Korean Job Discussion Forums

[monkeyfish]

Alright, so I'm already in Asia and looking at flying into seoul to try and line up a Hagwon job, then go on a visa run to Japan to get the E2 visa.

I know that there were big changes to the rules last December, and that on paper you are supposed to go back to your home country to do the consular interview. But just reading through all the posts here, I have found a couple of comments saying there might be a way around this...

Can anyone give me an up to date opinion on what the chances are of being able to do this? e.g doing a web cam interview or finding a school that doesn't require it?

It will be my first time in Korea, my game plan would be to go in on a tourist visa, get all my documents fed-exed over to me in Seoul and take it from there.

If I can't find work within a week or so of landing, the back up plan would be to try and line up a summer camp for a month on the C4 visa, then either keep looking afterwards or call it a day...

any feedback on these plans?

[ttompatz]

[Ut videam]

ttompatz is usually right on, but he's neglected the degree-verification route.

Even if you've never held an E-2 before, you can still obtain your visa in a third country IF your degree is verified by the Korean Council for University Education. This process must be completed by your employer prior to filing the visa application paperwork with Korean Immigration.

Poster ytuque successfully obtained his E-2 in Japan despite never having held an E-2 before. His employer verified his degree with the KCUE. You can read his post on topic at http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1570597#1570597 among other places. The rest of the thread is worth reading as well.

[Hanson]

Mon oh man, ttompatz is wrong? Isn't this one of the signs of the apocalypse?

[ttompatz]

[Ut videam]

[DongtanTony]

Canadians are much more likely to be granted a video conference interview option than anyone else.

Also...I'm with UTvideam...the KCUE diploma verification route will grant a "waiver" of sorts for the interview requirement. I have two teachers coming in shortly who have completed their verification through the KCUE.

[monkeyfish]

Thanks for your replies.

I think I'll take a risk and fly over there, and keep looking until I can find a good employer who is prepared to go down the verification route with a visa run to Japan.

Any further comments or advice much appreciated, I won't be going for another couple of weeks.

[DongtanTony]

First of all monkeyfish....where are you from...what's your nationality??

That will make a difference in the long run....and with some of our replies.

[monkeyfish]

cool, I'm from New Zealand...

[Ut videam]

Another visa run made possible by KCUE degree verification: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1683092#1683092