Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TBirdMG]

I am in a world of pain.

I have received 2 very decent offers in the greater Seoul area to begin in the fall. Organization 'A' has already forwarded me a thorough, reasonable, but non-negotiable PS contract and expects me to sign and deliver documents within roughly 2 weeks. It's a 'take it or leave it' kind of offer. Afterwards, I will receive my visa number and apply from the closest Korean consulate.

Organization 'B' presents a slightly better deal, and its representative has been more flexible to negotiations that would make my stay more comfortable (i.e. determining housing standards and furnishings, vacation schedule, and a teaching materials budget). However, organization B stated that their foreign teacher contracts will not be prepared by the local BOE until July, and so I cannot sign and submit documentation for the visa for 6-8 weeks. I am concerned events could change between now and then. It's Korea, yes?

So the question: Is it possible to initiate the visa process for job A to cover myself in case job B does not materialize (for reasons beyond my control)? However, if job B is the real article, can I cancel on A and then file a visa application for B?

In essence, at what stage can a visa applicant back out of the process and go with another school and/or contract?

Thanks ind advance for the comments,
TB

[tob55]

The Korean Immigration will only allow one E2 visa to be issued. There are only a few situations that allow for a concurrent visa situation. This happens when you switch jobs and in fact your first visa cancels at the moment the second one is issued (This is for the E2, and I went through this, which is why I know). The second is when you apply for an F series visa, which to my knowledge is the only situation that would not in fact cancel out the E2 visa (this is what immigration told me when I first received my F2-1 several years ago). The E2 visa in this case continues until it expires, although the F series visa has precedent regarding your sojourn in Korea from the time it is issued. (Again, I know this from firsthand experience)

To answer your question, pick the job you think is best and go with it. It may be hard, but make a list of pros and cons and use that to base your decision. In the end you can be happy with your selection if you can be comfortable with the choices you make.

[TBirdMG]

Dear Tob55,

Thanks for your comments, but I think you have answered a different question than mine.

I am asking about the procedural steps of processing and issuing an E2 visa, and at what stage the process can be canceled, allowing for the processing of another E2 with a different employer.

The original question implies that I do not already have an E2 or any other kind of visa.

Thanks anyways,

TB

[tob55]

That is my point,

Immigration will only allow you to have one E2 visa, so unless there is some new rule they will not accept two concurrent applications for an E2 visa. This would break their rules, and trust me, they have a hard time understanding their own rules at times...lol...At any rate, I am confident that you will be told to make your choice because they will not allow for concurrent applications. Technically, the visa isn't enforced until it is stamped into your passport. You will have a number issued and then you must have the Korean consulate in a your host country stamp it in. Until this happens nothing is in place except the employer has spent money getting the visa issued.

Since the visa belongs to the employer in the case of the E2, the canceling of the visa application is up to them. So, this is why I suggested you make up your mind in advance or have a good excuse for having the employer cancel the application. Remember, it does cost the employer money to go through the process, so it would be nice if you were fair to them and knew what you were going to do in advance. I know of a few people who had to cancel their visa application and they mentioned the potential employer being somewhat irate over the fact that the potential employee backed out of their agreement. All the best in making your decision.

[icicle]

Previous poster is right in what he says ... You can only apply for one visa at a time ... The process of applying has two parts ... Part 1 is the visa issuance number phase which is done by the school in Korea ... You can only have one visa issuance number at a time ... So you can only apply for one visa at a time ... You cannot have 2 visa issuance numbers at the same time ...

It takes around 10-14 working days to have the Visa issuance number issued ... I am not sure how long it takes to cancel one visa issuance number (which is tied to the employer) ... But there will be a timeframe involved ...

I would suggest that you decide which job you really want and go with that ... I assume that you are looking at a start in September ... It is not at all uncommon for the actual visa process for September public school jobs not to be started until closer than this to the actual start date ... Becanse there is a limited time after the visa is issued to enter the country ... and because the BOE often processes all their visa applications at the same time ...

[TBirdMG]

Tob55,

Aha,

Ok, thanks for the clarification. What I am specifically wondering is when the application becomes official from immigration's perspective. Is this when the employer submits all the paperwork with supporting teacher qualifying documentation, or maybe when a visa # or letter of support (for public schools) is issued?

I most certainly don't want to cheat or deceive anybody...I'm just worried that in waiting for an offer to become official in July, something happens and I get one of those, "We hired someone else." emails at the 11th hour. And I miss out on both gigs.

Thanks,

TB

[tob55]

From immigrations perspective, a number is issued, but until it is stamped in your passport, it is simply a number. When they put it into your passport it is official. As I said the issuance of the number means someone has paid money to have it, and I am not sure about if they can get it back, but I doubt it. I do hope it works out for you in whatever way you go on the job hunt. Sounds like you located a couple of very good jobs and must now decide which is best suited to your wants. Good luck.