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shinobi_x
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
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 Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:24 am Post subject: Quick question regarding the E-2 visa |
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Hello everyone!
Please excuse my ignorance- I simply couldn't find the answer to this anywhere on the forum:
I'm Canadian- but I just finished a bachelor's degree in China and am interested in teaching in Korea. I've heard a degree must be obtained from a university in an English speaking country in order to be granted an E-2 visa. Though my degree is from a university in China, my lessons were taught entirely in English.
Based on that, does anyone know if it's possible for me to obtain an E-2 visa?? |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:46 am Post subject: |
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| SOrry I thing you are going to have trouble. First thing to understand is you are dealing with a Government bureaucracy that has little petty rules and that so do NOT EXPECT LOGIC! Thru that does not mean try try and submit a form try to explain about your University but be prepared for refusal. |
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shinobi_x
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:56 am Post subject: |
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| Cool- Thanks for the heads-up.. I'll investigate things a bit more and contact some schools/recruiters. Worst case scenario, I could probably use my diploma for some post-secondary credits back home- and obtain a Canadian BA within a couple years... Hope it doesn't come to that, though. |
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:06 am Post subject: |
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| shinobi_x wrote: |
| Cool- Thanks for the heads-up.. I'll investigate things a bit more and contact some schools/recruiters. Worst case scenario, I could probably use my diploma for some post-secondary credits back home- and obtain a Canadian BA within a couple years... Hope it doesn't come to that, though. |
Does this mean you'd earn a degree just to come to Korea? If so, I have to ask, "why?" Most of us decide to come here once we have a degree (or nearing completion). You seem to have a high interest in coming here; are you a gyopo? If so, you can come here under an F visa.
Anyways, you can go ahead and get a job in China. Might be able to try your luck in Vietnam, too. Though, to be honest, I don't know much about the visa rules in those countries. |
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shinobi_x
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:39 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, definitely- Don't ask me why I decided to study in China rather than Korea.. but I've always loved the country. I'm white, so that cuts out the F visa possibility- but I've had a bunch of close Korean friends since high school, got into Taekwondo at a young age.. just stuff like that. I have had quite a few job offers here in China- but I'm just drawn way more to Korea. Been there a couple times for vacation so far- I'm going again this coming April to study in Paju for a bit. I'd just love to be able to find some legal work to help fund the stay. |
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:49 am Post subject: |
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What kind of studying? I'm not sure about details, but there is work available to some degree for those on student visas.
How long will you be studying for? What's the nature of it? E-2 jobs are usually full-time, and while usually not a great burden, do take a fair bit of time out of your day. |
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rooster_2006
Joined: 14 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:25 am Post subject: Re: Quick question regarding the E-2 visa |
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| shinobi_x wrote: |
Hello everyone!
Please excuse my ignorance- I simply couldn't find the answer to this anywhere on the forum:
I'm Canadian- but I just finished a bachelor's degree in China and am interested in teaching in Korea. I've heard a degree must be obtained from a university in an English speaking country in order to be granted an E-2 visa. Though my degree is from a university in China, my lessons were taught entirely in English.
Based on that, does anyone know if it's possible for me to obtain an E-2 visa?? |
Rooster_2006 to the rescue!
Okay, first of all, I'm afraid you will NOT be able to get an E-2. This is because Korea only accepts university degrees from the Big 7 (the seven developed, English-speaking countries). I've also heard rumors that Korean immigration now accepts credentials gained within Korea, as well, but this is a recent development. A degree earned in China will almost certainly not be valid -- sorry, I know it's an arbitrary rule, but I didn't make it.
HOWEVER, that is not to say that you should give up on working in Korea. I can give you at least four other options. Some are legal, some aren't. You can read over them and see what you think. Let's see...
1. You could work in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China. Korean is an official language, all the signs are in Korean, people practically everywhere speak Korean because many are Joseonjok ethnic Koreans, and a university that offers degree programs in Korean (Yanbian University) is present in Yanji. Changbaishan in China is similarly Korean.
2. You could get a visa that lets you live in Korea, then teach in the "gray area" of the law -- in other words, you have a legal visa to live there, but not Ministry of Education permission to teach English. Not an optimal situation, but many people do it anyway. Here are some possibilities for visas that would allow you to live there (but not teach without MOE permission):
- C-3 (tourist, Canadians get six months -- all work is illegal)
- D-2 or D-4 (student visas -- work permission is possible, but you would be ineligible for MOE permission)
- E-7 (professional, non-teaching work -- you do not need a degree from the Big 7, but this is not a valid visa for teaching, only other sectors)
- F-2 (residence visa available if you are: married, a refugee, a highly-skilled immigrant, have lived in Korea for five years at a skilled job, etc. -- once again, you could live in Korea but not teach without MOE permission)
3. You could transfer all your credits to a US-based "transfer school" (a college with very liberal requirements which is accredited but does not require any credits done in residence). You could use CLEP, AP, DANTES, etc. to test out of the full degree in no time flat, and at minimal expense. Then you'd have an accredited American degree and could teach in Korea. If you're interested in knowing about transfer schools, you can PM me.
4. You could complete an MA TESOL in a Big 7 country. It only need take one year, and would probably make your bachelor's degree irrelevant. Not 100% sure on this, though, so please research it. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Quick question regarding the E-2 visa |
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[quote="rooster_2006"]
| shinobi_x wrote: |
- C-3 (tourist, Canadians get six months -- all work is illegal)
Canadians cannot get a C3 because they get 6 months. They get a B2 stamp on arrival. Work is illegal.
- D-2 or D-4 (student visas -- work permission is possible, but you would be ineligible for MOE permission)
- E-7 (professional, non-teaching work -- you do not need a degree from the Big 7, but this is not a valid visa for teaching, only other sectors)
- F-2 (residence visa available if you are: married, a refugee, a highly-skilled immigrant, have lived in Korea for five years at a skilled job, etc. -- once again, you could live in Korea but not teach without MOE permission)
4. You could complete an MA TESOL in a Big 7 country. It only need take one year, and would probably make your bachelor's degree irrelevant. Not 100% sure on this, though, so please research it.
Won't work for an E2. Submission of the BA is the requirement (for an E2) and the MA is irrelevant. It may work for an E7 or E1 if you are NOT teaching a language.
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Quick question regarding the E-2 visa |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Submission of the BA is the requirement (for an E2) and the MA is irrelevant.
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It's any bachelor's degree, not just BA. You can get a visa with a BS. |
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rooster_2006
Joined: 14 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Quick question regarding the E-2 visa |
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| interestedinhanguk wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
Submission of the BA is the requirement (for an E2) and the MA is irrelevant.
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It's any bachelor's degree, not just BA. You can get a visa with a BS. |
Yeah, I don't get why everyone on here always generalizes "bachelor's degree" to "BA."
I've completed a BS. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| rooster_2006 wrote: |
| interestedinhanguk wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
Submission of the BA is the requirement (for an E2) and the MA is irrelevant.
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It's any bachelor's degree, not just BA. You can get a visa with a BS. |
Yeah, I don't get why everyone on here always generalizes "bachelor's degree" to "BA."
I've completed a BS. |
I for one generalize it because I am just too damned lazy to to retype the BS - like "BA, B.Sc, E.Ed, B.Com. B.etc." every time I answer a post to be specific about what degrees are considered acceptable to immigration.
But to be specific about the post and "correct my statement" -
Submission of a bona fide Bachelors degree issued by an accredited degree granting institution (university/college) from one of the approved 7 anglophone countries is the requirement for issuance of an E2 as an English teacher and a Masters degree of any nature is simply irrelevant for the purposes of issuance of an E2 as an English teacher.
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