View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
rudolph123456
Joined: 22 Jul 2010
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:12 am Post subject: Interesting E-2 Visa Situation... |
|
|
I have a slight complication with getting my E-2 visa. The thing is that I'm a British citizen living in New Zealand, and therefore will be applying on a British passport. I've got a British criminal record check (to match my passport) as well as a New Zealand CRC too, just in case!
However, a recruiter has brought up an interesting point that I can't seem to find on the internet. He says that in order to obtain the visa I need to fly to Korea from the Country on my passport. So he reckons he would have to fly from NZ over to the UK and then the school will pay for a flight from London to Seoul.
He admits that it is a silly stipulation but it is what it is. Is he accurate? It's no big problem either way but I just want to know for sure before I start booking extra flights!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
spicy
Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Location: Sinchon / Ewha / Hongdae
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
call your local korean embassy. they'll know what they can and can't do, although they were a bit wrong when I went to them for my visa. ended up working in my favor, but they told me the incorrect requirements a few times... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:06 am Post subject: Re: Interesting E-2 Visa Situation... |
|
|
rudolph123456 wrote: |
I have a slight complication with getting my E-2 visa. The thing is that I'm a British citizen living in New Zealand, and therefore will be applying on a British passport. I've got a British criminal record check (to match my passport) as well as a New Zealand CRC too, just in case!
However, a recruiter has brought up an interesting point that I can't seem to find on the internet. He says that in order to obtain the visa I need to fly to Korea from the Country on my passport. So he reckons he would have to fly from NZ over to the UK and then the school will pay for a flight from London to Seoul.
He admits that it is a silly stipulation but it is what it is. Is he accurate? It's no big problem either way but I just want to know for sure before I start booking extra flights!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!  |
For your 1st E2 visa there is a requirement that you have a consular interview in your home country.
IF you are a resident (working, study, living) in another country the consul there CAN (but are not required to) waive the requirement for the consular interview in your home country.
Each case is determined by the consul at the time of the visa application.
. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TheresaTheresa
Joined: 24 Feb 2010
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:18 am Post subject: Re: Interesting E-2 Visa Situation... |
|
|
ttompatz wrote: |
rudolph123456 wrote: |
I have a slight complication with getting my E-2 visa. The thing is that I'm a British citizen living in New Zealand, and therefore will be applying on a British passport. I've got a British criminal record check (to match my passport) as well as a New Zealand CRC too, just in case!
However, a recruiter has brought up an interesting point that I can't seem to find on the internet. He says that in order to obtain the visa I need to fly to Korea from the Country on my passport. So he reckons he would have to fly from NZ over to the UK and then the school will pay for a flight from London to Seoul.
He admits that it is a silly stipulation but it is what it is. Is he accurate? It's no big problem either way but I just want to know for sure before I start booking extra flights!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!  |
For your 1st E2 visa there is a requirement that you have a consular interview in your home country.
IF you are a resident (working, study, living) in another country the consul there CAN (but are not required to) waive the requirement for the consular interview in your home country.
Each case is determined by the consul at the time of the visa application.
. |
In my experience this is true. It is also posted on the website for the Korean Consulate in Toronto. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:27 am Post subject: Re: Interesting E-2 Visa Situation... |
|
|
ttompatz wrote: |
For your 1st E2 visa there is a requirement that you have a consular interview in your home country. |
It seems to be quite a rare thing for Brits to be interviewed for the first E2 for some reason or other. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but I've yet to met any Brits who have had the consular interview (myself included). |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 5:43 am Post subject: Re: Interesting E-2 Visa Situation... |
|
|
morrisonhotel wrote: |
ttompatz wrote: |
For your 1st E2 visa there is a requirement that you have a consular interview in your home country. |
It seems to be quite a rare thing for Brits to be interviewed for the first E2 for some reason or other. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but I've yet to met any Brits who have had the consular interview (myself included). |
AND you forgot the last line:
"Each case is determined by the consul at the time of the visa application."
. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Oliver

Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:12 am Post subject: Re: Interesting E-2 Visa Situation... |
|
|
rudolph123456 wrote: |
I have a slight complication with getting my E-2 visa. The thing is that I'm a British citizen living in New Zealand, and therefore will be applying on a British passport. I've got a British criminal record check (to match my passport) as well as a New Zealand CRC too, just in case!
However, a recruiter has brought up an interesting point that I can't seem to find on the internet. He says that in order to obtain the visa I need to fly to Korea from the Country on my passport. So he reckons he would have to fly from NZ over to the UK and then the school will pay for a flight from London to Seoul.
He admits that it is a silly stipulation but it is what it is. Is he accurate? It's no big problem either way but I just want to know for sure before I start booking extra flights!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!  |
Chances are if you are British you wont need a consular interview. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:30 am Post subject: Re: Interesting E-2 Visa Situation... |
|
|
ttompatz wrote: |
For your 1st E2 visa there is a requirement that you have a consular interview in your home country. |
It's kind of a non-interview, but he's right. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
plato's republic
Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Ancient Greece
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
This is something that interests me as well. If someone has had an E2 visa before and therefore does not need to have a consular interview, would they still have to apply for their E2 visa in their home country even if resident in a third country, i.e. not Korea or their country of birth?
I suppose the OP could go to Korea first and once the visa issuance number is ready then do a visa run to Osaka. However, if they need to have an interview beforehand then that wouldn't be a viable option. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
DaffyD73
Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Location: Planet Earth on the left
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: Interesting E-2 Visa Situation... |
|
|
rudolph123456 wrote: |
I have a slight complication with getting my E-2 visa. The thing is that I'm a British citizen living in New Zealand, and therefore will be applying on a British passport. I've got a British criminal record check (to match my passport) as well as a New Zealand CRC too, just in case!
However, a recruiter has brought up an interesting point that I can't seem to find on the internet. He says that in order to obtain the visa I need to fly to Korea from the Country on my passport. So he reckons he would have to fly from NZ over to the UK and then the school will pay for a flight from London to Seoul.
He admits that it is a silly stipulation but it is what it is. Is he accurate? It's no big problem either way but I just want to know for sure before I start booking extra flights!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!  |
OP - the posters who have responed have assumed it is something to do with the consul interview - did your agent mention this ( as you do not in your post?)
Now in relation to your airfare problem.
I'm a Kiwi - i applied in NZ for my 1st visa (2006) but got my school to purchase a ticket from London to Seoul - as i had a return portion of a previous flight so went and visited friends and then got the flight from london.
The other option is let them price out a O/W ticket from Uk to seoul and this be the max value of any ticket reimbursement.
If your agent is telling the truth you should also ask if you have to fly at a certain altitude, direction, have to fly through HK or Singapore - hell these new visa/job rules are getting very tight indeed!
But if this is due to the problem of the interview as other posters suggest then ... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
plato's republic wrote: |
This is something that interests me as well. If someone has had an E2 visa before and therefore does not need to have a consular interview, would they still have to apply for their E2 visa in their home country even if resident in a third country, i.e. not Korea or their country of birth?
I suppose the OP could go to Korea first and once the visa issuance number is ready then do a visa run to Osaka. However, if they need to have an interview beforehand then that wouldn't be a viable option. |
IF you have had a prior E2 you can apply at any Korean consulate anywhere on the planet.
. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
blonde researcher
Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Location: Globalizing in Korea for the time being
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The visa rule is as follows:
If you are going to any position that has a visa number issued from immigration, and this is your first time visa in Korea, then you MUST report to the Koren embassy in the country of your passport you applied in for an interview. Your
police check must definitely be done in the country of your passport you are using.
If you are going to any public school contract such as EPIK that gives you a NOA(notice of appointment) then you are exempt from the interview in your home country of passport. Instead you can apply to get your visa stamp in your passport at any Korean embassy at any country ( No interview required)
SO with your UK passport you can get the visa stamp and leave from NZ
YES-- some Korean consulates do have some flexibility on having you take an interview or not,or in what manner, especially if you are many miles away and it would cost a lot to get there wihin your own country.
If this is your second or more E2 visa in Korea then you can depart from any country you wish that has a Korean embassy or consulate that can put the stamp in your passport YOU DO NOT NEED TO RETURN TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY
Why not phone the Korean embassy in NZ directly and ask them if they will process your visa stamp so you can leave from NZ? Don't forget to tell them if you will have a NOA or a visa number. Then you will know for sure |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
timetramp
Joined: 29 Oct 2010
|
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:38 pm Post subject: EPIK exempt from interview.. |
|
|
"If you are going to any public school contract such as EPIK that gives you a NOA(notice of appointment) then you are exempt from the interview in your home country of passport".
Blonde Researcher, are absolutely sure about this? There are soooo many posts on the internet that say one have to come back to your own country if it's your first e2 application... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: EPIK exempt from interview.. |
|
|
timetramp wrote: |
"If you are going to any public school contract such as EPIK that gives you a NOA(notice of appointment) then you are exempt from the interview in your home country of passport".
Blonde Researcher, are absolutely sure about this? There are soooo many posts on the internet that say one have to come back to your own country if it's your first e2 application... |
There is NO ABSOLUTE in regards to the consular interview.
There ARE some exceptions to the rule but they are NOT common and mostly do NOT apply to the majority of applicants.
It is a requirement BUT it is also entirely up to the consular officer who is processing your visa application as to whether or not they can/will waive the interview or allow your application to be processed with or without it.
On the whole, for the vast majority of first time E-2 applicants, they are required to have a consular interview in their home country prior to issuance of the E2.
. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Smudger
Joined: 26 Sep 2010
|
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 2:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
You CAN get a visa from a third country (or at least NZ) and not have to go home. I came to Korea from NZ as a Canadian with no problem on my first E2. I can't verify if this is still the case with new E2 procedures for 2011 so call the consulate to be sure.
Get your prospective school to have your degree verified by the Korean Council of University Education (KCUE). This allows you to avoid the consular interview and obtain a visa from a third country. I did this all through the consulate in Auckland. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|