| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
|
 Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: Will South Korea Reciprocate this Agreement? |
 |
|
| Quote: |
Seven more countries qualify for U.S. Visa Waiver Program
(RTTNews) - Citizens of seven more countries will be eligible to travel to the United States for business or tourism without needing to obtain a visa.
In about a month, citizens from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea will be allowed visa-free entry to the U.S. once they register online and have tamper-proof, biometric passports.
These countries were added to the list of U.S. "visa waiver" program of friendly nations after they agreed to share information about threats to the people of America.
With this, a total of 34 countries have been given the special privilege, piloted by the Bush administration two years ago, and passed by the Congress later.
Announcing this in the White House Rose Garden Friday, U.S. President George W. Bush said that his government extended this opportunity to some of its closest allies to "deepen our friendship and makes all our countries safer."
The White House said several other countries, including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania, are on the "visa waiver road map" that is helping them qualify for the Visa Waiver Program.
For comments and feedback: contact [email protected]
|
I'll be curious to see if there is a reciprocity agreement and if it will affect any teachers where the school claims they are private contractors, not employees (like CDI). |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| What would Koreans reciprocate exactly? Have not Americans enjoyed visa free travel to Korea for a long time now? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't know, MM2. The only experience I have is with the E2 working visa. But from what I've seen on these boards, some hagwons claim that their english teachers are independent contractors, and that could possibly fall under the 'business' side of visa issuance?
| Quote: |
| "...eligible to travel to the United States for business or tourism without needing to obtain a visa." |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Kikomom wrote: |
I don't know, MM2. The only experience I have is with the E2 working visa. But from what I've seen on these boards, some hagwons claim that their english teachers are independent contractors, and that could possibly fall under the 'business' side of visa issuance?
| Quote: |
| "...eligible to travel to the United States for business or tourism without needing to obtain a visa." |
|
No, the US' B visa is the business visa, and you can't work while on it. Most countries have one. Its meant for attending conferences, conventions, etc. No work authorization is provided. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Isn't this called visa upon arrival? I understand I can get that in most countries. Heck, in Europe, I didn't even need visas, I just easily cross borders by train or car like it was a drive across a state line.
So the US doesn't do visa upon arrival for any one while the world lets US citizens enjoy more lenient rules? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Kikomom wrote: |
I don't know, MM2. The only experience I have is with the E2 working visa. But from what I've seen on these boards, some hagwons claim that their english teachers are independent contractors, and that could possibly fall under the 'business' side of visa issuance?
| Quote: |
| "...eligible to travel to the United States for business or tourism without needing to obtain a visa." |
|
No no. You fail to understand what "for business" means. It does not mean traveling to the USA to be paid to do work from American sources. It means you are being paid back in Canada or Korea and you perform a temporary service for a client in the USA.
If you were being paid by an American company to do work in the USA, you need a work visa of some kind. I've crossed the border many times for business and that's always what customs is trying to figure out. Who is paying you for the work you're about to perform in the USA?
So regardless how a hagwon defines your job, you're still being paid by a Korean company. Hence, you would need a visa.
And I'm sure a hagwon defining you as a independent contractor is a wild abuse of the E2 definition.
Anyway, your premise that Korea is going to be reticent to reciprocate is a false premise. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks MM2, I guess I get it now.
So basically what this amounts to is the US using a bit of carrot to attract more business and tourist class travelers after the terrorism threat of the past seven years?
How's this playing with the Mexicans, I wonder. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Kikomom wrote: |
Thanks MM2, I guess I get it now.
So basically what this amounts to is the US using a bit of carrot to attract more business and tourist class travelers after the terrorism threat of the past seven years?
How's this playing with the Mexicans, I wonder. |
I would imagine making it easier for people from one of the world's largest economies to bring US dollars back to the USA is a good thing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Last I heard, US citizens get 30 days in Korea upon arrival without a visa.
Now Koreans get 90 days. Maybe Korea will reciprocate and give 90-180 days for tourists. Not that a true tourist would want to stay that long but...
Watch the price of Korean hookers to drop with a flood of competition. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jandar
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ilsanman wrote: |
Last I heard, US citizens get 30 days in Korea upon arrival without a visa.
Now Koreans get 90 days. Maybe Korea will reciprocate and give 90-180 days for tourists. Not that a true tourist would want to stay that long but...
Watch the price of Korean hookers to drop with a flood of competition. |
Yep all those white American hookers coming to Korea on tourist visas should put a real dent in the trade. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I meant hookers currently in USA, who got in by other means Now they have to compete with Korean girls going to USA visa-free to 'travel'.
| Jandar wrote: |
| Ilsanman wrote: |
Last I heard, US citizens get 30 days in Korea upon arrival without a visa.
Now Koreans get 90 days. Maybe Korea will reciprocate and give 90-180 days for tourists. Not that a true tourist would want to stay that long but...
Watch the price of Korean hookers to drop with a flood of competition. |
Yep all those white American hookers coming to Korea on tourist visas should put a real dent in the trade. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
