Korean Job Discussion Forums

[barend]

My situation is this:

I'm a native English speaker from the UK, I completed all my education in the UK until I was 18. I then decided to study my Bachelors Degree in the Netherlands where I graduated from 2 years ago. I have been working as a computer programmer in the UK since then.

I emailed the EPIK programme coordinator and they said that it was a requirement of that programme that I received my degree from one of the 7 english speaking countries. I also spoke to the Korean embassy in London and they told me that for the E2 visa they do not care where I get my degree from, just that I have a job offer from a Korean school. I then spoke to some recruiters and they told me that the hagwons they work with only accept people who received there degree from these 7 countries.

Does anyone know if there are hagwons or recruiters who will consider applications from someone who has a 'foreign' degree, or if there is any way for me to teach in a public school?

Thanks

[ttompatz]

The consulate has nothing to do with it at this point. In order for them to issue a visa you need either a visa confirmation number from immigration or NOA from a public school program and authorized by immigration.

Immigration (the people who issue the visa confirmation number or authorize the NOA for PS jobs) has a publicly stated policy that your passport and at least 1 undergraduate degree MUST be from one of the "approved 7" countries for you to work as an "English Teacher".

If you do not have a bachelor's degree from one of the "7" then Korea is off your list.

Try China, Japan, Vietnam or Taiwan if you want the far East or Europe (close to home and less of a visa issue).
Vietnam pays reasonably well too for those with a degree and CELTA and "Cambridge English" is popular due to the promotion of Cambridge ESOL programs.

.

[Troglodyte]

If your diploma and transcripts are in English and it doesn't really indicate on them the university is in the Netherlands (I know, it's highly unlikely) then you might be able to slip it by them. But as Ttompatz said, it's an Immigration Office thing. The embassy staff don't care but they aren't the ones who make the decision on it. If you're really desperate to go to Korea then you could also get yourself an online degree from a diploma mill from one of the 7 English countries. If I were you, I'd just look elsewhere.

[barend]

Ok thank you for the replies.

The issue is my girlfriend is from Korea and it is specifically Korea that I am interested in going to. I was wondering if someone could point me to the official immigration website where it's stated that this is the visa policy? (if it's on there) Because so far I've only seen it on recruitment agency websites, and it might be useful to see what the requirements are for other visas if I apply for one of them.

Also does anyone know of a way to contact Korean immigration directly to see if there are any alternatives?

[robbie_davies]

If the degree is in English, I wouldn't tell them. You might just get away with it. There are 400 Universities in the UK alone and no-one is telling me that immi are scrutinizing every single one - they just aren't that smart. The passport is the most important factor - give it a go and don't tell them, the more bones you give them, the more bites around your ankles you are going to give them.

[Aine1979]

Is there not a section in the form you send off for the E2 visa where it specifically asks for the address of your university? I remember stressing about it at the time because my course had moved campus and I wasn't sure which address I should use.

You would probably be best to check that, because you could end up getting your visa issuance number through only to have the Korean Embassy refuse to issue the visa when they see the location of your university.

[Troglodyte]

[barend]

Ok thanks for your help. I have been looking into IT jobs in Seoul, they are usually quite senior jobs though. But I'm just trying to get a good idea of what my options are in case that doesn't work out.

But yeah thank you again.

[Jodami]

If anyone at Kimmigration questions you, then tell them Netherlands is in London.

I'd say that there's at least a 90% chance that you'll pull this off. Report back here and let us know.