Korean Job Discussion Forums

Howard Roark · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Canada

I'm Canadian, currently in Korea but leaving in the next few months (maybe 3). My boyfriend is English, currently doing a PGCE at home. He'll be done in June 07.

Our plan is for me to go to England, after finishing my contract and saving some more cash. I want to have as much as possible, since he'll be busy and I don't know when/if I can get a job.

I plan to go to school there eventually, but we're going to wait until he's working so we'll have some income. He currently gets some pretty good monthly dough for going to college. If I went to England and didn't get a job, it wouldn't be that hard for both of us to live on my savings and his money.

Anyways, ideally I would like to be able to work while I'm there. I downloaded a visa application which I can fill-out as "the partner of someone settled in the UK".

I'd like to know if anyone has been in a similar situation and what you were able to do. I can apply for this visa but I really don't know what my chances are.

Does it make any difference that Canada is a member of the commowealth?

Boyfriend is trying to find out but hasn't had much luck yet, since he's in school all day and the visa department at immigration apparently closes at 1:30pm. He did get through once. He said the lady couldn't speak English very well and said she didn't understand what he was asking. Shocking.

So please let me know if you have any advice, experience, or reliable information about my situation.

Thank you.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Howard Roark · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Canada

Ok, so boyfriend's Mum called the immigration visa department for me. She told me today thay said I cannot get a work permit before coming to England. But, I can come and find a job first. Once I find an employer I can then, with my employer, apply for a work permit. Pretty simple it seems *knock knock*.

So I guess I have an answer. But I'd still like to hear from anyone with experience doing this.

I wonder, is it hard to find an employer who wants to go to the trouble of getting you a work permit? And once you have a job and apply, is there still a chance you'll be denied a permit?

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

Sent you a PM.

The info about not gettnig a work permit first is correct, but it is misleading. That is if you want an employer-sponsored work permit. If you are looking for yourboyfriend to sponsor you, you do not apply for a work permit, but for residency, and that visa allows you to work. Same-same, but different.

I've got the visa you are talking about, got it in Seoul not long ago - check your PM box and we'll talk more! Good luck!

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul