Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dawn]

Has anyone else gone from an E-2 visa to a SOFA visa while living/working in Korea? Or can anyone supply a run-down of the advantages/disadvantages of both?

I may be looking for a new job within the next few months and am trying to figure out whether I'd be better off simply getting a new E-2, then jumping through all the hoops needed to be recognized by "the system," or whether I'd be better off getting an F-1(?) and jumping through hoops to work legally.

Am also wondering what effect a visa change would have on pension (Korean) and taxes (U.S.).

[Roch]

I f you get the E-2, you'd still have to get a Letter of Release to hook up with a D.O.D. job. This is how it was explained to me last July when I was thinking of going to work on base.

[Dawn]

Thanks for the response. At present, I'm not really looking for a D.O.D. job. The boyfriend and I are just weighing possibilities for the future, and I'm trying to figure out which visa status would offer more flexibility/benefits.

[Roch]

Ms:

I'd probably bet a hundred bucks that nearly most of the S.O.F.A. jobs are quite couchy compared to the average hogwon gig. For instance, my neighbor in I'taewon last year, who was the spittin' image of Elvis Presley, worked as a waiter at the Navy Club on the Yongsan Base and indicated to me that the pay was better than the monthly envelope of wons offered by most of the hogwons in Korea.

With this off-the-cuff example in mind, you may want to start looking around the various bases for a S.O.F.A. job.

As an aside, Camp Casey, Yongsan, and Osan are often in the hunt for a keen salesperson for their car and Harley bike lots. One of my late drinking buddies, a Texan who, by the way, was lynched on The Hill in I'taewon, and nearly died from his injuries as a result, for being a waeguk saram back in Fall, 2004, told me that he loved working up at Camp Casey selling cars and bikes.

Just a thought, eh, and here is the web address if you think that you could do well in this sort of business: www.militarycars.com

Good luck in future.

Cordially,

R

[hellofaniceguy]

You can not go from an E2 to SOFA or a job with USFK.
You need to turn in your E2...leave korea and establish residence outside of korean, apply for a SOFA position or return on a visitors visa and apply.

[Dawn]

I'm not trying to get a USFK job. I'm trying to figure out how to go from being a teacher to being a military wife who happens to work on the local economy. Right now, I'm trying to figure out whether it would be better to maintain my E-2 status and just try to get a job closer to where he's stationed, or whether I should switch to a dependent visa and try to find work on the local economy.

One of my co-workers went the E-2 route. Since she wasn't command-sponsored, though, she and her husband had to jump through a number of hoops in order to get permission to live together, and she's not allowed to make use of the health care services on base. I don't mind using the local health care system for most things, but if a Jr. happens on the scene while we're over here, I'd prefer to deal with doctors with whom I can communciate fluently.

Another friend is here on a dependent visa and working various side jobs under the table. She's got all the perks of command sponsorship and swears that's the way to go ... but working illegally (and getting shafted in the process) isn't really my cup of tea.

Basically, I'd like to know if it's possible to have the best of both worlds. If not, I'd like to hear from others who have been in the same boat and find out which route they've gone.

[gosia]

You can't have it both ways though. If you are command sponsored then you cannot work in the Korean economy with your SOFA visa. If you get caught, your husband will have problems with the military. If you keep your e-2 then of course you can work in the economy, but then you don't have the insurance to go to military hospital. It just depends which one is more important to you.