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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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 Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:58 pm Post subject: From Japan to Korea Questions |
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I am currently in Japan teaching on the JET Programme, from the US, and looking to switch to teaching in South Korea by next July/August 2012. I know how difficult it has become to get a job in Korea so if anyone wants to talk me out of going to Korea and staying put in Japan, please talk to me. I am Latino and will be 36 by that time. Otherwise, here are my questions.
Apostilled CBC, I got one a month or so before I left the US. Will I now have to get one in Japan since I will have done one year here? Will I have to worry about getting a newer one from the US even though I have not lived there for one year?
Apostilled diploma, this doesn't really matter how old it is,right? Meaning I wont have to get a new apostille, and it will be over a year old. Thanks. |
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nick70100
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Your criminal background check from the US must be less than 6 months old when you submit it to Korean immigration, regardless of the last time you have been to the US. You don't need to provide one from Japan, only your country of citizenship. It doesn't matter if you haven't lived there in 30 years. It's still the only one they will want to see, and they will not accept it if it is more than 6 months old. |
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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| That's going to be complicated to get done while in Japan. |
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Setaro
Joined: 08 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't Jet Programme positions give you much more benefits than being in Korea? It's much harder to get on the Jet Programme than it is EPIK, that's for sure. |
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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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True, getting into JET is not easy and they pretty much treat you like a baby putting you in 5 star hotels and paying all trasportation up front and all that, but expenses are high here and I am sure it will be a nicer life in South Korea where things are cheaper and I can save more. To give you an example, I had to pay key money, which is like a gift to the landlord, of about USD equivalent $2,000. And rent is about USD $380 per month. This is money I would have saved in Korea.
Has anyone gotten an apostilled CBC while in Japan? Sounds like I might have to make a trip over to the US for the CBC and then a trip over to Guam for the first time visa interview. |
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spaceman82
Joined: 01 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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| How much did you save during your year in Japan? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:31 am Post subject: |
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If you are on the JET program you won't save any more by moving to Korea.
Getting your documents in order will be time consuming and expensive.
FBI check, LESS THAN 6 months old when it hits the desk at immigration AND must have an apostille.
Certified true copy of your degree (they no longer take originals) with an apostille.
Finding a PS job in the next year (summer 2012 is not looking good) will be problematic.
Hagwans are paying less, avoiding required benefits (medical and NPS) and being more fussy (just because they can).
Stay where you are for another year.
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Hotpants
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:29 am Post subject: |
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Why exactly do you want to make the switch from Japan to Korea even before you've done a year in Japan?
If you're happy with JET, stay put.
Apart from getting the visa docs all over again, if it's your first Korea E2 visa, the 'rule' is supposed to be that you can only apply for the visa from your home country in any case, so that adds an extra problem (and extra costs). |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 4:13 am Post subject: |
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| Hotpants wrote: |
Why exactly do you want to make the switch from Japan to Korea even before you've done a year in Japan?
If you're happy with JET, stay put.
Apart from getting the visa docs all over again, if it's your first Korea E2 visa, the 'rule' is supposed to be that you can only apply for the visa from your home country in any case, so that adds an extra problem (and extra costs). |
OR the country of your legal residence (in this case, Japan).
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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 4:56 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Hotpants wrote: |
Why exactly do you want to make the switch from Japan to Korea even before you've done a year in Japan?
If you're happy with JET, stay put.
Apart from getting the visa docs all over again, if it's your first Korea E2 visa, the 'rule' is supposed to be that you can only apply for the visa from your home country in any case, so that adds an extra problem (and extra costs). |
OR the country of your legal residence (in this case, Japan).
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Is that so? That'll be sweet if I can do it in Japan. Can someone else verify that I can apply for the E2 visa in Japan because I currently live here. But I know I can also do that in Guam. This is actually my third year in Japan, but went home and came as a JET. I can easily stay another year so thanks for the advice.
For the person asking how much you can make in Japan in a year. I heard of a JET who was able to save 50,000 dollars after 4 years. Others 35,000 dollars in two years and still travel. Can't this be done in Korea? |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| judoka wrote: |
For the person asking how much you can make in Japan in a year. I heard of a JET who was able to save 50,000 dollars after 4 years. Others 35,000 dollars in two years and still travel. Can't this be done in Korea? |
Impossible at an entry level position on an E2 Visa. There are jobs out there where you can save that kind of money, but you wont be landing one from abroad and you would be hard pressed to save that kind of money with only 1 job unless you ate gimbap and ramen every day anyway. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:13 am Post subject: |
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If you find a job that won't rip you off too badly, you might save $10,000 your first year in Korea. But you'll have to never go out, and live like a troll to do that. I don't think you'll be very happy.
My first year, I saved about $8,000. Wages were much lower then, but so were expenses.
Personally I think Japan is a wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
better place to be than Korea, but to each his own I guess. |
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spaceman82
Joined: 01 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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It used to be the norm to save $10,000 in one's first year in Korea, but I think that time has passed due to inflation and semi-stagnant wages. These days, as some waygug-in mentioned, you'd really have to scrimp to save that much, which is why I was asking how much you saved in a year since I've heard the JET pay is pretty good.
Is there any other reason besides money that you're thinking of coming to Korea? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| judoka wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| Hotpants wrote: |
Why exactly do you want to make the switch from Japan to Korea even before you've done a year in Japan?
If you're happy with JET, stay put.
Apart from getting the visa docs all over again, if it's your first Korea E2 visa, the 'rule' is supposed to be that you can only apply for the visa from your home country in any case, so that adds an extra problem (and extra costs). |
OR the country of your legal residence (in this case, Japan).
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Is that so? That'll be sweet if I can do it in Japan. Can someone else verify that I can apply for the E2 visa in Japan because I currently live here. But I know I can also do that in Guam. This is actually my third year in Japan, but went home and came as a JET. I can easily stay another year so thanks for the advice.
For the person asking how much you can make in Japan in a year. I heard of a JET who was able to save 50,000 dollars after 4 years. Others 35,000 dollars in two years and still travel. Can't this be done in Korea? |
No. Your typical, "fresh-off-the-plane" newbie (to Korea) will typically save about $12k per year unless they choose to live like a hermit.
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judoka
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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| spaceman82 wrote: |
It used to be the norm to save $10,000 in one's first year in Korea, but I think that time has passed due to inflation and semi-stagnant wages. These days, as some waygug-in mentioned, you'd really have to scrimp to save that much, which is why I was asking how much you saved in a year since I've heard the JET pay is pretty good.
Is there any other reason besides money that you're thinking of coming to Korea? |
I am very much interested in both countries and I think it will be good to live in Korea. I like the Korean language and want to experience life there. That's pretty much it. I don't mind making less/saving less for a chance at discovering a different life/culture. But getting that CBC is not going to be easy. |
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