Korean Job Discussion Forums

freeridden · Joined: 27 Apr 2008

Hello,

I went through a recruiter to sign up to work for SMOE. I was told by someone from SMOE and my recruiter that I could take my contract, letter of notification from SMOE, photo, passport, and visa fee to the Korean Consulate in Shanghai to apply for my visa. As it turns out, this information was dead wrong. The Korean Consulate in Shanghai would not give me a visa. I called my recruiter AND SMOE to work out the problem. They called the Korean Consulate and got the same answer.

Now for the tricky part: both the SMOE rep and my recruiter have said that I can come to Korea (I'm an American living/working in China) on a 30 day tourist visa and then apply for my E-2 visa within Korea.

Is this possible? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

Is this your first E-2?

jadarite · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:13 am Post subject:

Then you will have to leave again to actually get it. They just want you to work now. It's your choice, but make sure they will pay for everything. Hopefully, you haven't had to so far. I thought a tourist visa was good for 60 or 90 days.

freeridden · Joined: 27 Apr 2008

Hi,

Yes, this is my first time to work in Korea. I've seen tons of posts about 'visa runs' and all that jazz, but I'm not sure what to do in my specific situation. Will I be able to go there on a tourist visa and then sort it out within Korea?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

Did you have your degree verified in Korea first (send the original). If you do not, you are required to have an interview in your home country.

freeridden · Joined: 27 Apr 2008

I have already been accepted to work for SMOE. SMOE has all my documents already (transcrits, degree confirmation letter, criminal check). I have signed the contract already. They have sent me two copies of the contract and the 'Notice of Appoitment' letter in the mail.

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

My understanding is that KCUE (http://english.kcue.or.kr/) maintains a database of those who have had their degrees verified. The embassy will have access to this database. When you apply for the E-2 visa, the new regulations stipulate that they must check with this database to issue the visa. If it does not pass this check, they won't issue the visa. Then, an interview is required for your home country.

jadarite · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:27 am Post subject:

Maybe I should have been clearer. They want you to work on your tourist visa until your E-2 visa number is issued, and then they will pay you to do what you did already (go to China or Japan), this time with an E-2 visa number.

If you have to do an interview, then I think your best bet is to go back home and get it sorted there. Then, when you get the visa after the interview, you can go to Korea. Your choice.

freeridden · Joined: 27 Apr 2008

Well, that is the thing. SMOE claims that you do not need this 'visa confirmation number' if you are working for SMOE. So that's why they sent me to Shanghai to apply for the visa, but I was denied because I do not have this number.

If I go back to the States, then I shouldn't need the confirmation number, right? At least this is what SMOE is saying (because they are a public school).

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

freeridden · Joined: 27 Apr 2008

So...what is the actual deal with going to Korean on a tourist visa and then applying for the E-2 visa once I get there? My job doesn't start until the 25th.

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

freeridden · Joined: 27 Apr 2008

Yeah, I know I cannot work on a tourist visa. Anybody else out there that has worked for the public school system that has any advice?

I also checked out the following website about going to Japan to get a visa. Why are other people saying that the Japan E-2 visa jump is not an option anymore? http://www.efl-law.com/coming.php

jadarite · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:13 am Post subject:

That site shows Japan is an option.

"Once you have entered Korea on a tourist visa, the school will process your paperwork to get you an E-2 teaching visa as soon as possible. Once Korean immigration has issued the school your visa confirmation letter, the school will pay for a round trip ticket for you to Fukuoka, Japan (http://www.city.fukuoka.jp/index-e.html), or occasionally Osaka, Japan,
http://www.city.osaka.jp/english - the cities closest to Korea with Korean consulates."

freeridden · Joined: 27 Apr 2008

Yeah, I saw that, too. But if you read the big thread about the new E-2 visa requirements, everyone and their mother are posting about how the 'visa run' option is no longer an option. I wish I knew which answer is right and which answer is wrong.