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vchampea
Joined: 02 Sep 2011 Location: USA
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:38 pm Post subject: Is it possible to depart for a teaching job early? |
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I was just wondering, when I finally do secure a job, would it be possible to get a flight to Korea a bit earlier than when the job starts? Or do they make your flight arrive just before the job starts? I have some friends I want to visit. An extra week would be nice. |
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Setaro
Joined: 08 Aug 2010
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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As long as your visa is valid for the date you arrive, of course you can come early.
Of course, if you're going to a Hagwon, and your Hagwon buys the ticket, you go when they say you go. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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If you enter Korea on your employment visa, the day you enter is the beginning date of your employment period. Don't worry, you will have time to explore the country once you get here. Plus, the country's not so big that it will take very long to get to whatever it is you want to see. |
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vchampea
Joined: 02 Sep 2011 Location: USA
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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Setaro wrote: |
As long as your visa is valid for the date you arrive, of course you can come early.
Of course, if you're going to a Hagwon, and your Hagwon buys the ticket, you go when they say you go. |
When I get the visa, does it say exactly when I will be entering the country, or does it have a certain period of time that I must use the visa?
CentralCali wrote: |
Don't worry, you will have time to explore the country once you get here. Plus, the country's not so big that it will take very long to get to whatever it is you want to see. |
How long after your arrival does the job actually start? (for those who came came with a plane ticket paid for by the school) |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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vchampea wrote: |
How long after your arrival does the job actually start? (for those who came came with a plane ticket paid for by the school) |
Generally between 3 and 36 hours of getting off the plane. |
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Zyzyfer

Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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vchampea wrote: |
When I get the visa, does it say exactly when I will be entering the country, or does it have a certain period of time that I must use the visa? |
I'm fairly sure it's a "use-by" visa. But it will later be superceded by your ARC, which will expire when your contract does.
If you want to come earlier, you should speak with your employer-to-be about trying to set up an earlier flight. They may not care, or they may find it odd and not feel inclined to do it. It's their call, but if they say no and you try to contest the issue too much, there's a chance it could have a negative impact on their view of you.
So ask, maybe they'll say yes, if not, wait and meet friends on the weekends. That's my suggestion. |
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DaHu
Joined: 09 Feb 2011
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:49 am Post subject: |
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Korea is a very "last minute" country. You could start the hiring process 6 months out, and they'll still rush you at the end. You'll be waiting for your visa to get on a plane to come. |
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vchampea
Joined: 02 Sep 2011 Location: USA
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 4:35 am Post subject: |
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DaHu wrote: |
Korea is a very "last minute" country. You could start the hiring process 6 months out, and they'll still rush you at the end. You'll be waiting for your visa to get on a plane to come. |
Yes, I really get that feeling from working with the recruiters. I'm trying to do stuff ahead of time but I don't think my preparation is making things less chaotic.
Thanks for the advice. I'll see what I can do when I finally get a job. |
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vchampea
Joined: 02 Sep 2011 Location: USA
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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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Ok, the school I got hired at pays for the plane ticket upfront. Would it be inappropriate to ask to pay for the plane ticket myself and be reimbursed a fixed amount of money upon arrival? I think EPIK does something like that. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:48 am Post subject: |
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vchampea wrote: |
Ok, the school I got hired at pays for the plane ticket upfront. Would it be inappropriate to ask to pay for the plane ticket myself and be reimbursed a fixed amount of money upon arrival? I think EPIK does something like that. |
Hagwan?? Take the ticket or you will get reimbursed at "their" exchange rate at their convenience (and always to your detriment).
You are not going to get an entrance allowance like EPIK.
You are not dealing with the government.
It is a private business and they are more interested in counting ship-won (better in their pocket than yours) than being consistent across the board.
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vchampea
Joined: 02 Sep 2011 Location: USA
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:46 am Post subject: |
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According to my recruiter, the school is not exactly a hagwon, but it's not a pubic school either. I'm employed by the mayor of the city.
So they probably wouldn't object to reimbursing me for the ticket? I want to make a trip to Japan before I go to Korea and it's kinda important, so I don't mind if it's costing me a little extra. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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vchampea wrote: |
According to my recruiter, the school is not exactly a hagwon, but it's not a pubic school either. I'm employed by the mayor of the city.
So they probably wouldn't object to reimbursing me for the ticket? I want to make a trip to Japan before I go to Korea and it's kinda important, so I don't mind if it's costing me a little extra. |
If it is not governed by a public school/government policy my statement stands.
If it is, then their policy will over-ride anything you may want.
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plchron
Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Location: Korea
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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tell them you want to arrive early and give them the date you want your arrival flight to be. The visa I got was dated from the time the consulate accepted my E2 documents and had an extra month on it (we all get a 13 month visa, not 12 months). MyVisa date is from 8/11/11 to 9/11/12. |
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vchampea
Joined: 02 Sep 2011 Location: USA
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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I just went ahead and asked if they would reimburse me instead of paying for the ticket upfront. I got a pretty simple response: "no, that�s a policy." They're applying for my visa now. It seems things are getting done ahead of time (by Korean standards) so I'll see if I can arrive in Korea early. The school is providing the apartment. Would they just let me hang out in the apartment for a week or two before the job actually starts? That doesn't seem like something they would do. By early arrival do you mean you arrive early but you do you own thing in Korea, find your own place to stay until your job starts? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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Why would they let you hang out in the apartment without working? Short course in visas here: the purpose for which the visa is granted is the purpose for which you will be entering the country. You're getting an employment visa. The day you enter the country using that visa is the day your job begins. The employer is not flying you here for you to take an immediate vacation. Fly in, start work. Another thing about visas is a 13-month visa beginning on, say, 15 December 2011 will expire on 14 January 2013, not 15 January.
Just fly in, start working, and relax. Korea is not that big. You'll have plenty of time (weekends, public holidays) to travel around the country and see what there is to see here. |
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