Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Evanzinho]

Hi, I am currently in SE Asia and would like to find a job starting around September 1st. I am wondering what others' experiences have been with applying for jobs from a third country i.e. neither your home country nor Korea? I have read some posts on here that hagwons will not accept you, but public schools will. Why is this exactly? Can anyone share their experiences with this? FYI, I will probably get my E-2 visa at the Korean embassy in Manila. That is if it's possible!

[oldfatfarang]

I've applied and got my E2 from the K embassy in Bangkok - and I'll be doing that again in Feb 2010.

If you've worked in Korea before - you shouldn't need a consular interview - so it should be no problem (just take your visa issuance number/govt invitation letter to the embassy along with your passport).

Naturally, you'll have all your documents (notarised and apostilled) either posted to you in the Phillipines - or straight to a recruiter.

Good luck.

[losing_touch]

Alright, here we go. I have done it myself. I did it last August for an E-2 visa which was issued in Bangkok. I work for a hagwon.

Have you worked in Korea before? Do you have any blackmarks on your immigration file?

If it is your first E-2, you will have to take care of some additional stuff. There is a requirement to have an interview in your home country. Everyone knows about this immigration law. What they don't seem to know is that there is a loophole which will enable you to get your first E-2 visa in a 3rd country, as I did.

Your degree will need to be verified by the KCUE in Korea. This is not something you can do yourself. Your future employer will need to initiate this process. It takes a couple of weeks to do. Most employers don't seem to know this information, but it is clearly laid out on the immigration website. You may have to educate them about the process.

[waynehead]

I work at a hagwon and had my visa processed while I was living in China. I did all the work at the Shanghai consulate, after having the necessary documents shipped to me in China. It was not my first E2, so there weren't any extra hoops to jump through.

[buddie3232]

I've had my E-2 done in Manila the last 2 years. You have to get at the Korean Embassy about 7:30am because the line gets long. It opens at 9:00. The embassy only takes visa applications from 9:00 - 11:00am.

1st fill out the application. After you sign in they will give you the application. The security at sign in will want to see your Visa Issuance letter (Hagwon) or Letter from the public school.

You will need to paste your photo to the application. The counter for the paste is on your left. Bring photo copies of your documents because the copier is sometimes broken.

You need to look at the electronic board above the window for your number. Fill out the application fast. If they pass your number just get in line because the windows close right at 11:00. I missed it one time by a couple of mins and had to come back the next day.

I beleive the window is the 3rd window. Once they receive your documents you will have to go to the 2nd window and pay. Bring change. Once you pay the lady will give you a stamp that you will need to paste on the application. You will need to go back to the paste area on your left. Then go back to the 3rd window. She will then give you a paper with the date and time to pick up your visa. It is between 2pm - 4pm on the specified date.

You should be out of the embassy in under a hour. It is pretty fast.

It takes them 4 - 5 business days to process your visa.

[Evanzinho]

Thank you everyone for your helpful replies. I do have a completed E-2 in my passport and no black mark with Immigration. I also have a State issued criminal check with the apostille, sealed transcripts, and my degree with me. One last question, though. Should I even bother telling my recruiters that I am applying from SE Asia? Would it affect my chances at certain jobs? Thanks again.