Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IlIlNine]

I have a bit of a chance to give some input to some higher-ups at the ministry of justice regarding immigration policy. Obviously can't guarantee any changes can be made, but it may be a chance to get your voice heard a little louder than usual.

So, if you have any difficulties, suggestions or ideas regarding immigration policy, please post here! My only wish is that we stay on topic (to keep my job organizing the information a little bit easier, honestly).

Input regarding visa types other than E2 also appreciated. Oh, and try to keep it realistic.

So, if you were in charge of immigration, what changes would you make?

[tanklor1]

How about setting up a division outside of the labor board that deals with contractual problems between hogwan owners and teachers?

[waseige1]

The whole CBC & diploma thing is a good idea BUT IT WON'T ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY WANT (at least for US citizens).

For example, I have a friend here that had to (and I mean had to) use his FBI criminal check. It was the only one that showed clean. His local and state check had offenses. As he has not committed any federal crimes (and I don't believe Ted Bundy or most mass murderers did either) his FBI check is clean.

They need to hire a 3rd outside party to do background checks on us. They can charge us the fee. The outside company could check the states we used to live in AND the federal check taking the paperwork and responsibility away from us.

Then Korean immigration could change rules to their heart's content and the separate company could comply as they wish.

Korean immigration would also have a better idea that we are in fact clean of any past offenses.

I would be HAPPY to pay several hundred dollars to an outside company to check me out rather than guessing what immigration does or does not want.

[PEIGUY]

having to resubmit another criminal record check from back home if you're in Korea and applying for a new job after finishing up your old one. Why not simply asking for Korean one then? It'd be impossible to commit a crime in your home country whilst living in Korea.

[McGenghis]

This thread has the potential to reach three figures.

[Drew345]

I wish there was a "Retirement Visa".
Thailand offers one year retirement visas to people over 50 with 25,000 USD in a Thailand Bank. Malaysia also offers a retirement visa with similar regulations.
I saw last year Korea listing a retirement visa, but they had a requirement that the person must be receiving a "pension" of some amount a year. The problem is that the "pension" system hasn't been used in America for more than 30 years, so effectively no American can satisfy this requirement (we now save for our own retirement, and don't receive retirement pensions from companies). I don't even see the retirement visa information on the Korean Immigration website anymore.
So, in short form:
I wish there was a 1 year retirement visa for people over (55: 60) years with money in a Korean bank more than (30,000: 50,000) USD (no "pension" requirement).

[schwa]

Good suggestion Drew. I'll be hitting retirement age soon. I've got money banked & I've put in the time to draw a Korean pension but as an E2 I was figuring I'd still need to come up with an ongoing job sponsor. Which I could do. But it would be nice to just kick back if I chose to.

The thing I would bring up to the immi people is their inconsistency. Its common on this forum to hear of people being told different information by different offices, even by different agents in the same office. The system needs one reliable up-to-date source of changing information for both foreigners & agents.

[coralreefer_1]

I would like to make a suggestion concerning foreign students in S. Korea. (D-2) visa holders

I would like to see it so that foreign students studying here may be allowed to teach their native language as a language instructor on a limited/part-time basis while they are studying at a Korean University (assuming someone is willing to give them a job). As of now, these students must have a 4 year degree from their own country (which must be a country in which that language is a national language), but in many cases they do not have a degree from their home country and yet are native speakers. I think after maybe their 2nd year in a Korean university, they should be allowed to teach their language but also have to go through all of the other CBC, drug testing hoops like everyone else.

I think this would be a great way to reward students who have chosen to come to Korea to study. Aside from that, if they were to have more opportunities to do this kind of work, it may encourage more foreign students to choose Korea as a place for study as they will be better able to support themselves rather than working in some factory.

I also believe that if a foreign student has graduated from a Korean university (BA) then that Korean degree should be just as good as a degree from their native country in regards to a certain level of education required to teach their native language. I have always found it strange that a degree from a Korean University is good enough for a Korean person to work as a language instructor, but yet a NATIVE SPEAKER of the language who has a Korean degree is not qualified for that kind of work.

[Leslie Cheswyck]

How about one of those portable self sponsored work visas, instead of (or in addition to) the current employer owned visa. Something like that.

[plato's republic]

1) Visa portability

2) Visa portability

3) Visa portability.

Once someone has proven they have a clean criminal record and an actual REAL degree, then why not give them an E2 visa that's valid for 2 or 3 years? Or for those who have provided all the required documention and have lived in Korea for a minimum of 3 years.

I also agree with the previous poster who mentioned that it would be good to have all immigration offices and officers across Korea actually all on the same page and providing the same consistent information regarding visa regulations and any changes to them.

An E2 database would be nice as well.

Oh, did I mention visa portability?

[rickpidero]

As a D-2 holder it would be nice to be able to work as a ESL teacher without having to jump through all the hula hoops.

I can get any other job just fine, but if I want to teach (which is really all I'm good for at the moment) it's like I have to get a whole different visa. The government is begging me to do illegal privates.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Visa portability is a good suggestion but I wonder if those that suggest it understand what portability actually means.

It does not mean ownership of your visa for example. Work visas are sponsored by an employer. Portability would mean making it easier to change jobs and longevity would mean a 2-3 year visa.

That however does not translate into a teacher being able to change jobs at whim. Paperwork will still need to be filled and the visa will change sponsor.

Restrictions on activities will remain.

Still it would improve the current system.

[interestedinhanguk]

Visa ownership

[Kimchifart]

[Kimchifart]

Got to second visa ownership. Basically the visa should be similar in terms to the one in Japan. This would solve so many problems for both parties in one sweep.

Unfortunately it will never happen because of the Hagwon owners lobby.