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joeyp363
Joined: 28 Jan 2016
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:34 pm Post subject: Getting an e2 visa while living/traveling abroad? |
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Hi everyone!
Just finally made an account here but a long time lurker but I have a question that I can't seem to get a straight answer on!
Okay so my girlfriend and I (both Americans) will be applying for our first teaching positions in Korea for jobs starting in September (we probably will takeover our friends position at a school in Seoul) the question I have is we will be in Germany for about 6 weeks visiting family before flying straight to Korea. I was wondering if we will be able to get our visas that far ahead before we leave, or if we could actually get them in Berlin at the Korean embassy assuming we have all our documents ready? We do not really want to go all the way back to America for a week or two just to get our visas. Any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. It is our only roadblock at the moment! Thanks again for everything! We appreciate it! |
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joeyp363
Joined: 28 Jan 2016
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry for the double post! I am new and also if it is in the wrong section I sincerely apologize! I'm forum illiterate! Haha |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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This should probably be in the Jobs forum, but anyway...
Unless something has changed, I'm pretty sure you can't get your first E2 outside of your home country unless you're living in the country you're in (studying, working, etc.). It's also quite unlikely that you would be able to get a visa 6 weeks out, considering most schools aren't even ready to start hiring until ~8 weeks out at a minimum (it's a bigger deal for you than it is for them).
As an American you have the option of flying to Guam (this is what I did), but it limits your options, as it's not the norm and it will make some schools wary. Flying to Guam would also mean flying to Korea without a job.
Someone can correct me if my information is out of date, but based on what I know your plan doesn't really sound feasible.
Last edited by northway on Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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Besides the info northway posted, you should also be aware that you and your girlfriend aren't going to be working in the same school if you're accepted for EPIK. The norm is one foreign teacher per school. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: Getting an e2 visa while living/traveling abroad? |
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joeyp363 wrote: |
Hi everyone!
Just finally made an account here but a long time lurker but I have a question that I can't seem to get a straight answer on!
Okay so my girlfriend and I (both Americans) will be applying for our first teaching positions in Korea for jobs starting in September (we probably will takeover our friends position at a school in Seoul) the question I have is we will be in Germany for about 6 weeks visiting family before flying straight to Korea. I was wondering if we will be able to get our visas that far ahead before we leave, or if we could actually get them in Berlin at the Korean embassy assuming we have all our documents ready? We do not really want to go all the way back to America for a week or two just to get our visas. Any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. It is our only roadblock at the moment! Thanks again for everything! We appreciate it! |
The visa issuance number is good for 90 days from date of issue and is good globally (it won't matter which Korean consulate you get your visa from).
If your paperwork is done and your travel time is only 6 weeks you can also get your visa at home.
Holders of American passports are issued a 1-year, multi entry visa (as compared to everyone else who gets a single entry visa that must be used within 90 days of issue or it expires).
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joeyp363
Joined: 28 Jan 2016
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Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 6:54 am Post subject: |
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CentralCali wrote: |
Besides the info northway posted, you should also be aware that you and your girlfriend aren't going to be working in the same school if you're accepted for EPIK. The norm is one foreign teacher per school. |
Thank you guys so much for all the information! (Even though it's still conflicting haha) but let's say we end up taking our friends hagwon jobs when their contract expires (they work at a school that only accepts couples) do you think the school could arrange a visa early for us? |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:21 am Post subject: |
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joeyp363 wrote: |
CentralCali wrote: |
Besides the info northway posted, you should also be aware that you and your girlfriend aren't going to be working in the same school if you're accepted for EPIK. The norm is one foreign teacher per school. |
Thank you guys so much for all the information! (Even though it's still conflicting haha) but let's say we end up taking our friends hagwon jobs when their contract expires (they work at a school that only accepts couples) do you think the school could arrange a visa early for us? |
ttompatz is right, he's much more reliable than I am.
If you already have a relationship with the school in question then you're far more likely to make an early visa a reality. |
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