Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rob Aston]

Hi, Im a British guy teaching in China. I live with my chinese girlfriend and have talked about getting married, im pretty interested though at going to Korea at the end of my current contract in just under a years time.

Im not going to do it if she can't come with me but is there a visa provision for bringing a partner with you? Is marriage a requirement? Also is it an issue that we are of different nationality?

Would really appreciate any advice as ive been searching online for weeks without much luck. Cheers.

[Cerriowen]

I know there's a way to bring a wife or husband with you. I doubt they'd recognize a girlfriend/partner.

I'm sorry I can't offer anything more constructive.

*edit* Oh... why don't you talk to a recruiter about this. Rather... talk to several, because they tend to be snake-oil salesmen. Make sure they're all telling you the same story. They should know about this or be able to find out easily

[js99]

I know what you are talking about- there are several countries, including Thailand, that allows your girlfriend to travel with you there.
Unfortunately, Korea isn't one of them.

If you see yourself being with this person for the long-term, then go for it and get married. If you want to wait, then do so (you might as well wait as to let the exchange rate go up and to bring over more start-up money as the RMB is worth more now than the won)

[Cedar]

When I had been living in Korea for years already, and had been with my husband (then fiance) for years, and had lived with him in China and had tons of proof for all of this, I was able to get him a visa to come and stay with me in Korea for three months. This was a few years back. We had to supply all kinds of stuff, like Korean language letters from me, forms verifying my status in Korea, background documents on the two of us (like his previous passport with visa for Korea from when he first met me in 2000, my documents showing my visits to China) and so on. I think I had to show my most recent bank balance. I might have been able to get it for longer-- not sure. Didn't try.

Getting married to a Chinese citizen in China is pretty easy (fast, painless once you have proof that you aren't already married -- divorce documents from previous marriages) but getting a dependent visa for your then-wife in Korea will need the support of your school, and they don't have to give you that support, so if you get married, you still need to find an employer willing to have you and your non-English teaching spouse.

[Yesterday]

[Sector7G]

[crossmr]

You might have better luck seeing if she qualifies for some other visa if you don't want to rush to get married.

[Gaber]

One of my friends who works for SMOE recently married his Mongolian GF and was able to get her a depend visa, so I guess the public school system is ok with sponsoring spouses.

[digsydinner]

are you sure your gf really wants to live here in korea? based on what i get from my korean friends, chinese people have a very tough time here...often considered lower than your ESL teacher on the social totem pole.

[digsydinner]

sure she wants to move to korea with you? from what i get out of the koreans, chinese folk aren't considered that high on the social totem pole... probably lower than your average esl teacher. lots of racism exists... i guess the trick would be to blend in as much as possible.

[eIn07912]

[Johnny_Bravo]

kind of interesting that the Chinese are held in low regard. The Japanese I can kind of understand simply as a hate filled reaction to them coming here and kicking Korean behind whenever they felt like it.

but China?

Look at the countries today, and look at their respective histories and you tell me if Korea can "look down" on them.

[Xuanzang]

[Robot_Teacher]

You're going to brine her!? Surely China girls are not that good eating to be brined before BBQ. If you insist on cannibalizing her. Soak meat for 12 hours in a solution of 3 cups of salt, 10 gallons of water, jug of gochujang, and 2 cups of assorted spices before BBQing.

Other than being your dinner, she's just a tourist unless getting a work visa for some 3D job in a factory of some sort.

[weatherman]