Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SoylaMBPolymath]

I am a first timer and have my visa and passport in hand. NO interview was required. I sent my application and supporting documentation on Thursday of last week, it arrived on Friday, and today, Wednesday, I have my passport with visa. Upon receiving my Visa Issuance Number and on the advice of my recruiter (whom I have enjoyed working with and who has been very, very helpful) I phoned my nearest consulate. There was a bit of a language barrier and I thought that maybe the woman I'd spoken with hadn't really understood my questions as she told me, "There is no interview. Please see our web site and send documents to us with a prepaid air bill." Everything I'd read on this forum and was being told by my recruiter indicated that an interview would be required. I had already made the arrangements to borrow a friend's car for the three hour drive. I told my recruiter what the consulate had told me and she said to just be ready in case I'd been given bad information. A couple of days after that she e-mailed me and told me that several other of her clients had also been informed that an interview would not be required. Indeed, an interview was not necessary! I have no idea if this is means there is yet another change in what can amount to a somewhat confusing process, or if this was simply a decision made my consulate. In any event, if you read on this forum that someone received their visa without an interview and is a first timer...it's true!


And finally, a word of thanks.

This forum has been very useful as a starting point and and served as a useful point of reference for questions I have had regarding this process. Not all of the information gleaned from this page was accurate or relevant to my experience, but it was a good place to get a general feel of what to expect. I found that the SOME of the information regarding CBC reporting and document apostilles was very different from what was being posted as authoritative on this forum. That being said, I felt that most, if not all, of the steps involved in acquiring my visa were easy to follow. All that was needed was a bit of patience and the ability to read.

I intend to use this forum as a place to research general concerns as they arrive during my time in Korea, but I don't believe I will be frequenting it as much as I had during the visa process, as there is just so much negative feeling pervading these boards. The perpetual pettiness and cliqueish tones are exasperating to witness. Plus, I am not as young as some of you and do not go into this experience expecting to be revered because I speak English. For me, this is a job. And like any job I've had I expect there to be challenges, difficulties, and fulfillment. The experience is one I intend to make the most of, even if it turns out to be one of the worst decisions I've ever made in my life, I am excited at the prospect of seeing new things and hopefully becoming a teacher into which my school feels pleased to have invested their time and money. That being said, I don't doubt that there are some of you who have very legitimate grievances with your experiences in Korea, and it is certainly important to bring them to light. But for myself, I'm not looking for perfection, I'm just looking for something different, and I got it.

Well, best to all. I must go start packing!

[ssuprnova]

Which embassy did you apply at?

I can confirm that some embassies don't require an interview. A friend of mine recently got his first E2 visa without an interview in Dublin, Ireland. However, in Vancouver, Canada, the interview is mandatory and pretty intense (no "do you like kimchi?" type of questions).

[SoylaMBPolymath]

[morrisonhotel]

It seems to be the norm for British applicants to not have to go to the embassy for an interview.

[texdreamer]

Soyla, did they ask for a copy of your flight schedule at the consulate?

[corklanger]

I got my first e2 without leaving Korea as I had a letter of appointment. Just went to visa office and got a change of status from tourist visa. If you ring the Korea immigration hotline they will confirm this is possible.

[SoylaMBPolymath]

[Space Cowboy]

I think some of them don't understand the policy. Before I came over, I initially applied through the Atlanta consulate. The officer there told me I needed to do an interview and that I had to wait two weeks to do it. I called the consulates in Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles, and all of them confirmed with me that no interview was necessary. I told this to the Atlanta people, but they were unwilling to budge. I told them to overnight my packet back to me, and I sent all of the same documents to the Chicago consulate. Whammy! I had my visa in a matter of days.

Moral of the story: Avoid the Atlanta consulate.

[MyNameIsNobody]

The New York City Consulate required:
application form
certificate for a confirmation of visa issuance
consul's checklist
passport
one photo
one sealed transcript
$45 fee (non-refundable).

When I tried calling the consulate, most of the time I would get transferred to someone who dealt with E-2 visas only to be sent to a voice messaging system. Not once had a request for a call back been met. I'm close to the consulate, so eventually, I just went in person to get my questions answered.

There is no interview for a first-timer at the New York City consulate. If you get someone on the phone, they'll probably tell you that you can mail your documents. As a heads up, the "certificate for confirmation of visa issuance" is just your visa confirmation number. I wasted my time thinking that I had to find/fill out some special piece of paper. The most annoying bit about the application requirements was the consul's checklist. While you can find the visa application form on the New York City consulate website, you cannot find the consul's checklist. Instead, I had to do a bit of digging on Korea's immigration website (here: http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt?categoryId=2&parentId=382&catSeq=&showMenuId=374 .) Under the "Quick Menu" on the right hand side, you'll find a "Forms" link that will pull up all documents related to applications immigration can handle. Under the "Visa Related Forms" section, you will not see a file labeled "Consul's Checklist." Why? Because that would make sense. Don't expect sense. You'll only be disappointed. Laugh and move on. Instead the file will be labeled "Standard interviews manual" (I clicked on every file in the "Visa Related Forms" section to figure this out). When you open the file, you will have to scroll down past the Korean section to the English one to see the words "Consul's Checklist." It may be helpful to install Hancom Office Hanword Viewer as the Word file is formatted oddly.

After submitting my application in person, the lady helping us said that I would receive a phone call to indicate when I could pick up my visa/passport. After four days of hearing nothing, I tried calling again. Once again, I could not talk to anyone, so I went to the consulate. Apparently, the visa had been in my passport two days ago. The receipt indicated that I could have picked it up after one business day following submission, but in reality it was two.

Lesson learned: don't expect anyone to answer your phone calls or to call you when they say you will. (Why did I think of a jilted lover as I typed that?)

[FloridaGator314]

[RMNC]

Looks like I'll be calling the Houston one next time I need an E-2!

[sallymonster]

The Seattle consulate not only requires the interview, but also asks "real" interview questions about how you plan to handle certain teaching situations and stuff. They also intensely scrutinize your transcripts and will likely ask for additional paperwork. Thank god I lived in the Seattle area at the time I got my visa. I feel bad for people who live in Alaska!

[myenglishisno]

[FloridaGator314]

I just got my first E-2 visa from the Atlanta consulate with no visit. Sent it express mail on Tuesday of this week; just got back today(Friday). Much simpler than I initially thought it would be.

[Zanniati]

I got my VISA from the Washington DC consulate. No interview. Brought in my paperwork on a Tuesday. Picked it up on Thursday. No questions asked.