Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Joshie]

I'm in the process of applying to work for SMOE and this recruiter told me that when SMOE receives all your documents they don't go to Immigration. When SMOE hires you they issue you a visa number. Does this sound right to anyone?

[Bibbitybop]

Yes, its correct. They contact ("go to") immigration with the necessary documents and get a visa issuance number. You must contact a Korean embassy or consulate in person or through mail and get your own visa in your own passport.

[blonde researcher]

Public school jobs such as SMOE do not go direct through immigration . They do not issue a visa number to you .
They issue a letter of employment from the office of Education You then take this letter of employment to the embassy [ instead of a visa number] in your home country along with your official government contract. the Korean embassy then puts the visa stamp in your passport

[Joshie]

Thank you both for your responses. If it is indeed the case that SMOE does not go through immigration and does their own paper work, would it be worth getting a CBC from ones own state where an arrest for underage drinking and driving would show up (dui-zero tolerance violation)? One recruiter I talked to said not to worry about it, but then again this site has made me wary of trusting them. Or would it be better to get a CBC from another state where it wouldn't show up? I know this topic has been touched upon but as one poster put it (I believe it was Colorado) there has been no definitive answer. Sorry if it seems this topic has been beat to death, but for those of us who have made some youthful indiscretions and who really want to come to korea, this whole process has been somewhat anxiety ridden.

[Bibbitybop]