Korean Job Discussion Forums

Cynical Optimist · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Korea

I'm leaving my job at the end of this week and the teacher we had lined up just backed out!!! Shocked

He walked away from a 4.0+mil job (via legal OT) on an E2 visa just because of the visa process!

He thought it was too difficult and wanted us to basically set everything up for him.

I have handled getting both of my visas by myself. So have the previous teachers at this school. I realize the process is a bit more difficult nowadays, but I did give the guy a lot of info by email.

There was a jurisdiction issue where the SF consulate and Houston consulate were saying that the other consulate was supposed to process his paperwork. When this happened he just asked us to resolve the issue. My boss called both consulates, but failed to accomplish anything. Then I called both of the consulates, demanded that one of them call the other and iron out the contradicting info they were giving and then email me back and let me know what to do. Two days later, I recieved an email and the issue was solved and they said to send the paperwork and they'd process it.

So why was it that I could do this, IN ENGLISH and FROM KOREA, but the guy trying to get the job felt that he couldn't do it and it wasn't his responsibility????

So my question is:

How much have you relied on your employer to help you get you visa?
Who should be more responsible for getting the thing done?

And...

anyone want a job? Laughing

(It's posted on the job board.)

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

CDI?

Everything should be done and delivered to employees on a silver plate by employers.

Dome Vans · Guest

Cynical Optimist · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Korea

no, not CDI -- I know there's things people complain about re: that place.
This is actually a good place to work for. Very Happy

wittman2 · Joined: 04 Apr 2008

Cynical Optimist · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Korea

Gnawbert · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Location: The Internet

I started out here on Feb 28th with my GF and dealt with the SF consulate. We were literally the 'first wave' of the new E-2 Visa Procedure and had no idea what to do or how to do it. It was pretty chaotic at first.

Apostille? Isn't that someone in the bible? Consulate interview one hour a day on one day of the week in San Fran traffic? I'd rather chew glass. All through the process our employer, and the Korean immigration office in Suwon had NO CLUE what was required, or how to get it, and frankly, we only finally realized it all worked out when we got our ARC cards in the end of March.

None-the-less, we approached the challenge with an open mind, a sense of humor, and planned ahead, three things that helped us get through it. I could see how it could be a headache, especially doing it alone, but we don't get paid near what he was being offered and still somehow managed to get it sorted out.

And slightly Off Topic: our school is having hell finding a new teacher due to the new regs, and so are some others near by as well.

EDIT:

The jurisdiction issue shouldn't be an issue at all. I was a California resident and my GF was in the midwest. She got her Apostille and CRC all through Oklahoma and the SF consulate honored and issued her an E-2 visa. There was no problem at all about 'jurisdiction'.

Cynical Optimist · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Korea

jodyray · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

raclos234 · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Location: korea

well...my first employer helped me get everything done on the korean part of the visa...while once they gave me the visa issuance # all i had to do was go to the consulate and take care of things on my end (coincidently, i live in houston).
after one year at that hagwon, u learn how to do things... especially when it comes to the visa process.

just finished my 2nd year and i found my replacement...and basically i did all the work and all my boss had to do was go to immigration get the visa #(the school changed ownership...so the new boss had NO idea how to accomplish getting a new foreign teacher)...and my replacement just had to go to the consulate closest to his home.everything went as planned. of course, there wasnt as many bumps on the road as u had with ur 'replacement'.

i dont mind doing the legwork but what it comes down to is how much the teacher wants to be in korea and how quickly the boss takes care of their business.

if u end up with flaky people on either or both ends...ur screwed.

hope u find a good replacement soon!

Cynical Optimist · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Korea

Cynical Optimist · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Korea

DongtanTony · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Location: Bundang

Cynical Optimist...

Ya know...the funny thing is...I completely remember this situation.

Your teacher posted his situation on here asking for advice.

So...not only did you go out of your way to help...other members of the board helped him out as well.

But...I agree with you...I did the vast majority of the visa leg work myself...twice.

I'm also a certified teacher in the states...did the first middle school in Maine that I worked at help me apply for my certification...nope...help me pass my Praxis tests...nope...help me obtain fingerprints or a background check to work with children in Maine...nope.

Did my current employer help me obtain a background check to renew my contract....nope....help me obtain my criminal check....nope....help me obtain my affidavit...nope.

The employer should give you information on a silver platter....Ramen....but I'm with Cynical Optimist on this one....you have to be prepared to do some leg-work.....if you're not....you're not ready to come work here.

Cynical Optimist · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Korea

Thanks for backing me up DongtanTony.

Actually, it was ME who posted that thread on the contradicting consulates -- unless I missed another one by that applicant. So no, he didn't go so far as to seek advice from members here. Nor did he demand that the consulates CALL each other.

But to be fair, he did get his CRC done on his own and in a timely way. It was basically that if something didn't go exactly according to plan, he seemed unable to deal with it.

DongtanTony · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Location: Bundang

ahha....I thought I remembered this situation.

If he backed out with you...who's to say he's not going to go through this situation again with another employer?

The jurisdiction thing is weird...I do sympathize with your applicant...the American KCG's don't seem to be as flexible with the video-conferencing interview option as some of the Canadian KCG's are. Jurisdiction should be based more on current residency...rather than where you went to university. Since the old visa system required consulate notarization of documents, such as the diploma, jurisdiction was established by where the applicant attended university. These days...with the apostille process in the states...our jurisdiction should be based on residency...but of course KCG's haven't realized this or updated their policies to make the process more efficient.

Then again...since Canadians aren't a signatory state to the Hague Convention...and still undergo consulate notarizations of their documents...they probably won't change their jurisdiction policies anytime soon.

Sometimes it does take a phone call to the KCG from the employer on behalf of the applicant...I've knocked one or two heads around at the Chicago office before.

But I do back you up...the applicant should be doing the majority of the leg-work...as long as we employers provide accuracte and complete information.