Korean Job Discussion Forums

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Did anyone get an addition on their E-2 for camp work approval this summer? I am headed to immigration Friday morning with approval paperwork from my current employer and the school I'll work at. I got this approved last year for another place, but that was for a university camp -- not a hagwon camp.

Turn-around for approval last year was supposed to be one week, but last year I found out by chance that they turned it around in a day.

How long did your approval take this year? Anyone?

Thanks.

astroboyfan · Joined: 19 Apr 2005

I got a work permit added to my F-2. It only took a couple days. It was quite straightforward.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

I'm hoping to get the same as Astroboy in the next week or so.

Incognito · Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Location: Teacher centered hell!!!

I work for a public school and the administration wants me to do a summer camp at a local middle school. My director assures me that immigration paperwork is not needed since I am doing the camp at a school that is in the same province where I am officially employed. The camp is next week. Based on what I just read above, I have a feeling that maybe I should contact immigration. Any thoughts?

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

DEFINATELY must contact them to be legal.

Requires paperwork from your school, the camp school, and other stuff.

Immigration has a paper which defines all of the things needed. It might be on their site, too.

With that said, I highly doubt you'd have any problems whatsoever in a public/private school situation -- as long as you are teaching in the school and not out. I just don't see immigration raiding public/private schools to bust camps.

kalbi · Joined: 27 May 2003

Incognito... do yourself a favor.. call immigration yourself.

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

Got an add-on to my F-2 for a local uni's summer camp. It took 10 days. I think the ten-day thing is std in Boo-sahn these days though. They give you a receipt that has "Will be ready in 10 days" on it. I think I could've gotten it sooner if I or the school had've pressed for it, but everything's fine.

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

Well I've hit a bit of a snag for a summer camp at another high school that I"m doing. It's only 4 days and last year my school had shipped me out to do a 3 day camp at a middle school down the street. I brought up the immigration thing but they said "don't worry". THIS year though I thought it is better to be safe than sorry and said to the other high school that all the paperwork should be done for me to go to immigration.
Here's the real kicker. Immigration requires official "sealed transcripts" from my university. What a pain in the ass as I checked with my university website and they are on "summer hours" now and it takes 5-8 days processing time, then obviously time to be mailed over here. I'm doubtful if I will get it in time as the camp is in early August. I explained how the past couple years this wasn't necessary but he called immigration and they said it's a new policy that just started. Again it wouldn't surprise me if this is the case due to the crackdown but I'm curious to here if others had to show "official sealed transcripts" from their university. Another thing is that I'm not "fresh off the boat" as I've been here 8 years and legal the whole time. Immigration should be able to do a check of records to see that! Confused

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

wow bourquetheman, transcripts just for a camp... that's madness.

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

I use the Suwon office, near Hwaso station. Convenient because it's much closer for me than the Inchon office was. Part of me thinks I should just roll the dice and take the chance that everything will be fine for the 4 days, but the other part of me wants to play it safe especially due to the crackdown. And I've been at a couple camps where immigration DID come so that makes me all the more weary.

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

Here's what was required at the Boo-sahn office:

-Resume
-Permission letter and school license/schedule from my public school
-Certificate of graduation (I provided the "Certified Copy of True Original scan of my degree)
-Contract from the uni stating pay, hours, etc for the three-week camp
-Passport
-ARC
-Application for Alteration or Addition of Employment Place form
-30,000(F-2), 60,000(E-2)
-10 days to process

I guess they're using different policies at different offices just so they can confuse the hell out of everyone. I didn't have to provide transcripts. Not photocopied ones. Not sealed/stamped/verified/validated originals. Nothing. If they had've required the sealed transcripts, I would've said, "Forget it." I would prefer a four-week vacation to a three-week one, but, alas, it was processed with no problems. I think when I sign a new contract next year that the story will be different though. I'll have a family member sending that crap over soon.

I saw one of the guys that I'll be doing the camp with the other day. I asked him about his visa. He said that he didn't need one of those because he has been here for 8-9 years. I didn't press him on it, but I think he may be wrong in believing that he doesn't need an add-on to his E-2. I told him he should be careful and he then said that he'll check into it. The way I see it is if immigration decides to visit the school, he could easily be fined or deported or both as I'm pretty sure he has only been obtaining new E-2s or doing renewals over the years. I've been here for 7 years and I have an F-2, but I'm still not taking chances.

p.s. The one strange question the immigration official asked me in a menacing voice was, "Are you working anywhere else?" Of course I said, "No, of course not." Must be their new way to catch people doing privates or other illegal work these days...put them on the spot and expect them to lie and incriminate themselves. Rolling Eyes

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

Yeah it doesn't surprise me that different offices have different rules. Here I am trying to play it by the book and they're making me provide sealed transcripts after 8 years here? Give me a break................ Rolling Eyes

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

I asked this exact question to the immigration people at Omogkyo. I was sent to floor 2, and asked the same thing.

You must provide sealed transcripts EVERY time you apply for a new E-2. No matter how long you've been here.

I have a legal N. Public stating that my degree is legal. I showed them that, and they didn't care.

So basically, if a boss holds onto your degree as collateral, then laugh in their face, because it doesn't matter any more. You'll need a new sealed one for your next job anyway.

julian_w · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:30 am Post subject:

So are youseguys saying for a C4 you only need to go to your local immigration office?

That would be with a working visa already though, right?

So, if I'm here on a tourist visa, would I need to do the whole visa run thing again for the sake of a C4 if I'm looking at doing a holiday camp? I'd really appreciate confirmation or contradiction on this.

As for the sealed transcripts thing, the camp boss phoned to Osaka and was told that they were needed. My reaction was the same: for a 3 week camp? That's even more crazy than any other situation.

I then phoned to Fukuoka myself and got the guy there to list all that was needed, and then I got his name. He didn't mention sealed transcripts, so godonly knows.