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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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 Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Gwangjuboy wrote: |
| oldfatfarang wrote: |
| Further, Korea has different cultural norms: lying is OK here and widespread |
That's a naive comment to make. Lying is equally - if not more so - common in the UK, and I would venture to suggest that this can be applied to the west in general. In fact, speaking in euphemisms (bs-ing) is so widespread in the UK that there is something even more insidious about it. |
Now, now Mr. Gwangjuboy. Rational and logical thought has no place here. Keep it 'black and white' as something more nuanced seems to cause comprehension problems.  |
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kingasiatic88
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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does anyone know if the UA in korea is a *drug screen* or an actual GCMS analysis?
If it is a drug screen and you are on fluoxetine or bupropion you may get a false positive for benzos or amphetamines.
If it is a GCMS your med would still be detected but the question would become whether they would report it or not. I'm thinking they might. |
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kardisa
Joined: 26 Jun 2009
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| kingasiatic88 wrote: |
does anyone know if the UA in korea is a *drug screen* or an actual GCMS analysis?
If it is a drug screen and you are on fluoxetine or bupropion you may get a false positive for benzos or amphetamines.
If it is a GCMS your med would still be detected but the question would become whether they would report it or not. I'm thinking they might. |
I was on bupropion and alprazolam up to the day of the E-2 drug test. The only thing abnormal was a slight trace of protein in my urine. This can be caused by medication or an infection, so the result (and my health screen) weren't flagged or reported.
Unless you're taking some serious drugs, you have nothing to worry about with the health check. To answer your question though, I think it's a drug test, but that they're only checking for Class A substances (and possibly marajuana?). However, there's a certain level of variation that is acceptable in the results. |
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gillod
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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I think you'll be fine. There are wingnuts way worse than bi-polar here.
Just DO NOT MENTION IT EVER. Korea is like 1950's America- Reefer Madness, Gay Panic and anyone with a mental disorder of any kind is automatically a psychopathic maniac. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm still of the opinion that the OP could make it here if she were prepared ahead of time. Is it an adjustment? Yes. Will it be difficult? Probably. Is it impossible? No. |
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LDJS
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Location: Earth
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Milwaukiedave wrote: |
| I'm still of the opinion that the OP could make it here if she were prepared ahead of time. Is it an adjustment? Yes. Will it be difficult? Probably. Is it impossible? No. |
So after all that we actually have the exact same opinion?
Gotta love interweb forums lol. |
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Kaypea
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:27 am Post subject: |
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It is interesting that we all "know" that being honest on our health report will get us barred from working in Korea. I hope the OP is able to get a straight answer and set us all straight.
Does anybody know someone who's been barred from a Visa because they admitted to a mental illness?
Nevertheless, we still know that mentally ill foreigners do live and work in Korea (even as teachers), and that there are resources for them (albeit, not the best).
Speaking of bipolar, how does one get diagnosed? I heard it takes 15 years of observation to accurately make a true bipolar diagnosis, which is based on observing one's mood patterns through time.
I know someone who had a manic episode once (years ago, never again, for what I know), and at the time the person's doctor said that he might be mildly bipolar. Maybe a different doctor would've said, "you are bipolar" and then this person may be thinking, "I'm bipolar" and then he would've had a similar dilemma with the Visa application. But, since the doctor only said "maybe", he doesn't think he's bipolar at all, because he's been more or less normal (after a 6 month period when he had to take Zyprexia).
I'm just wondering... how many episodes does it take for a doctor to say "you're bipolar" as opposed to "maybe"? Maybe you aren't even bipolar...? |
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liveinkorea316
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:01 am Post subject: |
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To answer a few questions...
People on this board don't know whether admitting a mental ilness history would result in their Visa being denied. If you have been to Korea you will realise that the only way to get an answer on somethings is to actually apply. This is not the West. One part of Immigration does not converse seamlessly with the other in Korea. Answers differ from office to office. There are no concrete advisors. The person giving you the advice will not be the person assessing your visa.
Asking is a hell of a thing to risk when it is easier to just say "no". If you get denied a visa once for mental reasons you risk NEVER getting one again for teaching here.
As for Bipolar, most people are diagnosed in their late teens or adulthood. It takes a backwards view of historical events in the life of the patient. Then a medication is trialled. If it works, then it is continued. It is not a complete science. |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:36 am Post subject: |
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| liveinkorea316 wrote: |
To answer a few questions...
People on this board don't know whether admitting a mental ilness history would result in their Visa being denied. If you have been to Korea you will realise that the only way to get an answer on somethings is to actually apply.
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But we do know that the discretion in granting visas in Korea is exercised along very black-white lines, and we can envisage a rejection in the OP's case should he reveal his illness. I am not suggesting that I necessarily agree with that, but this is the most likely scenario. Of course, in most cases the officer responsible for making the call will not understand what bi-polar means in English (or possibly even Korean for that matter) so it's likely that they would either seek further advice or simply refuse to grant the visa to cover his tracks. |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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Is it only me that can picture this scenario?
OP:
I have a question. I've been diagnosed with mild bi-polar disorder. My psychiatrist has worked out a medication regime that allows me to function normally (most of the time). I would like to know if my medical condition will prevent me from working/teaching in Korea? Also, where can I find medication to help me function normally.
Recruiter / Immigration Officer
You crazy. No visa.
Good luck. |
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LDJS
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Location: Earth
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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| oldfatfarang wrote: |
Is it only me that can picture this scenario?
OP:
I have a question. I've been diagnosed with mild bi-polar disorder. My psychiatrist has worked out a medication regime that allows me to function normally (most of the time). I would like to know if my medical condition will prevent me from working/teaching in Korea? Also, where can I find medication to help me function normally.
Recruiter / Immigration Officer
You crazy. No visa.
Good luck. |
Yeah, you REALLY do not want to mention this to immi, recruiters or employers in Korea. Epik, SMOE even ask the question if you've ever had any mentall health problems on their application forms. One can be pretty confident if you check the yes box, you are not getting hired.
Op's best bet is to either bring enoough meds with him or go to dr Park's and get scripts and just not ever mention it to anyone involved with immi or employment. Very possible to do this and no one to ever know.
With regards to lying on the self health evaluation, well I personally if I had decided to come here and after a good long think through, preperation and advice from my health care professional, I'd just lie on the form, take the health tests etc and see what happened.
Meds don't show up - great!
Meds do show up and visa denied - go teach elsewhere.
The only best possible option. You admit to it = most likely no visa - though if anyone has the oppposite experience of this, please do tell... |
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Kaypea
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry, off topic, but has anybody read Dr. Jinseng Park's book, "Lovers Marry After You Have Fought"? Everytime I see the ad for it in the local paper, I laugh and think... what a brilliant title. I almost want to book a session with him just for the heck of it.
Imagine the tales he could tell about us, as "the" English speaking psych? Hope he honors doctor-patient confidentiality... |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Definitely don't want to admit it. If you can get by the medical check and settle in, you might be ok. |
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LDJS
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Location: Earth
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Kaypea wrote: |
Sorry, off topic, but has anybody read Dr. Jinseng Park's book, "Lovers Marry After You Have Fought"? Everytime I see the ad for it in the local paper, I laugh and think... what a brilliant title. I almost want to book a session with him just for the heck of it.
Imagine the tales he could tell about us, as "the" English speaking psych? Hope he honors doctor-patient confidentiality... |
Edited for tmi violations
Last edited by LDJS on Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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I can tell you first hand that putting down any mental illness will get your application tossed because it happened to me.
When I originally applied for EPIK last year (for Fall 2009 intake period), I put down that I was diagnosed with depression and took medication.
EPIK told the recruiter that I was ineligible. They specifically said that they would not accept anyone who has taken medications or received a mental illness diagnosis in the previous 12 months.
Luckily I learned that SMOE and GEPIK are separate and I applied through them. SMOE was already full (too full if you recall), but GEPIK had a few places left and that's where I am now...and loving it. Also, this time I didnt mention that I had depression.
I was not just recently diagnosed though, and my psychiatrist and therapist both encouraged me to go to Korea. Both had done Peace Corps and told me that they thought it would be good for me.
Ive been great. I dont live near Seoul, but other people that I've befriended have told me about which clinics to go to for medications and English speaking psychiatrists that can give me prescriptions.
It's unethical to lie, but not uncommon here or anywhere. I wonder how many people here in Korea have lied about drugs...
I would start with asking your doctor's opinion about coming first. The only people who know if you're good to go are you and your psychiatrist (at the most)....not the people on this board.
Besides, if you met many of the English teachers here already, you'd wonder if they would benefit from being diagnosed with a disorder. |
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