Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vaticanhotline]

This is what I've been told by a recruiter with regard to getting a visa for a job I've been offered: "How it normally works is that you send the docs over to Korea, and your prospective employer applies for a visa sponsorship and get you a visa number. You then bring the number to the nearest consulate and get a work visa. However, Chungnam Office of Education works closely with the Immigrations Office and they process visa differently and faster. After they have an interview with you, they issues what's called 'Notice of Appointment' and send you that in mail, which is as good as a visa number. You bring it to the nearest consulate, get a visa, fly to Korea, and submit the visa docs before starting. This saves a great deal of time and place teachers much faster. They said they would send yours early September." Does this make sense? Or is it a means by which they can entice me to Korea so that they can have a look at me and decide then whether they want to sponsor my visa?

[princess]

I'm not sure about this notice of appointment thing, but I have been hearing more stoires of people who send their docs over thinking they have been hired, only to have the recruiter say no you don't have the job after all. Be careful. And of course, it's getting harder to get a job from abroad, as well as trying to get one in Korea while you ARE in Korea...Thank you economic downfall! What will those of us without rich families and no help do? Start selling ourselves??? I always hoped I'd never have to go against my morals to make money.

But we can't all be rich, come fom rich families, or marry a rich man, especially if you don't also love him. I will never judge strippers, hookers, tea girls ever again. I saw a man on the internet who said he runs a club. He said more and more women are coming in to get jobs as dancers/strippers, even ones who would not normally do that. He talks to them and they say they are about to lose their homes, etc and they need MONEY. Sorry, a single gal can't live on minimum wage. Not even on $10-$15 an hour. The US truly sucks and I think Korea is right behind it. I used to think Korea was the cure all for being broke. I think it's changing and asmith knows what he's talking about. People are just in denial. But hey, if it helps them sleep better, why not? The elitists are out to destroy us...good old new world order. Get your canned food and tents ready...mark of the beast isn't far behind.

[iammac2002]

When I came over to Korea, I worked in Chungnam. I did the normal thing you mentioned first. Sending the documents and getting a visa number, going to the consulate after that and all that. I did this just last year, so why would it change all of a sudden?

[iggyb]

I can't say for certain, but nothing sounds fishy to me.

I don't know the difference between visa numbers and the notice of appointment. My SMOE recruiter just said they sent the visa number to me and that was how they did it instead of NOA. So, there does seem to be at least two methods.

In both cases, as you stated them, you will go to the consulate and get a visa. It is just with the other case, you will go to immigration again inside Korea once you arrive and have already begun teaching.

Years ago, that was how it worked for everybody. I remember having to go to the regional immigration office each time I started a new job and got a new Visa or renewed a contract. So that doesn't sound fishy to me.

To Princess,

At least the prostitution market in Korea will never go sour. It pulls in more money per year than fishery and agriculture combined.

I've heard over recent years, even the boy-toy ajumma market has soared. Too bad I'm too old now...

[vaticanhotline]

[andrewchon]

That is called 제비 (jebi) in Korea and it's a criminal offence.

[D.D.]

[vaticanhotline]

[squidbrand]

It's completely possible � even easy � to live on $15 an hour in the US. If you can't make that happen, you're doing it wrong. I get about $15 an hour at my job, and I don't even get legitimate full-time hours (35 instead of 40). It's enough money for me to pay all my bills, make my student loan payments, stay stocked with extravagant farmer's market food, eat out constantly, buy frivolous things like video games and photo equipment, put money away regularly for travel, stay completely out of consumer debt, and even pick up a $50+ bottle of fine Scotch every now and again. And I live in Chicago, which is not Manhattan or San Fran expensive but is still up there. I would still be able to get by fine on 1/3 less money, if I just adjusted my lifestyle a bit. There are plenty of people in this country who make less than $15 an hour on two jobs combined, all while supporting a few kids without the help of a spouse, and these people somehow make do. Buck up. If you're single on $10-15 an hour, you're one of the lucky ones.

[iggyb]

[iggyb]

Vacationhotline,

Being 6 foot 4 would be a plus but mainly because it would cause them to look at your feet and hand size (--- in order to gauge the truly important proportions you failed to mention...)

[andrewchon]

You seem to take it very lightly, so I won't bother to tell you few other things that are more severely prosecuted in Korea than the rest of the world.

[vaticanhotline]

[Juregen]

[iggyb]