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Question regarding spouses

 
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pd



Joined: 27 Jul 2006

PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:06 pm    Post subject: Question regarding spouses Reply with quote

I'm a Canadian who has a BA. I'm thinking of travelling and working with a stint in Korea. My partner (we're a hetro couple) and step child will be coming with me. We are not legally married but by Canadian standards we are common-law. She does not have her BA--she is working on it part time--she only has a 3 year diploma in child development.

My question is would we still be seen as a couple in the eye of the Korean law? If so, would we be able to find a job as a couple and work legally in Korea as she does not have her BA yet?

I've searched this site for info on these questions but the only spouse related information I've been able to locate has to do with Korean spouses or other nationals(ie: Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian). She, like me, is a Canadian citizen.

Thank you in advance for answering the questions.
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PRagic



Joined: 24 Feb 2006

PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Double check with immigration, but I'm pretty sure that you have to have a 4 year degree/BA/BS to qualify for an E-2 visa (teaching visa). Given that this is most probably the case, it would be tough for you two to hired on as a couple, regardless of whether or not you are married.

If you are a common law in Canada, it might help to just go ahead and get the official piece of paper. Having said this, most institutes will simply take your word for it as they just want teachers, and housing two people together is cheaper for them.

Good luck. I'd suggest putting off your trip until she is done with her BA and has the diploma in hand. Whatever you decide, hope it goes well for you.
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ThePoet



Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: No longer in Korea - just lurking here

PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If her 3-year diploma was from a recognized, accredited college, she may be able to have all or most of her courses transferrable to Athabasca University for the BGS (Bachelor of General Studies) degree. There is no residency rquirements for this degree which means she can transfer up to 90 credits into the degree and receive it without taking any courses at AU.

At worst, even if she had to take a few extra courses, she would then have a degree that would open a few more doors than a diploma. Certainly with a 3-year BGS, she could legally work in Korea.

Check out the information about the BGS at www.athabascau.ca or contact their admissions department at the 1-800 number listed on the web page.

Have fun!

Poet
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Question regarding spouses Reply with quote

pd wrote:
I'm a Canadian who has a BA. I'm thinking of travelling and working with a stint in Korea. My partner (we're a hetro couple) and step child will be coming with me. We are not legally married but by Canadian standards we are common-law. She does not have her BA--she is working on it part time--she only has a 3 year diploma in child development.

My question is (1) would we still be seen as a couple in the eye of the Korean law? (2) If so, would we be able to find a job as a couple and work legally in Korea as she does not have her BA yet?

I've searched this site for info on these questions but the only spouse related information I've been able to locate has to do with Korean spouses or other nationals(ie: Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian). She, like me, is a Canadian citizen.


Thank you in advance for answering the questions.


(numbers are mine)

1. Not 100% sure but very likely not. On the other hand if you tell them that you ARE married, they are not likely to ask for a marriage certificate.

2. You would be the only one able to work legally, your partner would not be. And for her to stay in Korea with you, she would need some kind of spousal visa in which case you would likely require a marriage certificate.

However there is a way around this, but a tad expensive. Canadians can stay in Korea for up to six months with no visa. At the end of six months she could go to Japan, stay overnight and come back the next morning and voila! Good for another six months stay.

I hope this helps.
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Question regarding spouses Reply with quote

pd wrote:
I'm a Canadian who has a BA. I'm thinking of travelling and working with a stint in Korea. My partner (we're a hetro couple) and step child will be coming with me. We are not legally married but by Canadian standards we are common-law. She does not have her BA--she is working on it part time--she only has a 3 year diploma in child development.

My question is would we still be seen as a couple in the eye of the Korean law? If so, would we be able to find a job as a couple and work legally in Korea as she does not have her BA yet?

I've searched this site for info on these questions but the only spouse related information I've been able to locate has to do with Korean spouses or other nationals(ie: Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian). She, like me, is a Canadian citizen.

Thank you in advance for answering the questions.


Please allow me to jump in here.

She will NOT be legally allowed to work (can't qualify for E2).

You MUST be married and you do need to show your wedding certificate for her to be eligible for an F3 (dependant family) spousal visa.

You will also have to show that one of you are the legal parents (birth certificate) of the child and have the LEGAL right to leave Canada (Canada rule - not Korean) with the child (not child abduction). This means NOTARIZED permission from the birth father or legal standing from the court for the move out of Canada.

You DO have options though.

You can obtain your E2. You can come to Korea and start work. Remember, when you apply for your ARC (required wthin 90 days) to get a multiple re-entry stamp on your passport AT THE SAME TIME.

She and the child (you will still need the permission for the child to travel in order for you to leave Canada) will enter on a B2 (visa waiver entry stamp). They will be allowed to stay for 6 months. They will NOT need to register or get an ARC.

Within that 6 months they can take a trip/vacation to another country (Japan, China, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, etc). When they return to Korea they get another 6 month B2 entry stamp. They can do this for an indefinate period of time.

While there are here on the B2, you can go to your regional immigration office and attempt to change their status of sojourn to F3. It is unlikely but stranger things have happened.

I hope that was reasonably clear (just woke up here). Feel free to ask further questions if you need clarification.
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SeniorEnglish



Joined: 18 Jun 2006

PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If more than one mouse is mice, more than one louse is lice, then why aren't spouse and blouse referred to as spice and blice?
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canuckistan
Mod Team
Mod Team


Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....

PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SeniorEnglish wrote:
If more than one mouse is mice, more than one louse is lice, then why aren't spouse and blouse referred to as spice and blice?



....because English is a hodge-podge language!
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SeniorEnglish



Joined: 18 Jun 2006

PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

canuckistan wrote:
SeniorEnglish wrote:
If more than one mouse is mice, more than one louse is lice, then why aren't spouse and blouse referred to as spice and blice?



....because English is a hodge-podge language!


Great answer. Next time I have someone asks me one of those questions, I will have something better to tell them.
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Natalia



Joined: 10 Mar 2006

PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PRagic wrote:
Double check with immigration, but I'm pretty sure that you have to have a 4 year degree/BA/BS to qualify for an E-2 visa (teaching visa). Given that this is most probably the case, it would be tough for you two to hired on as a couple, regardless of whether or not you are married.


NOT a four year degree, an undergraduate degree. Many countries don't have four year undergraduate degrees.

I know it's unrelated, but Americans say this all the time, and I know a lot of people worry because their full degree is a three year degree.
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bellum99



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 5:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How old is the kid? It is really painful to find a school for kids in Korea. It costs a lot to go to private school, and public schools teach in Korean.
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pd



Joined: 27 Jul 2006

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you very much for answering the questions. Much appreciated.

The marriage thing--for the sake of travelling--might have to happen. I've asked around in other areas about if we'd be considered a "married" couple minus the legal paper. We can get the paper that's not a problem.

The child will have permission to leave the country via a signed affidaviate from my partners ex.

The child is 8, as for her education we will be working in conjuction with the local board here as she is already in a specialized program. My partner is coming from the local school board here and will be making arrangements with them before we leave.
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