Korean Job Discussion Forums

sugarkane59 · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Seoul

Hi there,

Just need a bit of reassurance really and I need the perspective of people who have gone through it before.

I have been waiting for my visa number for about a month now. They said they sent the docs beginning of August, then I emailed them over 2 weeks later and they said they hadn't got the number yet and that they'd 'update me in a short time.' Heard nothing since, so I emailed them yesterday, which was 2 weeks since that last reply.

I have heard that Korean recruitment companies can sometimes be slow on the uptake, but it is stressing me out. I got my last paycheck from my school end of August. I am moving out of my flat and I'm meant to be going in mid-October.

Am I being impatient?

Thanks in advance for your helpful comments.

Sugar

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

You are under no obligation to stick with one recruiter.

Get a few recruiters WORKING FOR YOU and send out a few resumes on your own. You might get more bites just by posting your resume online because the school doesnt have to pay a recruiting fee if dealing with you directly.

Bearach · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

Contact other recruiters and get more jobs lined up. It should not take that long to get the issuance number. Can you contact the school directly?

Also, apply for new documents, if your recruiter has lost first set you'll need more...

sluggle · Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Location: suwon

Call them on the phone. It's easier to blow you off through email-- you've got to start hounding them so they get their shit together. I'm sure August/Sept is busy season since it's the start of a lot of schools, but you need to be firm and tell them you want a set date.

Changwon Charlie · Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Location: Changwon

You have probably been rejected and the recruiter is either igoring you or just stringing you along.

Get as many recruiters as you can on the go.

blonde researcher · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject:

If you 'accepted' a job, signed a contract and sent your papers to be put into immigration for a visa number for that job, the visa number should be well out by now. It takes about 4-5 days at the best of times and maybe 7-9 days at the worst of times.
My thinking is that they are running around madly looking for a school to accept you so thay can then tell you that the visa number is issued. You may deinitely be in for a 'bait and switch'.

Ask your recruiter for the name of the immigration office your papers have been submitted (there are 22 different offices) and what date they were submitted. Bluff them that you have a contact in Korea who can speak Korean and this person will phone that immigration office to check on the status of your documents.
You might just find they are not in any office, and your agent does need to give honest facts to you very soon or you need to get your papers returned so you can use another agent.

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

It does not sound like a good situation.

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

sugarkane59 · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Seoul

Thanks for the input ladies and gents.

I just called the recruiter in Korea and they said that our recruitment officer has been on vacation (out of Korea) and that she should get around to replying in a few days. I'll buy this.

But maybe I'm a gullible fool!

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

sugarkane59 · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Seoul

Start date is mid-October - maybe they think this is not an urgent case?

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

WendyRose · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Location: hanam-si, seoul

I waited for my visa number for a month last year. It was out of the recruiters control. This is a busy time for the office and it takes time to send the paperwork, receive the paperwork, transmit the paperwork, send the paperwork back with a visa number. And Korea, love her to death, is not known for efficiency.

catchshime · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:27 am Post subject:

Which recruiting agency is this?

df1983 · Joined: 15 Aug 2009 Location: Pyongtaek, Korea

Im in the exact same boat. Literally. I am supposed to start October 1st and am waiting on a visa number. I sent my documents a month ago. The guy keeps reassuring me that everything is fine and that the number will come soon. I thought it only took 7-10 business days but it has been over 20 business days at this point. I think the office is just backed up right now.