Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ontheway]

MinneasotaGirl,

Can you cancel the tickets? Seriously. You shouldn't work without an E2 visa and you shouldn't come to Korea to work at this job until you get the E2. From your post it sounds like you haven't even returned the contract to the school yet. Does it have a starting date in it?

If you haven't returned a signed contract, then they haven't started the visa process. If you can wait, you should tell them you won't work without a visa, and if that's not acceptable, you should look for a new job. This one's off to a bad start already.

If they won't wait for you to get an E2: Cancel your ticket. Get a new job.

[Milwaukiedave]

I agree, don't take the risk of getting caught. If you are American, you only have 30 days on your visa, unless your Canadian and have 90 days.

If they aren't willing to help you get your visa before you come, tell them no thanks. Then if they pull the we'll sue you for breach of contract because we already bought their tickets, point out that the contract was illegal because they flat out lied to you.

I still think you should post the recruiter's name.

[Son Deureo!]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

You clowns are all wrong and the reality is worse. You can't work until you've taken that E-2, gone to Immigration in Korea and received your Alien Registration Card.

[Captain Corea]

Are you sure onthat man? The ARC sometimes takes weeks to get mailed out to you... while you can have the E2 before that.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ontheway]

To work legally in Korea you need your E2 visa stamped in your passport (actually, you might get a visa STICKER in your passport). That is done outside of Korea at an embassy or consulate BEFORE you enter the country. If you are already in Korea, you have to leave and do a Visa run.

The ARC is issued after you arrive in Korea with your E2. You may begin teaching as soon as you arrive and you have some time to get the card. Does anyone know how long? I think it's 3 months.

You also have to be registered at your local education office. For this you have only 10 days and you need to have your ARC to register. This is a different office and another government rule probably many are unaware of. It seems funny that the rules are not consistent, but it's what governments do.

[braunshade]

oh just do what you want. the law does not matter in this country.

[sadsac]

Jhn Henry, a visa issuance number does not entitle you to work, you must have the visa in your passport. The visa issuance number is the authority provided by immigration to the embassy to legally issue an E2. You have 30 days in which to apply for your ARC at your local immigration office, it should take between 3-7 days to be issued. My office does it in 4 hours. No E2 in your passport, you are working illegally. Many have stated that they have worked illegally and not been caught, others have been caught, the reality is, it reflects on how all foreign teachers are perceived in this country. Do the right thing, it's better for all.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Just because you have 30 days in which to apply for the ARC doesn't mean you can start working. It just means that you have 30 days to get from Osaka/Fukuoka/Toronto to Seoul and apply for an ARC. Why would they skip this step? All foreigners who want to work here must be registered at Immigration before they can begin work. Without that, Immigration doesn't know your address, the cops don't know where to find you and you are therefore in violation of some section of some code.

Here's some self-contradictory information:

[schwa]

You must have an E-2 (or equivalent) in your passport to work legally. Then you can work legally before getting your ARC for up to 90 days.

Thems the facts.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Actually, no. If you aren't a tourist and don't have an ARC you can go to jail just for being in Korea without it. It's not that it's illegal to teach here without the ARC, it's illegal to BE here without the ARC.

[schwa]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

But a cop doesn't have to let you go unless you have an ARC. That stamp in your passport doesn't mean much to him, just to Immigration.

[Milwaukiedave]