Korean Job Discussion Forums

[david]

I was issued a visa number by immigration and travelled to Jaoan to get the visa. I was told by immigration that I couldn't obtain the visa in Japan, but could do so in Guam or The United States. I was supposed to leave for Guam this week to complete the procedure.

On Friday I was let go w/o warning and notice. The reason given was the TPBE screen. They had " reservations " about it according to my recruiter; ASN. I explained the situation and informed them that I do take otc medication to control my asthma and the medication was the reason for my positive test. This is true. I don't use illegal narcotics.

I guess I have to get my visa number cancelled now and re-submit everything to an immigration office. Will I have difficulties obtaining an E2 visa because of the TPBE screen? Can a consultation and subsequent note from a Doctor negate this potential roadblock?

[Straphanger]

Did you disclose the conflict to your recruiter ahead of time?

[david]

Yes. I did tell my recruiter. Apparently an official with the local public school board saw the " reservation " about the test and decided not to work with me.

Should I just get a new health check done?

[Straphanger]

[polonius]

My understanding of the drug test is that it is a simple one that just flags any agents in your system. You could request a more comprehensive test to show that the meds in your system are supposed to be there. A friend of mine failed the test, but requested the more comprehensive test, and it seprated into details what was in his system.

[moptop]

the only way you will get a visa is to stop taking your medication. the only way immigration will accept your test is if it's clean. i went through this last year for the exact same reasons.

i had to stop taking my asthma meds for 4 weeks to clear my system. (you might be able to do it sooner. i didn't stop taking all of them 100% until 2 weeks before. i kept taking the allergy ones because at that point the doctors couldn't tell me what was triggering the test. go on wikkipedia and look up the names of your meds and see if the chemical composition is similar to opiates or amphetamines) i took the test 3 times. i was not even sure if i could re-sign because of this. i recieved my last test results 3 days before i went back to canada for my break in between contracts. i tell ya, the extra stress didn't help. neither did stopping my meds in the middle of a hot steamy summer. i couldn't go outside for weeks!!!

the doctors knew about this, but again, the tests are not set up to tell them what is triggering the "false positive". anything that is a "cousin" to opiates or amphetamines, like asthma meds, allergy meds, or even ibuprophen, shows up on these stupid tests. i would not suggest getting a more expensive or comprehensive test done because all immigration wants to see is a clean test. the doctors at all 3 hospitals told me the only way to get the results i needed were to stop taking the medications.

good luck!!!!

p.s. you could work for the same school board, just avoid that recruiter. as long as you can come back with a clean test, you will have no problem. especially if you can get a doctor to write a note explaining the "false positive" on your last test...you would only need this if the hospital sent the test results to the immigration board. a lot of times they don't bother doing this.

[david]

I can't go four weeks w/o my medication. I'd probably have an attack as my medication is absolutely neccesary. Where can I get a comprehensive drug test and at what cost? What should I say when I go to the Doctor so that there are no problems?

Thank you in advance!

[nyenglish]

[moptop]

no, there were no problems. they even admitted themselves that the test can be overly sensitive to other medications that are "legal". I took two tests at one local hospital, and the other in Chuncheon. i wanted to try a larger, more professional hospital than the one i first went to. third time was lucky for me!