Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dabestrn]

My wife and I are interested in going to work in Korea. We are both Canadians and speak english very well. My wife holds a B. of Ed. with honors in English. I am a Registered Nurse with a 3 yr diploma from a college(not university). I am well aware of the immigration laws in Korea. We posted our resumes and I have received a couple emails from people wanting to talk to me on the phone. They say they have "ways around" the whole immigration issue. Has anyone ever heard of this?? My wife has also received offers due to her qualifications. I am thinking of coming over as a visitor with her and seeing if I can find work myself once i get over there. What are the odds I will find work in TESL field??? I would love to work as a Registered Nurse but don't think there is a high demand for english speaking nurses. Can anyone offer us advice on this whole issue? Should we accept a job knowing they are getting me an E-2 illegit? Should I just go over unemployed and hope for the best? any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks

[poker player]

The short answer is-you can't legally work as a teacher. There are no ways around not having at least a BA. Immigration won't issue a visa and if you don't have 1 you can't work legally. Anyone who says there are ways around -legally-it is lying. I have also heard that the fines and penalties for being caught are getting steeper and that immigration is encouraging whistle blowers with rewards. I don't know about others, but I have little time for illegal teachers. Every time an illegal teacher scandal surfaces, we all get painted with the same brush.
As far as nursing, why not go through the Ontario Nurses Association to see what the chances are here that you could get some work?

[Derrek]

[Captain Corea]

Agree, they are lying to you.

The only way around it is for them to have you work at their school and they may hide you if the immigration officers come around. Have fun hiding in that closet man.

Sure you can come here with your wife on a tourist visa. Sure you can find work. But make no mistake about it, it will be illegal. Do so at your own risk.



*I too am curious as to how they think they can get away with it... or better put, what they tell you as a way to try to allay your fears.

[paperbag princess]

i know a person who is here with an early childhood education diploma from a college in ontario and she hasn't ever had a problem getting an E2 visa. you can always submit your diploma and hope they don't notice it's not a BA. it might work.

[mindmetoo]

If your wife has a valid work visa and you get a valid spousal visa, you're safe to be in the country. Teaching at a hagwon doesn't require a BA. Many of the Korean teachers along side me don't have BAs yet. Many are taking a break and saving money to finish their degrees. But to get an E2 visa you need a BA. However, if you're in the country legally, I'd not sweat it over much. You probably can't work legally on a spousal visa. But maybe you can. Check it out.

[ThePoet]

If you have 3years of college level courses, you may be able to transfer many, or all of your credits to receive a Bachelor of General Studies degree at Athabasca University (3-Year degree).

http://www.athabascau.ca

You may also be able to go through a PLA assessment as well as the credits you already received and get a degree from Thomas Edison State College ( http://www.tesc.edu/ ), Charter Oaks State College ( http://www.cosc.edu/ ) or Excelsior College ( http://www.excelsior.edu/ )

At the very most, you may have to take a few courses to make up accreditation standards. All of those universities are accredited and they have helped a lot of people start on a new path.

Wouldn't it be better to make sure you can't be surprised, or worse, feel your heart pounding more erratically every time you see someone walk through the door of your school who looks like they "may" be there in an official capacity?

Poet

[dabestrn]

The Poet....Thanks man. That was very helpful

[dabestrn]

Nobody else has an opion on this matter?

[tjg_marantz]

I'm in the same boat you are in(wife has a Bachelors in Education, I have no Bachelors). From what I gather, you can try to find work once on the ground there in anything but teaching. Also, from what I gather, it's hard to find work being only english speaking. The wife and I are constantly evaluating but it looks like the non-bachelors person in the couple is in for a rougher ride finding something to do I am hoping my french will help me if we do end up going there.

Sorry, I know I am not much help but I thought I would chime in also. You are not alone in your situation.

[Homer]

The Athabasca thing might work.

However, a diploma from there is not always accepted by immigration here. It's a toss up really.

In the end, without a degree you cannot obtain an E-2 visa and hence cannot teach.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[ThePoet]

Homer,

Who do you know with a degree from Athabasca that has been refused an E2 visa?

If you are just going to make statements like that you should have some proof. Athabasca is every bit as accredited and acceptable as any university in Canada. It is a fully qualified university.

FYI, I got an E2 for a university position based on a Master's from Athabasca. They did not require my Bachelor's to be submitted to back up my degree. The university hiring committee (one Korean, one American), the university itself, and immigration itself did not once question the validity of this degree, nor its credentials.

Poet

[Gollum]

[Gollum]