Korean Job Discussion Forums

basplar · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I have an F2-1 visa and don't have to go through all the b.s. that you E2 folks have to go through to teach here(I sympathize...really!....immmigration SUCKS!!), but my uni. just asked me to get a drug test/hiv test and criminal record check. The med checks are fine, it's just that according to the lady at the U.S. Embassy I talked to, the criminal checks can take up to 6 months unless I have my mother go to the local police station and get it do locally. Just seems a little ridiculous and unneccary being that it's not necessary for me to work in Korea. Maybe they just don't realize that, that paperwork isn't necessary for me to work there. Any thoughts???

Zaria32 · Joined: 04 Dec 2007

Schools can ask pretty much what they want to ask...if they ask you for that, it's no different than asking you for 10 letters of recommendation, instead of 2 or 3...if they want to, they can.

One thing about Korea, no matter how many hurdles are put up, there are always some people willing to jump through each and every one.

marlow · Joined: 06 Feb 2005

4 months left · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

What I don't understand is why the government should discriminate against anyone regardless of the type of visa. If I was the government I would be just as wary to someone who is married to a Korean if not more so. I'm not saying you are in this category but I know and see a lot of strange girls/guys married to Koreans. Why shouldn't an F2 have to go through a background check? They may be staying in the country for a long time or permanently. I would think the gov't would feel more comfortable to know that you are here and are not running away from something in your home country.

Again, this is not specifically against you but the check should be for all foreigners. What if the situation was reversed in your home country? Wouldn't you want a foreigner married to a local have a background check?

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

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

The beauty of an F-2 is that you are in control. If you allow them to treat you this way, then it's your choice. Personally, if it's a good job, I wouldn't mind doing it. Then again, I never take drugs and am in good health. Your story may be different.

Don't like it? You can walk easily, and get another job.

It's your choice... if you don't like what they are asking you to do, simply leave. You have the power to do that.

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

I don't have an F2, but my uni made those requirements as part of getting the job. This was in 2006, way BEFORE the all hullabaloo came up. I didn't have to have a medical, but I had to supply a CBC (RCMP).

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Public schools and a lot of universities are making people, regardless of visa get all the documents wanted by immigration.

Hagwons are not.....

lastat06513 · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

I mentioned this in another thread that immigrations is starting to ask other schools to have all their FTs to submit documents for verification (no matter if they possess an E2 or an F2).........I got this from a very reliable source who is working at the Korean Consulate in New York whose last post was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (and who was one of my best students from my early days of teaching)............
As I mentioned earlier also, alot of people with F2s first got the visa with the assumption that they would be above all other people who are on E2s, and when they are requested to submit the same documents as E2 recipients, they start to decry unfair treatment....why?
As other posters mentioned, permanent residents in the US have to undergo Criminal background checks and medical exams so they can work in the US, why shouldn't the same application be implimented in Korea as well?

Universities are similar to public schools in that they get aid from the government, so because of this similarity, why wouldn't the same rules and regulations apply to them too?.........

OP, I think you were one of the people who supported the regulations when they were first announced, now that they are now being applied to you, why are you crying "foul play"?

...the concepts discussed at the beginning of this thread seemed alittle hypocritical and elitist in that people with F2s seem to think that are above everyone else and feel belittled when asked to do the same things as everyone else.......that way of thinking seems to be very sup�rieur-bourgeoisie if I may say so

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Corky · Joined: 06 Jan 2004

Are you calling him a liar?

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I had to submit a criminal background check. Koreans have to as well. Pretty standard. No biggie. However, in my case, it was requested AFTER I got the job, and not used as a condition for gettting hired.

I have an F5.

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I had an F2 and had to do the CBC and medical check for EPIK. In fact, I have to do the medical check every year. I also have had to verify my degree twice by sealed transcripts and once online.

Now what is happening to E2s in all fairness is happening to a lot F series. If the hagwon, uni, public school or recruiter wants a CBC they really don't care what visa you are on. If there are E2 applicants that have these documents or can get them quick enough, they are just as competitive against the F series, perhaps more so because they can be bullied around more.

Like I said to all the F series visa holders who were saying this is going to make them totally rich (maybe about 4 posters), no it isn't. These new regs just put all foreign teachers in the spotlight with a stigma that will not go away for many years to come.
I am F5 now and had to do the med check last summer.

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

Bassexpander, could you find an uglier more disturbing avatar?