Korean Job Discussion Forums

catchshime · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:24 pm Post subject: Getting E-2 visa while in Korea

So my friend wants to come to Korea before the job starts. He would live with me for about 3 months before he would begin work. Is it possible for him to get a visa in Korea IN Korea (he isn't a gyopo so no F class visas are obtainable) while he's on his tourist visa?

Also, what's necessary to obtain a 90 day tourist visa? Is this just the stamp you get at immigration on arrival?

My concern is that if he arrives with a one way ticket this might be a problem. Also, I wasn't sure if it would even be possible for him to receive a teaching E-2 visa WHILE staying in Korea as a "tourist."

Thoughts, advice, input anyone?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject:

No... you must always leave Korea to get an E-2.

Ro2 · Joined: 23 Jun 2009

Hi there,

I myself recently came to Korea to look for a job in person (I was travelling in Asia anyway so i decided to just come on over).

Firstly, getting a tourist visa for me, on an irish passport, was fine, I assume its the same for people of any citizenship. A friend of mine who travels on a british passport did the same thing as me. I got the boat from japan and didn't have to show anything other than my passport. I don't know if airports would ask for more than a ferry terminal.

Secondly, I've had several interviews recently, and I've been told that to get the E2 visa I will have to simply fly to japan for a day or two then come back (the school would pay for it). If your friend is a US citizen, then his flight might be to guam instead of japan, but it's the same process pretty much.

One thing your friend could do is email his embassy here in Korea and ask if they know what will happen to him, that's what I do when I'm uncertain about visiting a country.

OH i should add - if your friend asks recruiters, their answers may be full of crap. Before I came to Korea, I was told again and again by emails from many recruiters that I would have to fly back to Ireland to get my E2 visa (which would be ridiculous), even if I came to Korea from China/Japan (where I was) and found a job in person. I was also told this by people on the forum here. For whatever reason, it has not been an issue at all so far in any interviews I've had here or any discussions i've had with recruiters, even though i've made it very clear that I'm here on a tourist visa.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

No you can not transfer over your tourist to an E-2. You have to get your E-2 from another country. The most common method is the Japan Visa Trip. Which means going to Japan for a few days and maybe 300,000 won or more in expenses. Just look in the FAQ section for more details.

One point for your friend is that unless he has done a previous E-2 trip he will have to a consular interview (5 minute basic check) in HIS HOME COUNTRY.

Some people say they have been able to avoid that but with immigration it might be a bit of a crap shoot.

Good Luck but be prepared for some hassles.

catchshime · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:53 am Post subject:

thanks all - we'll do our best to get him an E-2 before we go, but this info helps!

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

i'm not sure if this still applies, but if you haven't previously taught under an e-2 visa before - then you have to go to your home country to do a screening interview at the korean consulate.

That was the rule about a year ago, it may have been relaxed since then. Just something to check into, before you spend the money to come to korea for the first time, then spend more money to go to japan - only to get denied the visa and find out you still have to go home to do a 5 minute interview and start the process from the beginning.

The number in korea for immigration questions is 1345. Give them a call.

**i see this is basically a repeat post, but there's extra info here so i'm leaving it.**

Carla · Joined: 21 Nov 2008

The one major exception to the home interview rule is if you get a NOA instead of a visa issuance number. You can only get this by working with certain public schools. Check your consulate's website. It will tell you what type of schools need interviews and which ones don't.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject:

One can apply for a 'first time', E-2 from a third country (and skip the interview requirement, as the situation warrants), if one has their education level verified by the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE).