include my middle name).

For the price and hassle of getting the new passport, it could be your way around this. We are listed by passport # not by name. Our names dont make sense to them like theirs dont to us.

[losing_touch]

Unfortunately, I cannot help with the immigration issues you are having pertaining to your new visa. However, I can shed some light on why you were not able to have your first E-2 visa issued in Japan. All first time applicants are required to do an interview in their home country. The only way around this is to have your degree verified by the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE). This process takes about 2 weeks and needs to be initiated by your employer. This is what they were telling you they weren't seeing in their computer. Korean embassies and consulates can look to determine if this was done. If not, you must go home. This is how I was able to have my first E-2 issued in Bangkok in August myself....

[sobriquet]

UR SOL

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

You love Kimberelyland, even after what you've been through? Do you enjoy being beaten w/ whips and the likes? I bet you do...LOL

[afsjesse]

Sorry to hear about your situation OP. As much as I like promoting the law, the passport being damaged is probably your only safe bet. Don't mention that you've been here before.

How on earth did they find out that you worked illegally? Did you tell them or were you caught? Details because I'm very interested!!!!

Jesse

[sobriquet]

They will know he has been here before.

I changed passports and they geve me the same ARC number and knew I had been here before.

They aren't stupid. Incompetent yes, stupid no.

[NQP]

[buymybook]

Don't tell me you admitted to working illegally? What was your fine? How do they know you taught illegally, did they go to your school and catch you in the act? Needless to say, don't go through your old Recruiter/School again. If you come back to Korea, stay far away from where you were for awhile/different Immigration office.

[buymybook]

[yeremy]

I would call Immigration again and ask them if there is a time period after which you are eligible to apply for another E2 visa again. I say this, because I was looking at the criteria for an F5 visa recently and the criteria said, if I remember correctly, that if the F series applicant were to be turned down for having broken Korean (Immigration) law, they had to wait three years before they could re-apply. Perhaps this may apply to your situation.

You were too naive. If I had been you, I would have called up a family member to loan me the money to fly out of that situation post haste. When you work in Korea, you have to take responsibility for yourself. Korean businessmen, in particular, are not going to look out for you. You have to do that yourself.

However, all may not be totally lost; I suggest you look into going to another EFL learning country such as Taiwan or Thailand. The experience will be very helpful and you'll make some money, too, while you wait out the "penalty" period before you can return, if that is indeed the case. Good luck.

Sorry for all the edits, but I want to add one last point. I went to Korean Immigration yesterday morning to renew my own visa. I was helped by a young, female Immigration officer whose English was very good. They aren't stupid. Don't put your hopes on a passport change. They will know and someone will confront you about it in very good English. You'll feel like a dartboard in a neighborhood pub.

[cruisemonkey]