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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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p4perclip
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
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 Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:46 am Post subject: No Chance For Work if I'm Not a Citizen? |
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Hi all, great forum.
I've been planning on teaching in Korea since I saw a forum thread about it 2 months ago, I should get my bachelors degree in about a year and saving a little for grad school while traveling to a country I really admire to teach seemed perfect.
However, one problem I've found. I was born in Switzerland, lived there for 4 years before moving to the USA, where I've lived ever since. I'm not a US citizen, just a permanent resident...basically I have a Swiss passport and a US green card. My English is 100% fluent, I am a native speaker.
I've already emailed EPIK about this, who say it's not possible in this case...Is there a chance I can go through a non-government program who would be more willing to make accommodations? I don't know if it's possible, but for example doing research I know with JET you can write to your embassy and have them contact the appropriate/respective officials and I could teach in Japan as an American perm. res. and not a citizen...can you do that in Korea? If not, does anyone happen to know if Korea will be relaxing immigration restrictions on something like this in a year or two?
If it comes down to it, I'd be willing to teach in Japan or China, but Korea is my clear first choice, so if there's any way, that would be great. I can also speak fluent German/French and am learning both Korean and Chinese (somewhere around intermediate right now but plenty of time to learn, really passionate about it)...I'd be willing to work in something like translating or editing (something similar lifestyle-wise to teaching), if that helps at all with that and getting the visa appropriate for that. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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When it comes right down to it, without the right flavor of passport, your chances of getting a visa to work as an English teacher in Korea are effectively "0".
Pick another country.
Japan might be possible but the job market for teachers is even tighter than Korea and you still have the wrong flavor of passport.
The EU is a very real possibility and with a Swiss passport you have no visa issues to worry about.
SE Asia and China are other possibilities but you won't find the base salaries that compare with Korea. Net SAVINGS on the other hand can be comparable due to the much lower cost of living in places like Thailand, Taiwan, China, etc., and visas are possible, even with a Swiss passport (you MAY however need a proof of English proficiency exam (TOEIC, IELTS, TOEFL due to having the wrong passport).
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| However, one problem I've found. I was born in Switzerland, lived there for 4 years before moving to the USA, where I've lived ever since. I'm not a US citizen, just a permanent resident...basically I have a Swiss passport and a US green card. My English is 100% fluent, I am a native speaker. |
The answer is not to follow prescribed procedures. Prescribed procedures are in place to filter people out of the process.
If you really want to work in Korea, it is possible to go to Korea and find a school in person. When they see you and hear you speak they may have a different opinion. This means public schools are less likely to hire you, but the language schools called hagwons can hire you regardless where you are from. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| YTMND wrote: |
| Quote: |
| However, one problem I've found. I was born in Switzerland, lived there for 4 years before moving to the USA, where I've lived ever since. I'm not a US citizen, just a permanent resident...basically I have a Swiss passport and a US green card. My English is 100% fluent, I am a native speaker. |
The answer is not to follow prescribed procedures. Prescribed procedures are in place to filter people out of the process.
If you really want to work in Korea, it is possible to go to Korea and find a school in person. When they see you and hear you speak they may have a different opinion. This means public schools are less likely to hire you, but the language schools called hagwons can hire you regardless where you are from. |
So you are advocating that he work illegally in other words.
The hakwons have to follow the SAME hiring procedures as the public schools. They can NOT hire him legally. Full stop. |
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andrewchon
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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| OP: why not take up a US-Swiss dual citizenship? |
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p4perclip
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
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| Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
When it comes right down to it, without the right flavor of passport, your chances of getting a visa to work as an English teacher in Korea are effectively "0".
Pick another country.
Japan might be possible but the job market for teachers is even tighter than Korea and you still have the wrong flavor of passport.
The EU is a very real possibility and with a Swiss passport you have no visa issues to worry about.
SE Asia and China are other possibilities but you won't find the base salaries that compare with Korea. Net SAVINGS on the other hand can be comparable due to the much lower cost of living in places like Thailand, Taiwan, China, etc., and visas are possible, even with a Swiss passport (you MAY however need a proof of English proficiency exam (TOEIC, IELTS, TOEFL due to having the wrong passport).
. |
That's what I figured and more or less found through research...Teaching in Europe is fine with me, Moscow is attractive to me, but ultimately I really would have liked Korea. Might end up doing SE Asia, China, something like that if there's no way in Korea.
| YTMND wrote: |
The answer is not to follow prescribed procedures. Prescribed procedures are in place to filter people out of the process.
If you really want to work in Korea, it is possible to go to Korea and find a school in person. When they see you and hear you speak they may have a different opinion. This means public schools are less likely to hire you, but the language schools called hagwons can hire you regardless where you are from. |
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
So you are advocating that he work illegally in other words.
The hakwons have to follow the SAME hiring procedures as the public schools. They can NOT hire him legally. Full stop. |
Yeah, that's kinda what I concluded...I figured my only chance would be through a private school, or somehow proving I can speak English at a native fluency, maybe the IELTS/TOEFL/etc, but looking at the immigration visas it seemed like for whatever reason they pinpoint English speaking country citizens, and not permanent residents. The passport is golden it seems, which is a real shame for me.
| andrewchon wrote: |
| OP: why not take up a US-Swiss dual citizenship? |
To be honest, I don't want to...and I'd hardly become a citizen of a country just so I can teach a year or two in another one...I don't see myself living in the US long term and I don't want to subject myself to American citizen/expat policies, laws, etc if and when I do move elsewhere in the years to come.
So as it seems the language teaching is not possible (unless someone has an idea, then please post!), would anyone know about the last paragraph I posted in the OP?
"I can also speak fluent German/French and am learning both Korean and Chinese (somewhere around intermediate right now but plenty of time to learn, really passionate about it)...I'd be willing to work in something like translating or editing (something similar lifestyle-wise to teaching), if that helps at all with that and getting the visa appropriate for that."
Working in a career field for a year or two similar to teaching, like translating/editing, maybe even marketing or something for a Korean company with English ties or ambitions...As I said, I should be pretty good in Korean by then regardless, same with Chinese, and I'll have English/French/German/Spanish then too. Any possibilities with that for work and a visa in Korea? |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Isn't an E2 visa possible as a German or French teacher? |
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modernseoul
Joined: 11 Sep 2011
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| p4perclip wrote: |
So as it seems the language teaching is not possible (unless someone has an idea, then please post!), would anyone know about the last paragraph I posted in the OP?
"I can also speak fluent German/French and am learning both Korean and Chinese (somewhere around intermediate right now but plenty of time to learn, really passionate about it)...I'd be willing to work in something like translating or editing (something similar lifestyle-wise to teaching), if that helps at all with that and getting the visa appropriate for that."
Working in a career field for a year or two similar to teaching, like translating/editing, maybe even marketing or something for a Korean company with English ties or ambitions...As I said, I should be pretty good in Korean by then regardless, same with Chinese, and I'll have English/French/German/Spanish then too. Any possibilities with that for work and a visa in Korea? |
If you have a number of years of professional experience in a field such as Marketing it maybe possible. But a company would have to prove that a Korean couldn't do that role, which is unlikely.
An E2 visa is for a language instructor from a native speaking country of said language. So in theory being a German or French teacher maybe possible. Still the number of these roles are very very low and without experience it may not be possible.
As you're already learning Korean why not become a student here and then work part time. You wouldn't save much (or any) money but it's an option.
Good Luck |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| YTMND wrote: |
| Quote: |
| However, one problem I've found. I was born in Switzerland, lived there for 4 years before moving to the USA, where I've lived ever since. I'm not a US citizen, just a permanent resident...basically I have a Swiss passport and a US green card. My English is 100% fluent, I am a native speaker. |
The answer is not to follow prescribed procedures. Prescribed procedures are in place to filter people out of the process.
If you really want to work in Korea, it is possible to go to Korea and find a school in person. When they see you and hear you speak they may have a different opinion. This means public schools are less likely to hire you, but the language schools called hagwons can hire you regardless where you are from. |
So you are advocating that he work illegally in other words.
The hakwons have to follow the SAME hiring procedures as the public schools. They can NOT hire him legally. Full stop. |
The original poster never stated they could only work illegally. The only indication I got was that it was harder for them to be accepted into the system due to their background. If they have the documents necessary and go to a school, it is the school's choice. There is nothing illegal.
A public school is more likely to be stricter, but the hagwon might not care. This is not illegal if the person has dual citizenship for example. I don't know the original poster's status.
I am only commenting on the aspect of getting accepted by the school. I am not commenting on the immigration issues until I get more details. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| mithridates wrote: |
| Isn't an E2 visa possible as a German or French teacher? |
Yes, if he is a "native speaker" and if he can find work (school who wants/needs and can legally sponsor an employee) as such.
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p4perclip
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
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| Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the posts guys...
For the E2 visa, would the work have to be full time? The demand for English teachers is of course much greater than French/German/Italian (3 native languages of relation to a Swiss passport).
So is it possible to, for instance, get a job teaching French at a school that contracts me to say 10 hours a week, and then, having the E2 visa for that, I could teach English 10-15 hours a week part time somewhere? Don't know if I'd be allowed to teach in a hagwon somewhere under these circumstances but maybe private lessons? That's all I can think of now.
| YTMND wrote: |
PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 5:57 pm Post subject:
TheUrbanMyth wrote:
YTMND wrote:
Quote:
However, one problem I've found. I was born in Switzerland, lived there for 4 years before moving to the USA, where I've lived ever since. I'm not a US citizen, just a permanent resident...basically I have a Swiss passport and a US green card. My English is 100% fluent, I am a native speaker.
The answer is not to follow prescribed procedures. Prescribed procedures are in place to filter people out of the process.
If you really want to work in Korea, it is possible to go to Korea and find a school in person. When they see you and hear you speak they may have a different opinion. This means public schools are less likely to hire you, but the language schools called hagwons can hire you regardless where you are from.
So you are advocating that he work illegally in other words.
The hakwons have to follow the SAME hiring procedures as the public schools. They can NOT hire him legally. Full stop.
The original poster never stated they could only work illegally. The only indication I got was that it was harder for them to be accepted into the system due to their background. If they have the documents necessary and go to a school, it is the school's choice. There is nothing illegal.
A public school is more likely to be stricter, but the hagwon might not care. This is not illegal if the person has dual citizenship for example. I don't know the original poster's status.
I am only commenting on the aspect of getting accepted by the school. I am not commenting on the immigration issues until I get more details. |
Yeah, in that sense I think you're both right...the hagwons wouldn't be as strict as EPIK, so perhaps I could prove native fluency of English and be hired, but as TheUrbanMyth said, I wouldn't get the visa in that case and thus I'd be there illegally.
| modernseoul wrote: |
| As you're already learning Korean why not become a student here and then work part time. You wouldn't save much (or any) money but it's an option. |
By student, do you mean enrolling into a Korean university for grad school, or do you mean taking Korean classes in Korea somewhere? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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| If you receive an E-2 visa to teach French, then the only language you can legally teach is French. Regardless of your education and actual competence in more than one language, you can only be a conversation teacher for one language as far as the Korean government is concerned. And it is the Korean government that will fine you, detain you until the fine is paid, and deport you once the fine is paid if you are caught teaching illegally. |
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