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freebeacher
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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 Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:16 pm Post subject: Travel To Korea Without Background Check In Hand |
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| What if a school has an urgent need for a US teacher who has never been to Korea, never had an E-2 before. The school wants to fly the prospective teacher to Seoul from the US, then fly them a few days later to Guam, which is US territory, to get the E-2 at the Korean Consulate in Guam? Possible? Legal? Could the US teacher obtain a criminal check from Guam to use at the Korean Consulate in Guam? It is a US territory, and Guam obviously has a police force that could issue such a document. What would prevent that from happening? |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Location: somewhere in China
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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It doesn't really matter I guess. You could be North Korea. As long as you send the documents and get the visa processed. It's just easier if are in your home country.
There used to be talk of interviews with a Korean Embassy, but I don't know if they stopped doing them. That might be an issue. |
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morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:35 pm Post subject: Re: Travel To Korea Without Background Check In Hand |
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| freebeacher wrote: |
| What if a school has an urgent need for a US teacher who has never been to Korea, never had an E-2 before. The school wants to fly the prospective teacher to Seoul from the US, then fly them a few days later to Guam, which is US territory, to get the E-2 at the Korean Consulate in Guam? Possible? Legal? Could the US teacher obtain a criminal check from Guam to use at the Korean Consulate in Guam? It is a US territory, and Guam obviously has a police force that could issue such a document. What would prevent that from happening? |
No idea about background check but I thought I should mention something. You need to have your degree authenticated by the KCUE to be able to do a visa run for your first time on an E2. This can, apparently, take up to a month (though I've seen 2 - 3 weeks posted online as an average). It would be quicker to do it in the US. The teacher could find themselves working illegally if they wanted them out there immediately. |
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freebeacher
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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| If the teacher is going to be at the Korean Consulate in Guam they can be interviewed there. |
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freebeacher
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, the authentication would be an issue. I was told in my state 20 days for the police check to be processed and mailed. It cannot be done at an office while waiting. Then the apostille takes another 3-5 days. |
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freebeacher
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 12:03 am Post subject: |
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| I just priced an itinerary on such a trip at last notice. Honolulu to Seoul non-stop, then Seoul to Fukuoka on to Guam. Return Guam to Fukuoka on to Seoul. Multi-segment. This was the cheapest option at this time. USD 1,118. I scheduled a couple of weeks in Seoul waiting for the authentication of the degree, and two days in Guam for the interview and visa. Is it really worth it to a school to pay this kind of money?! Can someone please explain the math to me? Schools must be raking it in for expenditures like this to make business sense. Then there is the cost of the apartment, and half medical insurance premium, right? |
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Geckoman
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Travel To Korea Without Background Check In Hand |
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| freebeacher wrote: |
| What if a school has an urgent need for a US teacher who has never been to Korea, never had an E-2 before. The school wants to fly the prospective teacher to Seoul from the US, then fly them a few days later to Guam, which is US territory, to get the E-2 at the Korean Consulate in Guam? Possible? Legal? Could the US teacher obtain a criminal check from Guam to use at the Korean Consulate in Guam? It is a US territory, and Guam obviously has a police force that could issue such a document. What would prevent that from happening? |
Yes, a person can get a visa at the Korean consulate in Guam. I've gone on 3 visa runs to Guam. The nature of a consulate is to be able to issue visas. If the Korean consulate in Guam couldn't issue a visa what type of a consulate would that be?
Yes, a person can get a background check in Guam. In Guam it only takes about 5 mintues. You fill out a form, pay a small fee, and in a minute or two they give it to you.
Guam is really no different than any other part of the US. Guam's a state in everything but name. So for those Americans who need to get a background check from their home country, as is required to get the teaching visa, Guam will do. After all, Guam is part of the United States.
Guam, USA!
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freebeacher
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Geckoman. Wow! It is that easy in Guam? Great. Hawaii it takes 20 days by mail, the only option, no in-person waiting provided for. Thanks. Now the strategy of the school is beginning to make sense.
But airfare of $USD 1,118.?! Is that not a significant expense to the schools? Just the cost of doing business? |
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morrisonhotel
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| freebeacher wrote: |
Thanks Geckoman. Wow! It is that easy in Guam? Great. Hawaii it takes 20 days by mail, the only option, no in-person waiting provided for. Thanks. Now the strategy of the school is beginning to make sense.
But airfare of $USD 1,118.?! Is that not a significant expense to the schools? Just the cost of doing business? |
Are the school going to pay for the airfare up front? |
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freebeacher
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:27 am Post subject: |
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| If the school doesn't pay upfront no teacher! |
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Geckoman
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:06 am Post subject: |
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| freebeacher wrote: |
Thanks Geckoman. Wow! It is that easy in Guam? Great. Hawaii it takes 20 days by mail, the only option, no in-person waiting provided for. Thanks. Now the strategy of the school is beginning to make sense.
But airfare of $USD 1,118.?! Is that not a significant expense to the schools? Just the cost of doing business? |
For me the ticket was always around $700. Don't know why it's so high in your case.
Another pro to going to Guam for the background check over Hawaii is that Hawaii is so damn far away. It's a long, long fight. But Guam is very nearby. Just a four-hour flight away.
I recommend staying in Guam as long as possible for a vacation. Hit the beach and do some sightseeing.
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Travel To Korea Without Background Check In Hand |
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| freebeacher wrote: |
| What if a school has an urgent need for a US teacher who has never been to Korea, never had an E-2 before. The school wants to fly the prospective teacher to Seoul from the US, then fly them a few days later to Guam, which is US territory, to get the E-2 at the Korean Consulate in Guam? Possible? Legal? Could the US teacher obtain a criminal check from Guam to use at the Korean Consulate in Guam? It is a US territory, and Guam obviously has a police force that could issue such a document. What would prevent that from happening? |
Your background check is needed to get your E2 visa. You need this before you go to the consulate for your visa. You need it when you apply to Immigration to get your visa issuance number so that you can make your visa run. So, if you come to Korea with no visa and no criminal background check done, you could be here a long time waiting on documents.
Now, what do you think you'll be doing during the several weeks you'll be waiting? Well, it is quite likely that the school is planning on having you teach during this time. Please be aware:
Teaching without your E2 visa is illegal.
It is a bad idea. You could get caught, fined and deported. Of maybe just fined or maybe just deported. It could prevent you from working here in the future.
But, sure, you probably won't get caught. Still it is a bad idea. First off, if your boss will break the law and cheat so easily at the outset of your job, he will likely do it again. This may just come back to bite you in the butt. Your employer will see you as an illegal and he knows you're vulnerable. He can get rid of you easily and not pay you. When you do get hired, he may perceive, rightly or wrongly, that he can cheat you easier. See this thread and see what happens:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=172302
A teacher came to Korea and worked illegally without an E2 visa for a month. Then the boss refused to get the legally required health insurance. He seems to be cheating the teacher out of pension as well. It may have been in the contract as well, but hey, break the law or break the contract, no surprise, this teacher was part of an illegal scheme from the start.
Then the boss didn't want the teacher to leave "early." She had worked for a year, but he wanted a year under the contract, that is, a year based on the date when the visa was actually issued. The illegal work time didn't count in his eyes. He also thinks he can cheat the teacher out of her 1 month bonus pay for severance and return airfare based on the uncompleted year. Maybe she'll win in labor and in court, but the school is bankrupt, and after maybe winning, comes maybe collecting.
Moral of the story:
You should not come to Korea to teach without your E2 visa in your passport when you come.
Do not teach without an E2 visa.
Do not teach for a school that wants you to teach illegally.
My opinion.
Good luck. |
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