Korean Job Discussion Forums

[oftenadrift]

My boyfriend and I are just waiting for our Visa confirmation numbers to come through and I had a quick question.

I have been getting mixed info and was wondering if EVERYONE has to interview at the consulate, or just new teachers?

This is my 4th E-2 Visa, so I am just wondering what the chances of not having to do an interview are? My last E-2 was back in 2007 before all the new regulations came in.

Also, have any new teachers gotten away without the interview? (My bf is a newbie, and the whole trip is pretty inconveinent.)

On that note, has anyone just mailed their forms in and voila, got their passports back Visa inserted? Does the Korean consulate site tell you if you must interview, or do you have to call?

Thanks!

[E_athlete]

id do it by mail if I had another chance. The consulate general IS a b....

....

difficult person to deal with. I'll just say that her attitude is terrible and this is coming from a guy that tried to be nice and smiled at her the entire time hoping for the best.

[okayden223]

I can't speak for Canada, but the whole process is somewhat frustrating. It seems like the rules vary among individual consulates, which blows my mind. It's one of those things where you just have to shake your head and smile while thinking "Oh Korea! Korea! Why must you be like this?" :D

[chris_J2]

Public school or Hagwon? If you've been in Korea before, in a public school, then an interview is generally not required. If the job is at a hagwon, then they definitely will want an interview. The interview doesn't have to be face to face either. It can be by a self intro video tape/cd, skype, or videocall cellphone.

See this post:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=157646&highlight=interview

[oftenadrift]

I'll be returning to the same hagwon chain I worked for in 2005. Good management etc. I wonder if returning to the same chain will impact the need for an interview or not *ponders*

[egrog1717]

I believe that if you held an E2 AFTER the new regulations came in, you do not need an interview... Otherwise, especially in Toronto, you're stuck...
(But I'm not 100% sure)...

As for mailing it in, they'll call you to tell you to come down for an interview anyway if that's the case...

The Toronto consulate SUCKS... When I went through last August, it was the only consulate in the world that required interviews for E2 visas... I was two weeks late starting my contract because I had to wait 3 freaking weeks for a 2 minute interview... Pain in the ......

[Tommy]

One of my visas was granted in Nov 07, right before the new regs kicked in. At the end of my contract in Nov 08 I flew home thinking I had to do the interview especially because I had a visa violation (overstayed back in 06). Guess what - didn't have to do one. I even told them about my overstay and they just shrugged it off. I wasn't too pissed, as it was nice to be home for the holidays and I had to get my passport renewed anyway.

[oftenadrift]

Hmm, OK, I guess as with all Korean bureaucracy, it looks like I'll just have to hope for the right person in a good mood lol.

I'll repost once I see what happens *fingers crossed for a swift Visa*