Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aznteach]

I have Hepatitis B from childhood and I have been offered a summer teaching job in Korea. The E-2 Health Statement is vague enough so that I can answer "no" truthfully to all the questions.

What I think I know: You are required to get medical tests within 90 days of arriving in Korea, but since I am only there for the summer, will I even need to get medical tests?

I've spoken to the Korean consulate in my state, a recruiter different from the one that hired me, and I've looked through these forums for hours, and I know that they do take blood tests, and sometimes the blood tests will detect Hepatitis B, but I haven't heard about visas being denied or teachers being deported due to Hepatitis B.

Questions: (1) Is having Hepatitis B grounds for visa denial or deportation? (2) If I am in Korea for 80 days, do I need to take medical tests at all?

Thank you for your advice. I do not believe I am a danger to students because HBV is primarily transmitted through blood. I work with kids in my home country. Most kids are already vaccinated against it, and I know how to be safe.

[ttompatz]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[acebris]

I don't know why you're applying for an E2 visa if you're only coming here for less than 90 days.

You should be getting the Short Term Work Visa (C4) instead.
Much less hassle. No medical check required for the visa.

[aznteach]

[Goon-Yang]

So imagine the OP infects a student...how long would he be in a Korean jail for? I'm talking about accidental infection of course (some stupid kid drinks out of his water bottle when he's not paying attention).

There's probably a good reason you shouldn't be allowed into the country. If the OP was caught it'd be "another dirty foreigner" all over the news.

Stay away OP.

[acebris]

I hope you're kidding Goon Yang and not actually that stupid.

Some people might actually listen to what you're saying and think that you can catch Hep B through any means other than exposire to infected blood / body fluids containing blood.

We wouldn't want to encourage any more fear of disease-filled foreigners (or any more people wearing paper masks for no reason).

To the OP - The government won't ask to see a health check for a C4 visa. The only official documents you need are your degree, criminal check, photo and passport. Your employer should be able to send you all the other paperwork.

For the C4 visa, you don't need to send anything to your employer. You don't need to apply for a visa confirmation number. You don't need to have an interview at the consulate. Just take all the documents to the embassy / consulate and hand them over.

Call the closest embassy / consulate and ask for a list of documents that you'll need. It sounds like your recruiter / employer haven't applied for C4 visas before.

[David Lee Roth]

To clarify...

HBV is transmitted through activities that involve percutaneous (i.e., puncture through the skin) or mucosal contact with infectious blood or body fluids (e.g., semen, saliva), including:
1) Sex with an infected partner
2) Injection drug use that involves sharing needles, syringes, or drug-preparation equipment
3) Birth to an infected mother
4) Contact with blood or open sores of an infected person
5) Needle sticks or sharp instrument exposures
6) Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person
HBV is not spread through food or water, sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, hand holding, coughing, or sneezing.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HBV/HBVfaq.htm

[hari seldon]

Korea doesn't want HBV-infected NETs, but Korea itself has a much higher infection rate (>8%) than any of the countries they recruit from (except SA).
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/hepatitis-b.aspx

[David Lee Roth]

Yes, once again, if the Korean Gov't was really concerned about its citizens, they'd be doing mass immunizations for HAV/HBV. The food/drink sharing Koreans insist on partaking in is a great way to spread HAV, and all the unprotected sex they have is very efficient in spreading HBV.

[Goon-Yang]