Korean Job Discussion Forums

Agent0range · Joined: 13 Mar 2008

Hello all! I've been reading these forums for a while and I've not yet found a question to the most important question that I have before considering a teaching job in Korea.

Background: Right now, I work at a Korean-run hagwon-style learning center in Texas, and I'm finishing my Masters (liberal arts) in August. I am considering a year in Korea to get away from the states and experience a new culture. However, I could not move without my wife! She is not qualified (or interested in) teaching English in Korea. Is it possible for me to bring her with me on a teaching visa? Could she get a job (she's an optician) without speaking good Korean?

What's the verdict? Can i bring the wife to Korea, or do I have to go solo and send home the won?

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

biggpoppa · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

is your wife korean?

f4 visa, she can do a lot of freelance work...

Agent0range · Joined: 13 Mar 2008

Just to update, the wife is not Korean. She speaks some French and Russian, but no Korean.

Also, what about my cat? I have the most beautiful kitten, and she would be truly distraught without me.

To be honest, given the choice of wife or cat, I might choose the cat, but I really would like to take them both with me.

Also, I'm not sure about different visa types... what does F3 mean, exactly?

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

You can pick up a new wife here...don't bother.

Laughing

teachergirltoo · Joined: 28 Oct 2006

Yes bring your wife and cat. I have a friend whose wife is not qualified to teach English that works for the public system here under some special department teaching Italian to children. If nothing else she could get involved in a volunteer program. Also, if you do a search of the forums there are many teachers here that have brought their pets from Canada, the US and elsewhere. Go to pettravel.com and you will find a wealth of information, and also do a search using "pets" for a keyword on this forum.

valkyrian2 · Mod Team Joined: 15 May 2007

nicholas_chiasson · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Location: Samcheok

I can not wait for the day Korea introduces the visa for vietnamese brides, it will be known as the F-U visa. Cause after that last news report they are, seriously, in every sense of the word, effed.

Tiberious aka Sparkles · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!

LOL to dude considering leaving his wife back home while he teaches in Korea.

Atavistic · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:52 am Post subject:

Tiberious aka Sparkles · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!

nicholas_chiasson · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Location: Samcheok

why does your wife speak french and russian but not korean? does she speak English?

ryouga013 · Joined: 14 Sep 2007

I heard it's not that difficult to get the dependent visa for the wife.

Get in touch with Korean Immigration well in advance about the cat (because they will probably throw you around for a while). You will need to get a variety of vaccinations and other shots but I have no idea which ones. After you get the shots and other things you will need to double check and I probably have to send papers over months in advance to make sure your cat won't be quarantined for a month or so.

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

teachergirltoo · Joined: 28 Oct 2006

There is no quarantine for pets coming into Korea as long as they've received the rabies vaccine at least 30 days before departure and received the basic shots. Just show your paperwork upon arrival in Korea and they will whip you through - no extra wait - no hassle. Very easy.