Korean Job Discussion Forums

corroonb · Joined: 04 Aug 2006

I've been offered a job in Daegu by a school there but they want me to pay for my own fare. They saw my profile on englishspectrum and contacted me but say they were looking for a teacer who was already in Korea. Should I pay for my own airfare which will be about 800,00 Won?

Also I have some other questions?

Is it okay to come on a tourist visa and then get a work visa?

How do you buy a return ticket you can use in 12 months time?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

corroonb · Joined: 04 Aug 2006

Thanks for the response. I'm not too worried about paying for airfare. This way I can leave whenever I want, I don't have to wait for them to pay off the rest of the ticket price. And if I get there and the job is bad, I can easily look for a new one on a tourist visa.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 1:27 am Post subject:

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Whether you want employer-paid airfare as a condition of accepting a job might depend on some of the other aspects of the job. Of course, it's a plus if you get paid airfare, but it shouldn't be the only thing that determines whether you take the job or not. In the long term, flight money is (usually) a drop in the ocean. Most, but not every job in Korea, offer paid flights. Don't forget to call up existing teachers at the school and find out from them what things are like.

steroidmaximus · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: GangWon-Do

didn't it used to be law that schools had to provide airfare and accomodation?

I wouldn't pay it since so many other schools will.

corroonb · Joined: 04 Aug 2006

Thanks for the advice. The school was willing to pay for the Visa run to Japan if I paid to come here on a tourist visa before I had all the necessary documents. This seems quite reasonable to me as I will not have my degree diploma until November 9th.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

ThePoet · Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

Please do the future ESLers in this country a favor and do not come here unless they pay your way here...not just for a visa run but the whole smash! Or alternatively make the hagwan pay cash in the amount of the one way ticket to get here, and then you pay for the visa run out of your pocket, and insist on a return ticket clause in your contract.

The minute hagwans start making offers like that, and people accept them, then it will become the new standard and everyone will have to do it that way. There are so many jobs out there willing to pay return airfare, don't settle for less. There are fewer teachers coming here these days because of poor conditions

Even if they offer you more salary it is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Poet

jtchas · Joined: 03 May 2006

dude dont be a dumb ars ! pay for your own ticket they pay for everything! you pay nothing to work as a babysitter for korean kids .dont fool yourself you could end up with a shoe box apt. teaching 7classes of brats and feeling like a second class shmuck cause eveyone at the office wont talk to you. do you want to pay that much money for all that love?

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Unless the job pays a higher than average salary, the working hours are lower than average and the vacation time is higher than average, I'd keep on looking!

poet13 · Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject:

"Thanks for the advice. The school was willing to pay for the Visa run to Japan if I paid to come here on a tourist visa before I had all the necessary documents. This seems quite reasonable to me as I will not have my degree diploma until November 9th."

As far as everything I have read and heard, you must provide your original diploma in order to get an E-2 visa. Without it, you would be working here illegally... and subject to a hefty fine, followed by deportation. I am guessing that their offer to pay for your visa run is in November when your diploma arrives.
I would suggest finding out for sure. Search the posts here. It's been covered.

If it's required, then wait for your diploma. The penalty for working illegally can be a hefty fine and deportation. That would REALLY suck if you paid your own ticket here. In the meantime, continue to scope out the right job for you. There are lots out there.
Like the other poster said, have patience.

Good luck.

corroonb · Joined: 04 Aug 2006

poet13, the school want me to come in the first week of November on a tourist visa so I can get settled in and observe a few classes. I will not work until I receive my diploma on November 9th and go on a visa run to Japan. I have no intention of working illegally on a toruist visa. The school offered to wait until I could get a work visa in Ireland and then they would pay the airfare but I wanted to come earlier so I could settle in.

poet13 · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:13 am Post subject:

"...the school want me to come in the first week of November on a tourist visa so I can get settled in and observe a few classes."

Ah, ok. Maybe I missed it, but I thought you were arriving much sooner than that. Most hakwons play loosey goosey with that rule. Chances of getting burned are slight....but unfortunately real.

Good luck with it!

4 months left · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Like someone said, unless your job is much less than 30 hours per week and above 2.3 million, you shouldn't pay your own airfare. There will be 20 schools lining up to pay your airfare but maybe you are already wealthy and don't care about money. They need you more than you need them.