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IL Cassidy
Joined: 13 May 2008
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 Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:56 am Post subject: Experience working with T.E.I.K.? $300 to process visa? |
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| Has anyone had any experienceworking through www.teachenglishinkorea.org (T.E.I.K.) for job placement? I've spoken with the guy over the phone and he seemed completeley legitimate until he told me that he charges $300 to handle your visa processing. Does that sound like a total scam? I have been told not to pay recruiters anything since they receive a commission from the school. I'm starting feel paranoid that if I work with this guy he will end up taking my $300 and my passport and disappearing. I plan on calling him to find out exactly what the $300 covers (itemized) but am wondering if anyone has ever worked with him or heard anything about this. There are no reviews or warnings I could find on the internet. Any wise words would be much appreciated. Thanks. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't pay, and let them know you are going through different recruiters who don't charge. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: Experience working with T.E.I.K.? $300 to process visa? |
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| IL Cassidy wrote: |
| Has anyone had any experienceworking through www.teachenglishinkorea.org (T.E.I.K.) for job placement? I've spoken with the guy over the phone and he seemed completeley legitimate until he told me that he charges $300 to handle your visa processing. Does that sound like a total scam? I have been told not to pay recruiters anything since they receive a commission from the school. I'm starting feel paranoid that if I work with this guy he will end up taking my $300 and my passport and disappearing. I plan on calling him to find out exactly what the $300 covers (itemized) but am wondering if anyone has ever worked with him or heard anything about this. There are no reviews or warnings I could find on the internet. Any wise words would be much appreciated. Thanks. |
Paying visa fees to a recruiter is a scam.
Paying ANY fee to a recruiter is a scam.
The employer pays the recruiters fee.
The only fees in the visa process are the fees to apostille your documents at the government office in your home country, postage to send your documents to Korea and the visa application fee when you actually go to the embassy to get your visa.
CHANGE RECRUITERS.
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Zaria32
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Ditto |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| I'll e-mail them right now to ask about this and to alert them to this thread. Wonder what the response will be. |
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Rumple
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:29 am Post subject: |
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This is from their website:
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E2 Visa Processing Service
TEIK offers a voluntary E2 visa processing service to help expedite the E2 visa process for teachers and to make the E2 visa application process easy for the prospective teacher. The E2 visa process is a two part process
Part one: TEIK sends all of your visa documents to Korea by express next day service ([1] school contract (signed, but not dated), [2] passport, [3] original University diploma, [4] official sealed transcripts, [5] 3 passport photos, [6] visa application form (signed), [7] health questionnaire, [8] local (county) criminal background check with issuing state Apostille notarization & [9] have paid the visa processing fee [currently $250 for single entry visa & $300 for a multiple entry visa].
Part two: After receiving an E2 visa issuance number within 5 business days from the Korean immigration TEIK will then submit the signed visa application, passport and a $45 dollar fee to the Korean consulate and within 3 business days; issuing a visa into the passport. After receiving your passport from the Korean Consulate TEIK will then next day deliver the passport and a Korea travel guide to the teacher a few days before they are to depart for Korea.
E2 visa processing Fee: The $250 processing fee for the single entry E2 visa [can enter Korea then leave Korea 12 months later] or the $300 processing fee for the multiple entry E2 visa [can depart and re-enter Korea unlimited number of times within a 12 month period] covers all international (from Chicago to Korea) and domestic (TEIK to Korean Consulate, Korean Consulate to TEIK and TEIK to teacher) overnight charges, multiple entry visa upgrade fee, Korean Consulate application fee and TEIK handling fees. After TEIK receives the above listed items (1~9) TEIK then starts the visa application process by over-night delivering the documents to Korean immigration.
In the event that TEIK is unable to complete the E2 visa process: after having completed part one of the visa process a refund of $50 will be refunded to the teacher to pay for the visa application at the Korean Embassy in Fukuoka Japan and TEIK will coordinate with the teachers school in Korea to provide the teacher with a complimentary round trip airfare from Incheon, Korea to Fukuoka Japan and one nights complimentary hotel in Fukuoka Japan in order for the teacher to finish part two of the visa process.
Breaking an E2 contract
If a teacher breaks their contract within the first six months of employment they will be held responsible to reimburse TEIK for any and all costs associated with their school including airfare, unpaid bills, missed classes, substitute teacher fees and etc with a minimum reimbursement of $1500 to a maximum of $5,000. TEIK will in good faith try to help mediate between a teacher and a school to solve any contractual problems and will always look out for the best interest of the teacher. A 30 day notice in writing is required to terminate a contract. After 6 months of starting a contract there will not be a fine for breaking a contract. |
WTF? |
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Big4Jerm3
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| Rumple wrote: |
This is from their website:
| Quote: |
E2 Visa Processing Service
TEIK offers a voluntary E2 visa processing service to help expedite the E2 visa process for teachers and to make the E2 visa application process easy for the prospective teacher. The E2 visa process is a two part process
Part one: TEIK sends all of your visa documents to Korea by express next day service ([1] school contract (signed, but not dated), [2] passport, [3] original University diploma, [4] official sealed transcripts, [5] 3 passport photos, [6] visa application form (signed), [7] health questionnaire, [8] local (county) criminal background check with issuing state Apostille notarization & [9] have paid the visa processing fee [currently $250 for single entry visa & $300 for a multiple entry visa].
Part two: After receiving an E2 visa issuance number within 5 business days from the Korean immigration TEIK will then submit the signed visa application, passport and a $45 dollar fee to the Korean consulate and within 3 business days; issuing a visa into the passport. After receiving your passport from the Korean Consulate TEIK will then next day deliver the passport and a Korea travel guide to the teacher a few days before they are to depart for Korea.
E2 visa processing Fee: The $250 processing fee for the single entry E2 visa [can enter Korea then leave Korea 12 months later] or the $300 processing fee for the multiple entry E2 visa [can depart and re-enter Korea unlimited number of times within a 12 month period] covers all international (from Chicago to Korea) and domestic (TEIK to Korean Consulate, Korean Consulate to TEIK and TEIK to teacher) overnight charges, multiple entry visa upgrade fee, Korean Consulate application fee and TEIK handling fees. After TEIK receives the above listed items (1~9) TEIK then starts the visa application process by over-night delivering the documents to Korean immigration.
In the event that TEIK is unable to complete the E2 visa process: after having completed part one of the visa process a refund of $50 will be refunded to the teacher to pay for the visa application at the Korean Embassy in Fukuoka Japan and TEIK will coordinate with the teachers school in Korea to provide the teacher with a complimentary round trip airfare from Incheon, Korea to Fukuoka Japan and one nights complimentary hotel in Fukuoka Japan in order for the teacher to finish part two of the visa process.
Breaking an E2 contract
If a teacher breaks their contract within the first six months of employment they will be held responsible to reimburse TEIK for any and all costs associated with their school including airfare, unpaid bills, missed classes, substitute teacher fees and etc with a minimum reimbursement of $1500 to a maximum of $5,000. TEIK will in good faith try to help mediate between a teacher and a school to solve any contractual problems and will always look out for the best interest of the teacher. A 30 day notice in writing is required to terminate a contract. After 6 months of starting a contract there will not be a fine for breaking a contract. |
WTF? |
??? Are any of those steps even possible/legal? How can a recruiter obtain your visa from the consulate without you there? And, why would anyone ever send their passport to a recruiter? Seems like a scam/identity theft ring. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I e-mailed them. The owner said that they do provide the 'visa service', which includes all postal and processing fees, for 300. He said that some clients use the service, while others take care of the visa themselves. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh, and in a different e-mail, the guy said that he is waiting for his account activation at Dave's. He'll them reply to the posts personally. |
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icicle
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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The biggest problem with what they have offered in their optional "service" is that it does not allow for the fact that people who are applying for their first E2 visa must have an interview at the appropriate consulate or embassy ...
But then as they say you are paying for them to provide a service ... and they are being paid for their time ... BUT they are actually doing less than you think ... Because it is the school and NOT the recruiter who is responsible for submitting the documents to Korean Immigration ...
It is going to cost you much less than this to do it for yourself ... And it is not hard to do it for yourself ... I would personally save the money ... and do it myself ... |
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Zaria32
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Most of visa issuance, once you have easily or arduously assembled and sent off your documents, is on the shoulders of the sponsoring school. So if anyone was to pay for it, it would be the school... |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Rumple wrote: |
This is from their website:
| Quote: |
E2 Visa Processing Service
TEIK offers a voluntary E2 visa processing service to help expedite the E2 visa process for teachers and to make the E2 visa application process easy for the prospective teacher. The E2 visa process is a two part process
Part one: TEIK sends all of your visa documents to Korea by express next day service ([1] school contract (signed, but not dated), [2] passport, [3] original University diploma, [4] official sealed transcripts, [5] 3 passport photos, [6] visa application form (signed), [7] health questionnaire, [8] local (county) criminal background check with issuing state Apostille notarization & [9] have paid the visa processing fee [currently $250 for single entry visa & $300 for a multiple entry visa].
Part two: After receiving an E2 visa issuance number within 5 business days from the Korean immigration TEIK will then submit the signed visa application, passport and a $45 dollar fee to the Korean consulate and within 3 business days; issuing a visa into the passport. After receiving your passport from the Korean Consulate TEIK will then next day deliver the passport and a Korea travel guide to the teacher a few days before they are to depart for Korea.
E2 visa processing Fee: The $250 processing fee for the single entry E2 visa [can enter Korea then leave Korea 12 months later] or the $300 processing fee for the multiple entry E2 visa [can depart and re-enter Korea unlimited number of times within a 12 month period] covers all international (from Chicago to Korea) and domestic (TEIK to Korean Consulate, Korean Consulate to TEIK and TEIK to teacher) overnight charges, multiple entry visa upgrade fee, Korean Consulate application fee and TEIK handling fees. After TEIK receives the above listed items (1~9) TEIK then starts the visa application process by over-night delivering the documents to Korean immigration.
In the event that TEIK is unable to complete the E2 visa process: after having completed part one of the visa process a refund of $50 will be refunded to the teacher to pay for the visa application at the Korean Embassy in Fukuoka Japan and TEIK will coordinate with the teachers school in Korea to provide the teacher with a complimentary round trip airfare from Incheon, Korea to Fukuoka Japan and one nights complimentary hotel in Fukuoka Japan in order for the teacher to finish part two of the visa process.
Breaking an E2 contract
If a teacher breaks their contract within the first six months of employment they will be held responsible to reimburse TEIK for any and all costs associated with their school including airfare, unpaid bills, missed classes, substitute teacher fees and etc with a minimum reimbursement of $1500 to a maximum of $5,000. TEIK will in good faith try to help mediate between a teacher and a school to solve any contractual problems and will always look out for the best interest of the teacher. A 30 day notice in writing is required to terminate a contract. After 6 months of starting a contract there will not be a fine for breaking a contract. |
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So are they saying that they (the recruiter) are paying for the ticket and all these other costs? and what is etc? (No, I know what "etc" means, what are they including in that though?) |
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Rumple
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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| oskinny1 wrote: |
| Rumple wrote: |
This is from their website:
| Quote: |
E2 Visa Processing Service
TEIK offers a voluntary E2 visa processing service to help expedite the E2 visa process for teachers and to make the E2 visa application process easy for the prospective teacher. The E2 visa process is a two part process
Part one: TEIK sends all of your visa documents to Korea by express next day service ([1] school contract (signed, but not dated), [2] passport, [3] original University diploma, [4] official sealed transcripts, [5] 3 passport photos, [6] visa application form (signed), [7] health questionnaire, [8] local (county) criminal background check with issuing state Apostille notarization & [9] have paid the visa processing fee [currently $250 for single entry visa & $300 for a multiple entry visa].
Part two: After receiving an E2 visa issuance number within 5 business days from the Korean immigration TEIK will then submit the signed visa application, passport and a $45 dollar fee to the Korean consulate and within 3 business days; issuing a visa into the passport. After receiving your passport from the Korean Consulate TEIK will then next day deliver the passport and a Korea travel guide to the teacher a few days before they are to depart for Korea.
E2 visa processing Fee: The $250 processing fee for the single entry E2 visa [can enter Korea then leave Korea 12 months later] or the $300 processing fee for the multiple entry E2 visa [can depart and re-enter Korea unlimited number of times within a 12 month period] covers all international (from Chicago to Korea) and domestic (TEIK to Korean Consulate, Korean Consulate to TEIK and TEIK to teacher) overnight charges, multiple entry visa upgrade fee, Korean Consulate application fee and TEIK handling fees. After TEIK receives the above listed items (1~9) TEIK then starts the visa application process by over-night delivering the documents to Korean immigration.
In the event that TEIK is unable to complete the E2 visa process: after having completed part one of the visa process a refund of $50 will be refunded to the teacher to pay for the visa application at the Korean Embassy in Fukuoka Japan and TEIK will coordinate with the teachers school in Korea to provide the teacher with a complimentary round trip airfare from Incheon, Korea to Fukuoka Japan and one nights complimentary hotel in Fukuoka Japan in order for the teacher to finish part two of the visa process.
Breaking an E2 contract
If a teacher breaks their contract within the first six months of employment they will be held responsible to reimburse TEIK for any and all costs associated with their school including airfare, unpaid bills, missed classes, substitute teacher fees and etc with a minimum reimbursement of $1500 to a maximum of $5,000. TEIK will in good faith try to help mediate between a teacher and a school to solve any contractual problems and will always look out for the best interest of the teacher. A 30 day notice in writing is required to terminate a contract. After 6 months of starting a contract there will not be a fine for breaking a contract. |
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So are they saying that they (the recruiter) are paying for the ticket and all these other costs? and what is etc? (No, I know what "etc" means, what are they including in that though?) |
In Korea, if a recruiter supplies a company with a worker, and the worker runs away, the recruiter usually has to supply another worker for free, or be financially responsible for the costs incurred to the company because of the runaway. So this recruiter is trying to cover their costs in that case. |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:01 am Post subject: |
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| Rumple wrote: |
| oskinny1 wrote: |
| Rumple wrote: |
This is from their website:...
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So are they saying that they (the recruiter) are paying for the ticket and all these other costs? and what is etc? (No, I know what "etc" means, what are they including in that though?) |
| Quote: |
| In Korea, if a recruiter supplies a company with a worker, and the worker runs away, the recruiter usually has to supply another worker for free, or be financially responsible for the costs incurred to the company because of the runaway. So this recruiter is trying to cover their costs in that case. |
I did not know that, thanks for clearing it up for me. |
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DrunkenMaster
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm looking forward to hearing his explanation, PRagic |
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